LayarHijau – Top South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun is facing a storm of criticism over her role in the TV series Tempest. Several lines and scenes referring to China have sparked outrage among Chinese netizens, leading to widespread boycott calls on social media. The controversy has quickly spread beyond audiences and into the commercial sector.
The main spark came in episode four. Jun Ji-hyun’s character delivered the line, “Why would China prefer war? Nuclear bombs would land on its borders.” Screenshots of the dialogue spread rapidly across Chinese online platforms, triggering heated criticism. Many netizens denounced the line as factually inaccurate and accused the series of deliberately vilifying China.
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Further scrutiny revealed that a scene labeled as taking place in “Dalian, China” had not been filmed on location. Instead, it was shot in dilapidated areas of Hong Kong, using dark filters to portray a dingy, rundown environment. This fueled accusations of intentionally smearing the city’s image. Other controversial details included “a carpet with a five-star pattern being stepped on” and “multiple villains speaking in Mandarin.”
The controversy soon rippled into the business world. Several global brands associated with Jun Ji-hyun — including Louis Vuitton, La Mer, and Piaget — began pulling promotional campaigns and advertisements featuring the actress. Korean media noted that Jun Ji-hyun, who gained immense popularity in China after starring in the 2014 hit My Love from the Star, is now under intense scrutiny.
As of September 21, neither Jun Ji-hyun nor the production team behind Tempest have issued an official response. The Korean entertainment industry is watching developments closely, as the scandal is seen as a reflection of the increasingly difficult environment for the Korean Wave in China.
According to industry insiders, the incident has effectively severed Jun Ji-hyun’s commercial ties in the Chinese market. Estimated losses — including contract termination penalties and ad replacement costs — exceed 200 million yuan, equivalent to over $27 million.
Source: Sohu
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