Netflix’s latest original drama, ‘Life Gives You Tangerines,’ is encountering significant challenges due to illegal distribution in China. This situation has raised concerns among fans and industry experts alike.
Professor Seo Kyung-duk from Sungshin Women’s University highlighted the issue on his social media on March 20, stating, “‘Life Gives You Tangerines’ is suffering from illegal viewing in China.” He shared a screenshot from Douban, a popular Chinese review site, which features the drama and has amassed approximately 30,000 reviews despite Netflix not being officially available in China.
Professor Seo criticized the widespread practice of “sneak viewing,” comparing it to the release of ‘Squid Game’ Season 2, which also faced similar issues. He expressed outrage that many viewers in China seem to feel no shame about engaging in this illegal activity. Furthermore, he pointed out that China has a history of using the likenesses of Hallyu stars from K-content without permission and has even created counterfeit products, turning this into a profit structure that has sparked significant controversy.
He concluded with a call for change, stating, “Chinese netizens should not make absurd claims that ‘Korea stole Chinese culture,’ but rather should cultivate a sense of respect for content from other countries.”
‘Life Gives You Tangerines’ tells the adventurous life story of Aesoon (played by IU and Moon So-ri) and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon) as they navigate their lives through the four seasons.
Since its phased release starting on March 7, the series has successfully captured the attention of viewers around the world. According to Netflix’s official site, ‘Netflix Top 10,’ between March 3 and March 9, ‘Life Gives You Tangerines’ garnered 3.6 million views, accumulating a total watch time of 13.9 million hours. Remarkably, it achieved the number one spot for non-English TV shows just three days after its release.
The show has ranked in the top 10 lists in 24 countries, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, and Bolivia, showcasing the global appeal of Korean dramas.
As the popularity of K-content continues to rise, the challenges of illegal distribution highlight the ongoing struggle for creators in protecting their work while navigating complex international markets.
