[Report] "Ongoing Hate, Really Exhausting" Rising Anti-China Sentiment... Difficulties Faced by Chinese-Koreans

Recent Conflicts Over Traditional Culture Fuel Online 'Anti-China Sentiment'
Some Netizens Direct Criticism at Chinese Koreans
"It Hurts to See Lines Drawn Saying 'You're Different from Us'"
"Prejudice and Insults Are Not New," Chinese Koreans Express Frustration

A view of Daerim Central Market in Daerim-dong, Seoul on the 1st. / Photo by Juhyung Lim @skepped

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Recently, as conflicts with China have deepened over the origins of domestic traditional culture?such as the so-called 'Kimchi Gongjeong' controversy and the cancellation of the drama 'Joseon Exorcist'?signs of renewed 'anti-China sentiment' have begun to emerge, especially in online spaces. If this anti-China sentiment intensifies, it could also negatively affect the Korean-Chinese residents in Korea, known as 'Jungguk Dongpo.' Concerns have been raised that the already worsened perception of Jungguk Dongpo, due to controversies like the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and the spread of COVID-19, may deteriorate further.

Currently, anti-China sentiment is mainly detected in online spaces. It initially arose as a backlash against some Chinese individuals' claims that Korea's traditional culture originated from China, but it has evolved into a broader resentment toward anything related to China.

One example is the 'Kimchi Gongjeong' controversy that erupted last year when some Chinese media introduced kimchi as a traditional Chinese food. 'Kimchi Gongjeong' is a neologism combining 'Dongbuk Gongjeong'?a claim by some Chinese scholars that all Northeast Asian cultures originated from China?and kimchi.

Recently, the SBS historical drama 'Joseon Exorcist' was canceled after netizens protested, claiming it had a strong 'Chinese influence.' Netizens criticized the drama for featuring Chinese traditional costumes and food in a Joseon Dynasty setting, arguing that it effectively provided grounds for China's 'cultural Dongbuk Gongjeong.' Some netizens even questioned the drama's screenwriter, Park Gyeok-ok, suggesting she might be of Joseonjok descent.

Chinese YouTuber 'Li Ziqi,' who sparked controversy by posting a video of making Baechu Kimchi with the hashtag 'Chinese food' attached / Photo by Li Ziqi, YouTube video capture

As the controversy grew, the production company issued an official statement on the 24th of last month, describing the drama as a "fantasy fusion historical drama" borrowing characters and settings from history, but also apologized for "overlooking the possibility of causing significant confusion during a sensitive time."

The problem is that this anti-China sentiment is not directed solely at China. It also spills over as hatred toward Jungguk Dongpo residing in Korea. Posts on online communities and social networking services (SNS) sometimes express hostility not only toward China but also toward Jungguk Dongpo.

One netizen wrote on SNS, in the context of "China is stealing Korean culture," that "Chinese people claim that our culture and independence activists are descendants of the Joseonjok," and warned, "If this continues, we too will be colonized by China like Tibet or Hong Kong."

Another netizen, urging the cancellation of the drama 'Joseon Exorcist,' pointed out, "Although Joseonjok hold Korean nationality, strictly speaking, their birthplace is Yanbian. While the birthplace itself is not an issue, making a drama that contracts with Chinese production companies and provides grounds for Dongbuk Gongjeong cannot be tolerated."

Chinatown street near Daerim Station, Seoul. / Photo by Juhyung Lim @skepped

Given this situation, concerns have arisen that the repercussions of anti-China sentiment may also affect Jungguk Dongpo in Korea. On the 1st, merchants around Daerim-dong Chinatown and Daerim Central Market in Seoul, where many Jungguk Dongpo reside, shared that they have been deeply hurt by hateful remarks directed at them.

A person identified as A, working at an immigration-specialized administrative and travel agency in Daerim-dong, said, "Everyone is trying their best to live in this country, but when I see people drawing lines saying 'We are different from you,' it makes me feel hurt. Especially since COVID-19, we have felt a lot of these prejudiced views, and although the Dongpo cannot speak out, the wounds are deep."

Some have expressed resignation to the ongoing hateful views. B, a butcher in his 50s, said, "Hearing prejudice and insults toward Dongpo is nothing new, so now I just accept it. Everyone has given up. But I just can't understand why we are treated so coldly and differently."

Entrance of Daerim Central Market. / Photo by Juhyung Lim @skepped

C, a restaurant owner selling Chinese duck dishes, waved off comments about Joseonjok, saying, "I'm tired of hearing things about Joseonjok. No matter how much we complain, nothing changes."

This is not the first time anti-China sentiment has spilled over into hatred against Jungguk Dongpo. Previously, in 2017, when the U.S. missile defense system 'THAAD' was deployed in Korea, sparking Korea-China tensions, some online communities posted hostile messages targeting Jungguk Dongpo.

Also, early last year, when reports emerged that the COVID-19 virus was first detected at the so-called 'Wet Market' in Wuhan, China, prejudiced reactions arose toward markets mainly operated by Jungguk Dongpo.

When the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was deployed in South Korea, some netizens expressed hateful sentiments toward Chinese-Koreans amid the deepening South Korea-China conflict in 2017. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the results of a survey by 'Social Metrics Trend,' a big data analysis site operated by 'Daumsoft,' keywords such as 'China,' 'Chinese,' and 'anti-Chinese sentiment' ranked high in online spaces in February last year, when COVID-19 cases began to appear in Korea.

The government has called for strengthening civil society through solidarity rather than discrimination.

Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, explained in a special statement released last year, "Hatred stems from negative notions and prejudices that stigmatize certain groups as pathological and inferior beings, and if left unchecked, it fosters discrimination. Hate speech that blames specific groups for fear and anxiety deepens social conflicts and can justify discrimination or incite hatred against the targeted groups."

She emphasized, "Refraining from hate speech against Chinese and Jungguk Dongpo shows that our society is ready to respond to the issue of hatred beyond silence. We must overcome difficult times together with humanity and solidarity, not discrimination and exclusion against specific groups."