Henry Lau apologizes after anti-bullying ambassador appointment irks some Korean fans

Singer Henry Lau poses at Mapo Police Station, Seoul, March 15, after being appointed as the honorary ambassador for the anti-school bullying campaign. Courtesy of Mapo Police Station

By Lee Gyu-lee

Canadian singer Henry Lau has apologized after the news of him becoming the Mapo Police's anti-bullying ambassador stirs controversy among some Koreans, who claim he is an inappropriate choice because he allegedly showed support for China's cultural appropriation of Korea's heritage.

“I'm sorry if I did anything wrong and I apologize for the actions I did wrong and the words I said wrong,” the singer wrote on social media, Saturday. “I just wanted to give joy, emotions and smiles to people through music, performances and TV shows.”

Adding that he missed Korean fans, he said that the controversy is due to his ethnic Chinese background. “What hurts me the most is that people are not uncomfortable with something that I said or did, but it is because of my blood,” he said.

“All I wanted to do is to make people laugh, but if they are uncomfortable with my blood, I don't know what to do.”

Last Thursday, the singer's agency, Monster Entertainment, announced that Lau has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for the anti-school bullying campaign by Mapo Police Station.

Soon after the news, some Koreans criticized Mapo Police's decision online. Over 300 posts expressing disapproval of Lau's appointment have been posted on the police's official website as of Sunday.

“Especially when China has been claiming Korea's culture and history is theirs, why would we give such a public position to a person who showed support to China's cultural appropriation?” one user wrote on the website. “This is not right. You should reconsider. Looking at his apology, he doesn't seem to know what he did wrong.”

On the other hand, some fans showed support for the singer, saying he is the right fit for the anti-bullying campaign, as he is a positive influence on people with his music.

“I think it was an excellent choice to offer him the ambassador position, as he is a celebrity, musician, and friend who can give a positive and kind influence on children,” another user wrote.

Lau, who is born to a Hong Konger father and a Taiwanese mother, debuted as a member of the K-pop boy group, Super Junior M, in 2008 and rose to stardom after starring in the popular TV variety show, “Real Men,” in 2013. Since then, he has starred in various TV shows like, “I Live Alone,” and has been in the K-pop scene as a solo act.

However, his actions in the past couple of years have raised concerns of some Koreans. Last year, he starred in the Chinese survival show, “Street Dance of China Season 4,” which featured a contestant in hanbok who danced to Korean traditional music, “pansori.” In the show though, they went on to say that it was the traditional dance of Joseonjok, ethnic Koreans living in China, which Lau himself did not correct or comment on.

In 2018, he was also criticized here for allegedly expressing support for the “One-China policy” on social media.