HANOI – The highly anticipated second season of Netflix's global phenomenon, "Squid Game," has ignited a firestorm of controversy in Vietnam, with widespread calls for a boycott over dialogue deemed to distort the history of the Vietnam War. The contentious scene, featuring a character praising his father's service as a South Korean Marine veteran of the conflict, has sparked outrage among Vietnamese viewers and prompted official scrutiny from the nation's film authorities.
According to reports from Vietnamese state media outlet Lao Dong, the Vietnam Cinema Department is currently reviewing the series to determine if it violates the country's film laws. "If it is concluded that the series violates regulations, we will handle the matter in accordance with the law," the department stated, indicating the potential for the series to be pulled from Netflix Vietnam.
The controversy centers on a scene where character Dae-ho (No. 388), portrayed by actor Kang Ha-neul, describes his father's military history. "My father wanted me to become a real man, so he sent me to the Marines. My father was a Vietnam War veteran," Dae-ho says, prompting other contestants to praise his father as "an honorable man."
This exchange has drawn sharp criticism on Vietnamese social media, with many viewers condemning the portrayal of South Korean veterans as heroes. "It's wrong to portray Korean veterans of the Vietnam War as honorable figures," one user commented. "The series whitewashes the atrocities committed by South Korean soldiers during the war."
Accusations of hypocrisy have also surfaced, with some Vietnamese netizens pointing out South Korea's own demands for reparations from Japan for colonial rule. "South Korea demands apologies and reparations from Japan for colonial rule but boasts about its military involvement in Vietnam," one critic stated, highlighting what they perceive as a double standard.
The backlash has escalated into calls for a full boycott, with demands for Netflix Vietnam to remove the series from its platform. The Vietnam Cinema Department's decision could lead to the removal of "Squid Game" Season 2 from the service if it is found to violate local laws.
This is not the first time a South Korean drama has faced scrutiny in Vietnam. In 2022, tvN's "Little Women" was removed from Netflix Vietnam after accusations of historical distortion related to its portrayal of South Korean soldiers in the Vietnam War.
The current controversy underscores the sensitivity surrounding the Vietnam War in the region and highlights the challenges faced by international productions navigating complex historical narratives. The fate of "Squid Game" Season 2 in Vietnam now rests on the outcome of the Cinema Department's review, with the possibility of a significant impact on its viewership in the country.
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