Chinese member of K- pop group ‘ sets example’ after refusing to kneel, sparking controversy
Chinese observers called for harmony in diversity and mutual respect in intercultural exchanges, while hailing a Chinese member of a hit K- pop girl group Everglow as setting a good example for entertainers working overseas as she clung to Chinese culture by using traditional Chinese etiquette to give New Year’s greetings instead of following her South Korean teammates to kneel.
Although attacked by criticism from some South Korean netizens, Wang Yiren has received floods of support from China. In Chinese culture, “kneeling down” usually was adopted by a junior to a senior in traditional times, and it’s commonly seen as being “servile to others” nowadays.
Some viral photos of a fan signing session on January 2 showed that while the South Korean members of the South Korean girl group Everglow kneeled down before the audience members, most of whom are their fans, in gratitude for their support in the New Year, Wang, seen standing in the middle of the group, made a traditional Chinese gesture as a New Year greeting.
Wang’s move evoked anger among many South Korean netizens who called on Wang to “go back to China.” Meanwhile, some South Korean media including the Korea Times printed opinions like “why are you promoting in South Korea while you don’t like Koreanstyle New Year’s greetings?”
“Wang just went to South Korea for work, not to become a South Korean. She pursues her career in the country by spending a lot of effort in singing and dancing, which shows her love of K- pop culture. However, this does not mean she has to follow all South Korean culture. ‘ To seek harmony in diversity’ is the principle of our cultural coexistence,” said Shi Wenxue, a cultural critic based in Beijing.
Zhang Peng, a film researcher at Nanjing University’s National Research Center of Cultural Industries, said “Wang set a good example for Chinese entertainers developing their careers overseas.” Zhang called on some South Korean netizens to be more rational.