In brief
In an episode of the spy romance series 'Tempest,' actress Jun Ji-hyun's character prompts outrage in China with her line questioning the country's willingness for war. This controversy has led to calls for brands to sever ties with the star, reviving long-standing tensions between Chinese and South Korean entertainment. With boycotts and calls for a cultural ban echoing on Weibo, the backlash underscores the fragility of K-drama's presence in a market that had seemed open to reconciliation.
In the spy romance series Tempest, Jun Ji-hyun, one of South Korea's biggest stars, plays a diplomat trying to uncover the truth behind a deadly assassination.
Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall near the border, her character says in one episode of the new Disney+ series.
This fictional scene led to real consequences over the weekend, with many Chinese social media users taking it to be a malicious mischaracterisation of China as belligerent. Many are now calling for brands to sever ties with the Korean actress.
The uproar has also reignited debate over an unofficial Chinese ban on South Korean entertainment, which has been in place for nearly a decade.
While China has never admitted to a ban, the abrupt dearth of K-content since 2016 is widely believed to be a protest against South Korea's decision to deploy a US anti-missile system in 2016, which China sees as a threat to its military operations in the region.
Things had appeared to be easing in recent months, with a few South Korean performers holding concerts in China. But the controversy over Tempest has triggered a fresh wave of support for the ban.
Many users on Weibo are advocating for a continuation of the ban, expressing sentiments such as, Keep the K-drama ban to the death, thank you, which has gathered thousands of likes.
The outrage hasn't just been limited to Jun's line; viewers have also criticized aspects of the series that they find offensive, including unflattering portrayals of Chinese cities, perceived symbolisms of the Chinese flag, and a culturally insensitive delivery of a traditional Chinese poem by Jun.
Brands like La Mer and Louis Vuitton have reportedly scrubbed her presence from their social media platforms in response to the backlash, with demands for further punitive measures against Jun’s contracts.
While some fans have defended her, emphasizing that she is merely an actor following a script, the overwhelming sentiment among critics centers around a perceived lack of accountability on her part. The controversy serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance in the cultural relationship between South Korea and China, which might have been improving recently but remains fraught with challenges.
As the situation develops, it highlights the immense influence of social media in shaping public opinion and corporate actions in today's global landscape.
