On March 22, a drama called Joseon Exorcist aired on SBS. However, the drama, which was planned for 16 episodes, was canceled after releasing only two episodes. The reason is that the drama reportedly makes historical distortions, such as the use of Chinese-style props.
The historical distortions are visible in the scene where foreign priests and interpreters visit Joseon and are served traditional Chinese food such as, mooncakes and pidan. Other historical distortions can be seen, such as using Chinese-style clothing and caricatures of the Joseon Dynasty. These distortions caused viewers to resist, and as advertisers withdrew their advertisements one after another, the drama was canceled.
The biggest reason given for the cancelation was the “distortion of Korean history.” China has always been trying to incorporate Korean history through the ‘Northeast Project.’ Recently, China has also claimed that kimchi and hanboks are their own culture. Against this backdrop, Joseon Exorcist distorted history as if Korean culture was Chinese. Following China’s Northeast Project, distortions began to appear in “Korean Dramas.”
The significance of the interruption of Joseon Exorcist signifies that viewers who had only unilateral consumption in the past can express their opinions and reach a level that affects the existence of broadcasting. Compared to the past, education levels have risen, and programs pointing out social problems or expressing opinions have led to the cancelation of Joseon Exorcist. In the future, broadcasters should not regard viewers simply as consumers of programs but as co-creators. As it is a drama set in history, it need a proper sense of history.
