The brand-new revenge action drama The Devil's Deal: True Colors Return, starring Korean star So Ji-sub, has recently sparked a ratings frenzy. The show centers around the thrilling story of an ‘ordinary father transforming into the most dangerous man to save his daughter.’ By the fourth episode, its ratings had already soared to an impressive 21.6%. At the same time, the series has topped OTT charts in 28 countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, demonstrating astonishing momentum.
However, as the series skyrocketed in popularity, past controversies surrounding the original webtoon team surfaced again. Some YouTubers have pointed out that Park Tae-jun, the well-known writer serving as the chief producer for the webtoon, was previously accused of including specific political insinuations in his works: In Lookism, a line reading ‘5 minutes and 23 seconds’ was suspected to allude to the date of former president Roh Moo-hyun's death (May 23rd). The background even featured a sign in English resembling ‘Owl Rock,’ the name of the cliff where he jumped. In Desire Diary, some lines were interpreted by critics as satirizing former president Moon Jae-in.
Although The Devil's Deal is written by Story Toy and illustrated by Jung Jong-seok, with Park Tae-jun only acting as chief producer, and he himself has previously clarified that there was absolutely no malicious intent and that any contentious scenes have been edited, the series is still categorized within the ‘Park Tae-jun Universe.’ As a result, a portion of netizens have launched a boycott. As this hit drama continues to achieve international success, it is simultaneously mired in controversy, keeping the discussion alive.
News source: Liberty Entertainment