"Who Holds Sausages Like That?"... The 'Controversial Hand Gesture' That Made BBQ Cry

From GS25 to BBQ... Ongoing Controversy Over 'Namhyum Hand Gestures'
Suspicions of 'Namhyum' Raised Over Advertisement Posters and Menu Illustrations
Controversy Over Notice Saying "I Also Dislike Feminists" at a Convenience Store
"Quick Response Is Important" vs "Isn't This Forced?" Public Opinion Divided

Menu board posted on the BBQ website. Some netizens raised suspicions of misogyny regarding the hand gesture drawn next to the 'Sotteok' menu. / Photo by Internet homepage capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Some netizens have raised 'misandry (hatred of men) suspicions' regarding online advertisements, causing distress in the distribution and food industries. Although companies have responded by deleting the ads and posting apologies, the controversy is not easily settling down. While some argue that sensitive topics require careful consideration in ad production, others counter that the misandry controversy stems from some netizens' overreactions.

On the 6th, suspicions of 'misandry' against the chicken franchise BBQ surfaced mainly on online communities frequented by male netizens.

The controversy began with the menu posted on BBQ’s official website. BBQ sells a skewer dish combining fried rice cakes and sausages called 'Sotteok,' and the menu introducing this Sotteok included an illustration of a hand holding a sausage with the thumb and index finger.

Some netizens raised misandry suspicions, saying things like, "Who holds a sausage with that hand gesture?" and "Isn't this Megal?" According to their explanation, this particular hand gesture, with the thumb and index finger pinched together, carries a meaning that insults a specific male body part.

As the controversy grew, BBQ issued an apology on official social media channels, stating, "We reflect on our failure to prevent any grounds for controversy in advance and sincerely apologize."

They added, "We are currently verifying the circumstances through relevant departments," and emphasized, "We will delete all reported designs on SNS and other platforms and carefully review to prevent similar issues from occurring again."

GS25 also posted an image of a hand gesture with the index finger and thumb pinched together on an advertising poster, which sparked a controversy over alleged misogyny. / Photo by Instagram capture

This is not the first time such 'misandry suspicions' have arisen. Earlier, on the 1st, a similar controversy erupted over an advertisement poster by convenience store brand GS25.

At that time, GS25 posted a camping product promotion poster on its official Instagram. The poster depicted a nighttime camping site background with the phrase 'Let’s go camping' alongside a small sausage and a hand illustration.

Some netizens claimed that the hand gesture pinching the sausage with thumb and index finger symbolized misandry. Calls for a boycott of GS25 were also posted.

Ultimately, GS25 deleted the advertisement poster and issued an apology under its name. In the apology, GS25 stated, "We judged that some design elements might cause discomfort to customers and immediately revised the design," adding, "We take this matter seriously internally and will thoroughly monitor content that could cause controversy in the future."

A GS25 convenience store reportedly placed a sign under the store owner's name that read "I also dislike feminists," which sparked controversy. / Photo by Twitter capture

Controversy also arose when a GS25 convenience store displayed a notice saying, "I also dislike feminists."

The notice, under the store owner’s name, included phrases such as "To the angry young men in their 20s," "I am someone who rejects equality of outcome and pursues equality of opportunity," "I also dislike feminists," and "I will not go camping for the entire year of 2021."

Amid this situation, public reactions were divided. Some argued that, given the ongoing 'gender conflicts' and other controversies, ad production should be handled cautiously, while others questioned whether it makes sense to respond to every overreaction from some netizens.

A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "I think this is the beginning of suppressed male voices erupting," adding, "There may be unfairness in ads created before the misandry controversy, but given the sensitivity of the situation, quick responses are appropriate."

On the other hand, claims were made that the 'misandry controversy' is actually creating unnecessary disputes.

Mr. B, an office worker in the advertising industry, pointed out, "The so-called evidence of misandry is a hand gesture that looks like pinching something with fingers, but such hand gestures are widely used in many posters," adding, "It is impossible to determine whether the illustration was inserted with a specific intent or simply to decorate the poster. I think some complaints are forced."