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Korean BBQ restaurant 'Ansanpang' located in China [Source='Ansanpang' official account]

A Korean restaurant located in China changed its name due to an unexpected controversy.

Chinese media outlet Sohu.com recently reported on the name change of the Korean BBQ restaurant 'Ansanpang' located in Korea Town, Beijing. 'Ansanpang,' which gained popularity as a Korean restaurant in China, made the decision to change its name to 'Anyeoupang' in June. The company announced, "We will sequentially change the names of all branches by July 30."

They also explained the background of the original name, saying, "Three childhood friends who started the business together combined their surnames to create the name 'Ansanpang'." However, they added, "The meaning of the word could cause misunderstandings. As the brand grew and expanded nationwide, a more serious and responsible attitude was necessary."

Image of the Korean BBQ restaurant 'Ansanpang' located in China. Photo by the official 'Ansanpang' account

The 'misunderstanding stemming from the meaning' they referred to can be found in the word 'Sanpang.' In China, the character 'Pang' is used to mean 'fat.' When 'Pang' is combined with 'San,' which means the number three, it becomes a term meaning 'fat third generation.'

This term is commonly used in China to refer to the fat third generation of the North Korean Kim family, specifically Chairman Kim Jong-un. Ultimately, 'Sanpang' came to be used as a mocking term for Chairman Kim. It appears the restaurant was concerned about the impact this could have on their business.

Meanwhile, 'Ansanpang' started operations in Qingdao in 2020 and enjoyed a boom due to the rising popularity of Korean food in China. The business expanded its presence mainly in large shopping malls in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, and currently operates about 160 branches in over 60 cities across China.