MBC’s upcoming weekend drama To the Moon has sparked unexpected controversy after releasing its first teaser ahead of broadcast.

The teaser, featuring stars Lee Sun-bin, Ra Mi-ran, Jo A-ram, and Kim Young-dae, was designed as a parody of nostalgic Korean ice cream commercials from the 1980s and 1990s. With actors in Arabian-inspired costumes, scenes of emerging from a magic lamp, lively flute music, and an exaggerated “twist dance,” the clip was intended to deliver lighthearted comedy.

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However, global audiences did not see it that way. Almost immediately after its release, the teaser was met with sharp criticism on international forums and social media.

Some of the harshest comments included:

  • If you still can’t tell cultural differences apart in 2025 and rely on stereotypes, you should leave the media industry.
  • MBC is doing a cheap Aladdin cosplay. It’s completely racist and ridiculous.
  • They get offended when mistaken for Chinese or Japanese, but freely mock other cultures with stereotypes.
  • Making caricatures of cultures is rude and racist.

Critics particularly condemned the costumes and the orientalist motifs—magic lamps, flutes, and exaggerated gestures—that they said reduced Middle Eastern culture to a caricature. With K-dramas now reaching global audiences via Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime, cultural sensitivity is increasingly essential during production.

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For Korean viewers, the parody may have felt nostalgic and comedic, but for international audiences, it came across as mocking and oversimplifying a culture. Analysts pointed out that the controversy reveals how some Korean productions still prioritize domestic perspectives despite their global reach.

Amid mounting criticism, MBC swiftly deleted the teaser from its official YouTube and social media accounts. In a statement to MyDaily, the production team acknowledged the issue:

“The teaser for To the Moon was created as a parody of popular 1980s–1990s ice cream commercials, inspired by the show’s setting in a confectionery company. However, we failed to consider how it might be perceived in other cultures. The video has since been deleted, and we will be more cautious and considerate moving forward to prevent discomfort.”

As K-dramas continue to grow in global influence, this incident highlights the pressing need for cultural awareness—even in something as short as a teaser.

Sources: MyDaily