After being criticized for bad CGI effects, "Jirisan," starring Jun Ji Hyun and Ju Ji Hoon, face another controversy.
As the tvN Kdrama reached its second half of the season, viewers raised their observations regarding excessive advertisement in the weekend drama.
Viewers Call Out 'Jirisan' for Too Much Advertising Placement
In a report cited by xportsnews.com, a fan posted an article in an online community titled "Updates on Nepa Pop-up Advertisements," pointing out the clothing brand's exposure in "Jirisan."
The online post contained a poster with the Hallyu star promoting the brand's sale; however, the article mentioned that Jun Ji Hyun's Kdrama is "ruined," saying that the advertisement was very inappropriate.
The clothing company caters to all types of outdoor activities, especially hiking, which is the central theme of the mystery drama series.
Moreover, apart from the "Legend of the Blue Sea" star, Nepa Korea even got Go Min Si as their brand muse.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that "Jirisan" faced the same criticisms.
The Korea Times previously highlighted the disappointment of the viewers who are captivated by the scenery and entertained with the impressive storyline of the Kdrama but were dismayed by the brand's sponsorship.
"Even if Nepa is sponsoring, how could rangers continue wearing new alpine clothing and new fleece every time they appear? Do they just dump their clothing when it gets dirty and gets new ones?" one viewer said online as obtained by the outlet.
Some say that the tvN series looks like a commercial ad for the excessive features of their sponsors.
READ MORE: 'Jirisan' Writer Kim Eun Hee Talks About Creating 'Challenging' Dramas Following Complaints Regarding Bad CGI Effects
'Jirisan' Blasted Over Bad CGI Effects
As mentioned above, "Jirisan" was also blasted over its awkward CGI effects despite having a whopping production budget.
After airing its first episode, "Beauty Inside," director Baek Jong Yeol shared his thoughts and noticed the terrible effects seen on the weekend drama.
Not only that, but he also pointed out his observation regarding the directing despite the drama's star-studded cast.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, the South Korean PD uploaded a screenshot of the tvN series alongside a caption that reads "something's wrong with the direction."
Moreover, Director Baek Jong Yeol also mentioned that it makes the actors "look like they can't act well," he mentioned, adding, "I'm sorry if this was done purposely.
To recall, "Jirisan" production costs a staggering 32 billion won or roughly $27 million, so fans wonder why it had such lousy CGI.
As for the cast members, the lineup consists of award-winning actors from the "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" actor Oh Jung Se to veteran star Sung Dong Il and of course the duo Jun Ji Hyun and Ju Ji Hoon.
Despite the controversy, "Jirisan" remained the most-watched program on its time slot as it retained a modest viewership rating.
Episode 11 is scheduled to broadcast on November 27 via tvN and iQiyi at 9 p.m. KST.
