Why Are Chinese Netizens Doing This?... Cosplay of South Korean Military and Police Uniforms Spreads on Social Media

"Wearing Uniforms and Engaging in Bizarre Acts ... Content Spreading Rapidly"
"Institutional Measures Needed to Prevent the Spread of Such Content"

Cosplay videos featuring South Korean military and police uniforms are rapidly spreading on major Chinese social media platforms, sparking controversy.

Seo Kyungduk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, wrote on Facebook on December 2, "Videos of people wearing South Korean military and police uniforms and engaging in bizarre behavior are continuously spreading across Chinese social media. Such content can mock state authority and lead to misunderstandings."

Video featuring South Korean military and police uniforms spreading on Chinese social media. Seo Kyungduk SNS.

On Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu, videos and photos are being shared of individuals wearing clothing imitating South Korean military or police uniforms, often displaying exaggerated appearances. In particular, these individuals stage playful performances, such as pretending to conduct illegal crackdowns in entertainment venues, using exaggerated expressions and actions. This type of content is being shared without any restrictions.

Professor Seo pointed out that the unauthorized production and distribution of military and police uniforms is subject to legal punishment not only in South Korea but also in China. He further emphasized, "This should not be dismissed as mere entertainment. Mocking symbols of state authority can undermine national credibility and, furthermore, poses the risk of being misused for crimes involving impersonation of uniformed personnel."

China also has legal provisions for punishing the unauthorized use of public security and military uniforms. Professor Seo stated, "There need to be institutional measures for the South Korean military and police to cooperate with Chinese public security authorities to prevent the spread of such content. Mocking symbols of another country's state authority is also contrary to international etiquette," he added.