'Joseon Exorcist' Cast Deletes Social Media Posts Relating to the SBS Drama Amid Termination
In the wake of the SBS announcement, "Joseon Exorcist" cast reportedly deleted all of their social media posts relating to the show.
After the network confirmed that they would be terminating the historical drama, some of the cast members wiped off the traces of the show on their Instagram accounts.
This includes Kim Dong Joon, who plays the role of Yeo Ri, as well as Jung Hye Sung and Lee Yu Bi, who portray Moo Hwa and Eo Ri, respectively.
Over their respective online accounts, there's not even one post that pertains to "Joseon Exorcist."
READ MORE: 'Joseon Exorcist' Director Reveals Why the Upcoming Series is Different from 'Kingdom'
SBS Officially Canceled "Joseon Exorcist" Broadcast
It came after SBS revealed that they have decided to cancel the show after airing its second episode, following the controversy surrounding the newly-released drama.
In an official statement, the network acknowledged the "severity of the current situation" after it was criticized for historical distortion.
Despite the financial losses incurred by the production company and SBS, the management felt that they are liable for the confusion it caused to the public.
"SBS feels a heavy responsibility as a public broadcast network, and we are informing you that we have decided to cancel the program," the statement reads.
The management also mentioned that the show had completed 80 percent of filming.
Moreover, a previous report cited that the production costs a whopping 28.3 million USD (32 billion won).
"Joseon Exorcist" Episode 1 Drew Flak among Its Viewers
After airing its first episode, the much-awaited historical series caused a major stir over social media.
This was after their March 22 episode showed scenes that involve Chinese cultural influences despite the show being set in the ancient Korean era.
Among the issues raised is the use of Chinese-style food and props that include Chinese dumplings, mooncakes, and century eggs which they called "pidan."
This caused outrage among the viewers and criticized them for historical inaccuracy, and accused them of "fueling" China and South Korea's cultural feud.
Brands and Companies Drop Sponsorship for "Joseon Exorcist"
At the height of the controversy, major brands and companies dropped their support for "Joseon Exorcist."
LG Household & Health Care, Samsung, Goldstar Bed, Black Yak, Kuku, Banolim Pizza Shop, Ace Bed, Body Friend, Hite Jinro, CJ CheilJedang, KT, Dongkuk Pharmaceutical, and Kojima have announced that they will no longer sponsor and advertise in the said SBS drama.
Besides brands, Lotte Cultureworks, one of the co-production companies, together with Crave Works and YG Studio Plex, is pulling off their investments to the show, according to reports.
Petition to Axe "Joseon Exorcist" Reached the Blue House
Just days before the official announcement of SBS, a formal petition to cancel the show reached the Blue House.
It says that they are seeking to dismiss the controversial Korean drama from SBS broadcasting.
In addition, the formal appeal notes that the show should be categorized as "fantasy" rather than historical.
"If the drama is categorized as a fantasy, then they should have made brand new characters. They used real historical figures. If foreign viewers watch this drama, they will think that the depiction of the Joseon era characters in the drama is real," the petition stated.
Surprisingly, the petition reached 127,000 signatures in just one day of filling.
