Hwang Chi-yeol's TV comment on qualities of air and water in China was mistranslated by a Chinese media outlet and angered Chinese fans online. Korea Times file



By Ko Dong-hwan



Korean singer Hwang Chi-yeol has angered Chinese fans after a media outlet said he snubbed China because of its dirty air. But the star denied this.



The issue started when he said on a MBC Korean TV talk show on Jan. 23 that before his Chinese debut, other Koreans involved in the Chinese show business industry warned him, "The air and water of China might not suit you."



When he landed in China, he continued, he could not see even what was ahead of him because the air quality was so poor.



But when he tasted water he found out it was fine. He told the show's four hosts, "Environment doesn't control me," prompting one host to say that the soloist was "accustomed to China to the bone."



Two days after the show went to air, a Chinese media outlet reported his comments. The same day, Weibo, China's social network site, put the report at the top of its instant hot issue chart.



Fans blasted the comments on Hwang's Weibo and Instagram channels. They said he should "go back to Korea," "he doesn't appreciate China where he earned money" and "after his lucrative career in China he goes to Korea only to complain about China."





Hwang Chi-yeol sings on Garosu-gil Street in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, while filming TV variety show "Let's Eat Dinner Together" on JTBC in August 2018. Provided to Hankook Ilbo