The historical context and contemporary evolution of anti-China sentiment in South Korea

◎ Heo Donghyun

The important background for the rise in anti-China sentiment in South Korea is the resentment caused by the illegal or uncivilized behavior of some Chinese tourists in South Korea, the cultural controversy caused by China's promotion of cultural projects, the problem of fine suspended particles from China flying to South Korea via the Yellow Sea, and the social backlash caused by Chinese funds investing in South Korean real estate and pushing up housing prices, etc.

Anti-China sentiment has increased in South Korean society in recent years. The picture shows a South Korean conservative group holding an anti-China demonstration on the streets of Myeongdong, Seoul last July, tearing down the Chinese five-star flag. (AP file photo) Recent public opinion polls on anti-China sentiment in South Korea also reflect this trend. In April 2026, a survey by the Ahsan Policy Research Institute showed that in the competition between the United States and China, only 10.8% of South Korean respondents expressed support for China, while 71.4% supported the United States. In July 2025, a survey by the Pew Research Center in the United States also showed that 81% of Koreans have a negative view of China, and only 19% have a positive view.

In addition, a survey conducted by the Korean Research Institute in March 2026 showed that 68% of progressive (left) and 63% of conservative (right) respondents believed that South Korea is more advanced than China. In other words, anti-China sentiment is quite widespread in Korean society and is not limited to a specific political camp. Therefore, the use of Mandarin in gatherings of whatever political leanings, even to varying degrees, may still lead to misunderstandings, hostility, and even security risks.

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Three historical stages of anti-China sentiment in modern South Korea

Below, the author will further explain the historical context of anti-China sentiment in South Korea. South Korea's modern anti-China sentiment can be roughly divided into three stages: before the Korean War (before 1950), from the end of the Korean War (1953) to the severance of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and South Korea in 1992, and after the 2000s.

The anti-China sentiment before the Korean War mainly stemmed from the friction and opposition that arose due to differences in nationality and living habits when Koreans had frequent exchanges with Chinese people on the border before the division of the Korean Peninsula. The most representative incident was the "Wanbaoshan Incident" that occurred in the suburbs of Changchun in 1931 and was caused by conflicts between Chinese farmers and Korean immigrants. After the incident, beatings, smashing, looting and burning occurred against overseas Chinese in Busan, Wonsan, Sinuiju and other places. In the end, 142 Korean overseas Chinese were killed, 546 injured and 91 missing.

Before and after the Korean War and before Taiwan and South Korea severed diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea usually referred to Taiwan as "Free China" and China as the "Chinese Communist Party" under the Cold War system. Communication between South Korea and China was almost in a state of interruption. Although the Communist army intervened in the Korean War, it is said that during the war, unlike the North Korean army, they did not massacre civilians on a large scale. Instead, they maintained relatively good relations with some civilians. Therefore, after the war, there were not many Koreans who were hostile to China because of its "impediment to Korean unification."

In the competition between the United States and China, only 10.8% of South Korean respondents expressed support for China, while 71.4% supported the United States. (Reuters file photo) After the Korean War, there was no major conflict between Korean society and overseas Chinese. At that time, Korean overseas Chinese were mainly composed of Shandong overseas Chinese with Taiwanese citizenship. Their daily languages ​​were mainly Chinese, which is a mixture of Shandong dialect and Beijing dialect, and Korean. However, during Park Chung-hee's administration (1961-1979), the Korean government restricted overseas Chinese from holding more than 200 square meters of land and prohibited them from engaging in retail business, making it almost impossible for overseas Chinese to engage in other economic activities except operating Chinese restaurants. Many people moved to Taiwan or the United States as a result, and the size of the Korean overseas Chinese community gradually shrank.

Therefore, the Korean generation who are now in their 40s and above, who came of age or grew up during that period, had few opportunities to interact with Chinese people. Even in the early 2000s, they still generally held curiosity and expectations about China.

However, after the 2000s, with the influx of Chinese tourists and international students into South Korea in large numbers, Koreans had more opportunities to come into contact with some uncivilized Chinese tourists on the streets, and their original curiosity about China gradually faded. Coupled with the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea in 2017, China exerted political and economic pressure on South Korea. These factors eventually transformed into the anti-China sentiment prevalent in South Korean society today.

On the other hand, South Koreans in their 20s and 30s, who have experienced this change since childhood, have a stronger antipathy towards Chinese people than the middle-aged and elderly people, and they also have a considerable sense of cultural superiority towards China. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Chosun Ilbo in March last year, the overall average favorability of South Koreans towards China was 43%, but only 26% of those in their 20s and 32% of those in their 30s.

After South Korea deployed the THAAD anti-missile system in 2017, China exerted political and economic pressure on South Korea. These factors eventually transformed into the anti-China sentiment prevalent in South Korean society today. (AP file photo)

Although little known today, an incident occurred in 2008 that heightened anti-China sentiment in South Korea. During the Beijing Olympics torch relay, Tibetan independent groups blocked the torch relay around the world, including South Korea. At that time, these groups clashed with about 6,500 Chinese people, mainly international students, who were "mobilized by economic organizations" according to the Chosun Ilbo report in the Olympic Park and Seoul Plaza. Some Chinese not only collectively beat Koreans, but also attacked Americans, British, Canadians and police officers wearing "Free Tibet" T-shirts.

However, the conservative Lee Myung-bak government at the time only opened an investigation into the two Chinese nationals involved in the case, and the punishment results were unclear. This incident triggered controversy in South Korean society over China's violation of sovereignty. Since then, although there has been no similar incident of thousands of Chinese pouring into downtown Seoul, anti-China sentiment has continued to spread and continues to this day.

Between the Two Beijing Olympics: South Korea’s Changing Anti-China Sentiment

Another incident related to the Beijing Olympics can also clearly reflect the changes in anti-China sentiment in South Korea. At the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a woman appeared on stage wearing traditional clothing symbolizing the Koreans, one of China's 56 ethnic groups. The Korean media immediately responded strongly, citing "cultural aggression."

At the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a woman appeared on stage wearing traditional clothing symbolizing the Koreans, one of China's 56 ethnic groups. The Korean media immediately responded strongly, citing "cultural aggression." (AP file photo)

However, a similar scene occurred at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and South Korean society raised little objection at that time. This means that South Korean society’s wariness and antipathy toward China have continued to rise over the past 14 years.

Based on the above-mentioned historical and social background of anti-China sentiment in South Korea, the following further explains other reasons why Taiwanese reporters held red flags with blue sky and white sun on the ground and posted slogans "China X, Taiwan TV Station".

First of all, the real demand of the ballot shortage protests is not anti-China. However, in South Korea, the "China" issue has long become a catalyst that can easily ignite mass emotions in various protests. Especially in right-wing rallies that tend to support the United States, the China issue has a strong mobilizing effect.

The "Chinese" Catalyst in the Demonstrations in Taiwan and South Korea

This is just like Operation Blue Bird 2024, which is not directly related to China issues, but occasionally has the slogan "Reject China's interference in politics". If someone keeps talking about China issues, activities originally focused on democratic procedures and political demands will inevitably be disrupted and even fall into chaos. That's exactly what it means.

Secondly, it is certainly difficult for Koreans to distinguish between Mandarin and Chinese Mandarin. Even for most Koreans, the differences between different Chinese languages ​​such as Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Mindong, and even Cantonese are difficult to distinguish.

The author once took a Hong Kong friend to a popular BBQ restaurant in South Korea, but was given a cold reception by the clerk when he was talking in Cantonese. I was also reminded by the driver to keep quiet when talking to a Taiwanese friend via LINE on a bus in South Korea. In contrast, if you talk in English or Japanese on a Korean bus, you will usually not be reminded by the driver. The real demand of the ballot shortage protests is not anti-China. However, in South Korea, the "China" issue has long become a catalyst that can easily ignite mass emotions in various protests. (provided by the author)

(To be continued)

(The author is a freelance writer)