Chili Powder Factory Infested with Rats, etc.
Spread of Anxiety Fueled by SNS
Chinese Food Specialty Restaurants Take a Direct Hit on Sales
Hand Sanitizers and Masks of American Brands Gain Popularity
Phenomenon of Xenophobia Occurs in Various Places
[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Hye-seon, Cha Min-young] "I don't eat Chinese ingredients at all, and I somehow feel scared of domestic hand sanitizers containing Chinese raw materials, so I use European products."
Yoon Ji-won (pseudonym), a working mom in her 40s, has been carefully checking the origin and ingredients since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). She does not purchase food containing ingredients imported from China at all. Recently, she switched to German products through overseas direct purchase for hand sanitizers containing Chinese raw materials.
On the 10th, as the novel coronavirus situation prolongs, 'Chinese product phobia' is spreading. Kim Cheol-min (pseudonym), who runs a meat restaurant in Euljiro, Seoul, said, "The number of customers has halved," adding, "We use Chinese kimchi, but some customers ask if it is Chinese and leave, so it is really difficult." According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the possibility of infection through imported food ingredients is extremely low. However, anxious feelings are leading to avoidance of Chinese products. Videos showing poor management of Chinese ingredients on platforms like YouTube also contribute. On YouTube, scenes such as chili powder factories infested with rats, prisoners in Chinese prisons peeling garlic with their teeth, and chopping moldy garlic are spreading through social networking services (SNS), fueling 'Chinese product phobia.'
Most small restaurants rely on Chinese vegetables, chili powder, and spices. In the case of kimchi, half of the annual sales volume (about 300,000 tons) is imported from China. More than 80% of restaurants serve Chinese kimchi. Even if they make kimchi themselves, when adding restaurants that import chili powder and salted napa cabbage from China, more than 90% of kimchi served is made with Chinese ingredients.
Chinese food specialty restaurants such as Malatang, lamb skewers, and hot pot have taken a direct hit. Many owners or employees are Chinese or ethnic Koreans from China, and most ingredients are imported from China, creating anxiety about the possibility of infection. Park Jin-sung (pseudonym), who runs a Chinese restaurant in Daerim-dong, said, "Since we also sell Chinese ingredients, customer visits have completely stopped," adding, "Reservations are being canceled, and I don't know what to do." Therefore, many people purchase domestic ingredients at large supermarkets, and more people are carefully checking whether convenience foods contain Chinese raw materials.
Hand sanitizers and masks mainly made with Chinese raw materials are also gaining popularity in European products. Rumors that most domestic hand sanitizer companies import raw materials from China have spread through SNS, boosting the popularity of German products. According to the overseas direct purchase platform Malltail, from January 20, when the first confirmed case of Wuhan pneumonia occurred in Korea, to February 6, the number of personal hygiene product purchases increased by 1236% compared to the same period last year.
After the Lunar New Year holiday, as the novel coronavirus spread, the increase rate from January 28 to February 6 reached 1793%. By individual product, hand sanitizer purchases surged 6243% compared to the previous year, and hand sanitizers and masks increased by 296% and 147%, respectively. Gel-type hand sanitizers containing ethyl alcohol registered as quasi-drugs have also been officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. They can conveniently remove bacteria without water and soap.
Health functional foods known to help strengthen immunity are also popular in European products. Overseas direct purchase sales of health foods on Gmarket and Auction grew about 45% in January compared to the previous year, with European product sales increasing more than fourfold (330%).
Seo Yong-gu, dean of the Graduate School of Business at Sookmyung Women's University, said, "A xenophobia phenomenon, which is hatred toward Chinese people rather than Chinese products, is occurring," adding, "The increase in hatred toward Asians including Chinese in Europe and elsewhere seems to be in a similar context."
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