Zhangjiajie City in China has come under fire for sending invitations to the production team and actors of Netflix's K-series 'Squid Game'.
The reason for this action is a scene in which the middle-aged character Aesoon (played by Moon So-ri) says to Gwan-sik (played by Park Hae-jin), "Let's go to Zhangjiajie to see the autumn leaves next year." The Zhangjiajie side quoted this line, expressing gratitude for the mention of Zhangjiajie in the drama, and encouraged viewers to "start right away without waiting for autumn," using the drama's global popularity for direct promotion.
Professor Seo Kyung-deok from Sungshin Women's University criticized this, stating, "Netflix is not officially available in China. This is akin to openly admitting to watching 'Squid Game' illegally." He condemned the 'illegal viewing'.
Professor Seo further stated, "This is not the first time; it happened when 'Squid Game' Season 2 was released, and now 'illegal viewing' has become a daily occurrence in China," adding, "It is even more astonishing that they feel no shame at all."
He emphasized, "Above all, it is a serious issue that local Chinese governments are openly using illegally viewed footage as a promotional tool. It is now time for our government to take action. We must not tolerate their illegal viewing any longer and should protest strongly."
