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Korean comedy-drama sparks uproar for 'disrespecting Islam'
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'Man who Dies to Live' tells the story of South Korean Jang Dal-goo, who travels to a fictional Middle East country, gets rich, receives a “count” title and then becomes a citizen under the name of Saeed Fahd Ali. (imbc.com/File)
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ew Korean comedy-drama Man who Dies to Live has caused an uproar among netizens who have accused it of misusing Islamic values and portraying a false image of Muslims in its scenes.
According to yonhapnews.co.kr, the drama, which has been broadcasted on MBC TV since July 19, tells the story of Jang Dal-goo who travels to a fictional country in the Middle East, gets rich, receives a “count” title and then becomes a citizen under the name of Saeed Fahd Ali. He later returns to Korea to reunite with his long-lost daughter and her husband.
The actor who plays the main character of Jang Dal-goo, Choi Min-soo, appears as a stereotypical Arab man by wearing thawb, headscarf and black robe. In one scene, Saeed Fahd Ali is greeted by women wearing revealing swimsuits and donning hijab near a swimming pool. There is also a scene in which Saeed Fahd Ali drinks wine for breakfast. Moreover, in one of the drama’s promotional posters, Saeed Fahd Ali poses in front of an open book that looks like a Quran, with his foot raised beside the book.
“That drama is sharing the wrong image of Islam and Muslims in general. It’s a total piece of garbage,” wrote Twitter user @mayssemgh, who also created a series of tweets on why MBC should not air the drama. “It’s literally just ruining Islam’s image and making fun of Muslims.”
[ a thread] Reasons why MBC's new drama Man Who Dies To Live should not be aired. YALL NEED TO BOYCOTT IT pic.twitter.com/2ftnjQLqlx
— MAY💌 (@mayanaizreal) July 20, 2017
Read also: "Blackface" video in Malaysia blasted on social media
Another netizen, @Sarw_Dope, wrote, “Never place the Quran that way next to a man’s foot. Stop disrespecting Islam and Arabs.”
#JusticeForIslam #ManWhoDiesToLive @withMBC
NEVER PLACE THE QURAN THAT WAY NEXT TO A MAN'S FOOT
STOP DISRESPECTING ISLAM & ARABS pic.twitter.com/rYrDOGx8SI
— Thicc Nology 🔥 (@Sarw_Dope) July 20, 2017
Protests could also be found on Instagram, where many of its users x-marked the drama’s poster as their way of boycotting it. The #JusticeForIslam hashtag has also been circulated on social media.
MBC soon apologized on its official social media accounts, saying that all the characters, names and places were entirely fictional. “MBC has no intention in distorting any particular religion, culture or people,” its statement said in Arabic, Korean and English. “And we sincerely apologize for any harm that may have caused to the viewers in regards to the drama.”
MBC said it would take “extreme caution in Production from now onwards.” (kes)
