John Smith

At least there was evidence that everyone could see when making a complaint. That does not seem to be the case for the petition about Snowdrop. Given that this drama still has months until airing, why file a petition based on a leaked plot that may or may not be valid. I am sure there were better ways to deal with their concerns and plenty of time to do so.

I am not sure how many signatures a petition has to get to receive an official response from the government, but I hope that in the absence of proof of any wrongdoing and the pointed response from JTBC means the government can avoid having to get involved.

My guess is that with JTBC doubling down on moving forward, they feel that there is no legal consequences. I read that Snowdrop changed the name of a character, so they also realize that they have to adapt to the current environment. I think their PR and to some extent their legal department will earn their paychecks.

(It takes two to make a lovely exchange, so I appreciate it.)

I think most Americans would petition the government only if they felt a law was being broken. When possible, I do think that it is best to let things sort themselves out without government interference, and usually profit or loss is the determining factor.
In the case of Snowdrop, I am curious how the second statement by JTBC is being received, and if that has toned down the calls for the government to do something. Those who are quick to yell that something is wrong are often the most quiet when it comes to admitting they were wrong themselves.
If any unexpected benefit comes from this controversy, it may be that international viewers have been encouraged to learn more about South Korean political history.

I do not think anyone suggested that was a possibility just because. Anything broad and hypothetical is not clear in any shape or form. I just wanted to point out that there are avenues for citizens and viewers to express their complaints.
About the drama Snowdrop, it is more of a public relations issue than one of legality or overarching question of freedom of speech, although I suppose both might have their place.
I do see where JTBC issued a second statement with more information about the drama in hopes of gaining control of the narrative. I had suggested that is what they should have done sooner, but I do understand they wanted to make sure it was done right not quick.

The right to petition is in the First Amendment. The Federal Communications Commission has a consumer complaint section, but that seems more relative after the drama or movie has or is airing. To prevent a movie from being made might take a more grassroots effort, or assistance of local authorities. These are things that American citizens need to know. Democracy only works through constant use.

100,000 citizens are not a majority but are 100,000 voices that want to be heard. Artistic freedom is freedom but it is not absolute. I am not sure what you mean about the slave comment, but I take it as you still being disrespectful in your comments. I would argue that there is no real normal society, just society trying to function as normal as possible. It is almost impossible for frustrations not to spill over in a society that values democratic ideas since being able to voice opinions freely means you might hear opinions that you might not like. Society is a collection of people and you cannot expect to not see flaws that are present in everyone. People are constantly fighting for their ideas of justice, truth, and fairness but often in their own way. The idea that Ji Soo has anything to do with what is going on with either Joseon Exorcist or Snowdrop seems laughable and more insulting to the Ji Soo's victims. Ji Soo admitted to some fault and got fired from a drama. That was about a month ago. He is not being destroyed as some people want to imagine. I do think that people like to have an outlet for their worries, anger, sadness, and even joy. Fair or not, that is not something you can group and say all or nothing. Each case should be viewed independently. Perhaps it is foolish to think that one incident or event can change society, but it could be the spark that sets things in motion to create that change.
As far as the events that the drama is supposedly referring to, I do not know enough about it or about Korean society and culture to comment about that right now. About the mechanics and optics of what is going on, I can say that it seems that people are using their voices and tools available to make their thoughts and opinions heard. Who knows how many people (currently 145,000) agree with those who signed the petition? As I have commented before, this is just as much of a public relations issue now as it is about anything else. What is JTBC and Snowdrop doing to do? It seems like they cannot just hope for the best and do nothing. I also imagine that those who want to see it air should be doing something as well, whether you want to watch it or just have the option not to watch it.

I would be interested in seeing what the local performing arts theatre would do with this work.

This is one of those polarizing topics (the recent Joseon Exorcist cancellation and the bullying controversies also come to mind) that are really so complex that it is hard to avoid conflicts, even if at first glance you might agree with someone's thoughts. I think the best one can do is to try to find the gems among the rough that you want to reply to, or post your thoughts and respond to those who value your words even if they might not agree with them.

For the record, I am pretty sure that everyone is problematic (in their opinions?) is not what you were trying to say. You could have said that at the beginning and left out all of the other insulting and condescending remarks. You went out of your way to upset people with some of your comments.
I am not sure if my opinion matters the most, but it matters the most to me.

Did you create a secondary account to post your comment?

I would like to live in a world where people can decide what to watch or not watch. But that is not always the case. Even in the presence of perfect laws and absolute rights, we are imperfect people with limited capacity.
I feel that censorship is a powerful tool that should rarely be used and certainly not for something that is based on partial knowledge or assumptions.
The issue in this particular situation with waiting it out is that nothing good can come of it. Instead of it being a censorship or viewership issue, it is a public relations one. That is why I made the suggestion, not because I am against the right to privacy or against freedom of speech.

As an international viewer, I lack the depth of understanding about South Korean society that enables me to make a more confident decision about matters that clearly mean a lot to South Koreans.

Whether the television station is public or even subscription ones like cable or streaming, the citizens are the most important part of the system. Should citizens be denied the right to express their thoughts on matters? It is a two way street of course and stories should be able to be told just as much as they should be able to be listened to. Mentioning Jisoo is not the same thing as what is going on with these two dramas. If South Korean is a democracy, then the citizens elect politicians, and in turn they appoint officials that help keep government running. In a sense, it is the citizens who have the ultimate power of censor. I also think that being obscene and making disrespectful comments is not the way to get others to value your opinion. I am willing to sift through the dirt and look for treasure, but not everyone might be willing to, and I do not want your opinions to fall on deaf ears as the questions of freedom of speech, censorship, and culture are all important and worth a discussion.

If you like the actors, and/or the general plot and wish to see it, make some sort of effort to convince others that it is worth the effort or at the very least do not complain about censoring if you seek to censor opposing views. Being an international viewer, I lack the understanding of Korean entertainment and cultural values, so I tend to want to be able to choose what dramas I want to see. But just as there are limits to freedom, I can imagine that there might be dramas that would never be allowed to be made. I am not saying that this is one of them since little to nothing is known.

Since this is coming on the heels of the cancellation of Joseon Exorcist, it probably has everyone wondering what is the state of Korean entertainment. Snowdrop has not even aired yet. To make a massive effort without all of the facts is a bit foolhardy. Like my thoughts on Joseon Exorcist, I hope that viewers would be able to make the choice to watch, not watch, or even use petitions and complaints through proper channels to remove it. I would much rather know I am doing the right thing rather than thinking I am doing the right thing. Maybe releasing a full synopsis, outlines, or script pages might help with the public's understanding of what the drama is or is not about.
Once again, I think it points to the importance of having every aspect of a drama from writing to producing to airing and everything in between on point. After these recent controversies (however they end up), I have a new respect for dramas in general. A mediocre one that gets aired seems good. I relish good ones as time well spent. Those few excellent dramas are cherished even more now.

While I am glad to see that viewers (and more broadly citizens) have the ability to shape the entertainment they watch, it is also one that I hope they use wisely. I do not possess an understanding of all that goes into making a Korean drama and getting it on air, but I wonder how this happened. Surely the station does not blindly air shows. Nor does a script not get edited and okayed for use. Was there no one that suggested that this outcome was a possibility? Was there opposition and they were silenced or overruled?

I do not think that the production of this series has gone to waste. I think it offers insight into the power that viewers have and lessons to learn for dramas in the future. I also think it underscores the importance of every part of a drama from the writing to the airing and everything in between. While I think it is okay to be critical of everyone involved, it is important to realize that not everyone involved has the same power to affect change in the drama or dramas in general. For example, actors are literally the face of the dramas, so while they may make an obvious and easy target for those who have issues with a drama, there is not much they can do except avoid participating in those dramas. It is probably why agents and PR are so important for those working in entertainment. It is okay to be critical of someone's involvement, but be realistic and fair about it.

One thing I am sure about is that I hope controversies like this do not lead to the stagnation of the entertainment industry, or some heavily moderated oversight of entertainment in general. If people have the power to make dramas and people have the power to watch them or not, things usually have a way of working themselves out. While it may not be a perfect system, it is better than going to extremes.

My thoughts on SBS' decision is that if they were forced to do it by the government, then that is what they had to do. I also understand that if the South Korean people have made their voices heard, either through complaints, protests, or other means and SBS felt a responsibility to them, I understand that as well. If it was also a financial issue (lost viewers/ad revenue/etc) as well, I understand that too. That being said, SBS probably has accounting that involves hundreds of millions of dollars and employs hundreds if you count parent company and subsidiaries. I do not think they just blindly air something, so it seems like someone made a mistake somewhere, or even worse, were unaware that something like this was possible.

On the controversy itself, it is complicated to say the least. I am not South Korean so I do not know what their laws say regarding free speech, what legal means citizens have to voice complaints about things like entertainment, or a detailed understanding of what South Korean culture, history, and society mean to South Koreans.
Where were all of the advisors and experts when all of this was going on? I suppose this might have taken everyone by surprise but if entertainment was my lifeblood, I would hope I could have paid someone to tell me this might have been a possibility.
I have seen comments about moving the drama to Netflix, but would that really solve the problem? The show seems toxic right now. Would South Koreans be any less upset if it was only aired to foreigners or more upset? Would anyone connected with the show that was cancelled but aired be at risk of retribution either in the industry itself or by viewers?

Those dramas were filmed years ago, just not released.

I do not think a delay is meant to be a punishment or statement against the actress or the drama. It seems like more of a business and PR decision.

Not a problem. The comment I responded to actually had @me. This one has @you yet I am sure it is meant for me. Just the classic misunderstanding trope rearing its head.

What is funny about being in Wisconsin?

I have not had my helping of humble pie, so I will have to agree with you agreeing with me.

I have not watched as many Japanese dramas or movies as ones from other countries, mostly because they are not as easily accessible. YouTube and Viki have some but not in the numbers of their counterparts.

If you mean widespread, then it is certainly widespread everywhere across our planet. When two people interact, you can expect that bullying will occur at some point to one or both parties. Unfortunately, we are all part of the problem, but thankfully, we can be all part of the solution.

They could have used another way to have Da Qi and Yu Xin work together and eliminate Lawyer Bai's character altogether. I also think that part of the reason the main leads' romance did not come across to the viewer might be the way Da Qi's love for Yi Kai was drilled into our consciousness, especially the first half of the drama. Having Yi Kai seem alive did not help matters either. I also thought the comedy seemed a bit forced.
I think all of these are just minor annoyances which are standard for dramas in general.

I found it a bit unsettling when Jing Tao grabbed the postcard and took a photo of it. Then he ran off, presumably to go find Wan Ting. Just as unsettling was that no one tried to stop him and seemed on encourage it.

I watched and liked this drama for the characters and not the plot. Da Qi, Yu Xin's mother, and the switched daughters were really good characters.