Concerns Over Diplomatic Dispute
Due to Depiction of Drug and Corrupt Country in Drama
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] "More than half of the entire population is involved in the drug industry..." This is the introduction to the Korean drama Surinam recently released by the online streaming service (OTT) Netflix.
This drama has put South Korea and Surinam in a situation where they could face a diplomatic dispute. The Surinamese government has protested because the South American country Surinam is referred to as a drug country in the drama.
The drama Surinam tells the story of a Korean drug lord active in the South American country of the same name, the National Intelligence Service's efforts to arrest him, and a civilian businessman who joined the operation. However, filming was conducted not in Surinam but in places such as Jeju Island and the Dominican Republic.
So why is the Surinamese government taking issue? It is because Surinam is portrayed as a "drug country" and a "corrupt country" in the drama, which they claim lowers the nation's dignity.
Albert Ramdin, Surinam's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, recently stated at a press conference, "We are considering legal action against the production company," and pointed out, "Whether what is shown in the drama is true or not, it causes negative perceptions about our country."
The South Korean government is concerned about a diplomatic dispute. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a regular briefing, "Since the airing of the Netflix series, there has been no official statement from the Surinamese government regarding our government," and added, "We are continuously making efforts to maintain friendly relations with Surinam," which confirms this concern.
The Korean Embassy in Venezuela, which has jurisdiction over Surinam, posted a safety notice on its website. The embassy stated, "We assume that Koreans residing in Surinam are very troubled by the aftermath of the drama's broadcast," and advised, "Please pay close attention to your safety and immediately contact the Korean Association president if you have any concerns or need assistance."
As of last year, about 50 Korean residents live in Surinam. Although no concerning situations have occurred locally yet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proactively taking measures to protect the Korean community.
In diplomatic circles, the Surinam dispute is seen as a predictable issue. It is known that the Surinamese government raised concerns from the drama's production stage last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted mediation by omitting the country's name from the English title, but ultimately the possibility of a dispute increased.
This is not the first work based on the true story of a drug lord. Netflix previously released the series Narcos, set against the Colombian and Mexican drug cartels. Colombia and Mexico being portrayed as drug and corrupt countries is no different from Surinam. South Korea is also sometimes negatively depicted in overseas works due to the armistice situation with North Korea.
However, neither those countries nor our government have taken diplomatic issues over this. The images portrayed in movies or dramas do not significantly affect the actual national dignity.
It is hoped that the current Surinam dispute will remain just a minor incident. It is considered one of the side effects arising as so-called "K-dramas," such as Squid Game, gain global attention and influence.
However, production companies need to take greater responsibility and sufficiently consider potential side effects during production to avoid unnecessary diplomatic disputes. While the success of a work is important, the safety of our Korean residents in Surinam must be the top priority.
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