A complaint has been filed asking authorities to investigate whether Doctor X: Mafia in White violated road laws by installing a fake bus stop for filming.
The Safety and Transportation Bureau of the Buk District Office in the integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City received a complaint through the government’s online petition system on October 27th. Officials plan to review the installation of a bus stop sign in front of the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju.
The scene in question appeared in Episode 6, which aired on October 24th. In the scene, a bus on Route 518 stops in front of the cemetery’s main gate, known as the Gate of Democracy.
The actual bus stop is approximately 350 meters away from the gate. However, the sign used in the drama was reportedly a movable filming prop supported by a square metal frame.
The complaint asks authorities to determine whether the temporary structure was installed with the required legal permission. According to reports, the production team did not submit a separate application for road occupation or consult with the district office regarding the filming.
Under South Korea’s Road Act, placing an object on a road without permission can result in a fine of up to 3 million won ($2,300).
Episode 6 of Doctor X depicted the story of Oh Sang Beom (played by Ha Seong Kwang), a patient who suffered gunshot wounds during the May 18th Democratization Movement, and surgeon Gye Su Jeong (Kim Ji Won), who tries to treat him. The episode also featured a fictional former president named Ji Do Seok, whose character drew comparisons to former South Korean president Chun Doo Hwan.
The episode sparked controversy after airing. Some viewers criticized the inclusion of historical subject matter in a medical drama and called for the series to be taken off the air through a petition on the National Assembly’s public petition platform.
The petition received the 100 signatures required for public disclosure. A statement also appeared on an online forum calling on the production team to explain its approach to fictionalizing historical events.
However, other viewers praised the drama for shedding light on the suffering of victims of the May 18th Democratization Movement. Actor Han Jung Soo also posted a statement on October 26th opposing calls to suspend the broadcast.
Despite the controversy, Episode 6 of Doctor X recorded a nationwide household rating of 19.5%, according to Nielsen Korea.
>> Kim Ji Won’s ‘Doctor X’ Soars in Ratings but Faces Backlash From Real-Life Doctors
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