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It can be said that the criticism from Chinese netizens for the feeling of receiving the Ban Fleet Award from BTS is an attack beyond the limits. After receiving the Ban Fleet Award from the US non-profit Korea Society on the 7th, BTS said, “This year, the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, we must remember the history of the difficulties that both of us countries suffered together forever. ” Chinese netizens then poured criticism and comments on social media services (SNS), saying it was a comment that undermined the national dignity of Chinese soldiers during the Korean War. The Van Fleet Award commemorates the former eighth commander of the United States, James Van Fleet, who participated in the Korean War, and is awarded to individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea. In this context, it can be said that the impression of the BTS award is a very fundamental statement. However, the fact that Chinese netizens attacked BTS by reproaching them for some of the content is desperate behavior that cannot be understood by common sense.
Foreign media are also fiercely critical of her. The Financial Times said that BTS has become a victim of growing Chinese patriotism, and the New York Times noted that despite the innocent comments, Chinese netizens are unfairly attacking. As the Chinese government emphasized friendly relations between Korea and China, public opinion on China’s criticism of BTS has waned somewhat, but the aftertaste is bitter. This is because it served as an opportunity to once again confirm China’s national system, which moves in line with the policies of the central government.
This is not the first time that Korean companies and artists have been hurt by China’s narrow patriotism. In 2016, Lotte, who provided the THAAD (High Altitude Missile Defense System) document, was indiscriminately attacked, with Taiwanese Twice member Tzuyu waving the Taiwanese flag on Korean broadcasts and then cutting off advertisements. Recently, singer Lee Hyo-ri put her stage name as ‘Mao’ on an entertainment show, but she suffered a bit of contempt from China’s first president, Mao Zedong. Reuters noted that this incident was a case of showing political landmines in China, the world’s second-largest economy, but it can be said that the blind patriotism of Chinese netizens is the landmine that triggers the ‘China Discount’.
[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
