Controversy erupts as presidential candidate Kim Moon Soo parodies Netflix drama poster.
People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon Soo is facing heavy backlash after posting a parody of the official poster for the Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'.
On June 2nd KST, Kim shared a parody of the drama’s spring poster on social media, accompanied by the caption: “To you, still delicate like flower petals and still dreaming. ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ — grand release on June 2!!!”
In the altered image, Kim’s face is edited over Park Bo Gum, who plays Yang Gwan Shik, while his wife Seol Nan Young replaces IU in the role of Oh Ae Soon.
The original poster represents the youthful days of Yang Gwan Shik and Oh Ae Soon in Jeju. Kim’s campaign appeared to be drawing a parallel between the fictional couple and the real-life pair of Kim and his wife, likely to evoke nostalgia and emotional appeal.
However, public reaction has been harsh. Online communities and social media users criticized the move, saying, “Don’t drag politics into dramas,” and questioning, “Did they get permission beforehand?”
The backlash intensified due to Kim’s past controversial statement referring to the Jeju April 3 Incident as a “riot led by the South Korean Workers’ Party.” Critics condemned his use of the drama poster without an apology for his earlier remarks: “He comes to Jeju again without apologizing, and now he’s exploiting a drama too?” and “How dare he compare himself to Yang Gwan Shik and Oh Ae Soon.”
Netflix also responded through the Hankyoreh, stating, “We’ve seen the parody poster. No prior consultation was made,” but added, “Since various parody content is being created, we’re monitoring the situation.”
This isn’t the first time Kim has faced criticism for unauthorized use of celebrity images. In May, he used a photo of esports star Faker (Lee Sang Hyeok) and a popular meme in a campaign ad without permission, which was later taken down after an objection from his team T1.
SEE ALSO: Man who posted "IU is a spy" receives suspended prison sentence in first trial
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