▲ This poster, provided by MBC, shows the rom-com series "Perfect Crown." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- A parliamentary petition calling for the suspension and complete removal of the MBC drama "Perfect Crown" surpassed 50,000 signatures Tuesday, meeting the threshold required for review by a National Assembly committee.

The petition exceeded the 50,000-signature mark five days after it was posted on the National Assembly's public petition website last Friday. 

Under National Assembly rules, petitions disclosed on the website are formally referred to a relevant standing committee if they garner at least 50,000 signatures within 30 days.

The petitioner argued that although the drama is set in a fictional version of modern-day Korea, it indiscriminately borrowed Chinese-style costumes, etiquette and vocabulary, resulting in what was described as clear cultural appropriation and historical distortion.

The petition demanded the suspension of broadcasts and the complete removal of the drama from video-on-demand and over-the-top streaming platforms.

It also called for institutional measures to permanently ban content that causes controversy over historical distortion.

After review by a parliamentary petition subcommittee, lawmakers will decide whether to forward the matter to a plenary session. Measures can then be taken for petitions ultimately adopted and deemed to require action by the National Assembly or the government.

The controversy surrounding "Perfect Crown," which ended its run May 16, erupted after Episode 11 aired the previous day showed Grand Prince Ian wearing a nine-string royal crown associated with vassal states during his coronation ceremony instead of the 12-string crown historically used by emperors of sovereign states.

Court officials in the scene also shouted "Cheonse," a term associated with tributary states, instead of "Manse," which symbolizes sovereignty. Critics argued the portrayal could provide grounds for China's controversial Northeast Project narrative regarding Korean history.

Lead actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok, along with director Park Joon-hwa and writer Yoo Ji-won, have since issued public apologies over the controversy.

MBC also removed the ending scene from Episode 11.

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