An upcoming MBC K-Drama has already sparked outrage among international viewers after its teaser was released online, with critics accusing the show of mocking Arab and Indian cultures.
On Aug. 20, KST, the official social media account of MBC introduced its new drama, 'To The Moon,' featuring Lee Sun Bin, Ra Mi Ran, Jo A Ram — formerly known as Gugudan's Hyeyeon — and Kim Young Dae.
The teaser clip showed the four actors dressed in stereotypical "Arab" attire and wearing "bindis," accessories with cultural and religious significance across different Indian communities.
The actresses were also seen performing exaggerated dance moves that viewers argued mocked traditional Indian dance forms.
The set design featured backdrops described by audiences as orientalist portrayals of West Asia.
International netizens quickly voiced their anger online. In less than a day, the teaser had been viewed more than 1.2 million times on X, formerly known as Twitter.
One netizen wrote, "In the big year of 2025..."
Koreans started the year of 2025 with racism against black people now ending it with being racist towards middle east and indians .... https://t.co/JAW1jkhrTH pic.twitter.com/1vKm6DwUvl
— Anki⁷ 🦀 (@Anki_twt) August 20, 2025
Another viewer commented, "This is beyond tone-deaf. How is this still happening?"
Mixing up cultures and stereotyping the shit out of it in year 2025 are we supposed to clap at this shit https://t.co/eKYpnzUQwk pic.twitter.com/cWHnmydM9z
— the taeyong gospel (@taeyongdesi) August 20, 2025
Others echoed similar frustrations. One user said, "The ignorance is inexcusable."
middle eastern and south asian culture appropriation in the big year of 2025... https://t.co/m7H6plOiS6 pic.twitter.com/0EfyeOHjBB
— hinata shoyo 🧸 (@hyyhhwjh) August 20, 2025
The drama's premise follows the everyday lives of young people facing financial instability, workplace absurdities, and household debt as they strive to change their lives and get rich quickly. To The Moon is scheduled to premiere on Sept. 19, KST.
In other news, MBC unveiled its 2025 K-drama lineup, including a much-anticipated series starring IU and Byeon Woo Seok, but sparked debate by shifting from the traditional 16-episode format to shorter 10–12 episode runs.
Fans are divided: some welcome tighter storytelling with fewer fillers, while others worry shorter series will rush plots and reduce character development.
The change, seen by some as influenced by Netflix, raises questions about whether shorter dramas will become the new standard across Korean networks.
READ MORE: 2023 MBC Drama Awards Winners: Namgoong Min, 'My Dearest' Won Grand Prizes
