"1.4 Billion Chinese People Support South Korea"…Why Are 'Xie Xie Posters' Appearing on University Campuses?

Red 'Daejabo' Posters Put Up on University Campuses
Seem to Satirize Remarks by Representative Lee Jae-myung

Red posters titled "The People's Republic of China's Response Letter, Xiexie Republic of Korea!" were posted across universities in the Seoul metropolitan area. These posters appear to be satirical responses targeting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and his "Xiexie (thank you in Chinese)" remark made on the 22nd of last month. On the 1st, the conservative student organization, the New National University Student Representatives Council (hereafter Shinjeon Daehyeop), announced that they had posted these posters titled "The People's Republic of China's Response Letter, Xiexie Republic of Korea" at university campuses including Lee Jae-myung's alma mater Chung-Ang University, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Sogang University, and Konkuk University.

The posters listed examples such as China's silence over registering Baekdu Mountain as "Changbai Mountain" with UNESCO, opposition to the revision of espionage laws, and neglect of illegal Chinese fishing vessels, containing the statement "The Chinese people support the Republic of Korea." It then sarcastically added, "We hope for the restoration of the Sino-Korean hierarchical relationship" and "We expect respect for the 'One China' principle regarding the Taiwan issue."

On the 1st, the conservative-leaning university student organization, the New National University Student Representatives Council (hereinafter New National Council), announced that they posted large posters titled "The People's Republic of China's Response Letter, Xie Xie Republic of Korea" at university campuses including Chung-Ang University, the alma mater of Representative Lee Jae-myung, as well as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Sogang University, and Konkuk University.
[Photo by New National Council]

Shinjeon Daehyeop, who posted the posters, explained the satire by saying, "Even if the freedom of navigation is infringed upon due to neglecting cross-strait issues, and even if the future of South Korea's semiconductor industry is blocked, China can only express gratitude to the Republic of Korea that just keeps saying 'Xiexie'."

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Lee Jae-myung visited the mayor of Dangjin City, Chungnam Province, and said, "Why do you keep bothering China?" Then, making a gesture of clasping both hands, he said, "Just say 'Xiexie,' say 'Xiexie' to Taiwan too, why keep bothering here and there?" He added, "Why should we intervene in the cross-strait issue between China and Taiwan? Whatever happens in the Taiwan Strait, whatever happens in the domestic affairs of China and Taiwan, what does it have to do with us?" and "Isn't it enough for us to just live well?"

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is running for Incheon Gyeyang-eul, is campaigning in front of Seoun-dong Catholic Church in Gyeyang-gu on the 31st of last month.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Subsequently, Chinese media such as Global Times extensively reported on this remark. In related coverage, Global Times stated, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has been evaluated as having a pro-Western stance, including the United States, since its early days," and warned that "Lee Jae-myung cautioned that Yoon Seok-yeol's inappropriate remarks about China could bring about difficult diplomatic troubles." In response, the People Power Party commented, "It clearly shows a submissive attitude toward China," and added, "We cannot allow anti-national forces, who are pro-North Korean and China-centric, to wield power."

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