In depicting foreign cultures, K-dramas take one stride forward and two steps backward.

The TvN rom-com “Sh**ting Stars,” which aired its conclusion on Saturday, has been criticised for sequences from episode one that feature discriminatory depictions of foreign cultures.

Oh Han-byul, played by actor Lee Sung-kyung, is a publicist who forms a love-hate relationship with Gong Tae-sung, played by actor Kim Young-dae, the star of her talent agency.

The viewers learn three minutes into the series that the male character, Tae-sung, has gone to “Africa” as a volunteer. The precise African country to which he travels is not revealed. The screen changes to a picture of a blazing red sun rising, giraffes running, meerkats twisting their heads, and a lion rushing after a herd of zebras, all while the “The Lion King” theme tune plays.

Tae-sung is surrounded by locals who are watching as a rig is dug into the earth till water gushes out and everyone cheers.

“Now you can drink pure water!” Tae-sung exclaims, both arms lifted in triumph.

Many viewers, particularly international viewers, were perplexed by the show’s apparent distortion of Africa, tweeting things like “Africa is not a country!” “This image of Africa reminded me of the Korean version of ‘The White Man’s Burden.'”

Africa can’t simply be described as a developing continent in desperate need of individuals with lighter complexion to come in and save it.

Africa is made up of 54 nations. According to the IMF’s April 2021 predictions, Libya will be among the world’s top five fastest-growing economies in 2021. According to a report published by the African Development Bank in 2021, the number of middle-class Africans has quadrupled in the previous 30 years, to 313 million individuals.

The fact that Tae-sung travelled to Africa to volunteer is not an important component of the narrative, which is about an office romance between a superstar and his publicist. The sequence is intended to represent Tae-sung as a compassionate, intelligent, courageous, and deserving of admiration figure.

The situation is particularly upsetting because the network had previously offered its services in South Africa through tvN Africa last year.

Studio Dragon, the firm behind “Sh**ting Stars,” declined to respond when contacted about the scandal.

Although the explanations for such scenarios are rarely malicious, a lack of understanding or attempt to show them appropriately is surely not an excuse.