South Korean subway operator apologises for calling Chinese tourists ‘villains’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In response to a complaint, posted on 26 October about “excessive Chinese announcements” in subways and palaces, Seoul Metro wrote on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s website that groups of Chinese people can become noisy and disruptive, calling them “villains”. It even suggested adding announcements promoting order among them: “It is necessary we broadcast Chinese announcements encouraging order and good conduct on trains, putting out an enlightening reminder against disorder.” “We will review the possibility of broadcasting announcements only in Korean and English in the future,” it added. Seoul Metro issued a statement after the controversy grew and publicly apologised for “the inappropriate language and content regarding Chinese tourists in the response to the complaint”. This shift, coupled with negative media coverage, has fueled anti-China sentiment among young South Koreans, Chung Jae-hung, an expert from the Sejong Institute, was quoted as saying by the Chinese state-run paper The Global Times.