Korean court rejects ban on 'The King's Warden' amid plagiarism allegations
A South Korean court has dismissed a request for an injunction to block theatrical screenings, overseas sales, and OTT releases of director Jang Hang-jun’s historical film, The King and the Clown, otherwise known as The King’s Warden, following allegations that it plagiarized the screenplay of the 2000s TV drama Eom Heung-do.
Chief Judge Shin Myung-hee of the Civil Division 21 at the Seoul Western District Court rejected the injunction filed by the family of the late screenwriter. The filing targeted the film’s co-producers, Onda Works and BA Entertainment, along with distributor Showbox.
In its ruling, the court stated that while both works share historical context centered on real figures, they differ fundamentally in core themes, narrative structure, and character development.
The court stated, "In the screenplay submitted by the bereaved family, Eom Heung-do remains consistently loyal and devoted to Danjong of Joseon from beginning to end. However, in the film King and the Clown, the core theme is that Danjong, Eom Heung-do, and the villagers change and grow together through their interactions. The themes, narrative structure, and character settings of the two works are entirely different."
The court further noted that because both works are grounded in real historical events, some overlapping settings naturally occur. However, the overall plot, character relationships, and overarching messages are completely distinct.
"It is difficult to conclude that the screenplay submitted by the bereaved family has unique and original characteristics that are substantially similar," it said.
It highlighted that there was zero evidence suggesting director Jang Hang-jun had access to or consulted the family's drama script while revising the screenplay.
The production company, Onda Works, previously denied all allegations, asserting that The King’s Warden is an original creative work documented thoroughly throughout its development process.
Released in February 2026, The King’s Warden follows the story of the young deposed monarch, King Danjong, during his exile in Yeongwol, detailing his transformative bond with Eom Heung-do and local villagers. It stars Park Ji-hoon and Yoo Hae-jin.
The film has been a massive commercial success, drawing approximately 16.88 million viewers to become the second-highest-grossing domestic release in South Korean box office history.
