A Korean wearing clothes with the Taegeuk mark was eating in the Olympic Village of the Tokyo Olympics and posted on their social media (SNS) in Japanese, saying "The late-night snack is delicious," which has become a hot topic on a Japanese online community.
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Recently, a Korean wearing clothing adorned with the Taegeuk mark was seen dining in the Tokyo Olympic Village and posted in Japanese that "the late-night snack is delicious," sparking a buzz in Japan.
On the 28th, a post titled "A Korean athlete ate in the Olympic Village and said it was delicious" appeared on a Japanese online community, along with a photo of a Korean individual’s social media post.
The photo shows a man wearing clothes with the Taegeuk mark and a badge symbolizing the Republic of Korea around his neck, eating hamburger steak, pizza, and spaghetti in the Japanese Olympic Village.
In his post, the man wrote, "Yashoku hontoni oishii desu (The late-night snack is really delicious)."
This sparked debate among Japanese netizens. The controversy arose because a Korean official, who separately provided lunch boxes made from Korean ingredients to the Korean team rather than the food offered in the Tokyo Olympic Village, chose to eat in the Japanese Olympic Village.
Most netizens responded with comments such as, "The athlete is not at fault. Eat well to gain strength," "Hope they are not criticized in Korea," "Don’t get scolded for saying the Japanese Olympic Village food is delicious when you return to Korea," "I like the honesty," and "Eat a lot of delicious food and come back victorious."
Another netizen said, "Depending on the event, athletes may need over 5,000 calories a day, so even if the menu changes daily, it’s unlikely they can eat more than five similar lunch boxes," adding, "We’re paying. Don’t hesitate, eat as much as you want."
However, some netizens criticized, saying, "Why are you eating the meals provided in the Olympic Village?" and "Don’t you feel sorry for your fellow countrymen? What excuse will you make when you return? Will you demand an apology and compensation, claiming you were forced to eat by the Japanese?"
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee inspected the situation at the local meal support center assisting the Korean delegation participating in the Tokyo Olympics in Japan on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee dispatched chefs and nutritionists locally for the Korean team participating in the Tokyo Olympics. They also rented an entire hotel near the Tokyo Olympic Village to set up a meal support center.
Lunch boxes made from domestically sourced ingredients brought from Korea have been supplied to the team throughout the event.
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