Beijing Winter Olympics: South Korean presidential hopefuls accuse China of ‘stealing’ medals and cultural appropriation

China’s use of a Korean traditional dress in the opening ceremony and the disqualification of two short track skaters have angered South Koreans

As politicians vying to be the country’s next leader weigh in, cynics suggest they have their eye on the youth vote ahead of the March election

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Hwang Dae-heon (front) of South Korea in action during the men’s 1,000m semi finals of the Short Track Speed Skating event at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games. Photo: EPA

Published: 3:16pm, 9 Feb 2022Updated: 4:31pm, 1 Mar 2022

South Korean presidential candidates have accused China of cultural imperialism and “stealing” medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics in a move that appears calculated to appeal to the youth vote ahead of the March 9 election.

Chief among their complaints are the appearance of a performer wearing a traditional Korean dress at the Olympic opening ceremony and the disqualification on Tuesday of two South Korean skaters that helped their Chinese rivals advance to the finals.

Both issues have sparked uproar among South Korean celebrities and young social media users, making a tempting target for politicians seeking a boost at the ballot box. While China is South Korea’s largest trading partner, Beijing’s increasingly assertive diplomacy, its tightening grip in Hong Kong and the Covid-19 pandemic have alienated many Koreans, especially young ones, as have persistent allegations of cultural appropriation.

With recent polls suggesting the two favourites in the presidential race – Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party – are neck and neck, political observers say both sides will be eager to capitalise on anti-China sentiment. This is especially so given recent polls that have suggested voters in their 20s and 30s – who have traditionally supported the Democrats – are tilting towards the conservatives.

A performer in a traditional Korean dress known as hanbok waves during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games. Photo: EPA

Winter Olympics fans the flame

The uproar over the appearance of a performer at the Olympic opening ceremony wearing the flowing Korean female dress known as hanbok is just the latest in a series of controversies in which South Koreans have accused their larger neighbour of cultural appropriation. Previous arguments have taken place over which country invented kimchi.