'Chief Detective 1958' writer Park Tae-joon faces renewed Ilbe affiliation allegations

SBS's hit Friday-Saturday drama 'Chief Detective 1958,' which is nearing 20% viewership ratings just three episodes into its run, has encountered an unexpected obstacle. The show is facing renewed scrutiny due to allegations of 'Ilbe' (a far-right online community) affiliations surrounding its lead writer and producer, Park Tae-joon.

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Creators often don't include a single number without meaning.

The controversy resurfaced recently when a YouTube channel, 'Yeouido Munae-dong,' re-examined past allegations against Park Tae-joon. The channel highlighted scenes from his popular webtoon 'Lookism,' suggesting they contain coded references potentially linked to Ilbe's specific language and symbolism.

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This might remind people of the date May 23rd.

One scene cited involves a character looking at a stopwatch and stating '5 minutes 23 seconds.' Critics argue this could be an allusion to May 23rd, the date of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's death, suggesting creators often embed meaning in such details. Another point of contention is a sign that reads 'Rock Owling,' which some interpret as a reference to Bongha Village, Roh Moo-hyun's hometown, where he died. The channel's commentary posits that the writer might have found these references amusing when creating the scenes.

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This might remind people of the place where President Roh Moo-hyun passed away.

These specific scenes and phrases are reportedly similar to codes used within Ilbe and other online communities. The allegations suggest that Park Tae-joon may have intentionally included these elements, sparking debate among viewers and online communities about the writer's past associations and the interpretation of his work.

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He probably drew this thinking it was funny, using these codes.