Archer An San Apologizes for 'Traitor' Remarks Controversy
Aftermath Continues... Company CEO Says "Whose Fight Is This?"
Some Netizens Criticize CEO and Call for Boycott Movement
Archery athlete Ansan, who posted a photo of an electronic signboard in Japanese on social media and called it a 'traitor to the country,' has publicly apologized. However, among some netizens, indiscriminate criticism continues against the owner of the Japanese restaurant who suffered damage, and a boycott movement against the restaurant is emerging, sparking controversy.
On the 21st, on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), a boycott movement against the Japanese restaurant 'Special Night,' which Ansan previously targeted as a traitor, was detected. One netizen wrote about the business, "They chose the name by modifying the Japanese pronunciation into Korean pronunciation," and urged, "Please join the boycott." Other netizens expressed agreement, saying, "I will boycott the traitorous company that made Ansan write an apology," "They have many branches; boycott them all," "I hope no one around me goes there," "These kinds of small business owners should fail," and "Those who saw Ansan's apology, please join the boycott."
They also shared a 'petition urging' poster titled 'Please protect Ansan from terrorism aimed at the national representative athlete.' This poster was originally created by fans in 2021 when some stirred up a 'feminism controversy' because Ansan had a short haircut, and it is being reused amid the current situation. The specific petition requests include ▲ Do not make the athlete apologize ▲ Do not respond at all ▲ Strongly protect the athlete from excessive criticism.
In response, fans have been posting petition-like messages on the Korea Archery Association's website, as stated on the poster, and making phone calls to urge measures to protect the athlete. Since the 'traitor' controversy began on the 17th, more than 1,400 posts have been made on the archery association's bulletin board as of this day.
'Traitor' remark backlash... Ansan apologizes but reports suffering
On the 16th, Ansan posted on her SNS a photo of a Japanese signboard that read 'International Flight Departure' and wrote, "Why are there so many traitors to the country in Korea?" This signboard was an installation decoration at the entrance of a Japanese-themed street in a shopping mall located in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. The next day, Kwon Soon-ho, the owner of 'Special Night,' expressed, "Due to the (traitor) controversy, I have received a considerable number of messages, and in an instant, I became a descendant of pro-Japanese collaborators. The store owners, including myself, have been receiving malicious comments wishing for our deaths as traitors."
The issue quickly escalated. Among netizens, opinions were divided between those saying, "More people are uncomfortable with the signboard written in Japanese," and "I support Ansan," versus those saying, "Are all Japanese restaurant owners traitors?" and "Ansan's expression was excessive and careless." In the political sphere, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, posted, "The owner became a traitor and pro-Japanese collaborator because of one photo. Contact me, and I will help," and a small business owners' group filed a complaint with the police stating, "This insulted all honest small business owners."
On the 20th, Ansan apologized, saying, "I never intended to disparage any specific store or individual, but regardless of the reason, I realize that the damage and emotional hurt caused by my words and actions to everyone are beyond what I could have imagined."
On the same day, Mr. Kwon said, "The athlete must also be going through a very difficult time right now," but appealed, "Who benefits from the rumors and disputes that have arisen?" He pleaded for the controversy to stop, saying, "How could I possibly understand the feelings of a parent who hears someone say to their child, 'I wish you were dead'? After becoming a pro-Japanese brand run by a descendant of collaborators, how did the people close to me feel when they heard that I had made an extreme choice?"
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