"Forced Resignation for Smoking Only by Chinese Employees"...Controversy Over Discriminatory No-Smoking Directive at Korean Company in China

Whistleblower: "It must have been announced through a Korean manager... If not, the Chinese manager likely included 'excluding Koreans' to appear favorable"

A no-smoking notice at a Korean automotive parts company in China states "Koreans excluded" (inside the red circle below). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A controversy over discrimination has arisen regarding a no-smoking order issued to Chinese employees at a Korean-owned auto parts factory located in China.

According to Chinese media outlet Guancha.com on the 24th, the factory of Company A, located in a major city in a Chinese province, announced that starting from 1 PM on the 22nd, all personnel except Koreans were prohibited from smoking anywhere in the factory for 24 hours, and violators would face dismissal.

Guancha.com cited an employee of the company, stating that Company A is fully funded by Koreans and that all executives are Korean.

Afterward, when employees demanded an apology from management, the notice was revised to remove the phrase "except Koreans," Guancha.com added.

A factory employee who reported this to the Chinese media speculated that although it is unclear whether the discriminatory no-smoking notice was issued by a Korean, the notice must have gone through a Korean manager in some way. Otherwise, a Chinese manager might have included the phrase "except Koreans" to appear favorable to the Korean executives.

Amid this incident, Chinese netizens flooded the internet with criticism, questioning whether Koreans are superior to Chinese in China and urging people to "stand up, do not kneel."

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