Bon Appetit Your Majesty Responds to Accusations of Historical Distortion
tvN's 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' writer Park Guk Jae has responded to accusations of historical distortion. On September 19, Park shared a statement on social media addressing the controversy, citing "Gukjo Oryeui," known as "The Book of National Rites of the Early Joseon Dynasty," which is the official state manual of court rituals, compiled in 1474, as the basis for the drama’s depiction. First, Park explained the decision to seat Lee Heon alongside the Ming Dynasty envoy. He said, "The section on guest etiquette in the text specifies that the envoy sits to the east, while the king sits to the west." He added, "In Confucian ritual, the east holds a higher rank than the west. The Ming envoy represented the emperor, so his status was above that of the Joseon king." Park also addressed the scene where Lee Heon bows to the Ming envoy, and clarified, "According to the manual, it was customary for the king to bow first when greetin...