By disclosing some of the contents of Snowdrop, JTBC comprehensively enlightens viewers about the drama’s ongoing concerns.
On the 23rd, JTBC announced a special program through an official statement. Likewise, JTBC indicated that it is not possible to broadcast the entire narrative at once in order to quell the controversy of Snowdrop, but that they will instead plan a special program for viewers.
“The controversy over Snowdrop continues. Due to the nature of the broadcast drama, it is not possible to release all the narratives at once, so it seems that a misunderstanding arises from the initial development. In order to alleviate viewers’ concerns, we have decided to schedule the broadcast ahead of schedule and organize a special program.”
Moreover, Snowdrop episodes 3 to 5 will air consecutively from December 24 to 26, progressively revealing that the protagonists are caught up in the higher-ups’ secret operations.
“In episodes 3 and 5 of Snowdrop, which will be aired for three days from the 24th to the 26th, the background of Su-ho, a North Korean agent, and the reality of undue power in South Korea are stripped away, and the probability of the initial setting is reduced, will be revealed. In the drama, it is revealed that the Ministry of Security is the main agent in bringing North Korean agents to South Korea, and the North and South Korean leaders begin to quarrel for power and money, respectively. It also tells the story of young people who are caught up in their secret operations.”
On Clearing The Drama’s Narrative Intentions
Assuring viewers’ concerns are not dismissed and ignored, JTBC established a real-time chat window on the portal site to accommodate their diverse viewpoints and opinions.
“We respect various views and opinions about content. In order to listen to the opinions of viewers, various voices are being listened to on the viewer’s bulletin board and in the real-time chat window of the portal site. This special program is also a choice to relieve viewers’ concerns. We will continue to listen to your opinions and do our best to create good content.”
Clearly, JTBC emphasizes the drama has nothing to do with the democratization movement, but rather with a character who was cruelly oppressed in the 1980’s as a spy for the military regime.
“We are talking about the controversy over disparaging representation of the democratization movement. Snowdrop is not a drama about the democratization movement. There is no setting in the script where the male and female protagonists participate in or lead the democratization movement. Rather, a character who was unfairly oppressed by being a spy under the military regime in the 1980s appears. The background and motif of major events in the drama is not the democratization movement, but the political situation of the 1987 presidential election. A fictional story unfolds in which established powers such as the military government and the Ministry of Security and Security are conspiring with the North Korean dictatorship to maintain power.“
Providing Details on Some of the Figures in Snowdrop
Specifying the characters of Snowdrop, JTBC remarked that they do not represent their own governments or organizations, but instead reflect the unfair hunger for power necessary to re-create the government.
“Under this background, the South Korean agent and the National Security Agency agent following him appear as the main characters. They are not representatives of their respective governments or organizations. These are characters that emphasize the unjust lust for power to re-create the government, and the critical point of view of the Ministry of Security and Security, which actively responds to this.”
“Therefore, the criticism that espionage activities or the Ministry of National Security is beautified has nothing to do with Snowdrop. The reason why I described the INS agent as ‘like a big brother’ is because he is a black agent of the Ministry of National Security, who refused to issue a powerful domestic part, and worked for the overseas part after feeling disillusioned with his colleagues who ‘create’ rather than ‘catch a spy’. This character is also portrayed as a principledist who turns his back on corrupt organizations and does what he thinks is right until the end.”
An Earnest Request From JTBC
Furthermore, JTBC respectfully requests that everyone refrain from manipulating public opinion by disguising incorrect facts about unaired dramas as established truths.
“The name of the character in the play has nothing to do with Teacher Cheon Young-cho. However, as it has been pointed out that the female lead is reminiscent of a teacher, I will change the name of the female protagonist. Based on this, from this time on, We ask you to refrain from misleading public opinion by disguising false facts about unaired dramas as if they were established facts. We want you to be aware that it is an act that both intimidates and harms many creators who want to create good works.We will do our best to receive good reviews as a finished drama.“
Following that, director Jo Hyun Tak noted that writer Hyun Mi Yoo spent a long time preparing for the drama’s content and disclosed the source of inspiration for the narrative.
“This is a work that Yoo Hyun Mi has prepared for a long time. She says she was inspired by reading a North Korean defector’s note in a political prison camp. After many twists and turns, the story was confirmed, and the writer added her experiences while living in her dormitory while she was a college student. This is political, not ideological. It is about the North Korean people, the people themselves. The intention is to draw a sensible story about people.”
In Regards To Sorting The Problems of the Story
Concerning myriad issues, such as historical distortion, the stitched frame was emphasized. Director Jo Hyun Tak remarked, “I think I should explain the work first. Although set in 1987, it is a fictional creation. In addition to the historical background, the central focus of the entire story in a fictional setting is the heartbreaking love story of a young man and a woman. All devices are for these pairings.”
“Therefore, in the virtual work space, all stories contain reality. However, some of the phrases were leaked and interwoven, and nonsense words became established facts and even reported. It is the responsibility of the negligent production crew, but it is different from what is known. I want you to confirm that it is different from what was known through the broadcast.”
Continuing his statement, Director Jo Hyun-tak refers to the creators’ best efforts in distributing their work.
“Recently, domestic content has been attracting global attention. I am happy with my work. Creators do their best with a sense of mission when working on a piece of work. I want you to be aware of this. It is a great pain and pressure for creators to be controversial even before the work is released (broadcast). I hope you will take this into consideration.”
To Stay Clear From Any Misinterpretation In Snowdrop
Rectifying the misunderstandings about the historical distortions, JTBC indicated that they would be addressed in subsequent episodes of the drama. And highlighting unequivocally that the producers’ goal with the narrative is to avoid a recurrence of an anomalous era in which individual liberty was stifled by undue power.
“There are no spies who lead the democratization movement in Snowdrop. The setting of the male and female protagonists participating in or leading the democratization movement did not appear in the last episodes 1 or 2, and thereafter, it does not exist anywhere in the script. Most of the misunderstandings about ‘distortion of history’ and ‘disparagement of the democratization movement’ that many people have pointed out will be resolved in the future in the course of the drama. It contains the intention of the producers to not repeat an abnormal era in which individual freedom and happiness are suppressed by undue power.”
Regrettably, JTBC is unable to expose numerous plotlines ahead of each episode, but they have requested that viewers anticipate the series’ narrative progression.
Above all, JTBC will continue to try its best to demonstrate good deeds in the future.
NOTE: KDRAMADIARY will include episodes 3-5 on its first look feature.
Source: Sportsdonga
