Left: Snowdrop Official Poster Right: JTBC’s Legal Team Official Statement and Warning
South Korean network JTBC won against the injunction filed by the civic group The Declaration of Global Citizen In Korea. Now, it is coming after the controversial drama Snowdrop’s critics, further isolating the network from the public.
In the report by Korea JoongAng Daily, the civic case was filed at the Seoul Western District Court. Their reason is that the drama portrayed the National Security Planning (NSP) in a positive light, which implies wrong values and that the violence committed by the state was justifiable.
The court dismissed the civic case in favor of JTBC. Hence the drama will continue its airing on JTBC and Disney+. JTBC received another backlash after its legal team released a statement stating they would be taking legal action against netizens who continue to spread malicious comments about the drama. A Twitter user provided a translation of some parts of the issued warning. It says,” We will take strong measures against groundless slander and fabrication unrelated to the drama. Please refrain from excessive personal attacks on the production and cast of Snowdrop.”
This warning received backlash. For one, netizens felt this was a slap to the survivors and their families. They also felt that JTBC would use this as an excuse to hunt its toughest critics, no matter their stance, and serve them with papers.
1987 is a historical period in Korea that netizens feel should not be interpreted “creatively.” It continues to receive condemnation among people of different political spectrums. Netizens may be deemed overly sensitive. However, people argue that there truly is a political issue at stake.
As this goes on, the right to freedom of expression is being tested on all sides and angles.
