[Dispatch=Reporter Lee Myung-ju] "Now, please come to your senses."

Korean history instructor Choi Tae-sung (54) left a critical remark to the production team of MBC-TV's "21st Century Grand Princess."

On the 18th, Choi Tae-sung posted on SNS regarding "21st Century Grand Princess." He took issue with the controversy over historical distortion caused by the drama.

He said, "(Korean) dramas and films are watched worldwide. Our image spreads rapidly (through these works)" and emphasized the necessity of a historical accuracy verification system.

Choi Tae-sung also said, "I hope the history academic field is respected. Why do you pay hundreds of millions of won for actor appearance fees while cutting corners on historical accuracy with only tens of millions of won?"

He proposed an alternative: a "historical drama accuracy research institute." He explained it as "a research institute that can safely handle everything in one stop—scripts, costumes, and sets."

He then wrote, "It's time to stop having these concerns now. The production team worked hard making a historical drama, so wouldn't it be discouraging to receive such criticism?"

Choi Tae-sung also captured the controversial scenes. Regarding Ian's confinement crown, he corrected, "Nine strings? The emperor has 12."

He also pointed out Ian's enthronement ceremony. About a scene where officials shout "thousand years" (千歲) instead of "ten thousand years" (萬歲), he said sharply, "A thousand thousand years? The emperor has ten thousand ten thousand years."

"21st Century Grand Princess" is set in a constitutional monarchy version of the Republic of Korea. It deals with a romance between a self-made tycoon of common birth and the second son of the king, a grand prince.

It aired amid high expectations, but controversy over historical distortion has continued. In particular, the broadcast on the 15th depicted the Republic of Korea as if it were a vassal state of China.

The production team posted an apology on their homepage the next day, the 16th. "We sincerely apologize for the concerns caused by worldview settings and historical accuracy issues," they said.

<Photo source=MBC, Choi Tae-sung SNS capture>