Gyeongju Sends Protective Suits to Japan... Japanese Netizens Say "Support Now? No Need"

Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, Provides COVID-19 Prevention Supplies to Japan
Japanese Netizens Mock with "Do NO JAPAN Instead"
Petition to Dismiss Joo Nak-young Surpasses 60,000 Signatures

The photo shows Nakagawa Ken, the mayor of Nara, Japan, holding a sign that says "Thank you" after receiving quarantine supplies sent by Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Gyeongju City in Gyeongsangbuk-do is facing fierce controversy over its support of quarantine supplies to Japan, which is struggling to cope with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Citizens have posted protest messages on the Gyeongju City Hall website's free bulletin board and submitted petitions calling for the dismissal of Mayor Ju Nak-young, expressing strong criticism. Meanwhile, Japanese netizens have also responded with remarks such as "Korea has ulterior motives," continuing to mock Korea.

On the 21st, Gyeongju City issued a press release stating that it had provided 1,200 sets of protective suits and 1,000 protective goggles each, which had been stockpiled by the city, to its sister city Nara and exchange city Kyoto in Japan via air shipment on the 17th. Additionally, by the end of this month, the city plans to supply 500 sets of protective suits and 500 protective goggles each to Obama City, friendly city Usa City, and Nikko City.

Some Japanese netizens have been identified as continuing to mock through comments on articles posted on portal sites.

One netizen criticized in a comment on a Japanese-language article by JoongAng Ilbo posted on Yahoo Japan on the 22nd, saying, "They will ask to borrow dollars because they are short of them, and if refused, they will make a fuss saying, 'We treated you as friends, but Japan betrayed us, so Japan is the enemy. NO JAPAN,'" adding, "It is clear that this is a ploy to cover up economic failures and secure support."

Comments on the JoongAng Ilbo Japanese edition article titled "Gyeongju City, Korea, delivers protective clothing to Nara City and Kyoto City... 'Helping in truly difficult times is true friendship'" posted on the portal site Yahoo Japan / Photo by Yahoo Japan portal site capture

Another netizen also mocked, saying, "At first glance, it seems like a thankful act, but actually, I think it is a loss," and added, "They will demand something later, right? It would be better to return it cash on delivery."

Other netizens responded with comments such as, "There is no Japanese who truly considers Korea a friend. It's better not to owe anything in such a place," "Since the other party is who they are, accepting it will probably complicate things later, to be honest," and "At this point, when the COVID-19 situation is almost under control and the medical system has recovered, appealing to goodwill with something meaningless is really despicable. Keep up with NO JAPAN."

As this fact became known, citizens posted protest messages on the Gyeongju City Hall website's free bulletin board opposing the support of quarantine supplies. As the controversy spread, Mayor Ju explained in a post on his Facebook on the 22nd, stating, "This support of quarantine supplies is provided under the principle of reciprocity."

Mayor Ju said, "I have suffered tremendous criticism and attacks overnight, and it feels like I have received all the insults I will ever get in my life, such as 'native Japanese collaborator,' 'Jjokbari,' and 'like the United Future Party.' While humbly accepting the criticism asking why we supported at a time when anti-Japanese sentiment is rampant, I ask for the citizens' understanding," and explained, "When Gyeongju suffered great difficulties due to the 2016 earthquake, it received much help from sister and friendly cities overseas, including Japan."

A petition titled "Earnestly Requesting the Dismissal of Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-yeong!" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 22nd. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture

However, despite this explanation, the controversy is expected to intensify as a petition calling for Mayor Ju's dismissal was posted on the Blue House's National Petition Board on the same day.

The petitioner, who identified themselves as a Gyeongju citizen, wrote a post titled "I earnestly petition for the dismissal of Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young," stating, "In this time when the entire nation is receiving disaster relief funds due to the COVID-19 crisis, Ju Nak-young, who unilaterally supported quarantine supplies to Japan, should step down from the position of Gyeongju mayor."

The petitioner said, "Gyeongju, a tourist city visited by 13 million people annually, has been hit hard by the COVID-19 fallout, and the economy has been halved," adding, "In the midst of this, news that Gyeongju supported quarantine supplies to Japan has put Gyeongju in an even greater crisis."

They continued, "Due to Mayor Ju's arrogant and unilateral administration, all Gyeongju citizens are being collectively criticized, and the number of people boycotting Gyeongju is increasing," strongly criticizing, "A worker who should work for the citizens is obsessed with a sense of authority, ruling over the citizens, neglecting communication, and pouring the citizens' hard-earned taxes into a strange place called Japan."

The petitioner further urged, "Mayor Ju Nak-young's shameless, stubborn, and unilateral actions that ignore public sentiment and go against the citizens' feelings should be removed from office," and "Please submit a proposal for the dismissal of the mayor who has put Gyeongju in crisis and faced disaster." As of 10:45 a.m. on the 25th, four days after the petition was posted, it had gained the support of 65,853 people.