Korean dramas are loved worldwide for their emotional storytelling, stunning visuals, and unforgettable characters. But when a drama touches history, culture, or national identity, one mistake can turn a hit series into a full-blown scandal.
Recently, the historical blockbuster Perfect Crown ended with a record rating of 13.8%. It should have been a perfect ending for the drama starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok. Instead, the series became the center of public anger in South Korea due to accusations of historical and cultural distortion. The backlash became so intense that the director reportedly broke down in tears during an interview, while IU and Byeon Woo-seok also apologized to viewers.
However, Perfect Crown is far from the only Korean drama to be criticized over historical issues. Here are 7 K-dramas that became some of the most controversial “black marks” in Korean television history.
Snowdrop, starring Jung Hae-in and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, became one of the most heavily criticized Korean dramas in recent years. The drama was set around the period of the 1980 Gwangju democratization movement, one of the most painful chapters in modern Korean history. During that era, many citizens were oppressed, tortured, and killed while fighting for democracy.
The controversy came from the way the drama portrayed its characters and institutions. The male lead was written as a North Korean spy with a romantic and sympathetic image, while the Agency for National Security Planning was shown in a more righteous light. Many Korean viewers felt this was unacceptable, arguing that the drama appeared to whitewash forces associated with oppression during a traumatic period.
The backlash became massive. More than 200,000 people reportedly signed a petition asking for the drama to stop airing. Families of victims from the democratization movement also criticized the series, while sponsors began withdrawing support.
Although JTBC refused to cancel the broadcast and insisted that the drama did not focus on the democratization movement, Snowdrop ended amid controversy and remains one of the most socially divisive K-dramas in recent memory.
2. Perfect Crown
Despite ending with a record rating of 13.8%, Perfect Crown became a major scandal because of alleged carelessness in historical research. The biggest controversy came from the finale scene in episode 11. During the royal enthronement ceremony, viewers criticized the drama for using “cheonse” instead of “manse,” and for giving Byeon Woo-seok’s character Lee Ahn a nine-beaded crown instead of a twelve-beaded crown.
Korean netizens argued that these details were historically sensitive because they were associated with vassal-state symbolism, making the scene appear to lower the status of the fictional kingdom. The backlash grew even stronger when IU’s tea ceremony scene was criticized for allegedly resembling Chinese tea culture. Viewers also discovered that some props used in the scene appeared to be cheap tea cups purchased from Taobao.
MBC later announced that it would edit and remove the controversial ending scene from online platforms. Disney+ and Wavve reportedly updated their versions with revised subtitles and audio, while other VOD and OTT platforms needed more time to complete changes.
The controversy placed huge pressure on the production team. Director Park Joon-hwa reportedly cried during an interview and took responsibility. The writers, IU, and Byeon Woo-seok also apologized, but public anger has not easily cooled down.
3. Under The Queen’s Umbrella
Led by Kim Hye-soo, Under The Queen’s Umbrella was praised for its quality, dark comedy, and ratings. However, the drama also faced criticism over historical and cultural details. The main issue was that the drama was described as historical fantasy but still used the real national name Joseon. Viewers argued that once a drama uses a real historical setting, it must handle details carefully instead of freely inventing elements that could mislead audiences.
The bigger controversy involved Chinese elements appearing in the drama. One palace sign reportedly used the words “Hall of Supreme Harmony,” a name associated with the Forbidden City during China’s Qing dynasty. Viewers also criticized the use of simplified Chinese characters in subtitles.
Although the writer and production team later explained the matter, Kim Hye-soo was also dragged into the controversy after sharing the explanation post, affecting her public image.
4. Mr. Queen
Mr. Queen became a ratings hit thanks to its time-slip comedy and unique premise, but it also faced heavy criticism over historical jokes and character adaptation. The drama was adapted from the Chinese novel Go Princess Go. One controversy came from its portrayal of King Cheoljong. In history, he was recorded as a weak ruler, but in the drama, he was rewritten as an intelligent king pretending to be powerless.
The biggest backlash came from dialogue that appeared to make light of important Korean historical records and cultural heritage. One line described The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty as merely “gossip,” while another joked about royal ancestral ritual music.
For Korean viewers, this was highly sensitive. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is one of Korea’s most important historical records, while Jongmyo ritual music is recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Although Mr. Queen remained popular, these controversies left a stain on the drama’s reputation.
Before it even aired, Alchemy of Souls already drew attention after original female lead Park Hye-eun was replaced by Jung So-min due to acting concerns. Once the drama premiered, it faced another controversy: accusations of being too “Chinese-style.”
Some viewers claimed that scenes in episode 1 resembled the Chinese fantasy drama Ever Night. Others argued that the plot involving mages and soul-shifting had similarities to The Untamed. Several scenes were also compared to Chinese xianxia dramas such as Ashes of Love and Ancient Love Poetry.
The production team did not directly address the accusations. Thanks to its visual effects, acting, and storytelling, the drama still attracted viewers. However, the label of being a “Chinese-influenced Korean drama” followed the series until the end.
6. Joseon Exorcist
Joseon Exorcist is one of the most infamous cases in Korean drama history. The SBS historical fantasy drama premiered in 2021 with high expectations, but it was canceled after only 2 episodes. The reason was a massive backlash over cultural and historical distortion.
Viewers were furious after noticing Chinese-style props and food in a drama set during the Joseon era. A wine bottle reportedly used a Chinese-style font, while a banquet scene featured Chinese foods such as century eggs, dumplings, and mooncakes.
Korean audiences argued that these details were not just careless mistakes but could cause international viewers to misunderstand Korean culture. The backlash spread rapidly. Sponsors withdrew, public petitions grew, and SBS eventually canceled the drama. Joseon Exorcist became one of the shortest-aired Korean dramas in history, with a massive production budget of 32 billion won reportedly wasted.
7. Empress Ki
Empress Ki was a major ratings success, but it also faced criticism for romanticizing and rewriting real historical figures. The drama followed Ki Seung-nyang, a Goryeo woman who became empress of the Yuan dynasty. However, according to the report, the real Empress Ki was historically remembered in a much darker way. She was described as someone who abused power, joined political schemes with her son, and contributed to chaos in the Yuan court.
In the drama, however, these darker aspects were removed. She was instead portrayed as a legendary, intelligent, beautiful, and patriotic woman. The drama also changed the image of Goryeo king Wang Yu. Historically, he was reportedly known as a cruel and immoral ruler, but in the drama, he was portrayed as a deeply romantic king devoted to Empress Ki. This led to criticism that Empress Ki overly whitewashed real historical figures for entertainment.
These controversies show how sensitive historical dramas can be in South Korea. For international viewers, a costume, prop, title, or line of dialogue may seem like a small detail. But for Korean audiences, these details can touch national pride, painful historical memories, and cultural identity. A hit rating may prove popularity, but historical distortion accusations can follow a drama long after the final episode airs.
Sources: K14