The 2023 Seoul Drama Awards, one of Korea’s prominent drama award ceremonies, faces criticism for allegedly awarding a project that plagiarized “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama. But Is this claim valid? Read on for a detailed report about the issue surrounding the Seoul Drama Awards 2023.
Seoul Drama Awards 2023 Issue & Criticism
The Seoul International Drama Awards will hold its 2023 ceremony this month. Unfortunately, despite its exciting upcoming ceremony, the prominent award must face harsh criticism from South Korean netizens.
On September 7, Korean media outlet TV Report revealed that the 2023 Seoul International Drama Awards had faced massive criticism from Korean netizens. That is because South Korean drama fans were questioning the committee’s decision in selecting the project to which they would give an award.
The Seoul International Drama Awards, a premier South Korean event, boasts participation from over 334 dramas across 44 countries. The international award ceremony, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, will also present awards honoring projects from other countries.
Previously, reports mentioned that prominent Korean dramas, including “Reborn Rich”, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”, and “The Glory,” would receive awards in the ceremony this year. In addition to the above prominent Korean drama, Seoul International Drama Award 2023 has also selected multiple projects from overseas to be gifted special honors in the upcoming ceremony.
Unfortunately, upon learning about the projects chosen by the Seoul Drama Awards 2023, Korean netizens voiced their criticism for an issue that the chosen project entails: an alleged plagiarism of “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama.
Protests Over Honoring a Chinese Project Allegedly Plagiarizing “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean Drama
So, what really happened behind the Seoul Drama Awards 2023 issue and criticism?
According to TV Report, while honoring projects from other countries, the prominent drama award selected a Chinese drama, “Meet Yourself” starring actors Liu Yifei and Li Xian. While the Chinese drama has received massive attention and support from international drama enthusiasts, Korean netizens suspected that “Meet Yourself” had allegedly plagiarized “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama starring Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho.
Chinese drama “Meet Yourself” tells the story of a woman who decides to take a break from her metropolitan lifestyle. After suffering from a series of tragedies and misfortunes, she wants to find peace and quiet under the protection of a remote village in Yunnan Province.
Even though the project was not a remake of “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama, Korean netizens feel the core storyline bears too much resemblance. Not only that, but the settings and stories between the male and female leads were also the same, including meeting under bickering circumstances and the male lead constantly helping the female lead whenever she ran into trouble in the village.
Some Korean viewers eventually pointed out that the drama’s opening logos and the village settings were too similar to “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama.
Therefore, they criticized the Seoul International Drama Awards 2023 for giving an award to such a project.
“Meet Yourself” VS “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean Drama Issue: Was it REALLY Plagiarism?
Although the award committee hasn’t released an official statement, many international drama enthusiasts have defended both the Seoul Drama Awards 2023 and “Meet Yourself”.
According to fans, the similarity between the two projects was only that they both romanticized the concept of rural life. However, such a theme has been common within Korean drama itself. Korean drama projects that adapted rural life living concept include “When the Weather is Fine,” “When the Camellia Blooms,” and “Our Blues”.
Therefore, accusing “Meet Yourself” of plagiarizing “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” Korean drama is similarly accusing these projects of plagiarizing each other.
It's really two of different dramas. I've watched and liked both of them. And nope, Meet Yourself isnt a copy from Homecha.
— Dewi (@dewis207) September 8, 2023
Meeting yourself is definitely different from 'Hometown Chacha.' I can't believe how petty they are. It's obvious they haven't watched the drama.
— Dial D For Dramas (@DialDForDramas) September 9, 2023
I know Hometown Cha Cha Cha has been immensely popular since its release, but that doesn't give it sole domain over the basic premise of a working woman retreating to a rural town.
— Paroma (cw: Inuyasha, Moving, My Lovely Liar 🫣) (@thedramanotes) September 7, 2023
Also can we please recall that HCCC itself was an adaptation of 2004's Mr. Hong? 🙄
Still, what do you think about this Seoul Drama Awards issue? Do you believe that it is unfair to give the award to “Meet Yourself” since it was allegedly similar to “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
In the meantime, stay with Kpoppost’s Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram channel. Also, let’s reminisce the beautiful chemistry between Kim Seon Ho and Shin Min Ah.
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