Criticism is pouring out online in relation to the advertisement of JTBC's new Saturday drama 'Snowdrop' at Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul.

It is being pointed out that Snowdrop have undermined the democratization movement and glorified the National Security Planning Department (National Intelligence Service), which cooperated with the dictatorship.

According to the Seoul Transportation Corporation on December 1st, an advertisement for Snowdrop will be displayed at Jongno 3-ga Station from this day to December 15th.

It is known that the advertisement was executed by Blackpink Jisoo's Vietnamese Fan Club, and it is scheduled to be broadcast 257 times a day, 10 seconds at a time. Previously, the fan club also ran an advertisement for Snowdrop in the Gasan Digital Complex area.

“Snowdrop”’s advertisement at Jongno Station is receiving keen attention online. Netizens are saying that the advertisements at Jongno Station, the center of Korea’s June Democracy Movement, are inappropriate, referring to the controversy over the drama’s distortion of history.

Earlier, “Snowdrop” was embroiled in controversy over glorifying spies after it was leaked that the drama’s setting is about a prestigious university student/activist turning out to be a North Korean spy.

Although the “Snowdrop” side explained, “The background and the motif behind the main events in ‘Snowdrop’ is the political situation surrounding the 1987 presidential elections, not the pro-democracy movement. The drama portrays a fictional story about the military regime, the National Security Planning, and others in power at the time colluding with the North Korean dictatorship and planning a conspiracy to retain their power”, the work is still receiving harsh criticism from viewers.

Rather, the controversy is growing as the historical refutation of the “Snowdrop” side’s explanation continues. In particular, in relation to the “Snowdrop” side’s explanation on the agent of the Agency for National Security Planning in the drama as “an overseas part agent unrelated to spy manipulation”, the “East Berlin spy manipulation” incident of the Agency for National Security Planning in 1967 is being mentioned.

Netizens are showing various reactions such as “Will subway advertisements be taken down if they really distort history?”, “I will protest against the subway station right now”, “It seems like they are putting advertisements in Jongno on purpose”…

One netizen criticized, “The more you advertise, the worse it will be for actors. I don’t know what you are thinking. There is a problem with the cast who chose the work, and their fans are also problematic.”

Source[1]

NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

Source: [1]