The confirmation hearing was held on Monday for Chung Dong Young, nominee for Minister of Unification of South Korea. It drew attention when Netflix’s popular animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters was mentioned.
During the South Korean National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee hearing, lawmaker Ihn Yohan from the People Power Party stated that after analysis, it appears that everything except agricultural products, medicine, and food falls under the sanctions due to sanctions against North Korea. He further explained that laws have changed over the past decade, making it challenging to support North Korea. In response, the nominee expressed disappointment by referencing the film.
While mentioning Ihn’s remarks that everything except agricultural products, medicine, and food falls under sanctions, Chung asked if he has seen the top-ranking animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix. He further explained that it’s an instance of American capital creating Korean Wave content as an animated drama.
He continued by saying that the whole world is excited about K-pop, the Korean Wave, Bukchon, and K-food, except for North Korea.
He also expressed regret, saying that it would be wonderful if North Korea, which shares the same intellectual capacity and DNA as people from the South, could join in spreading the Korean Wave.
Ihn stated that young people in South Korea have a negative perception of unification. He added that there have been discussions about the need to strengthen education, particularly regarding North Korea, expressing his positive stance about it. He further noted that unification is planned in stages—1, 2, and 3—and that even a federal system is being discussed. However, he explained that unification has never gone according to plan throughout human history.
Ihn concluded by expressing hope that this would serve as an opportunity to prepare for unification in terms of laws and various other aspects.
