The production company behind the box office hit “The King’s Warden” has shot down recent plagiarism allegations, calling them “groundless.”

Onda Works offered on Tuesday to verify the entire creative process behind the period film's production, which was “thoroughly documented.”


“Similarities with other works may exist since the film is based on actual historical figures and events, but we were never exposed to the work in question [that we have been accused of plagiarizing], and there were no other works copied during the planning, development and production processes,” Onda Works said in a statement, adding that it would take legal action against plagiarism-related claims.

“The King’s Warden” depicts the final four months of King Danjong’s life (1441-1457) after he is exiled to Yeongwol County, Gangwon, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The film focuses on his relationship with loyalist and village chief Eom Heung-do and the villagers. The king is played by actor Park Ji-hoon and Heung-do by Yoo Hai-jin.

The family of a late screenwriter accused Onda Works of copying the script for a television drama, titled “Eom Heung-do,” that was written in 2000 and submitted to broadcasters but eventually shelved, according to an MBN report on Monday.

The family argues that several scenes in “The King’s Warden” closely resemble those in “Eom Heung-do.” For example, the family cited the scenes in "The King's Warden" of the exiled Danjong being rescued by Heung-do after he attempts to jump off a cliff and of government officials taking Heung-do’s son into custody.

The family also claims that "The King's Warden" made the same changes featured in "Eom Heung-do," such as the depiction of Danjong's six court ladies as a single character and Heung-do's three sons as an only child.

“The King's Warden” is nearing 12 million admissions at the box office.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]