Medical Drama ‘Doctor X’ Sparks Controversy Over Gwangju Uprising Portrayal

South Korean medical drama Doctor X: Mafia in White has become the latest focal point of political debate regarding historical representation in fiction. A petition filed with the National Assembly demands a halt to the series’ broadcast over its depiction of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.

Submitted Saturday on the National Assembly’s petition portal, the complaint calls for a review of the production and a suspension of airing. It has since garnered the 100 signatures required for public disclosure. The petitioner argues that Episode 6, which aired Saturday, references the pro-democracy movement despite the event bearing no relevance to the storyline.

“The uprising remains a sensitive political issue, with divisions persisting between the ruling and opposition parties as well as across the ideological spectrum,” the petitioner stated. “While there is broad consensus that it represents a painful chapter in history, it is difficult to accept a drama abruptly invoking the uprising while its specific details remain politically contested.”

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