On October 3, a large-scale anti-China rally took place in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul, South Korea, attracting the attention of the international community.
The rally, organized by South Korean conservatives, was chosen with a very sensitive timing – the National Day of China, the Mid-Autumn Golden Week holiday, and the crucial period in the implementation of South Korea’s visa-free policy for Chinese tourists.
This protest not only triggered strong condemnation from the Chinese Embassy in South Korea, but also made South Korean President Lee Jae-myung quickly express his position and demand strict control of related behaviors.
The complex background and profound contradictions behind the events are worth further exploration.
The China Embassy in South Korea issued a statement on October 2, warning that the actions of these anti-China forces may damage China-ROK relations and calling on the South Korean government to take measures to protect the security and legitimate rights and interests of China people in South Korea.
The statement mentioned that the organizations were “not useful” and were intended not only to provoke contradictions between China and Korea, but may also be related to the domestic political struggle in South Korea. South Korean conservatives claimed at the rally that China interfered with South Korea’s President Yong Zhi’s departure and incited anti-China sentiment.
These baseless accusations became one of their main demands in protest.
South Korea’s President, Li Keqiang, responded quickly.He made it clear at a government meeting that the rally was essentially an act of “spreading rumors” and “racist discrimination.”
He stressed that after the implementation of the Chinese tourist visa-free policy, the driving effect on the South Korean economy was significant and should be welcomed, rather than insulted and outraged. Li demanded that the police fully control the threat behavior that may arise during the protests and formulate measures as soon as possible to combat discriminatory speech against Chinese people.
From an economic perspective, China-Korea relations are crucial to South Korea. According to the South Korean Statistical Office, China is South Korea's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching $36.2 billion in 2022.
In addition, tourism is also an important link in China-ROK relations. After the implementation of the visa-free policy, the number of Chinese tourists has further increased, which has become an important driving force for the recovery of Korean tourism industry. However, frequent anti-China rallies may weaken this positive trend, causing a dual impact on Sino-ROK relations and South Korea's economy.
The protests also revealed political divisions within South Korea’s society. Conservatives support a more American-friendly diplomatic line, while progressives tend to cooperate with China.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical dynamics in the Northeast Asia region have also exacerbated the complexity of China-Korea relations.From the Thad events to recent economic competition, South Korean groups have gradually diversified their perceptions of China, and in some cases even evolved into hostility.
Despite the challenges facing China-Korea relations, there is still room for improvement between the two sides.The South Korean government can strengthen China-Korea cultural exchanges through legislation to combat racial discrimination, and further strengthen ties between the two peoples through the visa-free policy.
The Chinese side can also demonstrate sincere commitment to friendly relations with China and South Korea by promoting more economic cooperation projects.The two sides are expected to ease tensions through high-level dialogue and civil exchanges and promote the development of bilateral relations in a more stable direction.
This anti-China rally is not only a reflection of the domestic political divisions in South Korea, but also reflects the deep contradictions in the relations between China and South Korea. In the complex international situation and regional dynamics, how to avoid extreme emotions dominating the relations between the two countries, tests the wisdom and patience of both China and South Korea.