The global popularity of Netflix’s animation ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters ‘, which charmingly blends not only K -Pop but also Korean traditional culture, is extraordinary.As a result, the’ popularity aftershock ‘continues, with jealous reactions from some Chinese netizens and performances by K-Pop stars reminiscent of the stage in the movie being re-examined.

‘ K-Pop Demon Hunters ‘, which tells the story of a K-Pop group becoming heroes who protect the world, is receiving explosive responses, ranking in the top 5 in movie rankings in 92 countries around the world and at the top in over 30 countries within three days of its release.

In line with this, global fans’ interest in unique Korean culture, such as tile-roofed houses, architectural styles, knots and patterns, folk paintings, and herbal medicine, which were actively borrowed in movies, is also skyrocketing.However, some Chinese netizens are frowning after making the absurd claim that a significant number of them are “Chinese.”

On Douban, China’s largest review site, where there are over 600 reviews related to ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters, ‘there was even a post claiming that the traditional knots, herbal medicine, and clothing were “plagiarized Chinese culture,” and that “the Japanese company Sony Pictures(production company)helped Koreans steal.”

However, the majority of global viewers do not seem to care about such far-fetched claims.Instead, their reactions mainly criticize the unauthorized’ thief viewing ‘that takes place in China, where Netflix is not officially available.

Meanwhile, as the boy group Sazaboiz’s “Your idol” stage on “K-Pop Demon Hunters” wearing hanbok and a hat received an explosive response, the “legendary stages” of real K-pop stars who stood on stage wearing hanbok are also being re-examined on YouTube and other platforms.

The most talked about stage is BTS’s “IDOL” stage that was revealed on the American NBC talk show “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in 2020.At the time, BTS performed in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace wearing stage costumes that reinterpreted hanbok.

In addition to this, stages where artists wore hanbok-style costumes or reinterpreted original songs in traditional Korean music versions, such as Tomorrow X Together’s “Sugar Rush Ride,” Stray Kids’ “Sorikkun,” ATEEZ’s “Wonderland,” and VIXX’s “Dowonkyung,” are receiving favorable responses.


Reporter Seungmi smlee@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.