A long-standing territorial dispute has resurfaced as a controversy on Netflix’s The 8 Show, where the streaming platform’s use of ‘Sea of Japan’ instead of ‘East Sea’ in its subtitles has sparked outrage and debate among viewers.
Many Koreans argue that ‘East Sea’ is the rightful name for the body of water.
On June 4, Professor Seo Kyoung Duk from Sungshin Women’s University pointed out an error in The 8 Show on Netflix. The Spanish subtitle wrongly displayed ‘Sea of Japan’ instead of ‘East Sea’ during a scene featuring Ryu Jun Yeol singing the national anthem.
Professor Seo swiftly emailed Netflix after seeing the subtitle slip-up, asking the streaming platform to correct it.
In the email, he emphasized that the body of water between Korea and Japan has been historically known as the ‘East Sea’ for over 2,000 years. Alongside a video showcasing the ‘East Sea’, he stressed the importance of a swift correction to prevent global viewers from being misled.
Netflix responded by acknowledging the error in the subtitles, mentioning the use of ‘Sea of Japan’ instead of ‘East Sea’ in ‘The 8 Show’. They assured concerned viewers that corrections are underway. Netflix cited difficulties in reviewing content across different languages as the cause of the oversight.
Lastly, The 8 Show tells the story of eight people stuck in a secret space with eight floors, taking part in a thrilling but risky game where they earn money as time goes on.