SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE Faces MORE Massive Criticism for Alleged Historical Distortion

The Korean drama industry has done it again! This time, See You in My 19th Life Korean drama starring Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun must face yet another round of massive criticisms for historical distortion controversy. So, what happened to Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun’s new drama? Continue reading for a more detailed discussion.

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SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE Starring Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun Faces More Controversy

The new webtoon-adapted drama starring Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun, See You in My 19th Life, must face more massive criticisms.

Previously, See You in My 19th Life Korean drama became the center of fans’ criticism for its casting decisions. However, the previous controversy immediately died down after the stunning performance and transformation of its leading actor Ahn Bo Hyun.

This time, an ambiguous scene in See You in My 19th Life has stirred up additional controversy.

So, what happened behind Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun’s new drama controversy? And was it really a mistake or simply a misunderstanding?

What Happened to Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun New Korean Drama?

See You in My 19th Life Korean drama is an adaptation of a webtoon with the same title. It tells the story of the main character Ban Ji Eum (Shin Hye Sun), who can remember all the memories she has accumulated from her 18 lifetimes.

Now, in her 19th life, she’s searching for Seo Ha (Ahn Bo Hyun), a man she met as a young boy in her 18^th life. Sadly, as an adult man, Seo Ha is now suffering from the trauma and grief of witnessing her death.

During its early episodes, the show briefly revisits the memories and past lives of Ban Ji Eum. In one of her lifetimes, the Korean drama stated that Ban Ji Eum lived her 4th life as an Arabian man in the 10^th century. At the time, the man claimed to have invented an alcoholic beverage called Arak, the initial form of drink that brought the present-day Soju.

via GIPHY

This particular scene from See You in My 19th Life Korean drama brought anger and massive criticism from the audience. Apparently, See You in My 19th Life Korean drama had allegedly distorted Iranian history by performing such a narrative for Ban Ji Eum’s 4^th life.

According to the viewers, it was Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Al Razi who first discovered sulfuric acid and ethanol, the basic compound of alcoholic beverages. And Muhammad Razi was an Iranian, not Arabian.

Following the episode’s broadcast, viewers flooded comments on Netflix Korea’s Instagram account with endless criticisms. The viewers demand the production team of See You in My 19th Life Korean drama to apologize and revise the particular scene.

SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE Faces MORE Massive Criticism for Alleged Historical Distortion — Viewers’ comments on Netflix Korea’s Instagram. | Instagram

SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE Korean Drama Controversy: A Possible Misunderstanding?

While Korean dramas have become widely beloved globally, they also have a reputation for poor quality in research, frequent historical distortions, and culturally insensitive scenes

Previously, countless series have faced massive backlash for such controversies, including Reborn Rich, Big Mouth, and Little Women.

However, this time, the controversy surrounding See You in My 19th Life starring Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun, may stem from a misunderstanding between the viewers and the production team.

While the very origin of alcoholic beverages undoubtedly stemmed from the discoveries of the great Iranian scientist Muhammad Razi, the scene specifically discussed and mentioned Arak.

During the episode, Ban Ji Eum lived as a man who created Arak around the 10^th century. Therefore, it is possible that the scene refers to the person who created Arak—the original beverage of modern-day Soju—not the person who discovered the ethanol.

The Origin of Arak

According to CNN, the history of Arak particularly dates back to the experiment of an Arabian scientist, Jabir ibn Hayyan. At the time, he experimented with wine distillation, which then resulted in the early form of Arak.

This historical reference was almost accurate except for the approximate period of the discoveries. That is because CNN specifically mentioned that Jabir ibn Hayyan was an Arabian scientist living in the 8^th century, not the 10^th.

“Historians trace the development of alcohol distillation to several different times and places.
In the Middle East, Arak’s invention is often attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan, the father of Arab chemistry. The 8th-century scientist is credited with creating the alembic, allowing the distillation of alcohol from wine and beer.
He wasn’t trying to make alcohol, as the story has it. Instead, he was experimenting to refine al-kohl production, a traditional form of eyeliner, according to Arak Muaddi, a Palestinian craft distillery.
Then, he distilled wine and ended up producing a strong, clear spirit – an early form of Arak.”
CNN.

Therefore, if this possibility is true, the controversy is simply a misunderstanding between the production team and the viewers.

Your Thoughts?

So, what do you think about this controversy surrounding See You in My 19th Life Korean drama starring Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun? Was it really a historical distortion or merely a misunderstanding?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. And stay up to date with Kpop and Kdrama news on Kpoppost’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram channel.