MBC’s New K-Drama Invites The Wrath Of Netizens With Its Mockery Of Arab And Indian Cultures
An upcoming MBC K-Drama has already fallen from grace for global audiences after its latest teaser launch.
On August 20, KST, the official social media account of MBC introduced its new K-Drama, To The Moon, featuring Lee Sun Bin, Ra Mi Ran, Jo A Ram (also known as former Gugudan‘s Hyeyeon), and Kim Young Dae.
The clip showed all four actors dressed up in stereotypical “Arab” attire, while also sporting “bindis,” which are worn across different communities in India and hold deep cultural significance. The actresses are seen dancing in caricaturish moves, which are typically used to mock Indian dance forms. The backdrop also very blatantly reflected the orientalist portrayal of West Asia that audiences have called out for years.
Overall, the content of the teaser has left international netizens fuming. In less than a day’s time, the video has earned over 1.2 million views on X (former Twitter), with users from all over the world calling out the inexcusable ignorance.
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
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
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
i really don’t know what to say other than “wtf” as someone who is from the middle east. you seem to be inspired by aladdin, who is middle eastern/arab, so tell me why there are bindi’s, dances that mock indians and hula dancing in this video? it’s 2025 https://t.co/f1CWHmf9KG pic.twitter.com/DfAhbnTalH
— ★ (@solsticebin) August 20, 2025
To The Moon will portray the everyday lives of a group of young people who are suffering due to the unstable nature of their jobs, workplace absurdities, and increasing household debt, as they attempt to turn their lives around and get rich quickly. The show is slated to premiere on September 19, KST.
