Song Joong Ki's Kang Maru Might Have to Change His Name in "Nice Guy"

“Nice Guy” may have to change the name of its male character. In the new KBS series, Song Joong Ki plays Kang Maru, a bright med-student who sacrificed his future for the woman he loved only to be betrayed by her. Several people have submitted their complaints at the Seoul Southern District Court, asking the court to force the production to change Kang Maru’s name. Coincidentally, or not, Kang Maru shares the same name as chicken brand “Chicken Maru,” a major investing company behind the drama.  As such, many are claiming that the name Kang Maru was being used as an indirect advertisement.  

This isn’t the first time “Nice Guy” has caused controversy for its names. Several organizations, including the National Institute of the Korean Language, have criticized and  complained about the misspelling in the title. However, a spokesperson of KBS announced, “The title has been intentionally misspelt. In the series, Seo Eun Ki suffers a severe brain trauma. As such, she misspells the word ‘nice guy’ in her diary as she writes about Kang Maru. We all believed that the title was appropriate because it signifies the twisted fate of all the characters.” 

“Nice Guy” is a classic melodrama involving betrayal, revenge, and romance. The story is about Kang Maru (Song Joong Ki), who gave everything up for the woman (Park Shi Yeon) he loves only to be betrayed by her. To get revenge on his ex-girlfriend, he uses another girl (Moon Chae Won). 

KBS will air the second episode of “Nice Guy” tonight, September 13, at 9:55PM KST.