The K-drama industry has been rapidly rising over the years. It has created its very own fandom all over the globe. The industry has produced some of the most endearing and beloved series of all time, including various genres such as romance, comedy, action, thrillers, and more.
However, some K-dramas have evoked controversies among viewers despite their popularity. The list includes some highly notable dramas, including Song Joong Ki’s Vincenzo, Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri’s Twenty-Five Twenty-One, and more. Let’s take a closer look at some of the controversial K-dramas below.
Vincenzo
Vincenzo is undoubtedly one of the most popular crime romance K-drama series of all time. It stars Song Joong Ki as the central character, Vincenzo Cassano. It first aired on February 20, 2021, on tvN. The series is also available on Netflix.
The controversy for Vincenzo arose when episode 8 showed a scene where Vincenzo Cassano and the female lead, Hong Cha Young Jeon Yeo Been, were having some bibimbap. However, as visible in the scene, the food was a product of a Chinese brand, Zi Hai Guo. For years, South Korea and China have had disputes over the origin of several traditional dishes. Thus, this particular scene faced controversy.
Later on, after the controversy, the scene was taken out of the K-drama on all streaming services. After the controversy, actor Song Joong Ki also officially apologized. As per MyMusicTaste, the statement said, “I was in the middle of shooting when the controversy broke out. So, I decided to stay silent on the matter to focus on my job. As an actor in a title role, I think it is right to apologize to those who are disappointed with our program.”
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is another hit romantic K-drama series that became a fan favourite. It stars Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk as the main pair, along with Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin. Kwon Do Eun wrote the series, while Jung Ji Hyun directed it.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One stirred controversy among the audience with its portrayal of a romantic love story between a minor character and an adult character. Some viewers criticized it for idealizing the romance between the characters, Baek Yi Jin, an adult, and Na Hee Do, a minor.
After the K-drama concluded, actress Kim Tae Ri addressed the controversy in an interview, as per Koreaboo. While addressing the topic, she said, “The scriptwriter, director, and cast all discussed it in great detail and approached it with care.”
Bo-ra! Deborah or True to Love
Bo-ra! Deborah, also known as True to Love is a noteworthy rom-com K-drama series starring Yoo In Na as the main character, Yeon Bo Ra, aka Deborah. The series first arrived on April 12, 2023, on ENA. Ah Kyung is the writer of the series, and Seo Min Jeong and Lee Tae Gon have served as directors.
Bo-ra! Deborah created a striking controversy among viewers after a specific scene in episode 9 of the drama displayed dating and life coach influencer Yeon Bo Ra making a shocking comparison. The character compares the significance of taking care of an individual’s makeup and attire with the Auschwitz concentration camp prisoners’ efforts.
Following the controversy, the production team of Bo-ra! Deborah issued an official statement addressing the scene. The statement read, as per allkpop, “We should have approached the historical facts with greater accuracy, and we deeply regret not having done so. Our intention was never to trivialize historical tragedies, and we offer our sincere apologies.” The scene was also removed from the ENA drama.
Doctor Cha
Doctor Cha is a popular medical comedy K-drama, that first aired on JTBC, on April 15, 2023. The series is also available on the streaming platforms TVING and Netflix in selected regions. The drama stars Uhm Jung Hwa and Kim Byung Chul as the prime characters, as well as Cha Jeong Suk and Seo In Ho.
Episode 7 of Doctor Cha faced heavy criticism from viewers due to a specific scene where the would-be in-laws of a patient with Crohn’s disease accuse the patient of hiding the disease as they claim it to be a genetic issue. However, in reality, Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel issue, and there is no scientific evidence to support its classification as a genetic disease.
After the controversy arose, JTBC addressed the science and released an official statement. It stated, as per TheKoreaTimes, “The scene was intended to deal with a specific case of a patient suffering from chronic complications among various symptoms of Crohn’s disease. However, we admit that our explanation was insufficient in a way that could lead to discrimination toward those with this illness.” Thus, JTBC apologized to the viewers for the portrayal of medical inaccuracy in that scene.
