Netflix’s record-breaking animation K-Pop Demon Hunters has unintentionally brought renewed global attention to a dark chapter of Japanese colonial history in Korea: the mass extermination of tigers.
The sudden interest began with the character Duffy, a tiger spirit inspired by traditional Korean hojakhwa (tiger-and-magpie paintings). In the series, Duffy plays a key supporting role alongside magpie Seossi, helping connect protagonists Lumi and Jinwoo with the spirit world.
A foreign TikToker went viral after posting on September 15 that the show had inspired her to research Korea’s tiger history. In his video, she revealed shock at learning that Japan drove Korean tigers to extinction in the early 20th century. As of September 23, her TikTok surpassed 1.2 million views and 180,000 likes, with thousands of comments condemning Japan’s colonial actions.
Historically, Japan labeled tigers as “harmful animals” (haesu) and from 1917 launched organized hunts under the so-called “Jeonghogun” (Tiger Extermination Troops). While officially justified as protecting rural communities from tiger attacks, historians widely interpret the campaign as part of Japan’s attempt to suppress Korea’s cultural spirit and boost imperial morale.
Netizens have since flooded social media with criticism:
- Japan tried to erase Korea’s national spirit — even tigers and hibiscus flowers weren’t safe.
- The tiger extinction is just a small glimpse of Japan’s larger colonial atrocities.
Ironically, K-Pop Demon Hunters was co-produced by Sony Pictures Animation Japan, further fueling discussions about historical accountability.
Meanwhile, the series continues to dominate globally, becoming the first Netflix title to surpass 300 million cumulative viewing hours. Its OST single Golden has also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, cementing its status as a worldwide sensation.
What began as a fantasy K-pop tale has now turned into an unexpected history lesson, with Duffy the tiger reminding global audiences of a painful yet important part of Korea’s past.
Sources: Edaily
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