Netflix Receives Criticism For Usage Of Korean Honorific “Oppa” On Twitter
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There are some Korean words and phrases everyone is familiar with, whether they are fluent in the language or not.
Your browser does not support video.Hyun Bin saying “Fighting!”
Of course, there is one word in particular that almost everyone knows due to its popular usage in K-Dramas and K-Pop.
Your browser does not support video.GOT7’s Jay B
This word is none other than the honorific 오빠 (Oppa).
Your browser does not support video.PSY
Honorifics are words meant to be used to show respect. Yet, because of its popularized usage in Korean entertainment, foreigners often misinterpret it, resulting in many even misusing it. This is why “oppar” has also become a meme within international K-content communities.
So, Netflix has now received criticism from netizens for inappropriately using “oppa.”
Your browser does not support video.Sechs Kies
Netflix India tweeted, “Who’s your oppa?” with an emoji. Obviously, it was meant to attract the K-Drama lovers in the comments.
Instead, it sparked criticism.
The tweet surely attracted the attention of K-Drama and K-Pop fans, but just not as Netflix India hoped. Netizens called out Netflix for asking an inappropriate question rather than focusing on making needed changes to the streaming service.
— army inside jokes⁷ (@armyinsidejokes) March 29, 2022
The fact is “oppa” has many meanings, to begin with. It’s a Korean honorific and technically has no 100% accurate direct to English translation. There is just not an equivalent in the English language.
Your browser does not support video.Song Joong Ki in “Descendants of the Sun.” | KBS
Most of the time, “oppa” is translated as “older brother.” It is also to be used only by women to older males. Likewise, there are words for younger men to older (hyung) and vice versa. Words like this are basically are a more honoring way of saying “you.”
“Oppa” is often used by women when speaking to or about their literal older brother or even a cousin. You would call even a close older male friend (even by just a year or two) or a neighbor “oppa.”
Now, the other meanings that it gets too often associated with are its usage for significant others and celebrities.
Your browser does not support video.
Many fans of K-Pop and K-Dramas tend to refer to their favorite male idols as “oppa” regardless of age.
Basically, if he is handsome, then he is “oppa.”
Your browser does not support video.Ji Sung in “Kill Me Heal Me” | MBC
Another reason this is so commonplace is due to women referring to their significant other as “oppa,” especially in K-Dramas.
Historically, most women would date and marry an older man, hence why they were referred to as “oppa.” Yet, due to popular romance dramas, it is so often associated as to be the equivalent of affectionate nicknames like “honey,” “darling, “babe,” etc.
Your browser does not support video.Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?” | tvN
Netflix will even translate “oppa” in English subtitles as “babe” when used in this context rather than explain its true meaning. There are many examples, but the most famous is Squid Game.
Consequently, “oppa” has become like “daddy” for international fans of Korean entertainment.
So, naturally, when netizens saw Netflix India’s inappropriate usage of “oppa,” netizens were disturbed. It has become common for the honorific to be used inappropriately, but it was shocking for an official corporate account to use it this way.
this kind of behavior makes me violently cringe. ppl take out certain korean words that they clearly have no understanding of to convert them into these cute little english versions to conveniently throw them around in english convos & superimpose their own context as they like.
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yuri⁷ (@seoulocello) March 29, 2022
“who’s your Oppa
” what do you even think 오빠 means??
a lot of non-koreans have this fascination for the word “oppa” & i know just how much of a misunderstood/misused word this is for so many ppl. but to see it casually used this way by an official netflix account is just…
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Netflix India has since deleted the now-infamous tweet. Yet, other official Netflix accounts perpetually use “oppa” in the same context. The Swoon, Netflix’s K-Drama brand, frequently uses this word, including in memes.
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