Ahead of Korean Independence Day, or Gwangbokjeol, the Japanese anime film "Demon Slayer: Mugen Castle Arc" has sparked controversy.
Despite this, the film managed to top the ticket sales charts in Korea.
According to data from the Korean Film Council on August 12, the film recorded a 48.2% ticket reservation rate, with over 320,000 pre-booked audiences, outperforming other local and international films.
"Demon Slayer: Mugen Castle Arc" is the first installment of a trilogy that follows the Demon Slayer Corps' final battle against the most powerful demons at their headquarters, Mugen Castle.
This film continues the story from the fourth season of the TV series, which aired in May 2024, and serves as a continuation of the "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc," which was a huge success in Korea in 2021, attracting over 2.22 million viewers.
The controversy surrounding the film relates to its setting in the Taisho era, a time when Japan was still undergoing imperial rule and military expansion.
Furthermore, the design of the main character Tanjiro's earrings is said to resemble the Rising Sun Flag, a sensitive symbol for Korea due to its association with the Japanese colonial period.
This issue escalated after a planned promotional event, including the opening pitch for a baseball game between the LG Twins and Hanwha Eagles on August 9, was canceled.
The event was originally scheduled to feature mascot characters Tanjiro and Nezuko, but was canceled after criticism that it was inappropriate to hold it just a week before the Gwangbokjeol commemoration.
Despite the wave of criticism, the film continues to demonstrate significant strength in the Korean market.
With an official release date of August 22nd, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Castle Arc” is expected to be a huge box office success, as well as becoming one of the most talked-about Japanese animated films of the year in Korea, both for its achievements and controversies./Source: NAVER, MBC Entertainment News
