A promotional video for the Gumi Ramyun Festival on the city’s official YouTube channel is drawing backlash on overseas forums for a scene viewed as blackface.
The clip, posted to promote the festival held Nov. 7–9, 2025 KST, features actors costumed as characters from the 1980s animated series ‘Dooly the Little Dinosaur’ singing about ramyun. The performer portraying ‘Maikol’ appears with dark brown face makeup and an Afro wig, mirroring the character’s dark-skinned depiction in the original cartoon.
In the early hours of Nov. 9, 2025 KST, a user shared screenshots on Reddit criticizing the video, writing, "Gumi City is promoting a blackface video," and the post spread quickly. Critical comments followed, including "Is this really the city hall’s official YouTube channel? How can an official account upload blackface?" and "It might not be controversial in Korea, but abroad it’s just blackface. Take the video down and post an apology before it gets bigger."
One viewer said they filed complaints with Gumi City and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. According to the complainant, the commission forwarded the case to the city. The city, they said, did not commit to removing or reviewing the video, responding only that it would make its own determination.
Blackface—non-Black performers darkening their skin to depict Black people—originated in 19th-century American minstrel shows and is widely condemned today as racist and culturally insensitive.
Gumi City has not issued a separate statement as of Nov. 9, 2025 KST.
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