"Ah, I Really Hate Joseonjok" Resurfacing 'Chinese Korean' Hate Controversy [Han Seung-gon's Incident Notebook]

Recent Hate Speech Saying "Go Back to Your Country" Erupts Over Murder of Chinese Residents
"Aren't They Just Joseonjok, Not Chinese Residents?"
During Past COVID-19 Spread, De Facto 'Random Hate' Also Occurred

Last April, around Daerim Central Market in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeonju Kim, intern reporter yeonju1853@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Is it the Joseonjok again?", "Go back to your country.", "Why call them compatriots when they are not."

Recently, two Chinese compatriots were arrested by the police on suspicion of murdering two Chinese compatriots in Daerim-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, sparking renewed criticism toward the Daerim-dong area and these individuals.

They committed a very brutal crime that shook public safety in Korean society, and especially amid the COVID-19 outbreak phase, there is a prejudice-laden hatred that COVID-19 might spread again anytime and anywhere because of them. Given this situation, the National Human Rights Commission closely monitored and took measures last year, but the reality has not improved significantly.

When COVID-19 spread from Wuhan, China last year, there was also a social controversy as disparaging public opinion toward Chinese compatriots living mainly in Daerim-dong increased. Some even argued that this was so-called 'random hatred,' intensifying the debate surrounding Chinese compatriots.

The harsh gaze toward Chinese compatriots is not a recent phenomenon. Even when the same crime occurs, if it happens in Daerim-dong, adjectives like 'brutal' and 'indiscriminate assault' follow. Moreover, they are held responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, leading to what is essentially 'random hatred.'

Because of this, in February last year, the National Human Rights Commission visited Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, where many Chinese compatriots live, to comfort those suffering from hate speech due to COVID-19 and to listen to voices about hate and discrimination.

At that time, Chairperson Choi Young-ae said, "I came here worried after hearing that before the start of elementary and middle school in the Guro area, some parents and students said things like 'Chinese compatriot students should not come to school' and 'It is uneasy to eat with Chinese compatriot children.'"

She also urged, "Instead of blaming or criticizing individuals, the state, or immigrants for the current difficult situation, we need solidarity that cares for and comforts everyone's safety without distinction, so that the spread of COVID-19 can subside quickly and patients recover."

The market area around Daerim Jungang Market in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, last April. Photo by Yeonju Kim, intern reporter yeonju1853@asiae.co.kr

However, the reality remains cold. Looking at comments on articles related to the recent incident where two Chinese compatriots died, malicious comments such as "Joseonjok are not compatriots" and "Isn't Daerim-dong China, not Korea?" continue.

The hateful view toward Chinese compatriots is not new. In February last year, during the COVID-19 outbreak phase, markets around Daerim-dong were hit hard by hate speech.

At that time, residents complained that they suffered great emotional wounds from the hateful remarks and that sales in the Daerim-dong commercial area dropped significantly due to unfounded rumors that COVID-19 was spreading.

A man in his 50s who runs a business in Daerim-dong expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Korea seems to consider Chinese compatriots the easiest target. They think all Chinese compatriots are gangsters and criminals."

Given this situation, a resident of Daerim-dong even avoids mentioning anything about Chinese compatriots. The intention is to break the vicious cycle of only receiving insults as the situation does not improve.

A man in his 40s who said he lives in Daerim-dong lamented, "I appreciate the words (that support us), but since only bad things keep being heard, I wish people would stop talking about 'words for Chinese compatriots' altogether." He added, "We are all human, but I don't understand why they are so harsh to us."

There is also an opinion that crimes occurring in Daerim-dong are perceived as more brutal than other incidents because of movies portraying Chinese compatriots as criminals. A series of films including 'The Yellow Sea' (2010), 'New World' (2013), 'Chinatown' (2014), 'Midnight Runners' (2017), and 'The Outlaws' (2017) all depicted Chinese compatriots as criminals.

Eventually, after the release of 'Midnight Runners,' Chinese compatriots formed a joint countermeasure committee and held several press conferences, leading to an apology from the film company and some changes.

At that time, the court (Seoul Central District Court, 9-2 Civil Division, presided by Judge Jung Cheol-min) stated that the portrayal of Joseonjok in the film might have caused discomfort and alienation among Chinese compatriots, recommending the film company apologize and promise to prevent recurrence.

Prejudice against Chinese compatriots at the time the films were made can also be confirmed by statistical surveys. The number of crimes committed by Chinese compatriots is not higher than that of other nationalities.

According to the Korea Institute of Criminology, in 2015, the number of Chinese criminals per 100,000 population was 1,858. Considering that the number of Korean criminals was 3,369 by the same standard, it is hard to say the number is high as portrayed in the films. Also, the number of major crimes such as murder and robbery in Daerim-dong decreased by about 25% over three years: 624 cases in the first half of 2015, 521 in 2016, and 471 in 2017.

Overseas Korean-Chinese organizations held a press conference on August 28, 2017, in the afternoon in front of Exit 12 of Daerim Station, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, urging the ban of the film "Midnight Runners," which depicted the Daerim-dong and Korean-Chinese communities in Korea as criminal groups.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite this, the prejudiced views and criticism continue. This is why there is criticism that the hatred toward Chinese compatriots is essentially 'random hatred.' Moreover, combined with the COVID-19 outbreak phase, hatred toward Chinese compatriots exploded.

According to the big data analysis website 'Social Metrics Trend' operated by 'Daumsoft,' in December 2019, before COVID-19 was reported domestically, related words mentioned with 'hate' on portals (Naver), social media, and blogs were mainly 'women' and 'self-hate.'

However, in the last week of January last year (January 26 to February 1), when COVID-19 cases began to appear, 'China' started to appear, and from the third week of February (February 16 to 22), 'Chinese' ranked second and 'Chinese hate' ranked tenth. This was also when indiscriminate criticism of Chinese compatriots surged.

Civilians also reveal their views on such prejudice. Kim, a company employee in his 40s working in Seoul, said, "Terms like Korean Americans or Korean Japanese are used a lot, but the term Chinese compatriots is not used much." He added, "I think it's influenced by movies." He emphasized, "After Chinese compatriots, the term Joseonjok is also used a lot, but it seems to carry a somewhat derogatory meaning."

An official from a Chinese Compatriots Association urged an end to hatred against Chinese compatriots. The official said, "There was a lot of hatred toward Chinese compatriots when COVID-19 spread. I don't understand why people hate others. It's frustrating." He added, "We also work, pay taxes, and live our daily lives the same way, so please stop the baseless hatred."

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