TVING, a leading South Korean OTT platform, is already facing criticism for its first historical drama, Queen Woo, even before its official release. The series stars Jun Jongseo as Queen Woo Hee, the wife of Goguryeo’s King Gogukcheon. The show has become the center of a historical inaccuracy controversy due to its portrayal of certain cultural elements.
Anticipation Turns to Backlash
With over 30 billion won invested in production, Queen Woo generated significant anticipation among viewers. The 8-episode series, released on August 29, introduces a thrilling narrative. The story follows Queen Woo Hee as she remarries one of her brothers-in-law to protect her clan after the king’s sudden death. However, the release of the drama’s trailer sparked immediate backlash. Critics accused the show of depicting costumes that resemble Chinese attire, rather than reflecting Goguryeo’s rich cultural heritage.
Key Points of Contention
The controversy revolves around two major aspects: the color of the royal garments and the traditional hairstyles depicted in the show.
Royal Attire: Chinese Imperial Influence?
The depiction of Queen Woo Hee wearing yellow robes has drawn significant criticism. Some argue that the robes resemble Chinese imperial attire. However, the drama’s costume director, Shim Hyun-seop, clarified the use of yellow. He stated that the choice was intentional, symbolizing the cosmos and representing strong royal authority. Shim pointed out that yellow has deep roots in Korean culture, as seen in historical records like the Gwanggaeto Stele. This stele mentions the Yellow Dragon sent from heaven to welcome the king. Shim also emphasized that the association of yellow with Chinese emperors developed much later. During the 2nd century—when Queen Woo is set—Chinese emperors typically wore black, not yellow.
Goguryeo Armor: Attention to Detail
The drama opens with a large-scale war scene where King Gogukcheon, played by Ji Changwook, attempts to reclaim territories seized by the Han Dynasty. The show’s creators paid meticulous attention to the details of Goguryeo armor. The armor features distinctive elements such as throat protectors and winged helmets, accurately recreated based on Goguryeo tomb murals. Even the golden armor worn by the king was crafted using gold lacquer, in line with historical records. Shim emphasized that the team made every effort to reflect Goguryeo armor’s characteristics. This includes creating pants armor and replicating the texture and shapes of helmets as precisely as possible.
Ulpaso’s Hairstyle: A Controversial Choice
Another criticism targets the character Ulpaso, portrayed by Kim Moo-yul. He wears a hairstyle reminiscent of a Chinese-style topknot, which contrasts sharply with the traditional Goguryeo official attire. While other officials in the series don the traditional Goguryeo hat known as “jeolpoong,” Ulpaso’s topknot has been criticized for its similarity to headgear seen in Chinese historical dramas.
Chae Geum-seok, a renowned expert in traditional Korean clothing and an honorary professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, voiced her concerns. She stated that the design is unlike anything seen before and urged the production to take greater care in ensuring historical accuracy. This is particularly important as Korean dramas gain increasing global attention.
TVING’s Response: Creative Choices Defended
In response to the criticism, TVING explained that Ulpaso’s topknot was inspired by elements of Goguryeo armor, specifically throat protectors. They also incorporated the Samjogo, a three-legged crow symbol significant in Korean culture, into the design. Despite the resemblance to Chinese styles, TVING emphasized that the design roots itself in Goguryeo heritage.
Balancing Historical Accuracy with Creative Freedom
While some viewers and experts demand rigorous historical accuracy, others argue against imposing such strict standards on an OTT drama, especially one with fantasy elements like Queen Woo. Unlike traditional historical dramas, Queen Wooblends history with fantasy, offering a more flexible interpretation of historical events and cultural elements. The series also features intense action scenes and mature content, which push the boundaries typical of historical dramas.
Costume Director Shim defended the creative choices. He argued that adhering strictly to historical accuracy could limit the drama’s appeal to modern audiences. While the drama’s foundation rests on historical records, imaginative elements were added to create a show that captivates viewers worldwide.
As Queen Woo continues to gain attention, it raises important questions. How should creators balance historical authenticity with creative expression in Korean historical dramas? Whether Queen Woo has successfully struck this balance remains a topic of debate.
Reference: https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/023/0003855568?sid=103
