'The First Female Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office Kim Hyun-joo' in JTBC Drama... Opposition Party Demands "Retract the Glorification of the Corruption Investigation Office"

JTBC to Air British Remake 'Undercover'
Actress Kim Hyun-joo to Play Female Head of Corruption Investigation Office

Actor Kim Hyun-joo, who plays the first head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials of South Korea in the upcoming JTBC drama "Undercover." (Photo by YNK Entertainment)

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The People Power Party demanded the withdrawal of the drama 'Undercover' (working title), scheduled to air on JTBC in 2021, calling it a "drama that glorifies the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)." The ruling party rebutted, saying, "You are threatening us without even watching the drama."

On the 24th, all members of the People Power Party in the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee issued a statement saying, "JTBC, the number one pro-government broadcaster, must immediately withdraw the drama that glorifies the CIO."

They continued, "JTBC planned a drama that glorifies the CIO, which the Moon Jae-in administration is pushing," and raised their voices, saying, "JTBC is trying to use the drama medium as a propaganda tool to package the CIO as 'justice, human rights, and women' even in the emotional realm of the people."

They added, "In short, the 'Undercover' drama is intended to produce a 'CIO promotional material,'" and strongly criticized, "Planning a drama that glorifies the CIO chief, who this government is promoting as a symbol of prosecutorial reform, is tantamount to volunteering to be the regime's mouthpiece."

The view of the new building of JTBC Sangam Office in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

People Power Party lawmakers pointed out, "Nazi propagandist Goebbels said that film is 'the medium that most strongly influences the human unconscious,'" and criticized, "JTBC's attempt to act as the regime's protective force and blind the people's eyes will be nothing more than a futile attempt like 'Danglang Geocheol' (螳螂拒轍, meaning a mantis trying to stop a chariot wheel, recklessly challenging a stronger force without considering its own strength)."

They also added, "In a recent public opinion poll, about 55% of the people responded that the passage of the CIO Act was wrong."

The statement was signed by seven members, including Park Sung-joong, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's floor leader, as well as Joo Ho-young, Park Dae-chul, Kim Young-sik, Jung Hee-yong, Heo Eun-ah, and Hwang Bo-seung-hee.

[Image source = Naver 'Undercover Drama Basic Information' capture]

The drama 'Undercover,' scheduled to air in 2021, is a remake of the six-episode British BBC original of the same name. In the original, the character who became the UK's first black female Director of Public Prosecutions was adapted as the 'first female CIO chief, a former women's rights lawyer.'

The drama's synopsis describes it as "the story of a National Intelligence Service agent who has long hidden her identity and a human rights lawyer who became the first CIO chief for justice." The role of the female CIO chief is played by actress Kim Hyun-joo.

In response, voices within the Democratic Party of Korea criticized, saying, "You are threatening us without even watching the drama."

Cho Seung-rae, the ruling party floor leader in the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, issued a statement titled "Threatening a broadcaster without even watching the drama? People Power Party crosses the line," and clicked his tongue, saying, "They threatened to take drastic measures, labeling a drama that has not yet aired as a 'CIO promotional material.'"

He added, "On what grounds and authority do they interfere with and threaten measures regarding a specific broadcaster's drama planning, production, and programming? It is regrettable that they still hold the outdated belief that they can control public consciousness through the media."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.