K-Dramas often captivate global audiences with their emotional depth and intricate plots, but some push boundaries too far, leading to widespread criticism, petitions, and even cancellations. Here are 15 notorious storylines that ignited public fury, drawing complaints from viewers, governments, and cultural groups alike.
1. Snowdrop (2021-2022)
Set during South Korea's 1987 pro-democracy movement, the drama follows a North Korean spy posing as a student activist who falls in love with a university student. The storyline was accused of distorting history by portraying spies in a sympathetic light, echoing real tactics used by dictators to discredit activists, leading to over 300,000 signatures on a petition to cancel it and sponsor withdrawals.
2. Joseon Exorcist (2021)
In this supernatural thriller, Joseon royals battle zombies and evil spirits tied to the dynasty's founding. The show faced backlash for historical inaccuracies, including Chinese-style props and costumes in a Korean setting, and portraying King Taejong as overly violent, resulting in sponsor pullouts and cancellation after just two episodes.
3. Backstreet Rookie (2020)
A romantic comedy about a convenience store manager and his part-time employee who develop feelings for each other. Critics slammed it for excessive sexual content, including scenes sexualizing young-looking characters, adapted from an R-rated webtoon without proper adjustments, prompting over 7,000 complaints and a formal warning from the Korea Communications Standards Commission.
4. The Penthouse: War in Life (2020-2021)
This revenge saga follows wealthy families entangled in scandals at an elite arts school. In Season 3, a character with dreadlocks, gold grills, and African-American vernacular was criticized for racial insensitivity and cultural appropriation, sparking social media outrage and apologies from the actor and network.
5. Squid Game (2021-2025)
Desperate participants compete in deadly children's games for a massive prize, critiquing capitalism. The graphic violence led to global concerns over children mimicking the games, school interventions, and additional backlash in Season 2 over a cast member's past sexual assault allegations.
6. Racket Boys (2021)
A coming-of-age story about a rural badminton team coached by a former pro. An episode depicting Indonesian players and fans negatively, with stereotypes and a lopsided score, offended Indonesian viewers, causing a diplomatic stir and demands for apologies on social media.
7. Mr. Queen (2020-2021)
A modern chef's soul swaps into a Joseon queen's body, leading to comedic antics. The drama drew over 700 complaints for historical distortion, like calling royal records a "tabloid," seen as disrespectful to Korean heritage, with additional controversy over its Chinese source material's anti-Korean sentiments.
8. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
A fantasy romance across parallel universes involving a Korean emperor. Backlash arose from architecture resembling Japanese temples and Japanese flags on Korean ships, evoking painful memories of Japan's occupation of Korea, leading to apologies and design changes.
9. The Elementary Schooler I Love
A teacher falls for a gamer who turns out to be her student. The premise was blasted for romanticizing grooming and pedophilia, sexualizing minors, and eroding trust in educators, resulting in production cancellation amid national outrage.
10. Oh My Ladylord (2021)
A rom-com where a screenwriter and actress navigate love. A shower scene censored with an emoji was deemed uncomfortable and akin to sexual harassment, drawing viewer complaints about objectification shortly after the premiere.
11. Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)
A romance between a fencer and a reporter amid economic turmoil. Criticized for idealizing an adult-minor relationship due to an age gap and confession scene, plus insensitivity in depicting a character positively during 9/11 coverage, offending international audiences.
12. Vincenzo (2021)
An Italian-Korean mafia lawyer fights corruption in Korea. A product placement scene featuring a Chinese bibimbap brand sparked fury amid cultural disputes over origins like kimchi, leading to scene removal and an apology from the lead actor.
13. My Name (2021)
A woman infiltrates a crime syndicate for revenge. An unplanned intimate scene surprised the lead actress, leading to backlash against the production for lack of consent and communication, though the agency claimed prior discussions.
14. Narco-Saints (2022)
A businessman aids intelligence to bust a drug lord in Suriname. The negative portrayal of Suriname as a drug haven prompted a government complaint, arguing it harmed the country's image and denied such widespread issues.
15. Doctor Cha (2023)
A housewife returns to medicine after family betrayal. An episode misrepresented Crohn's disease as severely genetic and "terrible," fueling stigma and discrimination complaints, with calls to alter the title and an apology from the network.
