Chinese film 'Kung Fu Soccer' sparks backlash over portrayal of Korean women's football team

A new film by Chinese actor and director Stephen Chow has sparked controversy for depicting a Korean women's football team as appearance-obsessed, violent and dishonest, drawing criticism that it insults not only Korean women but also Korean sports. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, criticized Chow's latest film, “Kung Fu Soccer,” saying it crossed the line from fictional exaggeration to disrespect. "No matter how fictional a movie may be, it is wrong to repeatedly insult Korean sports," Seo said.

The film is a follow-up to Chow's 2001 hit “Shaolin Soccer.” This time, the comedy follows a group of martial arts-trained women who come together to form a football team. It premiered in China on July 11 and generated more than 600 million yuan ($84 million) in box office revenue within three days.

The controversy centers on the film's depiction of a Korean team called "Ewha," a name widely seen as referencing Ewha Womans University. Players on the team are portrayed as being obsessed with makeup and cosmetic contact lenses rather than football. During matches,