Outrage erupts over 'When the Phone Rings' Israel-Palestine reference, boycott ensues
The contentious scene involves Jang Gyu Ri's character, Na Yu Ri, reports on airstrikes by the fictional nation of Paltima against Izmael, with Korean nationals taken hostage.
SHAH ALAM - Record-breaking K-drama When the Phone Rings has gone from triumph to turmoil, sparking outrage over a controversial subplot in its finale that many viewers say draws parallels to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Despite being one of the highest-rated K-dramas to date, the series, which concluded on January 4, is now embroiled in heated debates and faces a growing boycott campaign.
The contentious scene involves Jang Gyu Ri's character, Na Yu Ri, reports on airstrikes by the fictional nation of Paltima against Izmael, with Korean nationals taken hostage.
Viewers have criticised the drama for drawing thinly veiled parallels to the Palestine-Israel genocide, accusing the creators of injecting a divisive narrative into the series finale.
While the series was lauded for its compelling narrative and happy ending, the controversial reference left many viewers dissatisfied.
Social media has been abuzz with criticism, with users accusing the show of exploiting sensitive geopolitical issues.
Despite being hailed as one of the best dramas of 2024 and achieving high ratings, the controversial ending left a sour taste for some.
Social media users have been vocal in their criticism of the show.
One user on X suggested, “For anyone who hasn't watched it, it's better to just boycott it, we all know which country they mean, they don't even bother to cover it up, and they reveal the opposite of the facts that happened.”
Another user, @taviladhaque “I was so invested in this show and this just left a bad taste in my mouth. Like who green lighted this thing!? They didn’t even try to be subtle about it either,”
@Nawelreads expressed disappointment, writing, “Very disappointing. Free Palestine always.”
@SpOtLiGhT22 added, “Not just boycott, but give it a thumbs down rating.”
Meanwhile, @AnisulHaqu9963 said, “I was obsessed with the drama. The show got huge popularity worldwide, but just the last episode, mocking Palestine's innocent people and portraying Israel as a victim, destroyed all the hard work of the actors.”
The outrage has also sparked calls for a boycott of the production company behind When the Phone Rings. Critics argue that incorporating the reference was a calculated move to court controversy—a gamble that has evidently backfired.
Previously, the drama had consistently maintained strong viewership, reaching its peak during the penultimate episodes with a 9.8/10 rating on multiple platforms.
According to Nielsen Korea, the second-to-last episode scored a nationwide rating of 8.3 percent, setting a record for the show.
However, the backlash was swift, causing a significant drop in its overall rating. Within 48 hours, ratings fell from 9.8 to 6.8, and IMDb saw a dramatic decline from 82 per cent positive ratings to just 21 per cent.
As the controversy continues to unfold, industry insiders are questioning the long-term impact this may have on the production team’s reputation and future projects.
While When the Phone Rings initially seemed destined to become a timeless classic, the fallout from its finale has cast a shadow over its legacy. The makers have yet to issue a clarification on the controversy.
The show stars Yoo Yeon-Seok and Chae Soo-Bin in the lead roles and features Hae Nam-joon, Han Jae-Yi, Ko Sang-ho and others.
