'Kim Seon-ho Challenge' Goes Viral Among China's Generation Z
Imitating the Iconic Head-Tilt and Smile Scene
Spreading Despite Netflix Not Being Available in China
Gaining Popularity Through VPN Access and Illegal Downloads
The Netflix drama 'Poksak Soksassuda' is causing a global sensation, and among China's Generation Z, the so-called 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge,' where people mimic actor Kim Seon-ho's expression in 'Poksak Soksassuda,' is trending wildly. Although Netflix is not officially available in China, the drama has spread among young people through illegal distribution, becoming a social media (SNS) trend.
On the 10th (local time), Sina News reported, "Recently, the scene where actor Kim Seon-ho in the drama 'Poksak Soksassuda' tilts his head and smiles is rapidly spreading online," adding, "From celebrities to influencers and ordinary people, the 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge' imitating this scene is pouring in."
The challenge recreates the moment in episode 13 of 'Poksak Soksassuda' when Park Choong-seop (played by Kim Seon-ho) sees his fianc?e Yang Geum-myeong (played by IU) wearing a wedding dress for the first time. After seeing Geum-myeong in the chapel, Choong-seop places his hand on his chest, closes his eyes, pretends to faint, and then winks and smiles playfully at Geum-myeong, who is laughing.
On Chinese local SNS platforms such as TikTok, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu, the 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge' imitating this scene is rapidly spreading. Videos tagged with hashtags like 'Kim Seon-ho Smile Challenge' are being posted daily. The craze grew even larger when popular Chinese actor and model Bai Lu joined the challenge. Currently, the 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge' ranks within the top 25 popular challenges on Douyin, and on Xiaohongshu, it has surpassed 170 million views and over 1 million likes.
However, since Netflix is not officially available in China, there is no legal way to watch 'Poksak Soksassuda.' Chinese viewers appear to be watching the drama through various means such as VPN access and illegal downloads. All episodes released so far are available on various online video services (OTT), and Chinese media outlets are continuously providing real-time reviews and analyses of the drama.
On the 27th of last month, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, Global Times, also reported on the popularity of 'Poksak Soksassuda,' stating, "It scored 9.4 points on Douban (a Chinese rating site), becoming the highest-rated Korean drama on this platform in recent years." Global Times is notorious for frequently publishing reports that disparage K-pop and other Korean Wave cultures. Some speculate that Global Times' sudden change in attitude signals a 'green light' hinting at a relaxation of the ban on Korean content.
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