'The King's Warden' Production Company Denies Plagiarism Allegations: “They Are Simply Historical Facts”
by K-Soul · allkpopAmid a growing legal dispute over plagiarism allegations surrounding director Jang Hang Joon’s blockbuster film 'The King's Warden,' the production company has firmly denied the claims.
On May 19, the Civil Division 21 of the Seoul Western District Court held a hearing regarding an injunction filed by the bereaved family of the late screenwriter behind the drama 'Eom Heung Do.' The lawsuit targets co-production companies Ondaworks and BA Entertainment, as well as distributor Showbox, seeking to halt the film’s screening.
During the hearing, the production side argued that the allegedly similar elements — including the “deposition of King Danjong” and “Eom Heung Do recovering a corpse” — were merely based on historical events.
“The scenes in question are rooted in historical facts and cannot be regarded as creative expressions unique to a specific work,” the company stated.
The production company further explained, “While the original screenplay focused on Eom Heung Do’s martyrdom, the film differs entirely in tone and narrative focus. The character relationships, development of conflict, and even the path toward the ending are fundamentally different.”
In response, the court acknowledged that “the production company’s argument that subject matter and themes themselves are not protected under copyright law does carry some validity.” However, the court also requested that the plaintiffs submit more detailed supporting materials regarding the seven alleged points of creative similarity they raised.
Previously, 'The King's Warden' became embroiled in allegations that it plagiarized the screenplay of the 2000s-era drama 'Eom Heung Do.' In response, Ondaworks had already stated that the plagiarism accusations were “completely groundless.”
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