Actress Jun Ji Hyun is at the center of a growing controversy in China over a single line of dialogue from her new Disney+ drama, Tempest. The backlash from Chinese netizens has reportedly led some global brands to pull her advertisements in the country.
According to a report from the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) on September 20th, the issue stems from a scene where Jun Ji Hyun, playing a UN ambassador, asks, "Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall on the border."
This scripted line has caused outrage on Chinese social media. Many users are calling the dialogue a distortion of reality and an unfair criticism of their country. "China does not love war. We pursue peace," one user commented. Another warned, "She needs to realize her line was wrong. This could ruin her career in China."
The criticism has expanded beyond the dialogue. Some viewers have pointed out that a location presented as Dalian in the drama was actually filmed in Hong Kong and allegedly portrayed in an unflattering way to tarnish China's image. The controversy has even led some to demand that China's ban on Korean cultural content should not be lifted.
The backlash is also affecting Jun Ji Hyun's brand endorsements. Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily reported that after receiving numerous complaints, U.S. cosmetics brand La Mer and Swiss watchmaker Piaget have stopped displaying ads featuring the actress on Chinese e-commerce platforms.
While streaming services like Disney+ are not officially available in China, many viewers access content through VPNs or illegal streaming sites. This isn't the first time nationalistic netizens have targeted Korean content. Last year, the popular Netflix show Culinary Class Wars was accused of "stealing" Chinese cuisine, with its judge, celebrity chef Baek Jong Won, facing baseless criticism online.
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