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"Mocking Arab & Middle Eastern Culture?"…'To the Moon' Teaser Deleted Amid Controversy
by. ymchoi

MBC-TV's drama To the Moon (written by Na Yoon-chae, directed by Oh Da-young & Jung Hoon) has faced backlash over accusations of racial insensitivity in its teaser video.

The production team explained, "The teaser parodied an ice cream commercial, inspired by the drama's bakery company setting. There was no specific intention to offend, but we failed to consider perspectives from other cultures," and expressed regret.

Responding to criticism from international viewers, the teaser was removed from YouTube and other social media platforms. The team promised to exercise greater caution to prevent discomfort.

The teaser, released on August 20, featured actors Lee Sun-bin, Ra Mi-ran, and Jo Ah-ram in Arabian-inspired costumes performing comedic dances. Actor Kim Young-dae also appeared wearing a turban, adding to the choreography.

Negative reactions quickly spread on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), with many viewers expressing discomfort over the mixed portrayal of Arab and Middle Eastern cultural elements for humor.

To the Moon's production team deleted the teaser within half a day of its release, reflecting swift action in response to a sensitive issue amid growing global interest in K-dramas.

The series tells the hyper-realistic survival story of women from modest backgrounds who dive into cryptocurrency investment. It is set to premiere on September 19.

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