The Witch Hunts Against Feminism in South Korea's Gaming Scene

Mon Oct 20 2025 19:50:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A young animator faces death threats after being targeted for supposed feminist gestures in a popular video game, highlighting the backlash against feminism in South Korea.

Darim, an animator for MapleStory, received threats after a male-dominated online community accused her of including a feminist gesture in her work, showcasing the increasing intolerance against women expressing feminist views in South Korea. This case is part of a larger trend of "witch hunts" against women perceived as feminists, resulting in harassment, job losses, and violence.

In the realm of South Korea's gaming industry, a chilling case unfolded when Darim, a young animator, became the target of relentless online abuse. After posting a trailer for the popular game MapleStory, she was inundated with death and rape threats from male gamers who misinterpreted a hand gesture by a female character as a feminist symbol. Despite her pride in the animation, the backlash was swift and brutal.

These forces of aggression stem from a broader wave of anti-feminism that has surged in South Korea over recent years. Darim’s experience reflects a grave situation where women in the gaming sector and beyond face vicious attacks aimed at silencing their voices. The notion of a "finger-pinching gesture" has been weaponized by young male gamers to accuse women of harboring feminist ideologies, leading to demands for their dismissal and public condemnation.

As the harassment escalated, Minsung Kim, a gamer turned ally, stepped in to support Darim and her studio, arguing that they needed to confront the onslaught of demands. He invoked a new wave of support and legal backing for affected women to counter the malicious narrative being spread online.

The anti-feminist sentiments are fueled by deep-rooted gender inequality that persists in South Korea, where women remain fearful of identifying as feminists in both personal and professional spaces. This has reinforced the silence surrounding these issues, as men perceive empowerment movements as direct threats to their own standing.

Recent statistics paint a bleak picture: a significant drop in women identifying as feminists and a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation that deters open discussion about gender issues. As women brink on expressing their beliefs, they too often find themselves targeted, resulting in a chilling effect on the feminist movement.

The case of Darim serves to illuminate a growing societal rift where calls for gender equality are met with hostility, revealing a community wrestling with misogyny while grappling for voices that navigate between advocacy and survival.