Infold Games recently began pre-registration for “Infinity Nikki,” a sequel to “Shining Nikki,” a dress-up game that sparked outrage in South Korea in 2020. (Photo: a screenshot from Prof. Seo’s social account)
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – A Chinese gaming company that withdrew from the South Korean market in 2020 amid a cultural controversy over traditional Korean dress is facing fresh scrutiny as it prepares to launch a new game in the country.
Infold Games recently began pre-registration for “Infinity Nikki,” a sequel to “Shining Nikki,” a dress-up game that sparked outrage in South Korea in 2020 when its parent company, Paper Games, aligned itself with Chinese claims that hanbok, traditional Korean attire, was originally Chinese.
The controversy erupted when Paper Games introduced hanbok items for both domestic and international servers during the Korean launch of Shining Nikki in October 2020.
Chinese netizens protested, claiming hanbok was traditional attire from China’s Ming Dynasty or belonged to the Korean-Chinese ethnic minority, prompting the company to suddenly remove the hanbok items.
In a statement on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Paper Games declared, “As a Chinese company, Paper Games’ position always aligns with our motherland. We oppose any actions that harm national interests and will actively fulfill our responsibilities as a Chinese enterprise.”
The company added that it would “always uphold love and respect for Chinese traditional culture and protect national dignity.”
The response triggered intense backlash from Korean users, who criticized the company for legitimizing false claims about hanbok’s origins. Within a week, Paper Games abruptly terminated its Korean service and released a “hanfu package” (referring to traditional Chinese clothing) on its Chinese server.
In its termination notice, the company emphasized its role in spreading Chinese traditional dress culture globally while reiterating its alignment with China’s positions. The company cited “radical criticism insulting China” from some users as having “crossed our final line,” stating it would “firmly reject such speech and defend national dignity.”
Paper Games has since established a Korean subsidiary, Infold Korea, and launched another game, “Love and Deepspace,” in the Korean market last year. The upcoming release of Infinity Nikki marks the company’s attempt to reenter the Korean market with its flagship franchise, despite unresolved tensions over the previous cultural dispute.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
