Actress Jeon Ji-hyun's line in the Disney+ original series Polaris has sparked strong backlash in China.
On the 21st, according to Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily and the South China Morning Post (SCMP), a scene in which Jeon Ji-hyun says in the drama, "Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall on the border area," has been spreading in Chinese online communities. Jeon Ji-hyun plays the role of Seomoon Joo, a presidential candidate and former U.N. ambassador, in the series.
Chinese netizens poured criticism on the line, saying it "distorts China's image" and "does not match reality." In particular, they pointed out that filming the Dalian (大連) scenes in Hong Kong and portraying the shabby shantytown in dark tones harmed the city's image; that a carpet bearing the five-star motif symbolizing China is stepped on; and that a villain speaks in Chinese. There were also claims that Jeon Ji-hyun intentionally distorted the pronunciation while reciting a line from the ancient Chinese poet Li Bai.
The fallout spread to advertising. Cosmetic and watch brands for which Jeon Ji-hyun serves as a model reportedly stopped online ad exposure or deleted content within China. On platforms such as Weibo, calls that "the ban on Korean cultural content should not be lifted" have also grown louder.
Meanwhile, Polaris, which was first released on the 10th, has been praised as the highest-rated global viewership among Disney+ Korean original series in 2025.
[Photo] Provided by The Walt Disney Company Korea
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