K-drama Anna controversy: Coupang Play and director Lee Joo-young tussle over re-edited version of hit streaming series
- Anna director Lee Joo-young has clashed with Korean streaming service Coupang Play over what she says was its re-editing of the series without her consent
- Lee demanded an apology and claims to have received one. Coupang Play denies saying sorry, and says that what it did was within its contractual rights
Since the beginning of August an intense game of he-said, she-said has gripped the Korean drama industry.
Lee Joo-young, director of the drama Anna, starring Bae Suzy, accuses streaming service Coupang Play of significantly altering the show before its launch without her consent.
This week Siwoo, a law firm representing Lee, published a statement regarding an apology it said she had received from Coupang Play and it briefly appeared as though the storm had settled. However, the streaming service immediately fired back with a strong rebuttal, further complicating the already sensitive affair.
The show began streaming on June 24 in South Korea to strong reviews and Coupang credited it with boosting the service’s unique users during the month to a sizeable 3.73 million.