Online Witch Hunts Target Feminism in South Korea’s Gaming Industry

Tailored by a recent incident in the gaming industry, this article explores the alarming trend of anti-feminist witch hunts in South Korea that target women creators. The article delves into online virulence aimed at feminists, the cultural backlash against gender equity, and the experiences of women who confront violent misogyny as they navigate their professional lives.

Darim, an animator for the popular South Korean game MapleStory, recently found herself at the center of a vicious online backlash after posting a trailer for her work. What was meant to be a moment of pride quickly turned into a nightmare as male gamers flooded her with threats, claiming that a single frame of animation contained a hand gesture linked to feminist mocking of men—a misinterpretation that spiraled into dangerous accusations.

Under the cloak of anonymity, many of these young male gamers unleashed a torrent of abuse, including threats of death and sexual violence. Darim recalled, "There were insults I'd never heard before, they were disgusting and inhumane." Their malice was fueled by a single offending frame where the female character used a gesture seen as feminist, prompting demands for Darim's dismissal from the studio. The resultant fury forced the game publisher, Nexon, to retract the promotional video.

This incident is symptomatic of a growing tide of anti-feminist sentiment within South Korea, where online witch hunts perpetuated by young male gamers have increasingly targeted women in the workforce suspected of harboring feminist views. These hunts dig through social media posts, seeking out anything they can construe as evidence of ‘man-hating’ tendencies, often leading to harassment that ruins careers.

Minsung Kim, a young gamer who now advocates for women targeted by these toxic campaigns, described the phenomenon as a moral panic, saying, "They decide that a dark, evil feminist is hiding in the company, and her life should be ruined." His organization has taken steps to protect victims, suggesting companies ought to stand firm against the unreasonable demands of these self-styled watchdogs.

Despite instances of successful pushback, such as Darim keeping her job due to Minsung's intervention, the chilling reality remains that numerous other women have fallen victim to these campaigns. Some have lost their jobs entirely, driven out by threats of boycotts and harassment. It is a culture of fear cultivated by the widespread belief that vocally supporting feminism can lead to punishment or even violence.

In South Korea, a country grappling with a significant gender pay gap and cultural discrimination, women have begun to shield their feminist identities. A troubling drop in self-identification as feminists to merely 24%, from 33% just a few years prior, is indicative of a systemic backlash that has intensified, especially amidst rising feminist activism.

Research highlights that many young men perceive the push for gender equality as a threat to their own opportunities, exacerbating feelings of injustice among men. The political landscape has only reinforced these sentiments—last year, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol positioned himself against feminism, declaring that gender discrimination had dissipated, inflaming deeper divisions.

Inside the gaming industry, the reaction has been to take the most extreme caution. After the incident involving Darim, another studio began editing characters to remove all hand gestures altogether, distorting expressions of creativity for fear of backlash. These preventative measures stem not only from fear but also from the misguided belief that such gestures can indeed be interpreted as aggression against men.

This hostile environment has led to real-world assaults, where women like Jigu face violence simply for being perceived as feminist. One such incident saw Jigu attacked for her short hair, an attribute that made her a target in the eyes of her assailant, who identified himself with anti-feminist ideologies.

Commentators advocate for stronger legal protections against gender discrimination and harassment, yet the path remains fraught with political resistance to comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. It is crucial for collective mobilization, both from within industries and the authorities, to challenge and address these misogynistic campaigns. Minsung believes that companies must grow a spine and refuse to yield to unfounded accusations centered on feminist expression.

Through shared experiences in the face of adversity, activists like Jigu seek to empower other women to openly embrace feminism, defying the narrative that vilifies their beliefs. Their struggle illustrates a profound societal challenge in South Korea, where women are not only fighting for equality but often for their fundamental dignity and safety in a deeply ingrained patriarchal landscape.