The upcoming film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint starring BLACKPINK member Jisoo is drawing criticism from Korean netizens over what they claim is a distortion of historical context in its character portrayals.

The controversy reignited after the latest teaser and character posters released on 12 May showed Jisoo’s character, Lee Jihye, wielding a firearm—despite her Constellation being based on the revered Korean naval hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

The fantasy-action film, adapted from a popular web novel, imagines a world where a long-serialised book turns real after its conclusion. The narrative follows Kim Dokja, the book’s sole reader, who must survive in a post-apocalyptic reality alongside characters like Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Jihye, all empowered by “Constellations” — guardian-like entities drawn from myth and history.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who led Korea’s defence against Japanese invasions in the late 16th century, is historically associated with the sword and bow—traditional weapons used to combat Japanese muskets during the Imjin War. Jisoo’s depiction with a gun, however, has raised alarms over historical inaccuracy and perceived erasure of symbolic elements, with many Korean fans accusing the film’s creators of prioritising international market appeal over cultural fidelity.

This concern follows past edits to the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint webtoon. In the Japanese edition, references to national independence figure Yu Gwan-soon were altered into a “yin-yang sorcerer of contradiction”, rooted in Japanese geomantic tradition. Similarly, a Constellation linked to independence activist Ahn Jung-geun was reportedly removed, which critics saw as an attempt to sanitise Korean nationalist references for Japanese audiences.

Online reactions have been swift and severe. Users on Korean forums such as theqoo have called out the filmmakers, posting comments like, “They erased An Jung-geun, Yu Gwan-sun, and Admiral Yi,” and “I hope it flops.” Many questioned whether the production team adequately researched Korean history or considered the implications of rewriting symbolically significant characters.

In February, the film’s producer and Reallize Pictures CEO Won Dong-yeon addressed some of the backlash, explaining that cinematic adaptations require changes for narrative flow and international consumption. He pointed to prior successful adaptations like Along with the Gods, which deviated significantly from the original but retained public support. Won claimed the script had been shared with the novel’s author Joo Ho-min, who approved the adaptations.

He also shared posters of other characters, such as Yoo Joonghyuk, who appears with both a sword and a gun in the film. However, no equivalent clarification has been issued for Lee Jihye’s depiction, deepening concerns among fans.

Despite the backlash, anticipation remains high for the July release, with a production budget of 30 billion KRW and a star-studded cast including Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop. Still, the unresolved historical accuracy debate surrounding Jisoo’s character could cast a long shadow over its reception—particularly in its domestic market.