Chinese Netizens Demand 'Chinese New Year'... But Chinese Authorities Use 'Lunar New Year' Label

Seokyeongdeok "Only China's Image Is Falling"

While Chinese netizens claim that the English expression for Seollal is 'Chinese New Year,' it has been revealed that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and state-run media actually use 'Lunar New Year'.

On the 26th, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University stated on his Facebook, "The English expression for 'Lunar New Year' became a major issue both domestically and internationally throughout the Seollal holiday period," adding, "Koreans living in China reported that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the state-run news agency Xinhua News Agency also use the term 'Lunar New Year' in English."

[Image source=Seokyungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University, Facebook]

In January of last year, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs used the English term 'Lunar New Year' in the title of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's 'New Year Greeting.' Additionally, the Chinese state-run media Xinhua News Agency referred to Seollal as 'Lunar New Year' on its official Instagram account.

Professor Seo criticized, "Even the Chinese authorities use 'Lunar New Year' as the English expression for Seollal, but the irrational actions of ignorant Chinese netizens are only damaging China's image further."

He continued, "The distorted Sinocentrism and cultural hegemonism of Chinese netizens, who present Seollal?a common cultural event across Asia?as exclusively Chinese culture to the world, must be corrected. We will continue to carry out a global campaign to change the wrongly used term 'Chinese New Year' to 'Lunar New Year' around the world during next year's Seollal holiday as well."

China's 'Malicious Comment Terror' Causes British Museum to Retreat

Professor Seokyung Deok, Sungshin Women's University. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Recently, Chinese netizens have been making unfounded claims that the Lunar New Year is 'Chinese New Year.' Earlier, on the 20th, ahead of Seollal, the British Museum held an event titled 'Celebrating Seollal 설맞이,' featuring traditional Korean performances, and used the phrase 'Korean Lunar New Year' in its promotional materials. After Chinese netizens launched a malicious comment attack, the British Museum deleted the post and on the 22nd posted a picture of a Qing Dynasty Chinese woman with the hashtag 'Chinese New Year.'

Professor Seo pointed out, "The British Museum surrendered to the indiscriminate attacks of Chinese netizens. Honestly, it is an embarrassing action."

Meanwhile, Seollal is not a holiday exclusive to China but is celebrated in various Asian countries such as Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. However, Chinese netizens are currently posting indiscriminate malicious comments against overseas companies that use the term 'Lunar New Year.'