I'm trying to sell some goods to tourists and make a living, but they completely made a mess of it, insulting, cursing, and driving people out… If you drive customers out, isn't that obstructing business? Interference with business.
President Lee Jae-myung said this about the anti-China protests taking place in places such as Myeong-dong in Jung District, Seoul, at a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan on 9th. He said, "We need to increase the number of tourists now, but they are holding rallies that insult tourists from a particular country."
Lee also said, "Is it interference with business only when you drive out someone who has entered (the store)?" and, "How is that freedom of expression? It's a rampage."
ChosunBiz has confirmed that such anti-China-leaning rallies have continued for nine months, and that demonstrators are also marching through central Myeong-dong shouting slogans such as "CHINA OUT." Myeong-dong merchants complained, "Chinese tourists are scared and don't really come."
◇ Marching through Myeong-dong streets, singing songs with lyrics that belittle Chinese people
The first anti-China-leaning rally in Myeong-dong was held on Jan. 31. At the time, supporters of former President Yoon Suk-yeol raised suspicions that "the last general election was rigged and the Chinese government was behind it," and held a protest in front of the Myeong-dong Central Post Office, near the Chinese Embassy. They held signs reading "NO CHINA" and chanted the slogan, "Get out, Xi Jinping."
Since then, anti-China-leaning rallies have been consistently held in Myeong-dong. There have been more than 30 rallies to date. Since June, when the Lee Jae-myung administration was launched, a group called "Free University" has been holding weekly Tuesday evening rallies such as "Condemning interference in election fraud in front of the Chinese Embassy." Since last month, a group called "People's Militia" has been holding a weekly Friday evening "Myeong-dong anti-communist march."
Participants in the "Free University" rallies march through the heart of Myeong-dong carrying the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes. At the rally held the day before (9th), participants shouted, "Release President Yoon." They also sang a song with lyrics that used expressions belittling Chinese people, saying, "JjangX, North Korean communists, red XX, get out of the Republic of Korea as soon as possible."
Rally participants also held placards reading, "The safety of our own citizens takes priority over attracting Chinese tourists." To stimulate the economy, the government has allowed group tourists from China to enter without visas on a temporary basis starting on the 29th.
◇ "Hardly any Chinese come these days" "Japanese tourists also worry it's 'dangerous'"
As anti-China-leaning rallies continued for a ninth month, Myeong-dong Chinese merchants said their business had been hit. The owner of a Chinese restaurant who requested anonymity said, "The protesters don't cause direct damage, but when they march into the alleys, it gets noisy even inside the store," adding, "Pedestrian movement is controlled, so the number of customers has fallen."
A street vendor said, "We think it's noisy, so we wish they wouldn't hold rallies," adding, "Chinese people think they might be 'harmed,' so when there are rallies, they don't come into Myeong-dong."
Kim, 48, who runs a cosmetics store on Myeong-dong Street, said, "Hardly any Chinese come these days. On WeChat, the anti-China rallies in Myeong-dong spread, and people were saying, 'Isn't Korea dangerous?'" adding, "Japanese tourists also ask, 'It's too noisy— isn't it dangerous?'"
Lee, 42, an employee at another cosmetics store, said, "On days with rallies, sales drop by about 10% to 20% compared with usual," adding, "Not only Chinese but also Japanese and other foreign tourists look at the protesters as if to say, 'Why are they doing that?'"