K-Content Shines Light on Japanese Atrocities During Colonial Era, Professor Seo Kyung-duk Notes

Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University highlighted the historical impact of K-content spreading through global OTT services, particularly noting how the atrocities committed by Japan during the colonial period are now being exposed worldwide.

Professor Seo pointed to the popularity of the Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (KDH) as an instance where past Japanese aggression is reaching a global audience. One international TikToker, after watching KDH, became interested in a tiger character and researched the history of Korean tigers. This led them to discover the shocking fact that Japan had exterminated Korean tigers in the last century. The video garnered 180,000 likes and 1.2 million views, sparking discussions in over 2,000 comments that brought up Japan's past.

"Indeed, during the Japanese colonial rule, Japan designated Korean tigers as 'harmful animals' and systematically hunted them from 1917 onwards," Professor Seo stated. He emphasized that this is not the first time Japanese wartime atrocities have been exposed globally through OTT platforms.

Apple TV+'s 'Pachinko' shed light on the tragic experiences of Koreans during the Japanese occupation, including forced labor and 'comfort women,' thereby informing international viewers about Japan's history as an aggressor. Similarly, Netflix's 'Gyeongseong Creature,' set during the 1945 colonial era, drew international attention by depicting the horrific human experiments conducted by Unit 731.

"The success of Korean content on global OTT platforms has allowed us to widely inform viewers worldwide about Japan's wrongdoings during the colonial period," Professor Seo remarked. "I hope that more K-content will spread globally in the future, ensuring that Asian history is accurately understood by people around the world." This sentiment underscores the growing expectation for 'the power of K-content' to not only achieve cultural success but also to disseminate historical truths.

Professor Seo Kyung-duk is actively involved in public historical lectures and writing. As a promoter of Korea, he leads efforts to publicize Korean history and culture internationally. He has spearheaded various projects to raise global awareness on crucial historical issues such as Dokdo and the comfort women.