Anti-Korean sentiment in China

This is sometimes referred to in China as the xianhan (dislike of Korea) sentiment, which some have argued has been evoked by perceived Korean arrogance that has challenged the sense of superiority that the Chinese have traditionally associated with their 5,000-year-old civilization.

These immigrants, particularly the so-called coolies, became a source of anger for Koreans and were blamed for the country's labor environment problem such as low wages and employment instability.

Fabricated reports of the incident published in Korea for Imperial Japanese propaganda efforts claimed that many Koreans were killed in the incident,[5][6] and instigated strong public reaction in Korea that led to the anti-Chinese riots, which in turn caused large-scale anti-Korean protests in China in retaliation.

[7][9] During the 2002 FIFA World Cup hosted in Korea and Japan, the incidents surrounding the Korean team's matches were well-known, and they would become a popular topic for some Chinese to bear sentiments of disapproval against South Korea, while certain Chinese media have reported negatively on the Korean side's demeanor.

[10] Within the Republic of China animosity between Taiwanese and Koreans is present as a result of the rivalry between the two sovereign states in relation to baseball.

'Goryeo Kimchi') and Gaoli Bangzi,[17] while verbal attacks against South Korean Major League players are also common.

Chinese sports officials delivered a letter of protest to criticize that those political activities violated the spirit of the Olympics.

Chinese supporters of the Beijing Olympics also engaged in mob violence, notably in the lobby of Seoul Plaza Hotel, against South Korean protesters, Tibetans, Western tourists, and police officers.

[1] Further controversy was generated when Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) leaked footage of rehearsals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Throughout the events, the Chinese spectators often booed the South Korean athletes and cheered for competing nations and these even included Japan.

In June 2017, for instance, South Korean automaker Hyundai experienced a 64 percent drop in sales while its Kia division sustained a 58-percent decline.

[54] By 2018, the Lotte Group is also mulling the sale of its department stores in China blaming the persistent wave of anti-Korean backlash.

[55] On 13 October 2020, RM, a member of BTS, made a speech about the Korean War, where he told South Korea shared a history of pains with the United States.