Stop Chinese netizens’ racist cyber-terror attacks regarding Korean culture!
Hanbok! Not all Beautiful are from China!
Gat! Not all Cool are from China!
Kimchi! Not all Reds are from China!
Stop Chinese netizens’ racist cyber-terror attacks regarding Korean culture!
VANK has recently been the target of the Chinese state-run media, the Global Times. On February 18th, the Chinese state media Global Times published an online article titled “Where did the Korean VANK come from? which is trying to confront China.” The Global Times reported that it was VANK that provoked the case in connection with the debate on the origin of kimchi, which took place at the end of last year. It also reported that VANK is still holding a signing campaign protesting “China is stealing Korean culture” on the world’s largest petition site. They said that in the past, VANK’s petition activities were related to Japan, regarding Dokdo and East Sea, but recently, that VANK is targeting China.
The Global Times has pointed out that VANK as the main culprit causing conflict in Korea-China relations, and expressed VANK as an obstacle to cultural exchange between Korea and China. However, VANK cannot be silent for fear of conflict over China’s denial of Korea’s history and culture as a whole, with malicious disregard and ridicule of Korea. If we let only one-sided view of China be known because of fear of conflict with China, after 100 years from now, the Korean cultures including Kimchi, Ssam, Gat, Hanbok will be known as Chinese culture, and Kim Yuna, Sohn Heungmin and Yun Dongju will be remebered as ethic Koreans of China. Our cultural identity will not be able to be connected with the community.
VANK’s claim is not just about Koreans’ nationalistic sentiment. We are claiming the right of a nation, guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to freely enjoy and express its culture according to its identity.
VANK is not trying to take away Chinese culture. We are not denying that we have been influenced by and influencing the countries and cultures around us. We want to shape our culture and freely enjoy and express that culture as an expression of identity, and in the process, we are protesting the malicious ridicule, demeaning, and neglect of some Chinese people. It is China that should be blamed for cultural hegemony.
VANK created a digital poster summarizing the racist cyber terrorism of Korean culture by Chinese netizens in English and Korean, and announced it to theworld through social media to raise awareness and form solidarity about the cultural rights protected by Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The poster states: “Hanbok! Not all Beautiful are from China! Gat! Not all Cool are from China! Kimchi! Not all Reds are from China! Stop Chinese netizens’ racist cyber-terror attacks regarding Korean culture!” demanding China to stop acts of violating other peoples’ right to express and enjoy their own cultures.
VANK will keep trying to tell the global community of China’s cultural hegemony, and make peace in East Asia.