(SBS)

Hit TV drama series “Yong-pal” is going through tribulations as fans of a popular cartoon titled “City Conquest” have accused “Yong-pal” of plagiarizing the series.

The fans insisted that there are numerous similarities between the characters, including a beautiful patient who was put in a coma by her brother and a snobbish doctor who treats gangsters. “City Conquest” is an ongoing cartoon series, first released in 1996. The series has garnered a following among fans for its dynamic plot line.

Representatives for the production team, however, addressed the claims, saying, “(The accusations) focus on a merely small part of the whole plot.” They viewed the accusations as “an attempt to ruin the hotshot drama.”

They further highlighted differences between the cartoon and the drama, citing plot devices that do not exist in the drama such as Japanese yakuza, supernatural powers and a trauma involving a 10-year-old child.

Shin Hyung-bin, the cartoonist, however, saw some parallels between the two works, adding he would solicit advice from his agency.

The medical romantic drama “Yong-pal,” which airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 p.m. on SBS, has been garnering the highest ratings of all weeknight Korean TV dramas despite the plagiarism accusations.

By Ko Ji-seon (jiseonko@heraldcorp.com)

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