The complexities of race and representation in Korea's arts and culture reveal an unsettling duality in attitudes toward diversity and inclusion, often justified by the nation's long history as an ethnically homogeneous society.
This contradiction is starkly illustrated by Koreans' divergent reactions to Disney's recent casting decisions: the controversy surrounding the casting of a Black actress as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" and the enthusiastic reception of Korean actor Lee Jung-jae starring as a Jedi master in the recent series "Star Wars: The Acolyte."
When Disney announced that Halle Bailey, a talented young Black actress, would portray Ariel, it sparked a firestorm of criticism and debate in Korea. The backlash was fierce, with many internet users arguing that Ariel's portrayal should remain true to the 1989 Disney adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, which depicted the animated character as ethnically white with red hair.
More disturbingly, the reaction extended beyond mere casting preferences and........