Broadcaster Gangnam released content he made with popular Japanese actor Sota Fukushi, sparking an unexpected debate among some netizens.
On the 21st, Gangnam posted a photo with Sota Fukushi on his social media and wrote, "Sota Fukushi studies well so he might speak Korean better than me. Really smart and kind Sota! Please cheer him on a lot."
Earlier, Sota Fukushi also appeared on Gangnam's YouTube channel "Neighborhood friend Gangnami." Gangnam introduced Sota Fukushi, who is studying Korean, by saying, "He can already speak. Really hardworking," and Sota Fukushi also showed interest in Korea by speaking directly in Korean.
Using his fluency in Japanese and Korean to his advantage, Gangnam has consistently introduced Japanese culture and local stars through his YouTube channel. However, some expressed different views about this content. Critics questioned whether it was appropriate to actively promote a Japanese actor so soon after Liberation Day.
The controversy intensified as the actor Sota Fukushi's past family history was brought up again. In 2015, Sota Fukushi appeared on Fuji TV's 70th-anniversary documentary and revealed that his grandfather had been training with special attack units during World War II and experienced the end of the war. When that fact became known domestically, it spilled over into past "right-wing controversy."
However, there is no confirmation that Sota Fukushi praised kamikaze or glorified Japan's wartime actions in that broadcast. Given that his grandfather's history alone does not determine Sota Fukushi's personal historical view or political leanings, some argue that indiscriminate "right-wing labeling" should be avoided.
Reactions to Gangnam's post were mixed. Some said, "It's regrettable to promote a Japanese actor right after Liberation Day," while others argued it was excessive to equate content in which entertainers from Korea and Japan introduce each other's languages and cultures with issues of historical wrongdoing. Voices have continued calling for a distinction between vigilance over historical issues and cultural exchange between individuals at a time when cultural exchange between Korea and Japan is more active than ever.
Meanwhile, Gangnam married former speed skater Lee Sang Hwa, a national team member, in 2019. He was born to a Korean mother and a Japanese father and, after consulting with his family, gave up Japanese citizenship and naturalized as Korean. This year marks his fifth year since naturalization.
[Photo] "SNS, YouTube"
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