"‘Jjokbari car won’t yield’ vehicle sticker… Debate over ‘hate speech’ vs. ‘no problem’"

Photo by Online Community 'BobaeDream' Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Netizens engaged in a heated debate over the sticker phrase attached to the rear of a vehicle.

On the 29th, a photo was posted on the automotive community 'Bobaedream' under the title 'Tough Guy Palisade.' The photo showed a sticker on the rear of a Hyundai sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Palisade, with the phrase "Jjokbari cars do not yield." 'Jjokbari' is a derogatory term used to refer to Japanese people.

Reactions among netizens were sharply divided. Some supported the vehicle owner's actions, while others criticized them as discriminatory and hateful.

Some netizens commented, "We should boycott until Japan apologizes for historical issues," "I want to do that too," and "That's why we shouldn't buy Japanese cars."

On the other hand, other netizens responded negatively, saying, "How would you feel if you thought about it the other way around?", "It's really embarrassing," "I'm afraid that Koreans abroad might face such incidents," "Jjokbari is a hateful expression, and its public use is unacceptable," and "I hope people distinguish between boycott movements and hate."

Meanwhile, the 'No Japan' movement intensified after Japan's export restrictions began in July 2019. As a result, imports of Japanese products such as beer, passenger cars, cosmetics, and clothing sharply declined in South Korea.

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