South Korean And Chinese Citizens' Rivalry Over Cultural Heritage In Drakor Vincenzo

Bibimbap food in Vincenzo (tvN)

JAKARTA - In recent days, tvN's latest Korean drama, Vincenzo, has been criticized by South Korean netizens. This is related to one of the dining scenes of Vincenzo (played by Song Joong Ki) who slipped bibimbap products from China.

As previously reported, netizens questioned the reason for the existence of Chinese products in Korean dramas. Moreover, the product on display is a Korean specialty, Bibimbap.

Song Joong Ki's scene in Vincenzo (tvN)

This scene is called PPL, which is a product placement where the sponsor's product can be shown in a television show. The bibimbap product from China is Zihaiguo.

Netizens are also worried because Vincenzo is also being released on the Netflix streaming service. They are worried if the international audience thinks Bibimbap is Chinese food.

Before Vincenzo, the Korean drama True Beauty that aired on tvN also received the same blasphemy. True Beauty has been criticized for displaying advertisements for brands and products from China such as the JD.com banner and Im Joo Kyung (played by Moon Ga Young) eating hotpot instant products from China.

Not only these two dramas, there are many other Korean dramas that feature products from China but the echoes are not as big as True Beauty and Vincenzo.

Cultural Debates

The dispute between South Korean and Chinese citizens has been going on for a long time and is related to cultural heritage.

Li Ziqi, a vlogger from China, became a source of debate among netizens after uploading an ASMR video showing food similar to Korean dishes.

Many netizens are debating whether the vegetables Li Ziqi makes are Kimchi or Paocai. Launching the Global Times, a hashtag "Li Ziqi pickled vegetables and attacked South Korean netizens" has been viewed 460 million times.

But the fighting between China and South Korea is ingrained. Given that the relationship between the two countries is not very good, it is often this kind of debate is not something new.

Korean history professor Seo Kyoung Duk uploaded an explanation regarding why PPL products from China in Korean dramas are controversial.

“Sure, it's a situation that I think is the reason for covering the drama production costs but it's a sad decision. Because China continues to make claims about Kimchi, Hanbok, and Pansori as their country's culture. "

Furthermore, Seo Kyoung Duk understands that this PPL does not only target Korean society but to promote various products because Korean dramas have a global influence.

"The most worrying thing is that bibimbap in containers written in Chinese could lead to international audiences being misunderstood as Chinese food."

Because of this criticism, tvN is reportedly in discussion to cancel Zihaiguo's sponsorship with the Korean drama Vincenzo.