China produces historical drama on Balhae, calling it 'key part of Chinese nation'

China is producing a drama series based on Balhae, a kingdom that is part of ancient Korean history.

According to Chinese media outlets including Yangguang Wang and China News Service, a filming launch ceremony for "Balhae Daeheummu," produced by the Yanbian Radio and Television Station, was held Friday at the Yanbian Museum in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province.

Daeheummu is the name of Mun Wang, the third king of Balhae. Chinese media described the production as China's first short-form drama series centered on the history of Balhae.

Yangguang Wang said the script had already passed expert review by relevant Jilin Province authorities, adding that "the historical facts are rigorous and in accordance with standards."

The outlet also said "the history of Balhae is an indispensable and important component of the pluralistic and unified Chinese nation," and that it holds "significant meaning for the transmission of Yanbian's local cultural context and the composition of Jilin Province's regional culture."

The drama series focuses primarily on the 57-year reign of Mun Wang.

Yangguang Wang said the series "tells the grand story of how Balhae comprehensively emulated the Tang dynasty's rites, music, agriculture and commerce systems, led the border tribes, and built the 'State of Flourishing in the East.'" It also "vividly depicts the historical context of Balhae — a local ethnic regime 1,300 years ago — exchanging with and integrating into the Tang dynasty," the outlet added.