"Sending emails to the members of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will speed things up. They will raise a fuss during the National Assembly audit. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will have to face their criticism. Let's send emails regardless of party affiliation." (From a community post)
As controversy surrounds the historical inaccuracies in the drama '21st Century Great Lady,' it has come to light that the series received production support from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a government body, prompting calls for the recovery of the funding.
On the 21st, various online communities began sharing email addresses of committee members to protest the issue.
'21st Century Great Lady' was selected as a final project in KOCCA's 2025 'OTT-Specialized Content Production Support (IP Acquisition)' program. While the exact amount of funding allocated to the project has not been disclosed, long-form dramas can receive up to 2 billion won. The series has received the full amount of funding in two installments. A KOCCA official stated, "After being selected, 70% of the funds were disbursed as an advance, and the remaining 30% was released after a mid-term evaluation. We have received all the funding."
However, there is a possibility that the funding could be reclaimed. KOCCA plans to conduct a performance evaluation this month to determine the success of the project. According to Article 55 of KOCCA's Content Support Project Management Regulations, if the evaluation is unsuccessful, the full amount of funding and any accrued interest must be returned within 30 days. A KOCCA official noted, "The evaluation schedule is still undecided," but added, "We are comprehensively reviewing overall measures, including potential recovery of funds."
Some critics argue that it is problematic for government funds to have been allocated to a drama that initially sparked controversy over historical distortion. Some community members have filed requests for information disclosure with KOCCA. One user stated, "KOCCA should be required to disclose the evaluation criteria and the assessment details for 'Great Lady.' They need to explain why historical accuracy was not addressed in the evaluation of a historical drama and clarify whether there are regulations regarding compensation or repayment of funds if issues arise in future productions."
In response, a KOCCA official stated, "Currently, historical accuracy is not mandatory at the project selection stage," but added, "We are considering measures to strengthen compliance checks, such as making it mandatory to submit plans for consultation or historical verification from the production support application or selection stage." They also emphasized their commitment to preventing similar cases in the future.
Meanwhile, in the 11th episode, during the coronation scene, ministers shouted 'cheonsae' instead of 'manse,' and the king wore a crown befitting a vassal state rather than the imperial crown. Viewers criticized this portrayal as inappropriate, even considering the fictional context, as it depicted Joseon royal ceremonies in a manner more suited to a vassal state.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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