Kdrama fans, there is a massive issue revolving around JTBC “Snowdrop” drama, starring BLACKPINK Jisoo and Jung Hae In. Are you wondering why everyone made such a big deal that they signed petitions, and what REALLY happened? Here’s the full explanation about JTBC “Snowdrop” drama issue.
Petition to Stop JTBC “Snowdrop” Drama Has Surpassed 300,000 Signatures in TWO Days
JTBC new drama, “Snowdrop,” marks the acting debut of BLACKPINK Jisoo as lead role alongside her sunbae, actor Jung Hae In, and despite Jisoo’s outstanding performance, this drama raised a massive issue about Korean nationalism.
On December 21, various media reported that over 300,000 signatures have participated in an exclusive petition to stop JTBC “Snowdrop” drama from broadcasting. Moreover, the number of signatures immediately rose to 300,000 in just TWO days since it started on December 19.
“There are actual activist victims who were tortured and murdered during the democratic movements because they were [falsely] accused of being spies without any grounds.
Creating a drama with a plot like that despite this historical truth undermines the value of the democratic movement.”
– Petition to the Blue House for canceling “Snowdrop”.
Petition to cancel drama ‘Snowdrop’ close to surpassing 300,000 signatures. pic.twitter.com/DnC2BwAt30
— globalmyeon (@globalmyeon) December 20, 2021
So, what’s the big issue about JTBC “Snowdrop” drama, and what REALLY happened? Check out this entire story and explanation.
JTBC “Snowdrop” Drama Starring BLACKPINK Jisoo and Jung Hae In Has Allegedly Distorted the South Korean History
Since the JTBC production team released the “Snowdrop” synopsis earlier in 2021, many South Korean citizens have argued against the drama production. They have submitted petitions to the Korean Blue House to prevent the drama from broadcasting. Why? Because according to the South Koreans, this drama has completely distorted the history of South Korea.
Yes. This is the cluster of articles on daum news about Snowdrop. Almost all of them are discussing the history issue. https://t.co/JUyOsQA1pH pic.twitter.com/zPDeipJh4J
— 아나탈 (@gatamchun) December 20, 2021
Snowdrop General Storyline
In the first two episodes of JTBC “Snowdrop”, the drama tells a story of a blood-covered young man breaking into the dorm of a female university. This man, Lim Soo Ho (Jung Hae In), came across a young university student, Eun Yeong Cho (BLACKPINK Jisoo). Eun Yeong Cho then nurses Lim Soo Ho’s injury and hides him from the authorities.
However, once the two of them fall in love, Yeong Cho finds out that the man she had saved is a professional spy from the “motherland” (no further explanation available about who/what “motherland” yet). At the end of the day, despite their feelings for each other, Lim Soo Ho has faced a direct order to kill Eun Yeong Cho with his own hands.
JTBC “Snowdrop” Storyline is Hugely Problematic
First and foremost, the main issue about the JTBC drama, “Snowdrop”, starring Jisoo and Jung Hae In lies in the storyline itself.
The concept and setting of the JTBC “Snowdrop” drama were during the South Korean democratic movement in June 1987. At the time, countless university students led a massive movement in South Korea, demanding a fair and democratic presidential election. This event is publicly known as the “June Democratic Struggle (June Struggle)” or “June Democratic Uprising”.
The June Struggle (6월 민주항쟁 六月民主抗爭), also known as ‘the June Democracy Movement’ and ‘June Democratic Uprising’ was a nationwide democracy movement in South Korea that generated mass protests from June 10 to June 29, 1987.https://t.co/PL1HKD9rBv pic.twitter.com/v1dIMiqVNx
— Window Korea (@windowkorea) June 10, 2019
Furthermore, during the June Democratic Struggle, South Korea was under the oppression of a giant dictatorship. And this dictatorship involved the National Intelligence itself. Now, this is where the “Snowdrop” drama issue starts due to its problematic storyline.
In the story, the main character, Lim Soo Ho, is an actual spy in disguise as a student protester. But, according to the South Koreans, that is basically turning history upside down because back then, the National Intelligence falsely accused the student protesters of being a spy. As a result, they captured, beat, and tortured the innocent student protesters to the point of death despite their innocence.
That is why South Koreans believe that creating a main character who is an actual spy pretending to be a student protester distorts the whole history of the democratic movement. And not only that, but it also mocks the sacrifice of the students who fought hard for the South Korean democracy at the time.
Historical Distortion Issue Explanation of JTBC “Snowdrop” Drama: Character Names
The next issue that caused the protests from South Korean citizens was when they found out that the male character’s surname, “Lim”, and female character’s original name “Yeong Cho” were actually taken from real-life figures.
Both “Lim” and “Yeong Cho” are the names of the student protesters at that time. However, while Yeong Cho seemed quite a popular name back then, a real “Chun Yeong Cho” actually fought during the June Struggle. Moreover, Yeong Cho’s husband, Jung Moon Hwa was—in fact—a participant in the movement himself. But then, he was tortured because of a false accusation of him being a spy. Chun Yeong Cho survived the torture, but her husband died young after his imprisonment due to malnutrition.
Then, in JTBC “Snowdrop” drama, the male character, Lim Soo Ho, is—ironically—a REAL spy who disguised himself as a student protestor. That is why South Koreans believe it is incredibly cruel and immoral to have Yeong Cho’s name in “Snowdrop”.
At the end of the day, they changed the name of Jisoo’s character from Yeong Cho to Yeong Ro.
Various Brands and Sponsors Canceled Their Support After Netizen Boycotts
Due to this huge issue revolving around “Snowdrop” drama and South Korean history, South Korean netizens started circulating brand names involved as the sponsors. This action then led to boycotts of the brands and companies.
As a result, various brands and sponsors decided to cancel their support for “Snowdrop”. The sponsor names include P&J Group, Ssarijai, GANISONG, TEAZEN, Dopyeongyo, Dyson, Downy, SONO SEASON, and Hans Electronics.
JTBC “Snowdrop” Drama Issue: Company Explanation
Finally, on December 21, the JTBC production company released a statement regarding the “Snowdrop” drama issue.
According to the statement, “Snowdrop” is a creative work with military regime settings. Therefore, the story contains fictional stories related to the party in power, which—at the time—was colluding with the North Korean government to maintain authority. JTBC “Snowdrop” drama focuses on the personal stories of those used and victimized by the people in power.
In addition, JTBC also stated that the “Snowdrop” story does not contain any spy leading the democratic movement. Besides, the drama didn’t show both lead characters participating in the movement during Episodes 1 and 2. And they will NOT be doing so in any part of the story in the future.
And finally, JTBC values the freedom of content creation and production independence. Therefore, they will continue broadcasting “Snowdrop”.
JTBC OFFICIAL STATEMENT
— BLΛCKPIИK GLOBAL (@BLACKPINKGLOBAL) December 21, 2021
“No intention to distort the history of ‘Seolganghwa’, misunderstandings will be resolved in future developments”
They will continue to air #Snowdrop.
Please react on the 1st reaction
🔗 https://t.co/oIBeJFci9b pic.twitter.com/JYTcGHeLvj
BLACKPINK Jisoo and Jung Hae In Share Beautiful On-Screen Chemistry
So, what do you think about the “Snowdrop” drama issue and JTBC explanation, Kdrama fans? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments and stay with Kpoppost for more updates and information. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at BLACKPINK Jisoo and Jung Hae In chemistry in JTBC “Snowdrop” drama set, despite its issue.
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I love blackpinkkkkkkkkk! 🖤💗
If you're going to write this, at least exert some effort in making sure your content is correct.
1. Eun Yeong Ro is not a nursing student, she's a college student majoring in English literature.
2. Lim So ho is not disguising as a student protester. His disguise was a graduate student who went back to Korea to write a thesis. It was Yeong Ro and her roommates who mistaken him as a protester on the run.
We're checking on this. Thanks!
Hopefully all the issues will be explained and resolved very soon.. 🥺🥺
I was wondering why there was so much controversy over this drama, thank you for the explanation. I saw some people saying that it was because south korean netizens only wanted to show the good side of the country and not this dark eras of the south korean history. Honestly, I didn't really understand that, since Youth of May also had a similar plot (except about the north korean spies). Anyway, thank you for explaining.
Blackpink jisoo is pretty cool i guess! 🖤💗