‚Squid Game‘ faces boycott in Vietnam over controversial Vietnam War dialogue

A controversial scene from Season 2 of Netflix’s unique collection „Squid Recreation“ depicts characters discussing a Korean veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. / Captured from Netflix Vietnam

Season 2 of Netflix’s smash collection „Squid Recreation“ is going through requires a boycott in Vietnam on account of dialogue referencing the Vietnam Conflict, which has sparked criticism for allegedly distorting historical past. Vietnamese authorities are additionally intently monitoring the state of affairs.

Based on Vietnamese state media outlet Lao Dong on Monday, the Vietnam Cinema Division which oversees movies is reviewing whether or not the second season of „Squid Recreation“ violates Vietnam’s movie legal guidelines.

The division mentioned, “Whether it is concluded that the collection violates rules, we’ll deal with the matter in accordance with the regulation.” This follows a widespread backlash on Vietnamese social media, with calls to boycott the collection for misrepresenting the nation’s historical past.

Controversial dialogue

The controversy stems from dialogue involving a contestant within the lethal video games. Actor Kang Ha-neul, who performs the character Dae-ho (participant No. 388), describes his household’s navy historical past, saying, “My father needed me to turn out to be an actual man, so he despatched me to the Marines. My father was a Vietnam Conflict veteran.” Different contestants reply by praising his father, saying, “Your father should be an honorable man.”

This trade has angered many Vietnamese viewers, who criticized the collection for glorifying South Korean troopers who served within the Vietnam Conflict.

Feedback on social media embody, “It’s mistaken to painting Korean veterans of the Vietnam Conflict as honorable figures,” and “The collection whitewashes the atrocities dedicated by South Korean troopers through the conflict.”

Some additionally accused South Korea of hypocrisy. “South Korea calls for apologies and reparations from Japan for colonial rule however boasts about its navy involvement in Vietnam,“ he mentioned. „This can be a double customary.”

Reactions on Vietnamese social media to the Vietnam Conflict dialogue in „Squid Recreation“ Season 2. Criticisms embody, „They’re boasting a few conflict fought on the blood and bones of one other nation,“ and „Korea at all times calls for reparations from Japan however proudly boasts about deploying troops to Vietnam.“ Captured from Fb

Boycott calls for escalate

Lao Dong reported that many viewers have demanded Netflix Vietnam reevaluate the collection, with some even calling for its elimination from the platform within the nation. Relying on the Cinema Division’s findings, Season 2 may very well be pulled from Netflix Vietnam.

This isn’t the primary time a Korean drama has confronted scrutiny in Vietnam. In 2022, tvN’s drama „Little Ladies“ was faraway from Netflix Vietnam after being accused of distorting historical past and violating native legal guidelines. The controversy arose from dialogue describing South Korean troopers as able to killing 20 Viet Cong troopers and portraying them as heroes of the Vietnam Conflict.

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Instances.