A scene from the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters (Image courtesy of Netflix)
SEOUL, June 25 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean academic has publicly denounced what he calls “baseless and absurd” accusations by Chinese internet users who allege cultural appropriation in the new Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, which has become a global hit.
Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University and prominent advocate for Korean cultural heritage, took to social media on Tuesday to address the controversy. He noted that the animation—centered around K-pop idols battling supernatural forces—reached No. 1 in the global film rankings on streaming analytics site FlixPatrol shortly after its release on June 20.
The film has topped charts in 26 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
However, amid the international acclaim, some Chinese netizens have posted critical reviews on Douban, China’s largest online film review platform, claiming that K-Pop Demon Hunters plagiarizes Chinese culture. Specific complaints include the alleged use of Chinese-style knots and other cultural symbols within a clearly Korean-themed narrative.
Seo dismissed the claims, pointing out that Netflix is not officially available in China, meaning the film is being widely pirated there. “Illegal streaming has become normalized in China, and what’s more concerning is the complete lack of shame over it,” he wrote.
He added, “Instead of accusing Korea of stealing Chinese culture, Chinese netizens should first learn to respect the cultures of other countries.”
This is not the first time Chinese users have accused Korean media of appropriating Chinese culture—a recurring source of diplomatic and cultural friction between the two countries amid rising global interest in Korean entertainment.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
