Viewers expect Korean dramas to be a definition of perfection, but sometimes they are left furious and disappointed because they touch on some controversial topics. The makers are also humans, and as humans, we tend to make several mistakes. These shows also protected some content that is unacceptable to the viewers. The shows got discontinued by keeping the public’s interest in mind. Some shows stated false facts about the history, which led to a series of boycotts and protests. The makers get forced to discontinue such shows and issue an apology. Some shows got surrounded by controversies because the actors got involved in a scandal. These shows make us realize the importance of censorship and sensitive writing. The interest of minorities, people from all castes and religions, and historical and cultural backgrounds should be kept in mind. While weaving the narratives, they should be keen on only portraying the facts. Since Korean dramas are kept an eye on by people from over the globe, inaccurate information could form a wrong impression in their minds.
1. Little Women
The series is banned in Vietnam because it portrayed the Vietnamese war in which many Korean soldiers got killed violently. It got banned by the Vietnamese government for its brutal scenes and the representation of lawless land, Ho Chi Minh City. It got criticized for presenting false facts about Vietnam and the war. The makers later apologized and promised to be sensitive with the representation of Vietnam in the plot.
2. Pachinko
The series got appreciated for its broad perspective on severe issues in society. It shows the struggles of women in the earlier era. The show's motive was to portray women's journey of succeeding in a male-dominated society. But it was accused of showing graphic sexual assault scenes. It also shows the migration of the Japanese and the violence they had to bear. But it was very uncomfortable for some viewers. The show tries to leave a positive impact, but it was traumatic for people to have been in similar situations.
3. Eve
The series was surrounded by controversies when the first episode got released. It had adult scenes, and viewers were uncomfortable while watching them. The age gap between the leads, Seo Ye-ji and Park Byun-eun, was also criticized. It was not only the 13 years age gap that irked the viewers but also the accusations against Seo Ye-Ji. The series was Seo Ye-Ji’s comeback since she got accused of manipulating and emotionally abusing her former boyfriend, Kim Jung-Hyun. The supporters of the drama believed that the age gap controversy was unreasonable and it was only an excuse to hate Seo Ye-Ji for her mistakes in the past.
4. Nevertheless
The series received resentment because of some scenes which were revealing. The series also edited Kim Min Gwi’s scenes because of his cheating scandal. It also failed to gather popularity and recorded the lowest viewership. The series got detested for being sexual and having unnecessary adult scenes.
5. Snowdrop
Snowdrop gained popularity because it got surrounded by controversies while it was airing. The citizens of Korea accused the makers of twisting history and making past events appear in a negative light. They also took their petition to the Blue House, gathered tremendous support, and received more than 200,000 signatures. It was severely disliked and recorded 452 complaints against it. The viewership of the show dipped after the first two episodes, but the series got continued, and all episodes were released. The makers requested the viewers to watch all the episodes and then make their judgments.
6. Squid Game
Squid Game got strictly banned in North Korea, and the smuggling of the series could lead to life-threatening consequences, something as severe as the death penalty. The series is banned because it has similarities with North Korean laws. These were laws where the disparities between the wealthy and poor got solved by ending life or killing people. It has a striking similarity to the laws in North Korea. The viewers were discouraged from watching the show because of its self-harm scenes which involved killing people for money. The show got highly appreciated, but North Korea was unamused by the plot. Some schoolchildren got found watching Squid Games using a USB, and they get immediately sent to prison.
7. The King: Eternal Monarch
The series got surrounded by criticism for using buildings identical to the Japanese designs to portray a fictional Korean empire. The viewers noticed that the makers used the Japanese seal to represent the Korean seal. The makers issued a heartfelt apology stating that they had no intentions of using Japanese flags on Korean warships, but due to COVID, they couldn't shoot in Japan and make the necessary edits. They also explained that they didn't have detailed knowledge about the designs of the warships and the differences in the structures.
8. Joseon Exorcist
The series could have been a perfect historical blockbuster, but it got bashed by the public and was one of the most disliked series. It manipulated real-life characters into a fictional plot. People started questioning the credibility of the writers. It also got accused of plagiarism of a costume that Moo Hwa wore. The same costume got worn by Ju JingYi in the Chinese drama. The ban on this particular series gained a lot of eyes.
9. Mr. Queen
The series was doing well, but it got bashed by the people for several reasons. It got criticized for maligning King Cheol Jong, Queen Shin Jong's image. It showcased the Queen as being credulous. They also used the Jongmyo temple, a UNESCO world site, for its comical scenes and for making a joke out of the temple. They shot rituals for worshiping in the temple, and it didn't sit well with the audience because they felt it was disrespectful.
10. Empress Ki
The series got highly watched, but it got criticized for bending reality. People were unhappy with the plot of the end of the Yuan dynasty set in China. It also disregarded the eminent historical idols. The series gained popularity for its controversial nature. It was for high viewership because of all the controversies.
