Park Bo Gum and IU, who are popular actors from the Netflix show 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', were reportedly seen in a supermarket in China without permission, leading to backlash from the public. The series is not officially released in China, which raises concerns about unauthorized distribution and the violation of the actors' rights.

According to Professor Seo Kyung Duk from Sungshin Women’s University, netizens reported that a supermarket in Hebei Province, China, was using scenes from the show for promotional purposes without authorization. The unauthorized use included images of Park Bo Gum and IU in various product displays, accompanied by slogans like "Sweet cabbage!" and “Try Ae Soon’s pea rice!”.

Professor Seo strongly condemned this act of using the actors' images for commercial purposes without consent. He highlighted that famous Korean drama characters, such as those from 'Squid Game' and 'The Glory', have also been unlawfully exploited in China in the past to endorse fake products and make profits.

Despite Netflix not being officially accessible in China, Korean dramas like 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' are widely circulated through unauthorized means, leading to continued illegal exploitation and monetization of their content.