The Safety and Transportation Bureau of Buk-gu District Office in the newly integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Metropolitan City received a complaint through the national petition system on October 27 regarding the installation of a bus stop sign in front of the May 18 National Cemetery. The office plans to review the matter. The scene in question appeared in Episode 6, which aired on October 24, showing bus No. 518 stopping at a bus stop in front of Minju Gate, the main entrance to the cemetery.
The actual bus stop is located approximately 350 meters from Minju Gate. The sign shown in the drama was reportedly a movable filming prop supported by a square metal frame. The complainant asked authorities to determine whether the structure had been installed with the proper authorization. According to the district office, the production team had neither applied for a separate road occupancy permit nor consulted the authorities about the installation. Under the Road Act, placing an object on a road, even temporarily, without permission can result in a fine of up to 3 million won.
Episode 6 depicted Oh Sang-beom (Ha Seong-gwang), who sustained a gunshot wound to the head during the May 18 Democratization Movement, and Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), who tries to treat him. The episode also featured a fictional character named Ji Du-seok, who reminded viewers of former President Chun Doo-hwan. Following the broadcast, some viewers criticized the drama for introducing a politically contentious historical event that was not part of the original work. They called for the series to be suspended through a National Assembly public petition, which reached the required 100 preliminary supporters. A statement questioning the production team’s reasons for altering the story was also posted on an online forum. However, others praised the episode for highlighting the suffering of victims of state violence. On October 26, actor Han Jung-soo also posted a message opposing calls to suspend the broadcast.
The controversy has also spilled over into personal attacks against the cast, with critical comments appearing on Kim Ji-won’s social media account. Lee Ok-gyu, chief producer at Studio S, which oversaw the production, posted the words “no fear” on his account on the day the episode aired, although he did not explain what he meant. Episode 6 recorded a nationwide household rating of 19.5%, according to Nielsen Korea, setting a new personal best for the drama.
Sources: Naver
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