Netflix has been asked to remove Little Women from its platform. Photo courtesy of Netflix

Netflix has been asked to remove the South Korean television series Little Women as it contains historical distortions that could cause misunderstandings about the American war in Vietnam.

The request was made by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, under the Ministry of Information and Communications, according to Deputy Director General Le Quang Tu Do.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by famous American writer Louisa May Alcott, Little Women tells the story of three small sisters with a close bond who grew up in poverty. It stars Kim Go Eun, who has risen to stardom after her role in Goblin.

As the story gradually expands, misperceptions about the war in Vietnam in which South Korea participated as an ally of the US military increasingly emerge. It was also when the film started to receive fierce criticism from Vietnamese viewers. 

According to the Deputy Director General, Little Women has violated the prohibited acts specified in Clause 4, Article 9 of the Press Law on distorting history, denying revolutionary achievements and insulting the nation. Furthermore, it has violated the prohibited acts in cinematographic activities specified in Clause 4, Article 11 of the Law on Cinema with similar content to the provisions mentioned above in the Press Law.

This violation is reflected in the character's dialogue regarding the American war in Vietnam in episode 3, from minutes 58:01 to 58:22, and in episode 8, from minutes 5:41 to 7:01.

Netflix has responded and said the written request is being processed. However, the South Korean television series is expected to be removed from the platform this week.

Previously, in July and August 2020, Netflix respectively screened two movies with content that distorted information about Vietnam's territorial sovereignty - Put Your Head On My Shoulder and Madam Secretary. The two films were also officially requested to be removed from Netflix's library by Vietnam's Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.

Source: VNS