Korean singer Hwang Chi-yeul who rose to fame after appearing as a contestant in I Can See Your Voice in 2015 landed in hot water recently for his comments about China’s poor air and water quality. While Chinese netizens have criticized his actions, Korean media have referred to him as a victim of cyberbullying.
The controversy began when Hwang Chi-yeul was a guest on the Korean TV talk show Radio Star. During the show, he said that other Korean celebrities have warned that the air and water in China might not be good for him.
Hwang says that when he landed at the airport in China, the smog was so dense that he couldn’t see in front of him. After experiencing it firsthand, he realized that the air is really bad and the water tastes a bit different. However, he said he didn’t have a problem with it because he’s not affected by the environment. A couple of days after the show aired, Chinese media reported on it and his comments went viral.
Chinese netizens weren’t happy with Hwang and bombarded his Weibo and Instagram with comments like “Go back to Korea.” “He doesn’t appreciate China where he earned his money.” and “It’s not good to say China’s air is bad… Don’t come.”
Hwang Chi-yeul has since apologized for the misunderstanding his words might have caused. But due to the negatively charged comments directed at the singer, Korean media have accused those people of cyberbullying. Some Koreans have even asked why should Hwang apologize in the first place.
Anonymous
I am not a fan of Korean at all. But if this article quoted him correctly, what he said sounds like factual stuff which should not be offensive at all. Does Chinese netizen expect people to say China is the most unpolluted country? I think saying false things is what's offensive.
I think there was a case before with Jang Nara, not quoting her word to word but she might have said something like wanting to work in China when the economy is bad in Korea. She got bombarded with negative things by Chinese netizen because of a sentence like that.
For Chinese people to like you, you going to have to lie a lot, tell them only the things they would like to hear. And to know what they like to hear, you have to learn everything about them too. Chinese people cannot understand everybody came from a different culture how can they expect so much like that?
Anonymous
I'm not going to generalize all the Chinese, but I am appalled by the ones that easily get offended if someone makes a factual comment about China. Let's be real. The air condition in China isn't so great due to pollution, so I don't know why they act as if it's so clean. We all know that the air in S.Korea is polluted too. C-netz are so easily pressed. They need to understand that not everything revolves around them. Every person comes from a different background and thinks differently. You can't just force every person that comes to your country to like everything. I am sure those same people that complained about HCY's comment will go to S.Korea or some other country and make the same (or similar) complaints themselves too. I swear, c-netz are the worse of the bunch.
Unknown
I usually dont care about things lkke this but China you have to admit that China's air is polluted and the cause of it is because of the Chinese. He was stating the fact. Seriously o hate it when Chinese people said "go back to your country and don't come to ours and make OUR money OR korean saying things like " go back to China and dont come here for our media attention on KPOP". Like seriously why are you guys stopping humans making money. They work for the money not kike they begged you or something. Everybody should be able to make money anywhere legally. People should not be putting down on other people. You like you support or admire, of not then ignore them and dont waste your time hating. LATELY SONG RECOMMENDATION: BTS MIC DROP.
Anonymous
Instead of getting butthurt and acting unreasonable and act like a great patriot, MAYBE they should do something actually patriotic an advocate for cleaner environment and make smart eco-friendly choices. Then again, a lot of netz are brainless with low mentality and lack critical thinking skills.
Anonymous
The smog affected those netizen brains
Anonymous
everyone and their moms know China's air quality is bad lol even all my Chinese friends admit it, they go out with masks, they buy air purifiers. Those people are so annoying
Anonymous
I think that if he is making money off the Chinese citizens, then I think he should have kept any negative views on China to himself. He should have at least just said that he was not used to it the environment etc… sure, China does not have the best air quality, but no need to say it out loud in a public forum, especially when you are not a citizen of that country. Why make money off a country you don't like? I think the translation might have been a bit off, but then again Netizens get angry at everything. I would say, public figures just have to be careful with what they say in public. I doubt he can make it in the Chinese Entertainment anymore, but he still has his home country of Korea.