"'Hanbok is Chinese clothing' Chinese game company coming... Seokyeongdeok says 'Next work should be banned'"

A Chinese game company that had suspended its game service in Korea after supporting the claim by Chinese netizens that Hanbok is a traditional Chinese costume has announced the release of its next work after four years, sparking controversy.

Hanbok items released in 'Shining Nikki'. Internet community

On the 13th, Professor Seokyung Deok of Sungshin Women's University said, "I learned about it thanks to many netizens who reported it, and recently, the pre-registration for 'Infinity Nikki' has started on app markets." 'Infinity Nikki' is the sequel to the dress-up game 'Shining Nikki,' which Paper Games, the parent company of Infold Games, released domestically in 2020.

Paper Games' 'Shining Nikki' previously caused controversy in Korea over the 'Hanbok Gong 3 Jeong' issue, receiving much criticism from netizens and gamers. Paper Games opened the Korean server for 'Shining Nikki' and introduced Hanbok costumes as part of an event, which was also released in China. Many Chinese netizens claimed that "Hanbok is a traditional Chinese garment."

In response, Paper Games stated on Chinese social networking services (SNS), "As a 'One China' company, Paper Games' stance is always aligned with that of the motherland," adding, "We oppose all acts that harm national interests and will actively fulfill the responsibilities and missions of a Chinese company." They also said, "Users who insult the motherland or spread malicious facts on the Korean server will face chat bans and account suspensions," and added, "We will uphold the love and respect for traditional Chinese culture."

Professor Seo pointed out, "The Chinese game company that supported the claim that Hanbok is a traditional Chinese costume and withdrew from the Korean market is now quietly releasing a sequel domestically, which is an act of deceiving Korean gamers." He especially emphasized, "The relevant authorities should prohibit the release of this sequel," and added, "We need to set a good precedent this time so that such incidents do not recur."