Just when Jun Ji-Hyun’s latest K-drama Tempest was sweeping through OTT viewership, the actress got embroiled in a controversy of allegedly irking her Chinese fans. This even led to the actress receiving backlash on social media, with many claiming that the recent cancellation of her Chinese advertisement was also connected to the trouble. Jun has finally issued a statement on the matter through her agency.

What’s the controversy about?

Tempest is a spy romance starring Hallyu stars Jun Ji-Hyun and Kang Dong-Won. The K-drama released on Disney+ on September 10, and soon grabbed top rankings. While Gang portrays an international special agent of mysterious background, Jun plays a skilled diplomat Mun-Ju who is a former UN ambassador, trying to uncover the truth behind a deadly assassination.

In one of the episodes of the political thriller, Jun’s character Mun-Ju says, “Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall near the border.” Her line infuriated many fans in China calling out the show for mischaracterisation of their country. Amid all this, a media outlet reported on September 23 that Jun’s advertisement, originally scheduled to take place in Seoul on September 25, has been cancelled in the light of the controversy.

Jun’s agency Peach Company clarified the matter. Soompi shared the label’s statement: “The cancellation of the Chinese advertisement was decided before the airing of ‘Tempest. It has nothing to do with the drama. We communicated with the local agency in China and were told the reports were not true. The advertisement was postponed, then canceled, due to local circumstances.”

About Tempest

Tempest follows the story of Jun Ji-Hyun and Kang Dong-Won’s characters. Soon after an assassination attempt shakes the political waters, the two embark on a mission to uncover the truth about a deadly attack that could threaten the stability of the Korean Peninsula. Together, they peel back layers of deception that threaten the stability of the Korean peninsula.