Netflix record animation K-pop hunters He involuntarily attracted renewed global attention to a dark chapter of Japanese colonial history in Korea: the mass extermination of the tigers.
The sudden interest began with the character Duffy, a spirit of tiger inspired by the traditional Korean Hojakhwa (paintings of tiger and magpies). In the series, Duffy plays a key support role together with Magepi Sessi, helping to connect the protagonists Lumi and Jinwoo with the world of spirits.
A foreign Tiktoker became viral after publishing on September 15 that the show had inspired him to seek the history of the Tiger of Korea. In his video, he revealed the shock in learning that Japan pushed the Korean tigers to the beginning of the twentieth century. As of September 23, his Tiktok exceeded 1.2 million views and 180,000 likes, with thousands of comments that condemn the colonial actions of Japan.
Historically, Japan has labeled tigers as “harmful animals” (Haesu) and since 1917 has launched organized hunts under the so -called “Jeonghogun” (troop troops of the tiger). Although officially justified as protection of rural communities from tiger attacks, historians widely interpret the campaign as part of Japan attempt to suppress the cultural spirit of Korea and increase imperial morality.
Since then the Netizen have flooded social media with criticism:
- Japan tried to erase the national spirit of Korea – Tigers and Ibisco flowers were not safe.
- The extinction of the tiger is only a small taste of the greatest colonial atrocities in Japan.
Irony of fate, K-pop hunters He was co -produced by Sony Pictures Animation Japan, further fueling discussions on historical responsibility.
In the meantime, the series continues to dominate globally, becoming the first Netflix title to exceed 300 million hours of cumulative observation. Is single Golden He also passed the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, cementing his world sensation status.
What started as a story of K-Pop Fantasy has now turned into an unexpected history lesson, with Duffy the tiger reminiscent of the global public a painful but important part of the past of Korea.
Sources: Edaily
