Netflix’s global hit series Squid Game Season 2 is facing intense backlash in Vietnam over dialogue referencing the Vietnam War, leading to a growing boycott movement. (Image courtesy of Netflix)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 has sparked controversy in Vietnam due to a line referencing the Vietnam War, with some viewers calling for a boycott of the series, according to a January 7 report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The Vietnamese state-run newspaper Lao Dong reported that the Ministry of Culture’s Cinema Department is reviewing whether the series violates local laws. A department official stated, “If it is concluded that the series breaches regulations, we will address the issue according to the law.”
The controversy centers on dialogue involving character Dae-ho (Player 388), played by actor Kang Ha-neul. In the scene, Dae-ho explains his family’s military history, saying, “My father wanted me to become a real man, so he sent me to the Marines. My father was a veteran of the Vietnam War.” Other characters then praise his father, calling him “an honorable man.”
The dialogue has provoked anger among Vietnamese viewers, who accuse the show of glorifying South Korean soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. One social media user told SCMP, “Portraying these veterans as honorable figures is deeply inappropriate,” while another claimed the series “whitewashes atrocities committed by Korean troops during the war.”
The backlash has led to demands on Vietnamese social media for a boycott of the series, raising questions about the potential regulatory response and further scrutiny of its portrayal of historical events.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
