Netflix's global hit 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' faces cultural appropriation controversy among Chinese netizens

The animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' which ranks number one globally on Netflix and has garnered world-wide popularity, has recently come under fire for cultural appropriation from some Chinese netizens.

Recently, reactions from Chinese viewers who watched the show became a topic of discussion in online communities, with some claiming that Korea has stolen Chinese culture, revealing excessive sinocentrism.

Claims that Korea has stolen Chinese culture

Some Chinese netizens took to social media to assert that the inclusion of elements such as hanbok, palaces, and various traditional costumes in 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' are essentially Chinese culture.

One netizen criticized, "Korea no longer hides its cultural appropriation and plagiarism. Traditional Chinese medicine and its herbs are mentioned, along with various patterns, traditional architecture, and scenes where the White Tiger sends letters to ghosts, showcasing Chinese culture."

Another netizen expressed anger towards Sony, a Japanese company that purportedly aided Koreans in their stealing, stating, "I wanted to criticize the Japanese company, but Imageworks is based in the US," calling it "really thieving sorcery." Additional comments included remarks like "there are too many thieves" and "the cultural appropriation is so severe that it’s disgusting."

Mixed reviews on quality and illegal viewing issues

Some Chinese netizens also gave harsh reviews of the show's quality, stating, "The plot is terrible and illogical; it was boring," "it’s disposable trash," and "the songs are childish."

However, at the same time, there were plenty of positive reviews as well, including comments like "it's well-made; a rare animation masterpiece," "the sisters are cool and the songs are great," and "the music is exciting."

Notably, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is an exclusive Netflix project, yet Netflix is not officially available in China. This suggests that most Chinese viewers who left comments likely experienced the content through illegal viewing. The issue of 'thieving views' of Korean content on Netflix in China has been raised consistently.

Possibility of accessing content through illegal viewing

Despite some criticisms from Chinese netizens, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is achieving significant success in the global market.

According to the streaming service viewing ranking site FlixPatrol, as of the 22nd, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' recorded a viewing score of 771, securing the number one spot globally in the Netflix film category. This number far surpasses the second-place film 'Straw' which scored 609 points.

'K-Pop Demon Hunters' has reached number one in a total of 26 countries, including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, and Mexico, showcasing an impressive achievement by making it into the top 10 in 93 countries.

This animation portrays the story of K-Pop superstars Lumi, Mira, and Joy, who serve as hidden heroes protecting the world behind glamorous stages.

Image source: Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'