Netizens React to Korean TV Commercial by K-Swiss; Lobbies for K-Pop Ban in China

Both U.S. and South Korea ally for the launch of the THAAD system. (Photo : Getty Images)

They commented on Sina Weibo and referred to the TV ad as disrespectful and some called for a ban of K-Pop stars in China.



The commercial began with the Korean star playing chess with a fat man wearing a black suit and a gold necklace. The opponent's name is Wanli Chengcheng, or the Great Wall of China.




The chess match fades to a dance fight.



During the dance, a Korean woman slaps the Chinese man, and eventually, Park wins the battle and the chess match.



Many netizens on Weibo were outraged by the depiction of China as Park's opponent. The hashtag "Park Bo Gum commercial allegedly humiliates China" has been viewed 2.1 million times.



Users also said that the country should ban all South Korean artists, saying that China should put their loyalty to country first before idols.



An online poll was conducted in Sino Weibo and 86 percent of 300,000 respondents agreed to the proposed ban.



There were users who said that the K-Swiss commercial is related to South Korea's deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.



China recently expressed anxiety over South Korea's deployment of the THAAD. Ambassador Qiu Guohong, China's ambassador to South Korea, warned the Minjoo Party of Korea that the launch of the THAAD will destroy the two country's bilateral relations.



"Much effort has been made to develop bilateral ties to today's level, but these efforts could be destroyed in an instant with a single problem," Qiu said, warning that ties "could take a long time to recover."



He also said that the use of the THAAD will "create a vicious cycle of Cold War-style confrontations and an arms race."



South Korea maintained that the THAAD system is for the country's protection against North Korea, and that the communists are developing nuclear weapons.





