Netflix's animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is bringing global attention to Japan's historical actions.
Recently, a TikToker shared a video stating, "After watching 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' I researched tiger history and discovered that Japan drove Korean tigers to extinction in the last century." The video garnered 1.2 million views, 180,000 likes, and over 2,000 comments, reigniting discussions about Japan's past aggressions.
During the Japanese occupation, Japan labeled Korean tigers as 'harmful animals' and initiated organized hunts starting in 1917.
Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University commented on social media, "This isn't the first time OTT content has highlighted Japan's historical wrongdoings globally." He noted that Apple TV+'s 'Pachinko' addressed forced labor and the issue of 'comfort women,' while Netflix's 'Gyeongseong Creature' covered the atrocities of Unit 731's human experiments. He added, "The global success of Korean content is becoming a crucial channel for revealing Japan's wartime atrocities during its occupation of Korea. I hope more K-content spreads worldwide to properly inform about Asian history."
Meanwhile, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' features the global K-pop girl group Huntrix, who double as demon hunters offstage. Since its release on June 20, it has gained immense popularity, becoming the first Netflix film to surpass 300 million cumulative views. Its OST 'Golden' has topped the Billboard HOT 100 chart for six consecutive weeks.