Squid Games 2 Banned in Vietnam?
Will Squid Games 2 be banned in Vietnam?
When Squid Games came out on Netflix in Vietnam on December 26, 2024, some Vietnamese people got upset. One of the characters referenced the Vietnam War.
Actually, it’s called the American War in Vietnam, so we’re off to a bad start. But Squid Games 2 called it the same thing, and it appears that was one of the reasons why some Vietnamese people were offended.
Why are Vietnamese Upset about Squid Games 2?
In Squid Games season 2 episode 5, Kang Dae Ho (actor Kang Ha Neul) says his father fought in the “Vietnam War.” Kang Dae Ho, AKA player 388, says his father sent him to the Marines to “become more of a man.”
One the first night Squid Games aired, that clip went viral on Vietnamese social media. Folks were even calling for a ban. Yikes! But will Squid Games 2 be Banned?
South Korea in Vietnam War
Readers may know that South Korean soldiers fought in the American War in Vietnam. At that time, the South Koreans had won a war against the North, so some joined the Americans once again.
These soldiers have their own story, but to this day, the Vietnamese people do not look back favorably on them. In fact, according to this Reddit Post, the Vietnamese see the South Korean soldiers who fought on the South Vietnamese side as bloodthirsty American mercenaries.
Could Vietnamese Government Ban Squid Games 2?
The Vietnamese Government could ban Squid Games 2. It could happen. But does it matter? Probably not. I have never seen a Vietnamese person with a Netflix account. Yeap, free streaming sites are kind of the norm here, so even if the ban happened, I don’t think it would make much of a difference.
Should Vietnam Ban Squid Games 2?
I don’t know if they should ban Squid Games 2, especially over one line. And anyway, it didn’t seem like they were trying to get under anyone’s skin on purpose. Then again, I am probably not the right person to ask, because I’m not Vietnamese, and I have different ideas about free speech.
With respect to what I hope happens next, I hope the Department of Cinema decides to just chill out and let it go.