"Clear Fault of the Organizers"
Previously Targeted by a Boycott Led by the Chinese Government
APA Hotel advertisement confirmed during the broadcast of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) match. Professor Seo Kyungduk
Controversy has arisen over the participation of APA Hotel as an official sponsor of the "2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship" (East Asian Cup), which was recently held in South Korea. APA Hotel advertisements were visible on billboards during the matches. The controversy stems from APA Hotel's history of denying atrocities such as the forced mobilization of comfort women by the Japanese military and the Nanjing Massacre, as well as its practice of placing right-wing books in guest rooms and lobbies.
On July 18, Professor Seo Kyungduk of Sungshin Women's University pointed out on his Facebook page, "Toshio Motoya, the CEO of APA Hotel, personally authored these history-distorting books, and the company has faced significant criticism for selling them on its website." Professor Seo continues his "history awareness" activities, such as producing large Taegeukgi flags to visit Dokdo and working to correct distorted historical narratives.
APA Hotel was also the target of a boycott led directly by the Chinese government several years ago. At that time, some South Korean netizens participated as well. This has led to criticism that it is inappropriate for a company known for historical distortion to sponsor the East Asian Cup, in which East Asian countries participate.
Professor Seo stated, "No matter how much money was provided in sponsorship, the organizers should have thoroughly vetted the company before signing a contract." He added, "The organizer, the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF), should officially apologize to Asian football fans and take precautions to ensure that such incidents do not happen again."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
