MBCis the popular K-Drama When the phone rings aired its final episode on January 4, KST. Although the conclusion was highly anticipated by fans around the world, one particular scene in the last episode drew fierce criticism.
The particular scene in question featured the character Na Yu Ri (played by Janggyu Ri) which reported an incident in which the seemingly fictional country of “Paltima” had air-attacked the fictional country of “Izmael” and taken Korean citizens hostage.
this is the scene he’s referring to btw for added context 🥴 they added this scene towards the end of the last episode with these names slightly changed https://t.co/eBNNfMh8SW pic.twitter.com/EAeBTWTYOi
— ⋆ (@selsmarss) January 4, 2025
Although the names are apparently fictitious, netizens quickly realized that they were allusions to Palestine and Israel respectively. More and more viewers began posting about the clip, blaming the creators and the network for airing such a problematic depiction of ongoing suffering in Palestine at the hands of Israel.
For more than a year, the Gaza Strip in Palestine has been ruthlessly bombed by Israel, along with other documented crimes against humanity, including the induction of unreliable conditions through the deliberate restriction of aid. International health workers in Gaza have raised the alarm over violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli army in Gaza.
Through the north #Gazathere is no way to know where the destruction begins or ends.
It doesn’t matter which direction you enter from #Gaza Cities, houses, hospitals, schools, clinics, mosques, apartments, restaurants – everything completely razed to the ground.
An entire society now a cemetery. pic.twitter.com/gnZk0URyQX
— Louise Wateridge (@UNWateridge) November 6, 2024
“Israeli” soldiers set fire to the Mahdia Al-Shawa school in Beit Hanoun immediately after the aid trucks arrived, after more than forty days without food. They burned the school and all the humanitarian aid, forcing the displaced to evacuate by force. pic.twitter.com/HJxqDqdCq3
— Ania Lewandovska 🍉 (@Anna_AnninaEl) November 15, 2024
Last week, at least 5 children died from hypothermia in Gaza refugee camps. Among them is 3-week-old baby, ‘Ali (pictured).
As winter arrived, Israel left millions of people in Gaza without adequate shelter and heating.
Babies and… pic.twitter.com/ykYhwhmJZy
— B’Tselem B’Tselem (@btselem) January 3, 2025
STOP everything you are doing and listen to what American Jewish doctor Mark Perlmutter saw in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/ZbltdHqE6l
— Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar) July 22, 2024
“We saw a number of children wounded in the head by a sniper, one shot to the head, no other wounds, so clearly deliberately targeted by Israeli snipers.”
Professor Nizam Mamode testified to MPs in parliament yesterday about his time working in Gaza pic.twitter.com/AQClWc1Bc8
—Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) November 13, 2024
In May 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it was “plausible” that Israel’s actions in Gaza constituted genocide. This ruling was followed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Galantetogether with the Hamas commander Mohammed Deiffor their alleged crimes against humanity.
#ICC Public Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC announces requests for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant in the context of the situation in the State of #Palestine ⤵️https://t.co/WqDZecXFZq pic.twitter.com/bxqLWc5M6u
— International Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) May 20, 2024
In the given context, viewers took offense at the distorted portrayal of the situation on multiple levels. First, the reversal of the parties involved in the real-life airstrikes caused many fans to believe that the show had made a deliberate attempt to dispel Zionist propaganda. Furthermore, using the real suffering of people in the Middle East as a mere plot point left a bad taste in viewers’ mouths.
@mbcdrama_pre This is what the Palestinian people are enduring (Paltima) and you claim they are attacking Israel (Izmael)? Are you damn serious?#WhenthephoneringsEp12#Whenthephonerings #The phone call you are making right now is https://t.co/mr0rg8cV6X pic.twitter.com/Rgh6C761Wa
– 🅸🆁🅷🅰 (@IRHA880929) January 4, 2025
and once again. The Palestinian genocide is NOT a light topic to discuss in a kdrama. and this drama couldn’t get any worse, they had to straight up lie about what’s really happening there. Free Palestine, monsters https://t.co/SJXgEJENsA
— lunageewonfilms) January 4, 2025
What they put on the show versus what’s actually happening in Palestine… #FreePalestine #Whenthephonerings https://t.co/AvTpdLFBo8 pic.twitter.com/g78E1IFflW
— Bloom 🌸 🇵🇸 (@bbuyoMom) January 4, 2025
They just tore my heart into pieces, pretending!? I’m not even kidding about how I’m sick of seeing media bullshit and propaganda justify the bombing of innocent civilians and people seeking asylum in hospitals!? It’s a real shame. #WhenthephoneringsEp12 https://t.co/uw5oSpMxFz
— Me (@world_2025) January 4, 2025
using an ongoing genocide as a mere narrative device, especially in a way that aligns Zionist narratives, is not only tone deaf but deeply offensive https://t.co/eEq2GGxPOp
— 𝑠𝑖𝑑 (@brownkudiii) January 4, 2025
The director of the show, Park Sang Wooexecutive producer, Kwon Sung Changand screenwriter, Kim Ji Woon they were called by viewers to take responsibility for this mistake and apologize. Many also called for MBC to remove the clip from the show and apologize.
You seriously need to start boycotting Korean and pro-Zionist entertainment. Boycott the writer and director forever. Also avoid actors https://t.co/SynR6FTOkv
— haruharu (@haruSKELETON) January 4, 2025
yeonseok-soobin carries the whole drama forward but the production crew ruins everything. they show a news report saying “Paltima attacks Izmael and takes Korean hostages”?? they are Zionists
— piyu (@ongesarangae) January 4, 2025
Only ignorant idiots (see names below) will post something they have no idea they are licking like the Zionists – and it has nothing to do with the drama. Disappointing drama with this shameful program.#WhenthephoneringsEp12 #Whenthephonerings https://t.co/z08XF0QTbA
— Oz440 (@Oz4408) January 4, 2025
Palmita???
Izmael???Shame on you @mbcdrama_pre
Shame on you #Whenthephonerings !!
If you haven’t watched it yet! Stop boycotting! Don’t watch it! pic.twitter.com/kuW7Hte9iG— SunnyMeloFia (@Imsunnyjae) January 4, 2025
None of the parties involved in the K-Drama have responded to this controversy yet. Stay tuned for further updates.
