Chinese influencer sparks controversy for mocking South Korean restaurant owner

A Chinese influencer with over 610,000 followers has sparked controversy after posting videos of himself mocking a restaurant owner in South Korea. In one video, the influencer is seen smiling while repeatedly telling the restaurant owner in Chinese that the food is “really bad” and that he has never eaten anything so tasteless. The owner, unable to understand the language, responded to the influencer with smiles and poses, unaware of the insults.

The influencer also released footage of himself performing a dance in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace while wearing traditional Korean clothing (Hanbok) and holding Chinese pancakes. Critics have suggested these actions go beyond cultural experience and constitute a mockery of South Korean culture.

The videos have drawn criticism from Chinese internet users as well, with some calling the behavior “low level” and stating that if the food was poor, the influencer should have left a review rather than harassing the owner on camera.