South Korean broadcaster MBC said it will delete a controversial enthronement scene from its historical drama "Perfect Crown" amid rising criticism by viewers over alleged distortion of history.
As per AllKpop, the network confirmed on May 22 KST that the scene featuring actor Byeon Woo Seok would be deleted across all distribution platforms after sparking widespread debate online.
In a statement provided to multiple Korean media outlets, an MBC representative explained that the process may take time due to the number of streaming and broadcast platforms carrying the drama.
"We intend to delete the enthronement scene from all distribution platforms," the representative stated. "As the drama is being distributed through multiple platforms, it will take some time for all of the platforms to reflect the change."
The controversy erupted after the ending of Episode 11 aired and depicted Prince Yi Ahn's ascension to the throne. Viewers criticized the sequence for allegedly portraying Korea as a tributary state of China by incorporating ceremonial practices associated with Korea's Joseon dynasty during periods when the kingdom adhered to diplomatic protocols influenced by the Chinese Empire.
The scene quickly became a major topic on Korean social media and online forums, with critics questioning why the production chose to preserve selective historical elements while altering or fictionalizing other aspects of the story.
Some viewers thought that the scenes held unnecessary political and historical significance, whereas some other people blamed the producers for handling sensitive aspects of the Korean history improperly. In view of this, when video footage and screenshots from the particular episode spread around the internet, the criticism only increased.
With growing criticism over the show, the leading actors in the drama had already apologized for their part in creating such problems, along with director Park Joon Hwa.
It is not hard to see that the drama remains controversial with its audience as well as entertainment critics, and recently, actor Byeon Woo Seok issued an apology regarding this matter again.
The controversy has not deterred "Perfect Crown" from generating considerable public interest, with the South Korean internet buzzing over discussions on creative freedom, historical representation, and cultural sensitivity.
Separately, Byeon Woo Seok's rise to stardom was highlighted in a recent feature by Vogue Hong Kong, which named six of his most memorable acting roles.
The outlet praised Byeon's versatility, spotlighting his recent performance as Grand Prince I-an in "Perfect Crown" and his breakout role as Ryu Sun-jae in "Lovely Runner", which helped make him a household name.
Other notable projects included "Strong Girl Nam-soon", where he played a villainous CEO, along with 20th Century Girl, "Soulmate" and "Record of Youth".
According to the article, Byeon has successfully transitioned from supporting actor to one of Korea's leading stars through his range in romance, drama and complex character roles.
