JTBC’s King the Land starring K-pop boy group 2PM’s Junho and Girls’ Generation’s Yoona has been in the news lately, be it leads dating news, highest viewership ratings or the latest controversy. Yes, it’s true that the drama has drawn flak for its alleged distortion of Arab culture and a backlash from the production team.
In the drama, the character Samir, an Arab prince, played by Anupam Tripathi, is one of the richest men in the world and lives at the King Hotel where Gu-Won and Cheon Sa Rang work. Some scenes show Sameer in a posh club surrounded by women, while others show him drinking and openly flirting with Cheon Sa Rang.
Foreign audiences criticized Sameer’s portrayal, claiming that it reinforced the stereotype of Arab princes being portrayed as playboys and that serving alcohol in the presence of a Muslim character was disrespectful to their religious beliefs. Additionally, there was controversy over the casting of an Indian actor in the role of an Arab prince, which suggests a misrepresentation of Arab culture.
In response to the backlash, the production team of King the Land defended the play, saying that all of the show’s setting, characters, regions, and place names are fictitious. He emphasized that there was no intention to satirize or distort any specific culture. The team assured the audience that they respected different cultures and would be more attentive to ensure that future productions do not cause any inconvenience.
While the production team’s statement addresses the concerns raised by viewers, it remains to be seen how the controversy will be resolved and whether further changes will be made to the drama in response to the criticism. As discussions about cultural representation in media continue to evolve, it is important for production teams to be mindful of the impact of their portrayals on diverse communities and strive for accurate and respectful representation.
King The Land tells the story of Gu-Won and Cheon Sa Rang whose mission is to create a world where people can truly smile when they see the VVIP lounge King The Land.