ED Attack on BTS in China
Overreaction to innocuous remark is incomprehensible
K-pop group BTS is facing a backlash in China over a comment one member made about the 1950-53 Korean War. In his speech during a recent ceremony in which BTS received an award that recognizes advancements in Korean-American relations, the band's leader RM said in reference to the war: “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of countless men and women.”
The comments sparked a heated debate on social media in China. Chinese internet users denounced RM for not recognizing the sacrifices of the Chinese soldiers who fought alongside North Korean troops. “They should not make any money from China,” one internet user said on Weibo, referring to the seven-member BTS. The Global Times, China's nationalistic state tabloid, quoted Chinese internet users as saying, “The band's totally one-sided attitude to the Korean War hurts our feelings and negates history.”
As the controversy went viral, posts featuring Samsung's BTS special edition smartphones and Hyundai Motor's references to BTS disappeared from Chinese e-commerce platforms. These moves appear to be intended to head off possible product boycotts that Chinese consumers may launch amid the backlash.
The Chinese are notorious for attacking international celebrities and brands whenever there are incidents touching on their patriotic sentiment. South Korean companies took a big hit in China after our government allowed the U.S. to deploy a missile defense system here in 2017 to cope with North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.
RM's comments didn't mention China directly. Furthermore, what was related to the Korean War in his speech was very short. The rest was about the importance of Korea-U.S. relations and the need for international solidarity. It's incomprehensible therefore that some Chinese are overreacting to the rapper's innocuous remark.
The BTS backlash has begun to calm down since a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday, “We should learn from history and look toward the future by cherishing peace and advancing our friendship.” This statement is surely what patriotic internet users in China should keep in mind.