Niki Chu

I understand your point very well, but as of now, the problematic organization in question has not been portrayed as heroic at all and after seeing only two episodes, it just seems like too much to cancel the show. The producers made it known months ago that they were aware of the public's concerns and they weren't going to disrespect those who were oppressed. That's why I think people should have some patience and wait until it's a sure thing the plot is going to remain unchangingly problematic.

I was thinking the same thing, it's not even like China or the US is distorting Korea's recent history. The drama is made by Koreans for Koreans mostly. Even Disney + is only distributing it in a few selected countries outside of Korea. They must be confident about airing this despite the backlash cause the drama is (hopefully) going to calm everyone down as the plot advances. They asked the public to give them a chance and to trust them. I hope they do. At least for another week or two.

Yeah Human Rights might go down the drain in politically unstable times but we are viewers of the 21st century. From our knowledge about history, we condemn dictatorship and violence and we are also aware that there are several versions of how history can be viewed in retrospect. I think we are able to figure out that the show is a) not trying to teach us a lesson about real historical facts and b) is never portraying the students in a disrespectful light and I think it's them Korean viewers are worried about the most when voicing their complaints. I would give the drama a chance for another 2-3 episodes. Seriously, just a week ago I finished a show where the very last minute before the ending credits changed my perception of the whole freaking thing.

That's what I'm thinking but sadly, people really want to find fault in this production and went into this whole thing loaded with prejudices...

No, it doesn't make them good people. Killing young people for political reasons is wrong, doesn't matter if they are North or South Koreans or from any other country in the world. That's what many tend to forget when caught up in patriotic sentiments: mourning the deaths of the own people. Other deaths seem irrelevant then.

I get what you're saying but even if the NIS had in fact been chasing North Koreans only, it wouldn't make them the "good guys". It's never right to torture and kill people.

But we still don't know anything about Jung Hae In's character's intentions. There was a scene with his sister, what if his reasons for doing whatever he is are not political but have something to do with his family? That's the only thing I'm saying, we don't have the big picture yet. Just assumptions at this point.

Yes, but apparently a North Korean who escaped a political prison.

Three thoughts from an outsider's perspective:
1. Would censoring or cancelling creative work not be totally anti-democtratic and undermine the very reason people died back in the 80s?
2. So if the people who were captured, tortured and killed had really been NK spies, then it would have been okay? I think it still would have been brutal and unforgivable. Thus, the show is not really romanticizing anything.
3. The synopsis says "Adapted from the handwritten notes of a man who escaped from a political prison camp in North Korea". Chances are, he's not a spy after all, just someone who doesn't belong anywhere (as someone who is considered an enemy in both North and South Korea) and is trying to find a way to survive?
I wish people were more patient and would just wait and see how things will unfold. This drama seems to be rather complex and we haven't seen the bigger picture yet...

I’ve been following this whole controversy since the beginning of it and I’m quite speechless. There’s no way an insanely expensive project with such a star studded cast to its name would overlook the complaints it received while still at the filming stage. They assured everyone that the plot would unfold differently and the blue house gave its green light after monitoring the script. I can’t believe people want to cancel it after just 2 episodes. There are going to be another 18. Do people expect the director and writer to reveal the whole story?

Thank you! I will :)

I heard there was a really good fan-made alternate ending somewhere. Does anyone know which one is meant? I'm curious now after completing the series.

I don't believe they intended to receive so much attention over negative publicity but it's sure going to make the ratings explode, so it might turn out to be a good thing after all

True, there's a lot of criticism in Korea too regarding the low number of required signatures

I get your point, but by accusing people here to be jobless idiots whose lives only surrounds around a drama and immature kids who need you to give them a “virtual wake-up slap”, you’re positioning yourself above everyone else. At the same time, you criticize people who believe that only they understand what this issue is all about. Also, it’s a bit weird to ask people to get a life when you yourself proved with your elaborate comment that you have apparently read every comment here, analyzed and categorized them even. I’m not saying that you’re wrong about wanting people to calm down, but the way you chose your words is kinda annoying

I checked the comment sections of the actors’ recent Instagram posts and almost everyone who leaves a negative comment (in korean) and demands the cancellation of the drama uses a fake account. I think there are just a few hundred people behind this whole mess, they use different accounts and post the same content everywhere, non-stop. I wonder how it works with the petition on the blue house page. Is it possible for one person to vote more than once?

I hope so

Those people are weird, given just a genre name they conclude it's going to be a funny show with a sensitive historical setting as a mere backdrop to a love story. They forget that Jisoo is an idol and thus the romance part can't be the key aspect of the drama. Also, there are many other main roles and Jtbc stated that the drama is going to revolve around the lives of young men and women who were sacrificed in the political whirlwind of the late 80s. Sounds more like a political melodrama. But yeah, 80.000 have already signed the petition cause all they heard from the statement was "comedy", just a word taken out of a context they don't even want to wait and see for themselves.

True, they should clarify this and release a statement if they don't want the issue to get out of hand beyond repair. But I think they are confident they can clear things up or else they wouldn't have resumed filming today like nothing is wrong. Let's hope for the best.

Well, I know for sure I’m going to boycott Korean brands and entertainment if the future of creative work in Korea is going to be handed to a bunch of hateful netizens who are clearly just exerting their power because they were successful once with JE and now feel like they are almighty. They’re not able to change anything about the serious problems in their country, so the government lets them have the last word in trivial pop-cultural matters like this. Sadly, it’s ruining the lives of people involved in these productions and I can’t tolerate that.