Koreans Force Cancellation of “Criminal” Hetalia

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In an outrageous attack on freedom of speech, nationalistic Korean protests have forced the upcoming satirical WWII anime Hetalia Axis Powers off the air entirely; the issue was even taken up in the National Assembly, where the anime was denounced as being “equivalent to criminal conduct”, such was the hysteria against any possible affront to Korea’s dubious claims over Dokdo/Takeshima.

Craven broadcaster Kids Station apparently felt they had no option but to cave in to the Korean claims of “discrimination”, despite the anime apparently not even including the elements which upset the hypersensitive nationalists.

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The official announcement of the broadcast’s cancellation is as follows:

Hetalia Axis Powers was scheduled to commence broadcasting on the 24th of January on Kids Station, but due to circumstances afflicting the broadcast station, the broadcast has been cancelled. To all those who have been looking forward to the broadcast as announced on the homepage and elsewhere, we apologise for this tremendous inconvenience.
We hope you will be understanding over this matter.

Of course, as with any such official announcement, no useful information as to why is included, but with it coming up in the Korean mass media the cause is clearly not in doubt; there are rumours of pressure being applied behind the scenes.

There is one glimmer of hope for fans wishing to avoid Korean censorship: inferior quality distribution by mobile and online streaming will go ahead as announced, likely because these are not handled by yellow broadcaster Kids Station.

The fact that online and mobile distribution has escaped Korea’s wrath will likely come as scant consolation to the makers, who were doubtless hoping for the web comic to finally enter the mainstream.

However, with the colossal negative publicity accruing to Korea over this debacle, we might well expect a very positive effect on sales of the DVD as people explore what all the fuss is about, or opt to support it against censorship. A publicity campaign money can’t buy, indeed.

As explained previously, it seems the locus of Korean outrage was the portrayal of Korea as a nation intent on claiming all and sundry as being either its invention or its territory; the breast grabbing scene where Korea seizes Japan’s chest (thought to represent Dokdo/Takeshima) is the main example of such. Of course, things could hardly be further from the truth?

Naturally, none of the other more reasonable nations lampooned in the series could care less about this wicked “discrimination”…

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The reaction in Japan (excluding the typically supine mass media) is one of predictable consternation, though many are not entirely surprised, given the influence Korea exerts over Japan in many areas, and its constant state of nationalistic outrage.

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There are many examples of Korean protests censoring Japanese domestic broadcasts (chiefly drama and the like which somehow manages to upset the influential hyper-nationalist lobby in Korea), though strangely no examples of the converse; in fact, outrageous anti-Japanese propaganda and protest seems to be the order of the day throughout Korea, reaching extremely disturbing levels, even in its schools.

Korean politicians seem ever eager to stoke the flames of hatred against Japan, and even China and America, though such reckless conduct seems unlikely to secure their long term good relations with the rest of the world.

Anything to distract from the plight of their 20 million starving and enslaved countrymen to the north?


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    Avatar of kagamiismywaifu
    Comment by kagamiismywaifu
    13:55 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well hey, not everyone can have it all like japan =D

    Comment by bob
    18:34 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    damn... f koreans if they cant smell beyond the shit on their noses. Go suck some kimchee, angry little people.

    Avatar of tB
    Comment by t//B
    00:45 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's spelled Kimchi in your dictionary. It's also considered a part of American culture now, btw..

    Comment by bob
    13:29 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    no... its common, but I'd hardly call it American "culture"... and surely only on the coasts. It's spelled "백치" in your dictionary.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:19 18/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >“백치”
    I lol'd

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:42 14/02/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    bob can go suck some spotted dicks!

    -shanghai knights FTW!

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:33 01/01/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Plenty of kimchi in Milwaukee.. but it is on the coast of Lake Michigan, so I guess bob is technically right ;P

    Comment by kevin
    12:08 22/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    u better shut ur fucking mouth idiot. Watch what u r saying! That manga only has Japanese right wing's perspective of view, and they made Korean look bad as their own thinkings and idea. To yall who enjoy Japanese manga like bunch of otakus, go buy DVDs if u really are in love with Japanese manga. and u better cut ur crap!

    Avatar of Artefact
    Comment by Artefact

    What a persuasive case you make.

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:08 03/03/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    My god... Please end yourself as soon as possible. You should NEVER be allowed to reproduce.

    Comment by i’m korean
    17:53 17/02/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Okay, I Heard You.
    Yes, I am Korean Who Hates Hetalia.
    Not Only Me, That all of My Mateies Are Hates Hetalia. Think about It,
    Do Will Jews Love that Manga, If The Nazis Made That?

    Comment by hurr
    17:11 13/07/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    your english is amazing. you should stop learning it.

    Comment by Cube
    00:46 29/08/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Are you honestly comparing Hetalia and Japan/Korea relations to Nazis/Jews and the Holocaust? omg. Such ignorance..

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:21 11/10/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Cube, don't say that other people are ignorant when you're the most ignorant one for not knowing your thing before posting. South Korea and Japan often argued about territory possession in their history and still have many conflicts going on. But there's a LOT of Koreans who live in Japan and work in Japanese anime studios and such. So why care if you're not Korean or Japanese, it's their business and it's already over.

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:43 13/09/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hey come on, your country's portrayal isn't that bad at least he's not boring (he's my favorite asian country in there), no country is perfect, for example US is lound and obnoxious, England is a supersticious dip-stick, France is... well a pervert + more, Russia is a psycho, Italy is a numbnut and loser(in war), Germany is scary, Japan is weird and stubborn (he even mentions how he treats things) and China is like a girl (eventhough he's suppose to be a man) and copies lots of things. So there you go, don't take everything so seriously, after all this is a form of SATIRE so obiviously it exaggerates the bad qualities and stereotype of countries. Beside Korea also has good qualities such as being very photogenic and capable of great inventions etc.

    To conclude don't take it to heart as if 'Japan' is specifically degrading 'Korea' since every country portrayed in Hetalia all have loads of faults, besides Korea wasn't the only country that was attcked by Japan in WWII and the other countries seem to be taking it fine (I'm not saying that you need to love Japan or that nationalism is bad, just that you need to draw the line between jokes and real offence)

    Comment by watch your mouth
    02:14 01/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Those little pictures are drawn by kids. Like, primary school kids. Surely they know nothing about it. I do not think that it is reasonable for that kind of insult to be thrown at all the koreans for this matter.

    Comment by Junoan
    20:14 17/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I dare you to draw

    Comment by Ayakashi
    15:15 19/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Surely eating too much dog meat can make your brain distort significantly

    Comment by Phoot
    02:15 01/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ever tried eating one? How do u know?

    Comment by Aki
    13:54 05/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    take care of your brain first

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:44 17/08/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @ I'm korean Everyone knows jews control a large portion of American media (its the lulz of plenty of comics in their skits) now think about how many movies of hitler have been produced and funded by those people. There's more a wish to show people something in warning rather than blind hatred as you don. And if you hate something Japanese so much why would you be here....c'mon srsly....

    @ Hurr just lolololololololol

    @ Phoot Do you need to be raped before you can decide if you won't like it or not? Though considering where you're visiting it's just a little less likely for you to answer no, but smelling dog food is horrid enough for the sinuses, imagine how you'd react to eating a lot of it...

    See what I want to know is if Japan is going around "HERE KOREA MAIK CHURE DIS AIRZ ON UR TV STASHUNS." forcing them to see something or if Korean officials somehow have gained some sort of censoring rights in Japan. If so wouldn't America attempt to censor other countries, or is it just brotherly love that Japan and Korea can only share.

    Avatar of Exia
    Comment by exia
    13:59 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    /wow....

    i didnt think theyd do it but they did. this was more serious than i thought.

    Comment by Mr Joe Higashi
    17:48 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    nothing is ever that serious. ever. laugh in the face of death i say. you'll still die, but at least you'll find it funny when you do go. as for the rest of the people who choose to remain sober and unflinching with the hate-mongering, trying to push the little man down and censor the lives of the free world, what the hell are you doing? the rest of us are having fun over here, you should come on over sometime, it's great. like the party in "old school", but make sure you bring some of that stuff you got taken off the air, cause i'm tired of watching the crappy anti "whatever" propaganda you allow to be broadcast...

    Avatar of Onsokumaru
    Comment by Onsokumaru
    14:06 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Koreans: Bawww~

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:43 14/02/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    .....? wtf @Onsokumaru

    Comment by Anonymous
    Avatar of Bokusatsu Tenshi
    Comment by XSportSeeker
    14:08 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Some countries just don't take it easy...
    Which is why they will still keep their totalitarist governments for a long time...
    Which is a shame.

    I can only pity anime fans which would have lots of fun in Korea too.

    As for me, I'll watch and support as much as I can Hetalia. And freedom of speech.

    Avatar of Vallen Chaos Valiant
    Comment by Vallen Chaos Valiant
    14:09 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I am now officially disgusted at S Koreans. They should unify with their Northern counterparts ASAP, because I see no difference between them.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:16 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    THERE WAS NEVER A DIFFERENCE

    Avatar of Narcissist
    Comment by Narcissist
    18:38 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Disgusting yellow skins. It is back to the railroad building for them.

    Seriously pathetic of Japan too. What are they afraid of? Japan is an economical super power and a member of G8. South Korea is a country looked down on by most and associated with its even more pathethic north part.
    Not to mention all the U.S. bases in Japan ready to charge at any yellow skins thinking of anything that has to do with military.

    Comment by Anonymous
    20:16 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    somehow i don't like the direction of this thread

    you guys don't know the history of korea, who are you to judge them?

    *PEACE SIGN* V

    Comment by Anonymous
    23:22 16/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hey, watch it. Keep the racist ideas to yourself.

    Comment by varutieru
    01:09 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    hey i'm a yellow skin and chinese
    you should name they yellow korean
    or just koreans

    japan is not afraid, just not caring
    why would you even bother if other country doesn't want to cooperate with your country?
    you just have to look for another country to deal with them!

    i really have no idea what trigger this event, and neither i really care

    we live in a depressing world anyway

    Avatar of RaikenTB
    Comment by RaikenTB
    03:38 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    As I said in my comment regarding the previous post about this, I feel Japan is harmless. They often like to take the route which involves the least conflict. In this case someone felt canceling the anime was the best choice.

    As for the bases, I don't think we would assist the Japanese in harming South Korea after we fought to drive them out of it in the past. For whatever reason the bases are there to keep an eye on Japan...

    Avatar of Artefact
    Comment by Artefact

    If you study the history of the place you will find the bases are there exclusively to deal with the threat posed by Russia and now China, and the Japanese pay billions of dollars to keep them there, so they are hardly an imposition.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:02 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It is very true that those anti-Japanese guys took it this far, but what are the cause?

    The REASON is that JAPNA NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR ACTIONS! Germanys at least said sorry to the Jewish and pay them. Japan NEVER even TRIED to say "SORRY".

    How hard is it to say "I am sorry"? If Japan did that, the Koreans, and Chinese won't hate them as much.

    Worst of all, the prime ministers of Japan visit the Temple that believed in War. The Koreans and Chinese, not wanting another war, had told the prime ministerS not to go there many times, but they ignored. What does it look like when someone who never apologized after punching your face, went and praise and worship some god of war? To me, it seems they did not learn their lesson nor do they feel remorse of their wrong doing. Is that the right thing to do?

    If that's not bad enough, the Japanese CHANGED history. By that I meant they change their HISTORY BOOKS for schools, by saying they were FORCED to attack Koreans and Chinese during WWII because they were in Chaos, thus they needed the Japanese to step in. This is true, that's why in Canada, the Chinese association negociate with the Canadian government to add Japanese and Chinese WWII events there (back then, the event was barely mentioned), to educate youth more about it.

    How much of an a**hole you have to be to dare to change history? And forced the wrong facts on to children by underestimating the death they caused and the damage they did?

    So you tell me, should you praise a country who does not apologize for their wrong doing, who dares to change history books and teach their youth the wrong facts, and having the HIGHEST ranked, aka, Prime Minister, to worship the God of War in front of everyone as if he's saying, the war is not over yet.

    So is Japan any good? Hell no to me.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:41 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Please refer "List of war apology statements issued by Japan"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

    Comment by Kyuubil
    11:41 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The japanese have appologized, with medical advancements out the wazoo.

    Japan did horrible things during WWII, they were allowed to "Erase' them in exchange for the data gathered; and I can tell you, medical science would be nowhere near where it is today without that data; simply because the researchers were allowed free reign, with no moral backlash, even today there are plenty of research topics that could save lives, make people walk again, etc, that we're not allowed to research because god might get angry! oh noes.

    Is what they did wrong? yes.

    But did it in the end save lives? Oh yea.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:26 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Japanese, both government and NPOs, have apologized numerous times as already stated above. Don't try to make it sound like there was none.

    Comment by Kyuubil
    14:45 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I never said there was -none-, but some things like:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731#Activities

    Scroll down to "disbanding and after WWII", one biochemical weapons charge, one.

    But like I said, such research has saved many lives.

    Classic nobel syndrome; nobel invented blasting caps, tnt, and a bunch of other explosives, a obituary was printed by mistake saying he died, and he saw the world propogate him as a merchant of death, after his supposed "Death", so he turned around and established the nobel peace prize; and now, all anyone remembers is the prize, not the explosives.

    Yea, they've done horrible things, but alot of good came from it, so forgive and forget, 'neh?

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:54 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Did America apologize to Japan for droping a nuclear bombs for experiment ?
    Did America apologize to Native Americans or African Americans ?
    Did America apologize to Philippines or other countires that they colonized?
    Did UK apologize to India ? or China?
    Did Netherland apologize to Indonesia ?
    Did France and Spain apologized to Phillippines?
    Did you know that the only Asian country (except japan) that was independent from Western countries was Thailand ? Other Asian countires were colonized by Western Countries before WWII ?

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:01 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yeah, Americas dropped nuclear bombs into Japan for experiments..
    And say " We had to drop the bombs to stop the war..!"
    Did Americans saved some lives because of that ?
    I loved to know.

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:00 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >Kyuubil

    Ah, i should have been clear.
    I wasn't talking to you when i said "Don't try to make it sound like there was none"
    i was replying to the anonymous two posts above you. My apologies.

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:02 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Sorry Kyuubil, I should have been more clear.
    I wasn't reply to you when I said "don't make it sound like there was none."
    I was replying to the anonymous two posts above you.

    Comment by Frank Bastard
    18:01 17/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    actually the bombs were dropped a few days after the war was ended, signed off by the emperor. the second bomb that fell on nagasaki only fell there due to the fact japan was in total blackout at the time and with a lack of the new satellite system that was just begining to be designed at that time by arthur c clark (of 2001:a space odyssey fame), the pilots of the second plane dropped the bomb on the nearest populated area as they had reached a "point of no return" with their fuel. their order was to drop it on hiroshima, but as history was written, the best laid plans of men and mice....
    the horrid reality of it all was that america wanted to show the rest of the world, primarily the ussr their new toy.
    i truly feel sorry for historians a thousand years from now trying to understand the madness of the 20th century.

    Avatar of Artefact
    Comment by Artefact

    You should become a history teacher.

    Comment by What?
    13:20 22/01/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    F__k that racist.

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:48 14/02/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i like how azns in general are all racist. it makes us americans look a lot less racist especially in this thread.

    Comment by Anonymous
    18:47 17/08/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    NO-ho-ho-ho~ it doesn't. gtfo

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:02 11/10/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    for your information fellow anon, the people killed by the Japanese army in WW2 is far more superior than everything else you've named here, including the bombs. Btw, even the Japanese themselves said that there'll be even more casulties for both sides if the US invaded Japan mainland. These are just real facts so don't get mad and do your homework before spreading bull.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:43 29/10/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    To Frank Bastart, i really wish people would stop bringing up the horrible things america did, it makes me really sad








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