Source:
https://scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3201540/lawmaker-eats-humble-pie-after-saying-south-korea-would-crush-ghana-broken-chocolate-world-cup-game
This Week in Asia/ Politics

Lawmaker eats humble pie after saying South Korea would ‘crush’ Ghana like broken chocolate in World Cup game

  • A leader of the ruling People Power Party came under fire for his post of Ghana-brand chocolate promising to ‘crush’ the West African nation in a World Cup game
  • But netizens pointed out that the Ghana chocolate brand has been made in South Korea by local conglomerate Lotte Confectionery for more than four decades
South Korean fans react as they attend a public screening in Seoul on November 28 that saw Ghana edge past South Korea 3-2 at the Education City Stadium in Qatar. Photo: AFP

Chung Jin-suk, the interim leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, has been derided for sharing a photo of a broken Ghana chocolate bar ahead of his home team’s Qatar World Cup football game against the West African nation.

“Ghana … [We] will crush you like this tonight,” Chung wrote on Facebook hours before kick-off on Monday.

Ghana, however, dashed the lawmaker’s hopes of victory and made him eat humble pie after it edged past South Korea 3-2 at the Education City Stadium in Qatar.

Chung’s now-deleted post drew criticism for being an own goal as netizens pointed out the Ghana brand of chocolate has been made in South Korea by local conglomerate Lotte Confectionery for more than four decades.

“Ghana chocolate has been there before their economy kicked off, so obviously it’s bigger than Korea. We shall worry when China and Japan speak. Koreans equally need money and markets like Africans – that we know,” wrote a user on Facebook.

Said another: “Be humble when the game is not over to prevent shame and sorrow. Your team did their best and that’s the meaning of sports. Next time don’t break a chocolate just eat kimchi you’ll win.”

Chung Jin-suk’s now-deleted post. Photo: Facebook screenshot
Chung Jin-suk’s now-deleted post. Photo: Facebook screenshot

Some said Chung’s behaviour was “embarrassing and childish” but others rallied behind him and called for boycott of Ghana chocolate and shared photos of crumbled confectionery.

According to the Korea Times, a netizen wrote on Twitter: “I will no longer eat Ghana (chocolate) and have Hershey’s instead.”

To add insult to injury, some social media users hit back saying, a crushing defeat awaits South Korea when they meet Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal on Friday.

“So Koreans no longer want to eat chocolate because they couldn’t win a tiny game. Does this mean they’re all going to forget football after the upcoming humiliation on Friday,” asked a Facebook user.