Joseon Exorcist Gets the Axe After Two Episodes of Chaos
It’s been a wild weekend in the Korean drama world. SBS announced that the fantasy‑historical series Joseon Exorcist was cancelled after airing a mere two episodes of the 16‑episode plan. The show was meant to blend ancient Korean lore with spooky exorcism vibes, but somehow it ended up stirring a cultural storm.
Why the Show Got the Boot
- Historical mishaps – Viewers complained that the third king of Joseon, known for his reign from 1392‑1894, was shown ruthlessly killing innocent folks, and the famous King Sejong (the man who invented Hangul) was depicted playing host to a Chinese banquet featuring mooncakes.
- China‑cultural controversy – The drama was criticized for inaccurately portraying a “Chinese influence” in Korean history, feeding into a larger debate about whether Korean staples like kimchi actually came from China.
- Petition frenzy – By Thursday, a petition on the presidential Blue House had nearly 164,000 signatures, demanding the show be pulled from SBS. The signing campaign began just three days after the drama premiered.
Companies Pull the Plug
More than 20 firms pulled their adverts from the series—from telecom giant KT to the top soju brand HiteJinro. Regional governments that had secured filming spots also cancelled their contracts. The backlash was so fierce that even the tech giant Tencent’s WeTV had to remove the two episodes from its international audience.
Pro‑Korean Voices Speak Out
Professor Seo Kyoung‑duk of Sungshin Women’s University slammed the drama for fueling Korean outrage over alleged Chinese claims on Korean cultural heritage. He highlighted how the series “exposes distorted history, especially to viewers abroad.”
SBS Responds
The broadcaster and producers have denied claims of Chinese investment, stressing that all production money came from Korean sources. They promised to modify the storyline entirely—switching to purely fictional characters—and re‑edit any problematic scenes before any future episodes could air.
Takeaway
In a nutshell, Joseon Exorcist became the latest example of how a single fictional narrative can ignite real‑world cultural debates. Whether it’s Korean pride or a protect‑at‑all‑costs stance against perceived “foreign” influence, the drama’s premature death reminds us that entertainment isn’t only about clever plots—it’s also about respecting history and identity.
