One Of The Biggest Hallyu Actresses Faces Boycotts In China After Disney+ Drama Line Causes Backlash
Chinese netizens are outraged over actress Jun Ji Hyun’s lines in the drama “Tempest.”
According to Hong Kong outlets such as Chengdu Daily on the 21st of September, scenes of Jun Ji Hyun’s character “Moon Ju” from the drama “Tempest” have been circulating, sparking backlash among local netizens.
In the drama, Jun Ji Hyun plays a former UN ambassador running for president. In one scene, she says, “Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall on the border area.”
Chinese viewers have pointed out several issues, including the fact that the drama was filmed in a Hong Kong shantytown but was set as Dalian, China, that the villains were depicted speaking Chinese, and that a carpet symbolizing China’s five-star emblem was shown being stepped on. They argue that “Tempest” intentionally damages China’s image.
As a result, advertisements for cosmetic and watch brands that Jun Ji Hyun models for have been pulled, and the controversy has grown into a boycott.
However, the Disney+ original series “Tempest” is not officially available in China. Since the controversy originated from unauthorized viewing, Korean netizens have reacted negatively, saying, “Why create pointless controversies while watching dramas illegally?” and “Only talk about it when it’s officially released.”
Meanwhile, ” Tempest” tells the story of Moon Ju, who pursues the truth behind the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, and Sanho, a stateless special agent who must protect her. Together, they face a massive truth that threatens the Korean peninsula. The drama stars Jun Ji Hyun, Kang Dong Won, John Cho, and Park Hae Joon.
Source: (A)
