Chinese Netizens Claim "Watch out" Meant "Be Careful"... Absurd Excuse
Korea Badminton Association Officially Protests to Badminton World Federation (BWF)
Chinese badminton player Chen Qingchen and Korean volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung (from left). /Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Chinese badminton player Chen Qingchen swore by saying "Wochao" during a match against Korean players, prompting the Korea Badminton Association to take action. In response, Chinese media began to pick on Korean player Kim Yeon-koung's nickname "Sikppang."
According to Chinese portal Baidu on the 6th, on the 4th, multiple Chinese media outlets reported articles mentioning that Kim Yeon-koung uttered a curse word "XX" during the 2016 Rio Olympics volleyball match, stating that "Korea cannot be free from the issue of swearing."
Previously, during the women's volleyball Group A match between Korea and Japan at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Kim Yeon-koung was caught muttering "XX" to herself, and this was captured by the broadcast camera.
Chinese media captured and posted the scene, arguing that if Korea raises the issue of "swearing controversy," it should first clarify its stance on Kim Yeon-koung's remarks at that time.
They also pointed out that Kim Yeon-koung is called "Sikppang Unni" (Bread Sister) on Korean broadcasts such as MBC's variety shows "I Live Alone" and "Radio Star," and that she runs a YouTube channel named "Sikppang Unni" with over 940,000 subscribers.
They countered by saying, "'XX' uttered by Kim Yeon-koung at that time is a more serious curse than 'Wochao,'" and "If Korea raises the issue of swearing controversy, it should first clarify its stance on Kim Yeon-koung's remarks at that time."
'Sikppang' is a nickname given by fans after seeing Kim Yeon-koung curse herself when the game did not go her way during matches, using a word that sounds similar to the curse.
Chinese badminton national team player Chen Qingchen, who was involved in a profanity controversy during a match against the South Korean national team. / Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month, during the third group stage match of the women's doubles badminton at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Chinese player Chen Qingchen repeatedly shouted "Chao" and "Wochao" during the match against Korean players.
This phrase corresponds to the English 'Fxxx,' and since the match was held without spectators due to COVID-19, Chen Qingchen's voice was transmitted more clearly to viewers, drawing criticism from badminton fans in Chinese-speaking regions such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In response, the Korea Badminton Association announced on the 3rd that it would officially protest Chen Qingchen's rude behavior to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
As the controversy arose, Chen Qingchen explained on her Weibo, "I did not think my bad pronunciation would cause everyone's misunderstanding," claiming it was a 'pronunciation issue.' Some Chinese fans absurdly argued that the words Chen Qingchen shouted meant "Watch out" in English and were rather considerate.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
