Season 2 of Squid Game is breaking viewership records on Netflix, but in Vietnam, the South Korean series is under scrutiny by authorities. There’s a real possibility that the show’s latest season could be removed from the streaming platform in the country. Vietnamese viewers have called for a boycott after one episode allegedly glorifies the Vietnam War, during which South Korea fought alongside the United States.
According to The Korea Times, Vietnam's Department of Cinema is currently reviewing the scene in question. "If we conclude that the series violates regulations, we will act in accordance with the law," the government statement reads. The report notes that this would not be the first time a South Korean production has been banned from Netflix in Vietnam. A 2022 drama series, Little Women, was previously removed after creators were accused of distorting history and violating local laws.
In Little Women, South Korean soldiers portrayed as heroes boasted about killing "up to 20 Viet Cong soldiers" each. A similar controversy has arisen with Squid Game. In one episode of Season 2, Player 388 mentions that his father, who served in the Vietnam War, wanted to make him a "man" and sent him to the Navy during his youth. Fellow players respond with admiration, and the father is referred to as a "respectable man."
This comment sparked outrage among Vietnamese audiences, with many voicing their disapproval on social media. "It’s inappropriate to depict Korean veterans of the Vietnam War as respectable figures. The series whitewashes the atrocities committed by South Korean soldiers during the war," one opinion quoted by the Korean outlet stated. Another comment accused the creators of hypocrisy: "South Korea demands apologies and reparations from Japan for its colonial rule but takes pride in its military involvement in Vietnam. This is a double standard."
