[Focus+] The Reason Why Jeong Hae-in and Jo Hyun-chul Can't Smile Amid 'Snowdrop' Controversy

Joh Hyun-chul, Jung Hae-in / Photo by JTBC, FNC Provided

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Will actors Jung Hae-in and Jo Hyun-chul, who led the Netflix original series 'D.P.'?which gained popularity this year for addressing military violence and injustice?be able to meet with smiles in season 2? Recent controversies bring to mind the awkward relationship between the two actors.

Jo Hyun-chul left a strong impression playing Private Jo Seok-bong, a gentle character, in 'D.P.' (Deserter Pursuit). He received praise for his delicate character analysis and solid acting skills, and Private Jo was the most supported character in the series.

Additionally, he shone with his presence in the recently concluded drama 'Gugyeongi,' where he willingly supported female characters. He is regarded as an actor who completes his roles brilliantly through unpredictable acting approaches.

He has appeared in films such as 'Chinatown' (2015), 'Tunnel' (2016), 'Master,' 'Malmoe' (2019), 'Samjin Group English TOEIC Class,' and 'Neighbor' (2020). He is also active as a director, having written the screenplay for 'Pansori Boxer' (2019) and directed short films like 'Scoliosis' and 'Seoul Travel.'

In fact, Jo Hyun-chul is the nephew of the late human rights lawyer Jo Young-rae. Lawyer Jo Young-rae was imprisoned for 1 year and 6 months as a judicial trainee after being arrested in the 'Seoul National University Student Conspiracy Case.' During his time on the run, he roamed Cheonggyecheon, where labor activist Jeon Tae-il lived, and wrote the book 'The Life and Death of a Young Worker' (Jeon Tae-il Biography).

Lawyer Jo Young-rae stood on the side of the poor and powerless and dedicated himself to the anti-dictatorship democratization movement in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he defended Kwon In-sook, a victim of sexual torture at Bucheon Police Station, exposing the dreadful human rights situation under the Fifth Republic. He also brought the police officers who committed the sexual torture to court.

Jo participated in founding the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) in 1988 and passed away at the age of 44 on December 12, 1990. The late lawyer's spirit, who represented the voices of women, laborers, and other marginalized groups and led democratization movements, has influenced many juniors and remains meaningfully remembered.

Jo Hyun-chul's acting career is also notable. While appearing in commercial works, he has avoided roles in superficial productions consumed with light laughter. Examining his works reveals that he approaches acting with his own convictions and principles.

Photo by JTBC

Recently, the JTBC drama 'Snowdrop' (written by Yoo Hyun-mi, directed by Jo Hyun-tak), starring Jung Hae-in, has faced criticism for distorting history by belittling democratization movements and glorifying the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), with petitions to halt the broadcast exceeding 300,000 signatures.

Before airing, leaked scripts raised suspicions that the female lead's name, Young-cho, was derived from Cheon Young-cho, a leader of the 1970s democratization movement, and that the male lead's name, Im Soo-ho, evoked figures like Lim Jong-seok and Lim Soo-kyung. Although the production team changed the names, the roles of a female university student and a male infiltrated spy remained unchanged.

Moreover, the portrayal of KCIA agents with backstories and sympathetic packaging drew condemnation. Victims who suffered from the KCIA's past atrocities have criticized this as 'secondary victimization,' leading to fierce backlash.

The production team asked viewers to regard the story as a newly created 'fiction' and tried to draw a line regarding the historical setting, but the released drama exposed the very problematic elements that had been feared. Characters involved in democratization movements against the 1980s military regime appear, and the setting of a 'spy' hiding in a university dormitory after being shot while fleeing the KCIA cannot be viewed separately from the historical context.

Jung Hae-in plays Im Soo-ho, a spy hiding his identity in a women's university dormitory to evade the KCIA, in 'Snowdrop.'

Im Soo-ho is an infiltrated agent disguised as a graduate student in economics at Berlin University. His character description feels oddly familiar. The setting of a 'prestigious graduate student of Korean-German descent' raised concerns reminiscent of the 'East Berlin Spy Incident,' and the controversy also recalls composer Yun Isang, who was falsely accused as a spy by government operations and died without ever setting foot in Korea. There are criticisms that depicting him as a North Korean is inappropriate.

If Jung Hae-in knowingly participated, it would be a serious issue, but even if he was unaware, it remains problematic. With the recent proliferation of online streaming services (OTT) and the global expansion of the market, K-content is gaining immense popularity worldwide. Actors must feel the weight of their influence and popularity in popular culture. Therefore, actors should approach their work with a proper sense of historical awareness and responsibility.

Photo by FNC, provided by Netflix

Netflix recently announced the production of season 2 of 'D.P.' following its popularity. Jung Hae-in and Jo Hyun-chul may reunite and work together again in the near future. The story, which ended with an open conclusion in season 1, could continue in the sequel. However, details about the storyline of season 2 and whether the two actors will meet again have not been disclosed.

Will Jung Hae-in and Jo Hyun-chul be able to see each other's faces with smiles? It is doubtful whether viewers facing 'D.P.' can feel the same as before.