A video exhibiting a gaggle of Chinese language vacationers marching in military-style uniforms alongside Seoul’s Han River Park has prompted robust backlash in Korea, with critics accusing the contributors of crossing a line.
The footage, first uploaded to Chinese language social media on Tuesday and later shared extensively on-line in Korea, reveals dozens of women and men in matching uniforms and caps marching in formation, their arms swinging in sync. On the entrance, a participant carries a pink flag, giving the scene the look of a navy parade.
Chinese language vacationers march in military-style uniforms throughout the Worldwide Strolling Change occasion at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul on Oct. 31. Captured from on-line neighborhood
The occasion was a part of the Worldwide Strolling Change organized by the Korea-China Cultural Change Group and the China Well being Strolling Sports activities Affiliation. It reportedly occurred on Oct. 31 at Yeouido Hangang Park with about 100 contributors, lots of them Chinese language vacationers.
The organizers instructed native media that the controversial outfits have been “not navy uniforms however membership apparel.” A consultant from the Korea-China Cultural Change Group stated, “It was merely a strolling occasion for Chinese language guests who get pleasure from health actions. The clothes was a coordinated outfit for the group, not navy put on.”
Chinese language vacationers march in military-style uniforms throughout the Worldwide Strolling Change occasion at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul on Oct. 31. Captured from on-line neighborhood
Nevertheless, individuals on-line in Korea weren’t satisfied. Many identified that the contributors’ apparel — together with the matching olive-green jackets, pants and caps — carefully resembled navy uniforms. “Even when it’s not the official uniform of the Folks’s Liberation Military, sporting such clothes overseas feels inappropriate,” one commenter wrote. One other added, “China invaded Korea throughout the Korean Warfare. Carrying military-style clothes on our soil is crossing the road.”
Others in contrast the state of affairs to how China would possibly react if Koreans staged the same occasion in Beijing. “If a gaggle of Koreans marched via Tiananmen Sq. in uniform carrying the Korean flag, Chinese language authorities would by no means enable it,” one consumer wrote.
This isn’t the primary time the actions of Chinese language vacationers have sparked controversy in Korea. In July, a Chinese language customer planted a nationwide flag on a seashore in Udo, Jeju Island, sparking anger on-line. In September, a gaggle wearing qipao (conventional Chinese language costume) carried out a public dance close to Jeju’s Seongsan Ilchulbong, drawing criticism for cultural insensitivity. And final month, organizers of the Yeoju Okgok Naru Pageant in Gyeonggi Province apologized after a Chinese language efficiency group used footage of a navy parade as a stage backdrop.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.
