South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun, renowned for her breakout role in the 2001 romantic comedy *My Sassy Girl*, has found herself at the center of a heated controversy following her portrayal in the Disney+ spy romance series *Tempest*. In the show, Jun plays a diplomat investigating a deadly assassination, and a fictional line from her character—questioning China’s preference for war—has ignited outrage among Chinese social media users. Many have accused the series of misrepresenting China as belligerent, leading to calls for brands to sever ties with the actress. The backlash has reignited debates over China’s unofficial ban on South Korean entertainment, which has been in place since 2016 following South Korea’s deployment of a US anti-missile system. While recent months saw signs of easing tensions, with some South Korean performers returning to China, the *Tempest* controversy has fueled renewed support for the ban. Social media users have also criticized other aspects of the series, such as scenes depicting China’s Dalian city with dilapidated buildings and a table setting resembling the Chinese flag. Jun’s agency has clarified that her brand campaigns concluded before the show’s release, but Chinese consumers have continued to pressure brands like La Mer, Louis Vuitton, and Piaget to distance themselves from her. Despite some defending Jun, arguing she did not write the controversial line, the backlash has overshadowed such sentiments. The incident highlights the fragile state of cultural exchanges between China and South Korea, with the future of K-pop and K-dramas in China remaining uncertain.
‘Why does China prefer war?’ The K-drama line that infuriated the Chinese internet
