On December 19, an unreleased poster for tvN·TVING’s original drama “The Queen Who Crowns”, set to air in January 2025, was leaked online. The poster, featuring actress Cha Joo-young as the protagonist Queen Wongyeong, sparked backlash due to her outfit.
“The Queen Who Crowns” is based on the life of Queen Wongyeong, the wife of Taejong Lee Bang-won, the third king of the Joseon dynasty. However, in the leaked image, Cha Joo-young is dressed in a black halter-neck outfit, which led to public criticism. Netizens commented, “If you’re going to do this, why not just set it in a fictional era?” and “A halter-neck design for a queen’s attire is unacceptable.” Many acknowledged that the drama takes creative liberties but argued that if it’s set in the Joseon era, historical accuracy should still be maintained.
This isn’t the first time tvN historical dramas have faced such criticism. The 2022 drama “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”, which was also set in the Joseon dynasty, received similar feedback despite its popularity for exploring unique themes like “competition among princes”. Critics pointed out that while the story was fictional, many details were inconsistent with the era. For instance, Kim Hye-soo, who played the queen, referred to herself as bon-gung, a term not used by queens during the Joseon era. The premise of princes born to concubines competing with legitimate heirs for the throne also clashed with the Confucian principles that governed Joseon. Viewers argued that such liberties might have been acceptable had the drama been set in a fictional kingdom, but even fusion historical dramas should adhere to basic historical standards.
Another example is the drama “Queen Woo”, starring Jeon Jong-seo. Set in the Goguryeo period, the costumes worn by Queen Woo faced criticism for resembling Chinese styles rather than reflecting Goguryeo’s cultural identity. PyeongChang Olympics costume director Kim Ki-sook commented, “If you’re using something unfamiliar, you can invoke imagination to create fantastical designs. But when using something similar, you must be cautious.” Experts also agreed that the costumes bore a striking resemblance to those seen in Chinese dramas.
While these dramas have been praised for centering on women’s narratives and offering fresh stories, the lack of effort to ensure historical accuracy has drawn harsh criticism from viewers. Many argue that without authenticity, even the most creative concepts lose their impact.
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