Korean dramas are now getting attention worldwide, but Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada seems to propose to ban them in his country due to the massive support it gets compared to Filipino-made shows. As expected, many reacted to the proposal, resulting in the politician retracting his comment.
On Tuesday, October 18, Estrade claimed that Korean dramas threatened Philippine shows. That said, fans couldn't help but air their frustrations, resulting in a backlash.
The legislature observed that the country continuously shows South Korean TV series and that his countrymen seem to idolize Korean actors more than their own, causing them to lose their jobs. "So, sometimes I think of banning these foreign shows so that our own artists should be the ones we are showing instead," he said.
Knowing the Philippines has a lot of South Korean fans, they naturally disagree and raise their concerns about the matter. One of the country's governors, Juanito Victor Remulla, defended K-dramas and K-pop, explaining that this content gave Filipinos hope and inspiration at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when most people were locked in their homes.
He also noted that Koreans are the top tourist arrivals in the Philippines, loving the country as Filipino people love their "world-class entertainment." Remulla continued that pop culture has no boundaries, and they must "learn and take" inspiration from what the Koreans have achieved.
Also, he stated that Filipinos should have the freedom to choose which content they want to see and disagreed with the idea of banning K-dramas. "What is needed is to think broadly," he concluded.
In addition, a netizen stressed people use K-drama to relieve stress and depression and asked the senator to watch it himself to see the difference between it and Filipino shows.
Meanwhile, amid the backlash, Estrada cleared his remark about banning K-dramas and other foreign-made shows is because of his frustration with the lack of support the local entertainment industry has been receiving.
He clarified that he had nothing against South Korea's success in the entertainment industry, hoping his fellow citizens would also show the same support they gave K-actors and K-idols to Filipino artists, believing their talent is world-class. He explained that South Korea's success is rooted in the love of their country, so he suggested that Filipinos follow suit as the local industry is now "barely surviving." Filipinos are among the biggest supporters of South Korean shows, artists, and music.
