Petition to scrap Perfect Crown nears approval with 99% support

May 26, 2026, 08:53 am

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Promotional image for the MBC drama Perfect Crown. /MBC

A public petition calling for the removal of the MBC drama Perfect Crown over allegations of historical distortion has reached a 99% approval rate on South Korea’s National Assembly petition platform.

According to the National Assembly’s public petition website on Monday, the petition titled “Request to suspend broadcasting and remove content linked to historical distortion and Northeast Project controversies” surpassed 49,500 signatures within four days of being posted on May 22. As of 8:45 a.m., it had collected 49,523 signatures, reaching 99% of the threshold required for review by a parliamentary committee.

Under South Korean rules, petitions that gather more than 50,000 signatures within 30 days are referred to a relevant standing committee.

The petitioner argued that the drama, despite being set in a fictional version of modern-day Korea, “indiscriminately borrows Chinese-style costumes, etiquette and vocabulary,” thereby distorting Korean cultural identity and history.

The petition specifically criticized the drama’s use of the royal slogan “Cheonse” (“Long live”), depictions of Chinese-style tea ceremonies, and what it described as a confusing mix of Joseon-era king and emperor symbolism.

The petitioner claimed the production portrayed Korea as “a vassal state-level country” and warned that it could leave viewers with distorted perceptions of Korean history and culture.

Although the production team later announced plans to revise certain audio lines and subtitles following the backlash, the petition argued that such measures were insufficient because the content had already spread globally through OTT platforms.

The petition further described the drama as “traitorous content” that could provide justification for neighboring countries’ alleged attempts to appropriate Korean history and culture.

Citing Article 5 of South Korea’s Broadcasting Act, the petitioner argued that broadcasting should promote national identity and healthy public sentiment, adding that “simple disciplinary measures or subtitle corrections should not serve as immunity for content that damages national identity.”

The petition demanded the immediate suspension of the drama, the complete removal of the series from domestic and overseas OTT and VOD platforms, and institutional measures to restrict future government support and broadcasting licenses for similar productions.

Since its premiere, Perfect Crown has faced mounting criticism online over its depiction of Chinese-style tea culture and royal terminology. Although the production staff and cast members have issued apologies, public anger has continued to grow.

#Perfect Crown #MBC #historical distortion controversy #National Assembly petition #East Project