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Thread: Why a speech by RM of BTS has cause controversy in China
Before I begin: This thread is meant to inform those who are wondering about the issue. Please consider different sides of the story before coming to a conclusion, especially because you may have a different understanding of Korean-Chinese history than others. I am not trying to
spread any agenda with this thread, I simply want to help people understand what is going on. Please remember to be respectful and never insulting to any person or even country and please try not to generalize.
What happened: BTS received the James A Van Fleet Award, an award for people furthering Korean-American relations
Part of what BTS’ RM said is deemed offensive by many in China
Because of this BTS have reportedly been taken down from the Chinese websites of Samsung and Fila
Part of what BTS’ RM said is deemed offensive by many in China
Because of this BTS have reportedly been taken down from the Chinese websites of Samsung and Fila
He said: “The Korean Society’s 2020 annual gala is especially meaningful as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean war. We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together and the sacrifices of countless men and women.”
Historical context (short summary): The Korean War was carried out between North and South Korea in 1950 until 1953. During that time the USA supported South Korea, while China supported North Korea. (There were more countries involved but that’s not relevant to this thread)
Why did RM say it: This award celenbrates Korean-American relations. The Korean War is a notable instance of the USA & South Korea working together
On its anniversary he wants to remember those (Korean &American) who made it possible for SK to become the country it is (democracy)
On its anniversary he wants to remember those (Korean &American) who made it possible for SK to become the country it is (democracy)
Why this can be offensive: There are many parts playing into this and I can’t explain everything here. However please note that Korean-Chinese relations are often tense, especially due to their history. This is why even seemingly small situations can become a big issue.
Feel free to research more on that topic.
On one hand, Americans helped South Korea be a democratic country. On the other hand there have been many instances of American soldiers being cruel to “enemies” (including civilians).
So while South Koreans may see the US’ role in the war as a supporter of democracy, people on the other side regard them as criminals who have caused a lot of pain.
War is always cruel and often blurs the lines between what is good and what is evil. It can be assumed that RM did not mean to cause any harm with his words.
Here are some articles on the manner:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-54513408
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/... href=" https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/13/bts-faces-china-backlash-over-korean-war-comments
https://www.theguardian.com/music/202... href=" http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.amp.asp?newsIdx=297508">https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/art...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-54513408
Whether or not this controversy will affect their success in China is not yet clear, though there have been voices calling for a boycott of BTS in China, which is a big market for bts.
Please remember that none of what was stated in the thread was meant to represent my opinion on the matter, if there is any misinformation I will do my best to correct it. Again, please remain open and respectful, including respecting cultural differences.
