'The King's Warden,' the latest box office sensation that has surpassed 10 million viewers, has unexpectedly become embroiled in controversy over its original authorship.
On March 9, MBN reported claims that the movie may have a different original author.
At the center of the dispute is the late theater actor Eom, who passed away in 2019. Eom is said to be the 31st descendant of the historical figure Eom Heung Do, who appears in the film. In 2000, he wrote a drama script titled 'Eom Heung Do,' which he submitted to broadcasters, though it was never produced.
According to Eom’s family, “Even a year before he passed away, we submitted his work to a broadcaster’s contest once.”
The script reportedly focused on the period when King Danjong was exiled to Yeongwol, depicting the king spending his final days forming a bond with the village chief Eom Heung Do, an element strikingly similar to the plot of 'The King’s Warden.'
Eom’s family claims that many parts of the film closely resemble the late actor’s script. They say that after the movie’s release, acquaintances who had seen the film pointed out the similarities, raising questions when the family watched the movie themselves.
The family told MBN, “People around us said, ‘Isn’t this your father’s work? Didn’t he write this?’ As we kept watching, we could see our father in it.”
They have sent the production company a formal notice requesting clarification on the script’s creation process and the sources used.
Officially, the screenplay for 'The King’s Warden' is credited to director Jang Hang Jun and writer Hwang Seok Gu. In interviews, Jang stated that the script underwent multiple revisions, over 20 times, based on initial drafts.
Eom’s family said they do not intend to take legal action, but expressed hope that, if their father is recognized as the original author, his name would be acknowledged in the film’s credits.
Meanwhile, the production company, OndaWorks, told MBN, “The film has a clear original creator. At no point during planning or production was any other work referenced or consulted.”
Meanwhile, 'The King’s Warden' depicts the exiled life of King Danjong in the Joseon Dynasty. After being dethroned at age 16, Danjong is sent to Yeongwol, where he forms bonds with residents, including village chief Eom Heung Do, spending his final days in meaningful connection. The film has been praised for portraying historical figures’ human side through these relationships.
The movie quickly drew audiences, surpassing 10 million viewers, making it the first film this year to achieve this milestone and generating major buzz in theaters. However, amid its box office success, questions about the story’s original authorship have sparked a new wave of debate.
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