South Korea: Chinese Embassy in Seoul responds to criticism over traditional attire hanbok

Chinese Embassy in Seoul issued a rare public statement in response to South Korea's outrage over appropriation of "hanbok," tritional Korean attire, and growing anti-China sentiment.  embassy refuted most recent hanbok-related allegations and defended use of hanbok during Olympic event. It referred to such allegations as "nonsense."

"It is ir desire and right for representatives of each ethnic group in China to attend an international sports competition and major national event of Beijing Winter Olympics, wearing ir tritional costumes," embassy's spokesperson said in an official statement released February 8.

During last week's opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics, a woman dressed in hanbok appeared representing a Chinese ethnic minority known as "joseonjok." She was among those representing China's 56 ethnic groups who carried Chinese national flag into stium.

scene, which was telecasted around world, infuriated many South Koreans, who saw it as evidence of China's long-standing attempts to distort shared history and steal Korean culture, including ir signature dish, kimchi, as well as hanbok. Local online media platforms, particularly those frequented by younger generation, have been inundated with messages criticising China for attempting to "steal" Korean culture, according to local media reports.

Joseonjok in China and Koreans in South and North have same "lineage"

spokesman for Chinese embassy emphasized that joseonjok in China and Koreans in South and North have same "lineage" and tritional culture, which includes dress. " South Korean side will also respect emotions of China's ethnic minorities, including joseokjok," official stated, ding that China respects Korea's historical and cultural tritions.

According to South Korean Foreign Ministry, re are approximately 2.5 million people of Korean descent living in China. Furr, Joseon refers to a historic Korean monarchy, while jok refers to a tribe. Meanwhile, a senior US embassy official publicly aired his opinion on hanbok.

"What comes to mind when you think of Korea? Kimchi, K-Pop, K-dramas…and of course Hanbok #OriginalHanbokFromKorea," charge d'affaires interim at US Embassy in Seoul, Christopher Del Corso, tweeted on February 8 with hashtag and photographs of himself wearing hanbok.

(With inputs from agencies)