In recent months, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in South Korea’s vibrant gaming industry, exposing the dark sides of misogyny fueled by online anti-feminist campaigns. A case stands out involving a talented female animator tested by the storm of backlash initiated by male gamers over a misinterpreted gesture in a gameplay trailer for MapleStory, one of the country’s most beloved video games.
The animator, known by the pseudonym Darim, celebrated the completion of her hard work by sharing a character’s trailer online. But joy quickly turned to horror as she was bombarded with thousands of grotesque messages, including death and sexual assault threats, over a mere frame in the trailer. Young male gamers misconstrued a hand gesture—holding thumb and forefinger together—as a veiled feminist symbol directed at them.
“It was overwhelming, the language was vile,” Darim shared, detailing how the backlash led to an immediate public outcry against her. The game’s developer, Nexon, was pressured to pull the promotional content, leaving Darim feeling unsafe in her career. The incident is part of a disturbing trend where women in South Korea are subjected to relentless witch hunts for suspected feminist affiliations, often initiated by male gamers who feel threatened by shifts in gender dynamics.
The resurgence of anti-feminist sentiment in South Korea is not new; it is intertwined with the broader societal landscape marked by deeply rooted gender biases. Feminist activists have become scapegoats for many young men who perceive an attack on their rights amidst a shift toward gender equality. Concerning patterns reveal that as women’s advocacy has grown, backlash has escalated, leading to an atmosphere of fear among women who might openly identify as feminists.
Minsung Kim, a young male gamer who now advocates for the victims of these campaigns, describes how the witch hunts tend to spiral from minor visual cues that are labeled as “feminist.” Darim’s case is just one among many where women face professional jeopardy fueled by outright misinterpretation of benign actions. “They seek to ruin lives under the accusation of feminism,” says Minsung.
Social consequences deepen when power dynamics between men and women stir societal tensions. The deeply embedded misogyny manifests in various sectors, including gaming, as successful instances of indignation from feminists lead to severe consequences for women. “Companies inevitably listen to those voices,” Minsung continues, “which empowers the witch-hunters.”
The cultural shift has alarmingly encouraged further aggression against women, extending beyond virtual threats. A notable case is that of Jigu—a woman attacked for having short hair, wrongly perceived as a feminist target. Although the perpetrator was imprisoned, the incident highlighted the physical risk that women face as anti-feminist movements gain momentum in the real world.
The overarching narrative reflects a severely polarized response to feminism, exemplified by recent statistics indicating that only 24% of women in South Korea identify as feminists, down from 33% in 2019. The implications of this suppression underscore a broader desire for legal reforms to protect women’s rights and safeguard against workplace discrimination fueled by anti-feminist sentiments.
To combat this silent war against feminists, voices like Minsung's amplify calls for solidarity and cultural change within workplaces. Awareness and advocacy are also growing among the feminist community, prompting debates on legislation to shield women from such systematic bullying. As women like Darim and Jigu strive for recognition and protection, efforts to dismantle these toxic dynamics may ignite a surge of resilience within the feminist cause—a necessary pivot in navigating a future free from the shackles of gender-based hostility.
