"Government Funds Used for Historical Distortion?" 'Perfect Crown' faces KOCCA Funding Controversy

'Perfect Crown' has further come under fire after it was revealed that the drama received government-backed production funding. The series was selected for production support by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and reportedly received close to 2 billion KRW (1.3 million USD) in funding.

KOCCA is a quasi-governmental agency under South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The organization was established to promote the Korean cultural industry and supports content production and overseas expansion across various entertainment sectors.

The controversy stems from accusations that a project funded with “taxpayer money” promoted historical distortion. In particular, viewers criticized the May 15 broadcast for allegedly portraying Korea as a tributary state of China.

In the episode, Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo Seok) wore a guryumyeollyugwan — a ceremonial crown historically used by vassal states — instead of the sibimyeollyugwan, which symbolized an emperor of an independent nation. Court officials also shouted “Cheonse,” a phrase associated with tributary states, instead of “Manse,” a symbol tied to sovereign nations.

The scene sparked concerns that it could provide ammunition for China’s “Northeast Project,” with critics arguing that the fictional “Korean Empire” depicted in the drama effectively positioned itself as a subordinate state to China.

Japanese influences have also been pointed out throughout the series. Critics noted that the drama’s fictional world heavily resembles Japan, citing plot elements such as a grand prince acting as regent instead of a queen dowager and the hereditary succession of the prime minister position.

Some have further argued that the setting echoes Japan’s colonial historical perspective. The drama’s premise — depicting a world without Japanese colonization where the monarchy and rigid class systems remain intact — has been compared to imperial Japanese narratives used during the colonial era.

KOCCA itself has also faced criticism for allegedly failing to conduct sufficient historical review before approving public funding for the project. A representative explained, “At the time of evaluation, only the project proposal, synopsis, and portions of the script were reviewed.”

Of course, 'Perfect Crown' is marketed as an alternate-history romance drama, allowing for fictional reinterpretation. The production team previously defended the series by stating that “dramatic liberties are the project’s cheat code,” emphasizing creative freedom from historical constraints.

However, critics argue that history should not be treated as a mere storytelling prop that can be selectively borrowed without regard for broader historical context. Professor Seo Kyung Duk similarly warned that neighboring countries could exploit the drama as a tool for distortion.

KOCCA stated that it plans to introduce measures to prevent similar controversies in the future. A representative said, “We will make it mandatory for applicants to submit consultation and historical verification plans starting from the production support application stage.”

The representative added, “We will also explore ways to strengthen follow-up inspections to ensure consultation and historical verification procedures are properly carried out according to plan. We will work to prevent similar cases from happening again.”

Meanwhile, 'Perfect Crown' is currently awaiting its final evaluation related to KOCCA’s production support program. If the project fails the evaluation, the production team may be required to return the full amount of the funding along with accrued interest.