Writer & Director Behind “Tempest” Shares Jun Ji Hyun’s Reaction To Backlash For Alleged Anti-China Controversy Due To Drama
Director Kim Hee Won and writer Jung Seo Kyung of the Disney+ drama “Tempest” revealed that they were deeply impressed by the attitude shown by actress Jun Ji Hyun during the “anti-China controversy,” which was sparked by one of her lines in the drama.
At the “Tempest” finale round interview held at 11 a.m. recently, writer Jung Seo Kyung began by saying, “From the beginning, I wanted to show Korea but make the events happening in this world appear fictional.” She continued, “The countries that appear in the drama only share the same names, but they do not represent actual nations — they are fictional forces. In fact, we could have changed all the country names, but I judged that doing so would break immersion. In other words, even China is only a fictional China; it only shares the same name.”
Director Kim Hee Won explained, “Jun Ji Hyun is the type who always looks out for global viewers. All the actors simply conveyed what was given to them with sincerity in their acting.” Writer Jung Seo Kyung added, “We would have explained through social media if we could, but we didn’t know when or how to bring it up. Thanks to the reporters’ questions today, we were finally able to clarify.”
Jung Seo Kyung also expressed gratitude toward Jun Ji Hyun, saying, “I was moved by the composure that Jun Ji Hyun showed during this incident. She cared for fans who may have been disappointed, expressed regret to the production team, and instead comforted us a lot. In the drama, her character Seo Mun Ju is someone who pushes forward until the end, and Jun Ji Hyun resembles her in that way.”
Director Kim Hee Won also recalled, “Jun Ji Hyun is an actress with many global fans. There was absolutely no political intent — she’s just an actress who gives her best in acting with the sole intention of satisfying viewers. She’s a big-hearted actress. Even on set, when the director or writer was left alone, she was always there, saying ‘Do well,’ and cheering us on. She was a source of strength in every moment.”
Meanwhile, the scene in “Tempest” where Jun Ji Hyun’s character, former UN ambassador turned presidential candidate Seo Mun Ju, says, “Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could even fall in the border area,” spread quickly on Chinese social media. Some netizens claimed that the line distorted China’s image and raised criticism.
“Tempest” is a spy-melodrama series about Seo Mun Ju (Jun Ji Hyun), who, after building international fame as a UN ambassador, tracks down the forces behind an assassination attempt on her as a presidential candidate. Alongside Baek San Ho (Kang Dong Won), a stateless special agent tasked with protecting her, she confronts a massive truth that threatens the Korean peninsula. The drama concluded on the 1st of October.
Source: (A)
