'Historical Distortion Controversy' Drama Seolgwanghwa, Injunction Request for Screening Ban Dismissed

On the 29th, a bus with a poster of the JTBC drama 'Snowdrop,' which has been embroiled in controversy over historical distortion, was operating in the Mapo-gu area of Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] The court dismissed a petition by a civic group requesting a ban on the screening of the JTBC drama 'Snowdrop,' which has been embroiled in controversy over alleged distortion of the democratization movement.

The Seoul Western District Court Civil Division 21 (Chief Presiding Judge Byungtae Park) on the 29th dismissed the provisional injunction petition filed by the civic group World Citizens Declaration against JTBC to ban the screening of 'Snowdrop.'

World Citizens Declaration stated, "'Snowdrop' actively glorifies the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) by portraying ANSP officers who tortured and killed numerous democratization activists without reason as earnest and passionate public officials. It teaches a distorted view of history to generations who did not experience these historical events and unjustifiably justifies the glorification of state violence, instilling erroneous values," and filed the injunction petition.

In response, JTBC argued, "'Snowdrop' is a creative work that shows the personal stories of those who were exploited and sacrificed by those in power," adding, "The historical distortion and disparagement of the democratization movement pointed out by the petitioner will be largely resolved as the drama progresses." They also stated that the drama's content is far from historical distortion or dictatorship advocacy.

The court also ruled that the petitioner's rights are not directly infringed by the screening of 'Snowdrop.' The court judged, "Even if the content of 'Snowdrop' is based on a distorted view of history as claimed by the creditor (World Citizens Declaration), it is difficult to believe that the public who encounter it will blindly accept the content."

Furthermore, the court stated, "There is no explicit legal provision recognizing the creditor's interest in 'inheriting the spirit of the democratic uprising and the solidarity of the people resisting state violence across borders,'" and "Even if this is regarded as a personality right derived from the Constitution, it is difficult to see the creditor's personality rights as infringed unless the drama's content directly targets the creditor."

'Snowdrop' is a period drama set in Seoul in 1987, depicting the love story between female university student Youngro (played by Jisoo) and Suho (played by Jung Hae-in), who runs into the women's dormitory covered in blood. From the production stage, controversy arose over 'disparagement of the democratization movement.' Over 355,000 people agreed to a Blue House petition filed on the 20th requesting the suspension of the broadcast.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.