Actress Jun Ji Hyun is at the center of a two-track story: online backlash and runaway popularity. In Disney+’s new thriller Tempest, Jun plays UN ambassador Moon Ju. One line—“Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall on the border.”—circulated on Chinese social platforms, prompting accusations that the script distorted reality and insulted their country.
How the controversy escalated
Some viewers complained that a locatiActress Jun Ji Hyun is at the center of a two-track story: online backlash and runaway popularity. In Disney+’s new thriller Tempest, Jun plays UN ambassador Moon Ju. One line—“Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall on the border.”—circulated on Chinese social platforms, prompting accusations that the script distorted reality and insulted their country.
How the controversy escalated
Some viewers complained that a location presented as Dalian was actually filmed in Hong Kong and shown unflatteringly. Nationalist users urged that the informal ban on Korean entertainment remain in place. Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported that La Mer and Piaget pulled Jun Ji Hyun’s ads from major Chinese e-commerce portals as criticism intensified.
But audiences kept watching
Within five days of its September 10 premiere, Disney+ announced Tempest had become the most-watched Korean original series of 2025 on the platform. The show pairs Jun Ji Hyun with Kang Dong Won (elite agent San Ho) in a chase that mixes romance, politics, and espionage—elements critics say are carried by the leads’ chemistry.
Why it matters in the K-drama landscape
Tempest arrives as geopolitics increasingly threads through mainstream K-dramas. The VPN wrinkle—some Chinese viewers reportedly watching via VPN—creates a paradox: sharp online criticism alongside strong cross-border viewership. If the series sustains momentum, expect more political thrillers with A-list casts—promoted carefully to avoid out-of-context lines becoming flashpoints.
Publishing notes
When you publish, link to: (1) controversy coverage (e.g., Allkpop), and (2) Disney+/trade coverage on the viewership record. If you reference festival venues or red-carpet comparisons, you can also add the Busan Cinema Center map for context.on presented as Dalian was actually filmed in Hong Kong and shown unflatteringly. Nationalist users urged that the informal ban on Korean entertainment remain in place. Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported that La Mer and Piaget pulled Jun Ji Hyun’s ads from major Chinese e-commerce portals as criticism intensified.
But audiences kept watching
Within five days of its September 10 premiere, Disney+ announced Tempest had become the most-watched Korean original series of 2025 on the platform. The show pairs Jun Ji Hyun with Kang Dong Won (elite agent San Ho) in a chase that mixes romance, politics, and espionage—elements critics say are carried by the leads’ chemistry.
Why it matters in the K-drama landscape
Tempest arrives as geopolitics increasingly threads through mainstream K-dramas. The VPN wrinkle—some Chinese viewers reportedly watching via VPN—creates a paradox: sharp online criticism alongside strong cross-border viewership. If the series sustains momentum, expect more political thrillers with A-list casts—promoted carefully to avoid out-of-context lines becoming flashpoints.
Publishing notes
When you publish, link to: (1) controversy coverage (e.g., Allkpop), and (2) Disney+/trade coverage on the viewership record. If you reference festival venues or red-carpet comparisons, you can also add the Busan Cinema Center map for context.
