Professor Seokyeongdeok on Blackpink Panda Controversy: "Chinese Basketball Star Yao Ming Also Touched It"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Korean public relations expert Professor Seokyung Deok criticized Chinese netizens regarding BLACKPINK's 'bare-handed panda touching controversy,' pointing out that "China's basketball star Yao Ming also touched pandas."

On the 9th, Professor Seokyung Deok opened his statement on his Instagram, saying, "Recently, excessive patriotism movements have emerged in China, causing a big controversy. Following BTS, now BLACKPINK is also being subjected to a witch hunt."

Professor Seokyung Deok said, "BLACKPINK has recently been uploading YouTube web variety show videos sequentially, and scenes of the members visiting Everland and touching pandas with bare hands were revealed, drawing heavy criticism from Chinese netizens. However, it is said that many famous actors, singers, and politicians have also held baby pandas with bare hands to take commemorative photos or videos."

Chinese Xinlang News posted an article titled "Chinese Netizens Outraged... Causing Harm to China's National Treasure" along with the hashtag '#KoreanCelebrityPandaContactViolation'. Photo by Weibo capture

He continued by sharing a photo of a man holding a panda, stating, "As seen in the photo, China's basketball star Yao Ming attended a panda release event at a panda research center in 2012 with his wife, holding a young baby panda with bare hands and taking commemorative photos."

He then commented, "It seems China is afraid of Korean culture (Hallyu) spreading worldwide."

He added, "I sincerely hope Chinese netizens will first learn to adopt an attitude of understanding and respect toward other countries' cultures."

Chinese netizens criticized a BLACKPINK member for touching a baby panda, a national treasure of China, with bare hands while wearing makeup. Photo by BLACKPINK Official YouTube Capture.

Earlier, BLACKPINK's side released a preview video of the reality program '24/365 with BLACKPINK' on their official YouTube channel. The video showed BLACKPINK visiting Everland and touching pandas.

After the video was released, Chinese media and netizens strongly protested, saying, "They handled the 'national treasure' panda, designated as a first-class protected animal in China, carelessly."

On China's Weibo, the hashtag '#Korean celebrity touched panda in the wrong way#' gained over 700 million views, escalating the controversy.

In response to the controversy, YG Entertainment explained on the 7th, "The filming was conducted under thorough quarantine management and hygiene rules with the participation of professional veterinarians and caretakers," but also stated, "Out of respect for international cooperative relations, we will withhold uploading the video."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.