"Can't We Play Japanese Games?" Conflict Over Boycott Movement Amid 'PS5' and 'DongSool' Popularity

Japanese Game Console 'PS5' Sold Out, Gaining Massive Popularity
Conflicting Public Opinion Over Some Not Joining Japan Boycott
Earlier, 'Animal Crossing' Also Faced Shortage Issues

Visitors experiencing PlayStation VR games at PlayX4 held at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The Japanese gaming console 'PlayStation 5' (PS5) has sold out in pre-orders domestically, sparking criticism that the consumer movement against purchasing Japanese products, 'Nono Japan,' may be a selective boycott.

Previously, the Japanese game 'Animal Crossing' also gained huge popularity in Korea, causing controversy. However, some argue that the boycott movement should not be forced, leading to conflicts surrounding the Japanese boycott movement amid the popularity of the PS5.

According to the industry, Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to supply additional PS5 units after experiencing a shortage during pre-orders. The company stated on its official Twitter, "We plan to supply more PS5 units for pre-orders," adding, "More PS5 units will be available by the end of this year."

The PS5 began pre-order sales domestically on the 18th of last month at noon. Pre-orders were conducted through 11 online shopping malls including Homeplus, Hi-Mart, and SSG.com, as well as 30 offline stores such as PS Partner Shops. Within less than an hour, the product was sold out.

As a result, some voices have criticized that the 'Nono Japan' movement is not being consistently applied when it comes to the PS5.

Kim, a company employee in his 30s who has declared participation in the boycott of Japanese products, emphasized, "The reason for boycotting Japanese products is not simply a consumer movement but a protest against Japan's distortion of our history."

Another company employee in his 40s, Lee, said, "Recently, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retired and visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined," adding, "I believe the Nono Japan movement needs to be strengthened. It is somewhat absurd that people buy the PS5 because it is fun and that it leads to a sell-out."

On the morning of April 23rd, citizens lined up in front of Sindorim Technomart in Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, to enter a lottery for purchasing the Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing edition.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Before the PS5 sell-out, a similar situation occurred. The Japanese game 'Animal Crossing' even caused a scarcity phenomenon.

On April 23, at Techno Mart in Sindorim, Guro-gu, Seoul, a remarkable scene was witnessed as a long line formed from the morning on a weekday, with people eager to purchase the game 'Animal Crossing.'

The 'Animal Crossing' lottery event was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., but by 9 a.m., about 300 people had already gathered before the opening due to the crowd.

Due to its popularity, some online shopping malls sold the product at more than twice the retail price, and some buyers paid a premium, effectively creating an 'Animal Crossing' craze.

Photo of a screen capture from 'Animal Crossing'

At that time, there was also criticism that the boycott of Japanese products was selective. However, some argued that forcing the boycott itself is not a healthy consumer movement.

Kim, a company employee in his 30s, said, "I sympathize with the boycott of Japanese products, but I do not support forcing it," emphasizing, "It is no different from infringing on individual freedom."

Amid the conflict over the Japanese product boycott surrounding the PS5, an expert stated that while the 'Nono Japan' movement cannot be forced, people should reconsider the significance of this movement.

Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University, who leads the movement against Japan's distortion of Korean history, wrote on Facebook during the peak popularity of 'Animal Crossing,' "The boycott movement can never be forced. I also respect each individual's choice," but added, "However, I hope we can think about it once more. Last year, photos of people lining up in front of Uniqlo stores were shared in Japan, and Japanese netizens harshly criticized and mocked us."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.