Chinese influencer Zhang Yu’an, who is well-known in South Korea due to his content, is stirring controversy for making anti-Korean statements in his TikTok live.
According to Professor Seo Kyoung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University, this incident came to light on May 27 through a video posted by the YouTube channel Break Time on May 24.
In the video, Zhang Yu’an stated, “I will be visiting Korea soon,” and expressed his intention to question Korea’s alleged theft of Chinese culture.
He added, “I will tour the palaces of Korea wearing the emperor’s clothes from the Ming and Song dynasties and show off the beauty of Chinese male attire while riding the subway or walking around busy streets and palaces as if I were on an inspection tour.”
Seo pointed out, “Cases of famous Chinese YouTubers and TikTokers forcibly claiming Korean culture as their own are gradually increasing.” Previously, YouTuber Li Ziqi, who has 17.7 million subscribers, sparked outrage among Koreans by posting a video of herself making kimchi and tagging it #ChineseFood.
Popular YouTuber Shiyin also caused controversy once by posting a video titled “Hanbok was Influenced by Hanfu: Hate Speech WILL NOT Change the History!”
Seo stated, “These incidents occur because Korean culture is receiving worldwide attention, intensifying the Chinese inferiority complex.” He warned, “Their distorted Sinocentrism will only worsen the relations between the two countries, so they should restrain themselves.”
