The Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), the national public broadcaster in South Korea, is facing significant criticism after airing the opera Madame Butterfly on August 15, Korea's National Liberation Day.
Many viewers expressed their anger, describing the broadcast as "anti-nationalist."
The controversy began when KBS1 aired Giacomo Puccini's opera at midnight, marking the start of the day commemorating Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Madame Butterfly is set in Japan in the early 1900s and tells the tragic story of a Japanese woman who marries an American naval officer, who later abandons her.
"Mrs. Butterfly" aired on KBS. Photo | KBS1
Particularly contentious was the use of "Kimigayo," Japan's national anthem, during the opera's wedding scene. Korean viewers quickly noticed this and expressed their outrage on social media and KBS's online community board.
Numerous commenters on the board accused the broadcaster of being "pro-Japanese" and "anti-nationalist."
Some users even labeled KBS as "JBS," implying a pro-Japanese bias. Others questioned the appropriateness of airing a performance steeped in Japanese culture on a day meant to celebrate Korea's independence from Japanese rule.
One user commented, "Why would Koreans want to watch an opera set in Japan with all the characters wearing kimonos on the day we're supposed to celebrate being liberated from the Japanese colonizers?"
Another person suggested, "The surest way to bring these suckers down is to boycott everything they're advertising on the channels."
The criticism extended beyond the opera broadcast. Viewers were also upset about a KBS weather report that aired on the same day, in which the South Korean flag was mistakenly shown upside down, further fueling allegations of disrespect.
Adding to the controversy, at 11:10 p.m., KBS1 aired a program titled "The Origin of Miracles." Critics claimed that the documentary, which focused on South Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee, portrayed the controversial leader in a positive light.
Rhee was accused of corruption and political abuse during his tenure, and many argued that it was inappropriate to air such content on National Liberation Day.
As of now, over 10,000 people have signed petitions calling for KBS to be held accountable for its programming choices on this significant national holiday. The broadcaster has not yet issued a statement in response to the growing public outcry.
