Korean stars Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won starred in the Disney+ romance spy drama 'Storm Circle', which sparked controversy over insulting China, leading to her being boycotted by Chinese netizens and having her Chinese endorsement deals revoked. Now, the director and screenwriter have apologized to her, pointing out that at the time, the actors performed with the idea that the series was set in a 'fictional world.'
The lines and settings in 'Storm Circle' have continuously drawn complaints from Chinese netizens. In the drama, Jun Ji-hyun’s character says: 'Why does China prefer war? That way, nuclear bombs might fall on border regions.' The version of Dalian, China, depicted in the show appears run-down and backwards, but was actually filmed in a Hong Kong shanty town, completely inconsistent with the real Dalian. In addition, a red carpet with a yellow five-pointed star pattern reminded people of stepping on the Chinese national flag; when Jun Ji-hyun recited Li Bai’s 'Bring in the Wine,' her strange accent was also criticized as a deliberate caricature of the Chinese language.
According to China’s 'Sina Entertainment,' the screenwriter of 'Storm Circle' apologized for the uproar. She explained that she originally wrote the script treating it as a fictional world. She had considered giving every country a new name, but ultimately chose to use real country names for authenticity: 'I hope everyone sees this as a fictional story.' The director also said that the actors treated it as a completely fictional work when performing. After the controversy, the director and screenwriter revealed that the crew felt very sorry for Jun Ji-hyun, but instead, she comforted everyone, saying, 'I hope viewers can clear up misunderstandings by the end.'