Despite not receiving the same level of critical praise as its first season, Squid Game Season 2 has attracted significant viewership and positive feedback globally. Yet, a boycott campaign is challenging this success in one particular nation, with a specific scene from the dystopian series drawing intense criticism among Vietnamese audiences.
Based on ScreenRant’s report, the dispute appears to originate from Episode 5, where character 388, Dae-ho (played by Kang Ha-neul), shares personal details with other contestants. When asked about his enlistment in the Marines as an only child, Dae-ho attributes it to his father’s decision. He further reveals that his father was a Vietnam War veteran. In response, another competitor expresses respect for Dae-ho’s father, calling him honorable.
If you’re not well-versed in 20th century history, this comment might not resonate deeply. But to Vietnamese audiences, it appears to glorify the horrific human rights abuses carried out by numerous South Korean soldiers during their service in Vietnam. On social media, there have been expressions of anger, with one post saying: “The series ignores or minimizes the war crimes committed by South Korean soldiers.” Another user commented: “South Korea seeks apologies and compensation from Japan for its colonial rule, yet it proudly portrays its military actions in Vietnam.
This is a double standard.
Vietnamese authorities are currently assessing if “Squid Game Season 2″ breaches any of their film regulations. If it does, the show might get removed from Netflix Vietnam.
Squid Game Season Two Is In the Midst of Multiple Controversies
It’s not the first time that the popular series Squid Game has faced criticism, and this extends to its second season. One point of contention is a character who is a trans woman, aiming to use winnings from the games for gender-affirming surgery. However, this decision has been met with disapproval by many viewers, particularly in South Korea where the LGBTQ+ community experiences more prejudice than in many other regions. Interestingly, this character is portrayed by a cisgender male actor due to the show’s creator’s claim that finding an openly transgender actress in South Korea was not feasible.
In South Korea, there may not be many transgender actors and actresses visible in the limelight, but they do exist. As someone who appreciates representation matters, I understand why some viewers felt that a transgender individual should have been cast for the role, given the historical struggles faced by transgender people in accessing entertainment jobs. While Hwang’s efforts to increase representation are commendable, it is a sentiment shared that the opportunity could have been seized to spotlight a talented transgender performer.
In other series, the controversies might seem less significant, but Squid Game stands out by critiquing society’s power structures at every opportunity. This makes it seem odd that viewers have issues with a hypothetical second season, as if criticisms of capitalism are acceptable only when they don’t challenge South Korea’s image of benevolent imperialism. Furthermore, creator Hwang could have leveraged the inclusion of a transgender character to support real-life South Korean trans actors, who are rarely represented on screen. Such changes would have added significant depth to Squid Game’s mission of revealing and challenging oppression.
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2025-01-12 05:01