Seo Gyeong-deok, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, urged a public apology over a racism controversy involving a Brazil soccer fan's "slant-eye" gesture that arose during support for the North and Central American World Cup.
On the 6th, Seo raised the issue on social media (SNS) after a Brazil influencer made a slant-eye gesture demeaning Asians.
The controversy erupted after Brazil beat Japan in the World Cup round of 32. A Brazil influencer with 18,000 followers, "brenndamaral," posted a photo on the influencer's SNS story showing friends and the influencer pulling the corners of their eyes outward.
Pulling the eyes to both sides is regarded in the West as a representative racist gesture used to mock or demean the appearance of East Asians.
As criticism mounted after the post became known, the influencer reportedly changed the SNS account name and then switched the account to private.
This is not the first time such a controversy has occurred on the World Cup stage. Earlier, at the stadium for the first North and Central American World Cup qualifier between Korea and the Czech Republic, a Mexico soccer fan was caught on camera making a slant-eye gesture toward a Korean influencer and laughing, sparking controversy.
The person identified as the perpetrator at the time was confirmed to be Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the Jalisco state Civil, Topography, Geometry and Engineering Association (CITGEJ) in Mexico.
As the controversy grew, Miramontes posted an apology video and stepped down as CITGEJ president. "I wanted foreigners visiting Mexico to feel at home, but I did the exact opposite," Miramontes said with a bow. He added, "I sincerely apologize to the influencer in question, the Korean community, and Mexican compatriots who were disappointed by my actions."
Seo said the Brazil influencer case should not be taken lightly either.
"As we well know, using fingers to pull the eyes is a representative racist act used to demean Asians," Seo said. "This Brazil influencer must make a public apology, and soccer fans around the world should pay attention so that this never happens again."