South Korean men say ‘small penis’ sausage ads are offensive and sexist
- Convenience store chain GS25 and fried chicken franchise Genesis BBQ were accused of misandry over an ad showing a hand reaching out for a small sausage
- The promos were later removed and the controversy is the latest flare-up in long-running tension over gender rights in South Korea
The offending images? Hands with the thumbs and the index fingers pinching towards each other illustrating the reaching out for an object.
But the gesture is also often used to indicate something small in size and in South Korea, it is associated with a strident, albeit now-defunct, feminist group that used the image in its logo.
Exacerbating the problem, one ad and a menu involved were also advertising sausages.
Following its ad, South Korea’s largest convenience store chain, GS25, saw a handful of members from the men’s group “Man on Solidarity” protest outside the firm’s headquarters.
The group’s YouTube channel, which posts videos of its protests, has gained more than 200,000 subscribers in just two months.
GS25 withdrew its ad and fried chicken chain Genesis BBQ pulled its menu, issuing apologies and stating they had no intention to demean men.