"Shame Belongs to the People" Overseas Also Surprised by the 'Short Cut Feminist' Controversy

'Short Cut Feminism', 'MBC Opening Ceremony' Controversy Focused in Major Foreign Media
"Most Racist Country I've Seen So Far" Overseas Netizens' Backlash Grows
Experts: "Korean Society Has Been Insensitive to Gender and Racial Conflicts Until Recently"

Ansan is holding up her medal after securing the gold by defeating Yelena Osipova of the Russian Olympic Committee in the women's individual archery final at the Tokyo Olympics, held at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Japan on the 30th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "Hate campaigns are erupting over just a hairstyle," "Feminism has become a dirty word in Korea."

These are the reactions of major foreign media outlets to the so-called 'Short Cut Feminist' controversy surrounding the hairstyle of archery national team member An San. The New York Times (NYT) in the United States, the BBC in the United Kingdom, and others have defined this incident as 'online abuse' and focused on the state of women's rights in Korea.

As social issues such as women's rights and racial discrimination, which have recently sparked controversy domestically, are being detailed to other countries through foreign media, calls for self-reflection are growing louder. It is pointed out that Korean society has been relatively indifferent to human rights issues and that such problems are adversely affecting the nation's prestige.

On the 29th of last month (local time), Kelly Cho, a guest reporter for the NYT Seoul bureau, tweeted, "An San is being criticized by male netizens because of her short hairstyle," and pointed out, "The fact that hairstyles are still a subject of controversy in certain groups shows that anti-feminist movements are occurring."

Laura Bicker, BBC Seoul correspondent, pointed out regarding the so-called 'shortcut femi' controversy, "Feminism has become a dirty word in Korea." / Photo by Twitter capture

On the same day, the BBC also reported that "Korea's An San is experiencing 'online abuse'." Laura Bicker, the BBC Seoul correspondent, tweeted, "Korea, struggling with gender equality issues, must confront this problem head-on to solve its low birthrate issue," and evaluated, "Feminism has become a dirty word in Korea."

An won three gold medals, including the mixed team event at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as the women's team and individual archery events. However, the situation rapidly changed as suspicions arose that "An San might be a feminist."

Some netizens claimed that An San was "suspected of being a feminist" based on her short haircut and certain internet slang terms she mentioned in the past on social media, such as "Ojoouk" and "Ung-eung-ung." They left malicious comments on An's social media accounts or demanded that she "clarify the suspicion of misandry (hatred of men)."

The American media outlet 'The New York Times' (NYT) reported that "An San, who won her third gold medal, was criticized because of her hairstyle." / Photo by NYT website capture

This is not the first time foreign media have actively focused on social issues that have become contentious domestically. Previously, when MBC posted photos and descriptions that seemed to disparage certain countries during the Olympic opening ceremony broadcast on the 23rd of last month, major foreign media such as the BBC, NYT, CNN, and The Guardian simultaneously covered the story.

The problem lies in the fact that as controversies arise over sensitive international issues such as gender and race, Korea's national image is also damaged.

At the time of the MBC opening ceremony controversy, Russian-born broadcaster Ilya Belyakov sharply criticized, saying, "Why didn't they include a Sewol ferry photo when Korean athletes entered?"

Criticism from overseas netizens also poured in on online platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. A netizen from Malaysia captured the MBC broadcast screen and posted it, questioning, "What does sports have to do with GDP and vaccination rates to show such subtitles?" Another netizen harshly criticized, "Korea was the most racially discriminatory country I have ever seen."

Given this situation, calls for self-reflection are growing domestically. It is pointed out that Korean society has been overly insensitive to global issues such as gender and race.

Park Sung-je, President of MBC, is offering a public apology for the graphic and subtitle errors that occurred during the opening ceremony and men's soccer broadcast at a press conference held on the afternoon of the 26th of last month at MBC in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

A person in their 20s, A, who encountered this controversy through the news, said, "It's frustrating that the whole country has to be criticized because a few Koreans caused trouble. The shame belongs to the people," and emphasized, "Interest in our country has greatly increased worldwide, so I think we need to have the dignity that matches that interest."

Office worker B (31) said, "The fact that foreign newspapers are interested in what is happening in Korea means that Korea's status has risen," and added, "Now that we are treated as a respectable advanced country, we should also show a cautious attitude regarding human rights and racial discrimination issues."

Experts pointed out that Korean society has been insensitive to global issues and advised that improvements are needed through self-purification efforts.

Cultural critic Jung Deokhyun said, "The controversies involving An San and the MBC opening ceremony were highlighted overseas because they violated the Olympic founding values of gender and racial equality and peace," but also noted, "Domestically, there has been relative insensitivity to these issues, which provided grounds for criticism."

However, he added, "As foreign media and netizens scrutinize Korean society more closely in the future, issues related to gender and race in Korea will increasingly become topics of discussion," and predicted, "As such public discourse forms and expands, it will help society resolve problems and ease conflicts through self-purification."