This page lists the pop culture references found in the X Ash webtoon.
Episode 1[]
- Hunting Pocha Chu Chu is based on Hunting Pochas. Hunting Pochas are bars in Korea designed for single people, so basically singles dating bars. They are pubs that help people set up blind dates on the go. In Korea, hunting is a term used when picking up women in random places. Pochas(포차) is short for Pojangmacha(포장마차), and originally referred to a kind of food stall in Korea and that has spread throughout Korea since the mid-2000s.
Episode 17[]
- Knightria (기사리아, gisalia) is based on 군대리아. 군대리아, pronounced "Gunderia"(Gunadearia), is usually translated in English as "Army Burger; Military Burger". It is a portmanteau of 군대(Gundae) ("Army; military") and 리아(Lottelia *Writen as "Lotteria" sometimes; It is the biggest biggest franchise like Mcdonalds in Korea). It is a hamburger provided in the South Korean Army. It is made with some of bread for hamburger, was sandwiched with patty, cheese, mashed potatoes, and the like chopped vegetables, and it is eaten with ketchup. It usually becomes memorable food for men who finish the military service in South Korea.
- Jan & Rick may be based on Jan & Rick from The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean video game. Jan is the dog of McBain and the fourth main character in Cagesong of the Ocean. Jan is a very kind creature who gives food to other hungry animals. Later in the game, Jan gets a new friend, when he meets a desert rat named Rick who rides on his head for the remainder of the story. Jan isn't able to equip weapons or armor, but does a good job in battles anyway.
Episode 18[]
- Hwalbin(활빈) is based on 'Hwalbindang'(활빈당) (literally means "faction of those who help the impoverished). Hwalbindang was a anti-feudal and anti-aggression movement of the people active during the reign of Gwangmu (1899-1905). They claimed that their purpose was to drive out Japanese and Western powers. The group took their name from the "Hwanbindang" from the novel Hong Gildon Jeon. The name contains the meaning of becoming a righteous thief and protecting the people from foreign powers, like the Hwanbindang created by Hong Gil-Dong in Hong Gildong Jeon. Various classes participated, and it expanded into a nationwide organization. They attacked Japanese merchants and the wealthy while protesting foreign economic infiltration. From 1895 to 1904, when Eulmi Medical Byeong joined, they were active enough to be mentioned in almost all newspapers, and most of the newspapers at the time criticised them heavily. Newspapers were basically introduced as a concept of enlightenment activities, and in particular, they were completely opposite to newspapers that were connected with Japan even though they were foreign powers such as independent newspapers . In a lot of webtoons, Hwalbindang is portrayed with a lot of negativity just like in X Ash. The Hwalbindang in Hong Gildon Jeon was formed when Hong Gil-Dong took over the leadership of a band of outlaws naming them the Hwalbindang. As the gang of outlaws grew with Hong Gil Dong at the helm, they become more daring in their exploits. Stealing from the rich throughout the country, the Hwalbindang readily distribute their booty to the poor. As Hong's band of do-gooders steal more, the King eventually takes action, and Hong is forced to flee the country in exile. Hong Gil-Dong starts afresh with the Hwalbindang on a distant island. As the band further grows, they overthrow the King and take power for themselves, with Hong as the new monarch. King Hong Gil Dong, avoids the mistakes of his predecessor and leads as a benevolent ruler. He treats his family well, caring for his second-born son equally—a case of not repeating his father's mistake.
Episode 53[]
- The Phantom Thief class is based on the Phantom Thief trope. A gentleman thief, gentleman burglar, lady thief, or phantom thief is a stock character in fiction. A gentleman or lady thief is characterised by impeccable manners, charm, courteousness, and the avoidance of physical force or intimidation to steal, and often has inherited wealth. They steal not only to gain material wealth but also for the thrill of the act itself, which is often combined in fiction with correcting a moral wrong, selecting wealthy targets, or stealing only particularly rare or challenging objects. Phantom thief (Japanese: 怪盗, Hepburn: kaitō) is the term for the gentleman/lady thief in Japanese media such as anime and manga. It draws inspiration from Arsène Lupin and elements in other crime fictions and detective fictions. The concept of a phantom thief was originally developed by E. W. Hornung's in the form of A. J. Raffles, but the emergence of Arsène Lupin superseded that of A. J. Raffles.