Chinese student booked for damaging posters supportive of Hong Kong protests

A Korean student writes a message supportive of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on a poster at Yonsei University, Seoul, Nov. 18. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

By Kim Rahn

A Chinese student at Pusan National University (PNU) has been booked without physical detention for damaging posters on the school's bulletin board put up by a group of Korean students in support of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, police said, Tuesday.

Busan Geumjeong Police Station said the student, 22, is accused of property damage.

The student, whose name was withheld, allegedly tore off three posters placed on the bulletin board of a campus building Nov. 18. The posters, put up five days ago, were about Hong Kong police's “unfair” crackdown on the protesters there.

During police investigation, he admitted to removing the posters and said he did so because he was afraid people might believe Chinese students had put up the posters.

The student apologized to the Korean student group through police mediation, and the group said they would close the issue if he uploads a written apology on the school's online community.

Including the PNU incident, there have been dozens of conflicts between Korean and Chinese students at universities across the country since October. While the former have placed posters supportive of the Hong Kong protests, the latter removed or attempted to remove them by saying Koreans should not meddle in the “internal issues” of China.

While many of the cases of property damage are under investigation, the tension even led to a physical scuffle at Myongji University in Seoul in mid-November. Seodaemun Police Station investigated the incident, and closed the case recently as the students on both sides said they did not want anyone to be punished.

The Chinese Embassy in Korea expressed regret over the tensions in a statement issued Nov. 15. It said it was natural for Chinese students to express their anger to words and actions that damage the country's sovereignty and distort facts, but also urged its people abroad to abide by local laws and rules.

Days later, the Korean foreign affairs ministry also said the government was paying attention to the conflicts and expected people to express their opinion according to Korean laws and rules.