"Won't Use 'Myeolgong' Anymore," Vice Chairman Jeong Yong-jin Posts 'Shinsegae Boycott' Image This Time

Sharing Article on North Korean Projectile Launch Using '○○' Instead of 'Myeolgong'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Chung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae Group, posted images related to the boycott movement against himself and Shinsegae Group affiliates that have been circulating online on his Instagram. This came just half a day after he declared, "I will no longer make statements related to 'Myeolgong'."

On the morning of the 11th, Vice Chairman Chung uploaded an image containing the phrase "Boycott Chung Yong-jin, do not go, do not buy" on his Instagram, adding, "Please refer to this for your work." This image mimics the 'No Japan' poster from the 2019 boycott of Japanese products and has been shared mainly by netizens advocating a boycott of Shinsegae following the controversy over Vice Chairman Chung's 'Myeolgong' remarks.

Vice Chairman Chung also posted a screenshot of an article reporting that North Korea launched a projectile presumed to be a ballistic missile into the East Sea, captioning it with '○○'. It appears he used '○○' instead of directly writing the word 'Myeolgong.'

Earlier, on the 6th, Vice Chairman Chung posted an article featuring a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping on his Instagram, along with hashtags such as 'Myeolgong,' 'Bangongbangcheop,' and 'Seunggongtongil.' After the controversy escalated, he deleted the post and uploaded a photo of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, explaining that his 'Myeolgong' was aimed not at China but at "those living above us" (North Korea).

However, the controversy spread to the political sphere when Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, visited Emart on the 8th and shared a photo purchasing anchovies and beans, which evoke the term 'Myeolgong.' Subsequently, on the 10th, Shinsegae’s stock price fell by 6.80% in a single day in the stock market, and numerous posts advocating a boycott of Shinsegae Group affiliates such as Starbucks and Emart have appeared online.

As the controversy continued, Vice Chairman Chung reportedly told those around him late the previous afternoon that he would no longer make statements related to 'Myeolgong.' On the same day, he posted on Instagram, "If the sense to calculate that my everyday language can be used politically, and the quick wit to know where to tie my shoelaces are the traits of a businessman... I will cultivate them," leading to interpretations that Vice Chairman Chung is taking steps to manage the situation related to this controversy.

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