'Anna' Director: "Coupang Play Damaged the Work with Unilateral Editing" (Summary)

Director Lee Ju-young: "8-episode series edited into 6 episodes and broadcast without consent"
Coupang Play: "Reedited because the original agreed tone of the work was too different"

The online video service (OTT) platform Coupang Play has been accused of editing the drama 'Anna' into a 6-episode series without the director's consent. Director Lee Ju-young, who wrote the script and directed the series, protested on the 2nd, stating, "Coupang Play excluded the director and unilaterally edited 'Anna,' damaging the work."

According to the law firm Siwoo, representing Director Lee, 'Anna' was filmed as an 8-episode series (each episode 45?61 minutes). However, Coupang Play, not the production company Contents Map, edited it into 6 episodes (each 45?63 minutes), omitting or compressing key content. Director Lee said, "It is to the extent that it cannot be considered the same work I directed," adding, "As a creator, I can no longer endure this pain."

Director Lee wrote the script for 'Anna' over 3 years and 8 months, from November 2017 to July last year. Coupang Play approved the final cut through Contents Map, and filming took about 5 months under Lee's direction. The cooperative relationship broke down starting from the editing meeting in April. Director Lee claimed, "They said they were dissatisfied with everything about 'Anna,' and a week later mentioned contract termination and took the editing project files." He further explained, "On May 30, I delivered the master file for the 8-episode version, but on June 7, I was notified that it would be re-edited by another director and post-production company."

Coupang Play released 'Anna' as a 6-episode series starting June 24. According to Director Lee, it was not merely a matter of reducing the length. Cuts unrelated to the structure or perspective were inserted, damaging the original filming and editing intentions. Director Lee stated, "I could not agree to have my name attached to it and repeatedly requested to have my name removed from the credits, but even that was refused." He added, "Many people were hurt by this unilateral and high-handed action," and protested, "Coupang Play should apologize to me as the director as well as to the post-production staff." He also demanded, "Release the 8-episode master file as the director's cut and publicly declare that such unilateral editing will not be repeated."

Siwoo views this unprecedented case in the domestic video industry as an infringement of the director's moral rights. Lawyer Song Young-hoon said, "This is an urgent matter requiring prevention of recurrence for the development of the video industry and protection of creators," adding, "If Coupang Play does not issue a public apology and take corrective measures, we will pursue all possible legal actions." Director Lee said, "'Anna' includes a message showing a facet of our society involving 'gapjil'?abuse of power to feel superior to others," and added, "Coupang Play released the unilaterally edited 'Anna' under the name 'Coupang Original' without understanding this message at all." He emphasized, "An 'Original' that ignores and excludes the creator cannot exist."

Coupang Play responded, "The rough cut was very different from the initially agreed atmosphere of the work, and despite multiple requests for revisions, no feedback was reflected," and explained, "We decided to re-edit because we judged that if we completed the editing with Director Lee, we could not present content with mass appeal."

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