The controversy surrounding MBC’s Perfect Crown is intensifying.
Following accusations of historical distortion and cultural misrepresentation, the backlash against the recently concluded drama has now escalated into a formal public petition demanding the series be removed entirely.
On May 22, 2026 (KST), a petition was posted to the National Assembly’s public petition board under the title, “Petition Requesting the Suspension of Broadcast and Removal of Content From Media Platforms Due to Historical Distortion Controversy.”
In the petition, the writer criticized Perfect Crown for allegedly borrowing Chinese-style elements despite being set in a fictionalized version of Korea.
Although it is set in a fictional Republic of Korea, it recklessly borrows Chinese-style clothing, etiquette, and vocabulary, clearly engaging in cultural appropriation and historical distortion.
— Petition
The petitioner further claimed that the drama “seriously violates public sentiment” and “spreads a distorted image of the Republic of Korea’s cultural identity to the world.”
Specific scenes pointed out in the petition included Lee An Grand Prince’s enthronement ceremony, where officials used the phrase “cheonse,” as well as scenes involving Chinese-style tea etiquette despite the drama’s Korean royal-family setting.
“Perfect Crown” Commits Historical Blunder In Recent Episode, Public Outraged
The petition called for action beyond the edits already made by the production team.
Beyond simple post-broadcast edits from the production team, we demand the immediate suspension of the drama’s broadcast and its complete removal from VOD and OTT platforms.
— Petition
The petitioner also requested institutional measures to prevent similar productions from being distributed in the future. The petition quickly gained traction, surpassing 20,000 signatures within just one day of being posted.
MBC did move to delete the controversial scenes following the backlash, while director Park Joon Hwa and writer Yoo Ji Won issued apologies.
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However, the apologies were deemed insufficient. The controversy also raised questions about the drama’s government-backed production funding. Perfect Crown was previously selected as a final recipient for the Korea Creative Content Agency’s 2025 OTT-specialized content production support program in the long-form drama category.
A KOCCA official told Newsen that if the drama is found to be ineligible during evaluation, its support funding could be recovered. The agency is currently reviewing whether any regulations were violated, with the evaluation expected to continue through late May and early-to-mid June.
Despite the production team’s apologies and edits, the latest petition suggests that public anger over Perfect Crown has yet to die down.
- Signed!
- I did it too! It’s at 47% now.
- MBC should also do some serious reflecting. I signed it yesterday!!
- I signed it and came back.
- The writer and director need to come to their senses and make the drama properly, instead of putting on some stupid stunt and making the actors take the heat.
- Let’s not forget about the New Right ideologies, which is sneakily embedded in this too.
- I signed it and came back.
- Done.
- Done. We’re at 48% now!!
This is not the first time the permanent removal of K-Drama has been petitioned. In 2021, Koreans successfully took down SBS‘s Joseon Exorcist after two episodes with a massive petition of 184K+ signatures.
Read more about it here:
SBS K-Drama “Joseon Exorcist” Has Officially Been Cancelled After Just Two Episodes Following Its Controversies
Source: Newsen and theqoo