The clip has become a hot topic online.
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Over the years, as Korean media has expanded its global audience, viewers from different backgrounds have been able to watch content from the country. At times, however, Hallyu content has been criticized for controversial content, both intentional and unintentional.
This includes offensive depictions of other nationalities and races.
Popular Korean Webtoon Introduces Sudden, Extremely Racist Plot: Publisher Responds to Criticism
Recently, a clip from a Korean program on X went viral, sparking international outrage.
The short video from an undisclosed program shows a black man dancing surrounded by people. The clip freezes and changes to an overlay of a jungle setting with a monkey swinging across the screen.
Get all black people out of Korean media ASAP! I’m getting tired of this. photo.twitter.com/3SKJMlMpVy
— Dr. workedgeddon 🍉 (@atzwapt) August 29, 2024
The association of blacks, especially Africans, with those who live in the jungle is a racist stereotype with a long history. Instead of speaking badly of those who live in the jungle or in nature, it presents the idea that blacks are “savages” who must be defeated or educated.
It has been seen in the media over the years, including the original story of Tarzan.
Blacks have also been called “apes,” a racial slur implying that they are less evolved than other races.
As you can imagine, the clip went viral and many people on the Internet expressed their negative thoughts.
Every month there’s something that pisses me off about Korea and I’m tired https://t.co/Bv1W70MM4G
— MS CHOI (@mswoosan) August 30, 2024
Sorry, but at this point why do black people, especially black people and people from Southeast Asia, continue to idolize Kpop? I don’t get it. I’ve read so many disgusting scandals involving the industry and the men in it. Their music is mostly shit, it’s really not worth it https://t.co/soD3T7fxcT
— Jen-Littol Protector of Sephiroth (@OrangeGirl84) August 30, 2024
This is literally 1920’s racism https://t.co/JWrl3ZbWhf
— Tracy’s new jeans⁷🤍 (@ijbolhobi) August 29, 2024
Some have also wondered what the exact story behind this clip is, as no details were provided.
The video is taken from an episode of the program, My Neighbor CharlesA The KBS series that highlights foreigners living in Korea. This specific scene is from episode 91 of 2016 and features Biagio AND Angiea couple originally from the Ivory Coast.
The couple were part of the country’s dance team and were invited to Korea. During their stay, the First Ivorian Civil War broke up and the couple decided to stay in Korea, where they married and had three children.
The episode features Blaise teaching music and dance to a group of Koreans from his home, which is when the clip went viral.
In addition to this moment, it is worth noting that this and other episodes of My Neighbor CharlesThey offer a comprehensive look into the lives of foreigners that might otherwise go unseen. The video is also almost 7 years old, and while that’s no excuse, the show hasn’t had similar episodes go viral in recent episodes.
BLACKSWAN actually guested on the show in 2023, which was praised for providing a retrospective look at the group.
While the video’s allegedly offensive depiction is unacceptable, it appears the program has changed in the years since this episode.
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