Myanmar Expert Calls for Cultural Clarification to Ease ‘Scarlet Heart Thailand’ Tensions
Myanmar Expert Calls for Cultural Clarification to Ease ‘Scarlet Heart Thailand’ Tensions
BANGKOK, October 26, 2026 — An expert on Myanmar has warned that the controversy surrounding GMMTV’s use of Myanmar court costumes in the Thai historical drama Scarlet Heart Thailand is being exploited by nationalist groups in both countries, potentially damaging otherwise positive relations between Thai and Myanmar people.
Asst Prof Lalita Harnwong of Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Social Sciences said the dispute risked fueling political narratives in Thailand and Myanmar rather than encouraging constructive discussion about cultural representation.
Scarlet Heart Thailand is a Thai historical romance adapted from the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin. The story follows a modern woman who travels back in time and becomes caught up in the romantic relationships and power struggles of seven princes.
Nationalist Narratives on Both Sides
Lalita said nationalist groups in Thailand were using the controversy to reinforce claims that Myanmar migrant workers were “stealing Thai jobs.”
In Myanmar, meanwhile, the military regime wants more young men who fled conflict and military conscription to return to the country, she said. Lalita estimated that between 6 million and 7 million Myanmar migrant workers live in Thailand.
“The groups are using the issue to make Thais hate the people of Myanmar,” Lalita told Khaosod English by phone.
She acknowledged that people in Myanmar had legitimate reasons to be upset about the costumes but urged them to remain cautious about groups seeking to exploit the controversy for political purposes.
Lalita called on GMMTV to issue a further statement explicitly clarifying that it had no intention of appropriating Burmese costumes or culture. She said a clearer explanation could help ease tensions as quickly as possible and stressed that appropriate cultural credit should be given in future productions.
Asked whether the drama’s title was also contributing to the dispute because it uses the word “Thailand” without acknowledging Myanmar, Lalita agreed that the issue was relevant.
Premiere Tickets Sell Out in One Hour
Despite the backlash, tickets for the drama’s premiere sold out within one hour on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The premiere is scheduled for November 4 at Union Hall in Bangkok’s Union Mall. The event will feature a screening of the first episode attended by the cast and director, along with exclusive performances by the actors.
The controversy has placed the production at the centre of a broader debate over cultural representation, nationalism and relations between communities in Thailand and Myanmar.
