[Current Culture] 'Na Wan Ray' Is This Song a Surinamese Song?

There was a controversy related to the Netflix drama Suriname. The Suriname government protested and even warned of legal action, claiming that the country's image was damaged because the drama depicted it as a drug paradise. Many people might feel a sense of d?j? vu upon hearing this news. Complaints about negative portrayals of certain groups, races, or regions in books, movies, dramas, and so on have been numerous over time.

The recently blockbuster hit movie Crime City 2 was banned from screening in Vietnam for being too violent, but there is also a theory that the real reason was the negative depiction of Vietnam in the film. A few years ago, the movie Midnight Runners caused a stir. Residents of Daerim-dong, the spatial setting, and the ethnic Korean-Chinese (Joseonjok) portrayed as a group committing evil acts in the film strongly protested and even filed lawsuits. The first trial emphasized freedom of expression, but in the second trial, the court recommended reconciliation by ordering the film production company to apologize and promise to prevent recurrence. Although the ruling did not include financial compensation and might seem insignificant, it holds great significance. It became the first case to recognize legal responsibility for hate speech in artistic works.

So, what will be the outcome of the legal action that the Suriname government plans to take? It is uncertain whether it will actually proceed to an international lawsuit. Before that, let’s examine how much of the content depicted in the drama Suriname is based on facts. According to follow-up reports, the view of Suriname as a drug trafficking country seems to be accepted not only in the drama but also in reality. Various documents, including reports from the U.S. CIA, classify it as such. The drama’s setting that bureaucrats are involved in drug trafficking does not seem exaggerated. However, the current president, President Santokhi, is said to be very strict on drug crimes. Even his name gives a clean impression!

Why not take this opportunity to learn a little about the unfamiliar country Suriname? This country has a population of just about 600,000 people, despite having a larger area than South Korea. The extremely low population density is because most of the territory is tropical rainforest, which some analyses suggest provides a favorable environment for drug trafficking organizations to hide. Although Dutch is mainly spoken, Suriname is a multiethnic and multilingual country with various ethnic groups and languages despite its small population. It may seem to have no connection with us, but the author found a familiar link.

Have you ever heard a song humming “Jebal Nawara-yo, Nawara-i Nawara-i-yo” in broadcasts or YouTube videos? The song titled “Na Wan Ray” has been frequently used in commercials and variety shows, and the SBS radio station where the author works even used it as a signal music. This song happens to be from Suriname. It was performed by a band called Sangrafu, and while the band’s other songs have only tens of thousands of views on YouTube, this song has received millions of views, loved by the people of South Korea. Surprised, the band left a thank-you message in Korean to the Korean people. Checking YouTube now, there are over 4,000 comments, most of which are in Korean. Testimonials about miraculous effects such as curing constipation, smooth childbirth, and brilliant business ideas keep pouring in, so please look it up and listen. The author also experienced benefits. After listening to this song, a column idea came to mind!

Lee Jae-ik, Novelist