Chinese K-Pop Idol TWS Hanjin’s Comment Sparks Heavy Debate Amongst Korean And Chinese Netizens
TWS‘ Hanjin recently sparked a debate due to his choice of words while replying to a fan on Weverse. A fan had asked what he had been eating, to which the idol innocuously replied “kimchi stew” in both Chinese and Korean.
A problem arose when a Korean fan pointed out that he should have been careful with his translation of the word “kimchi” between Chinese and Korean. Hanjin used the word “pao cai” in Mandarin to reflect “kimchi.” This has been a sensitive matter between the two nations over the last couple of years. A few years ago, many Chinese began to claim that “pao cai” was created by the Chinese. Before this claim, the word “pao cai” had been used for decades to refer to kimchi.
According to news outlet DongA Ilbo, since 2021, it was decided by the Culture, Sports and Tourism council that the correct Mandarin word for “kimchi” would now be “xin qi” instead to avoid confusion.
A disgruntled Korean commented on Hanjin’s reply to reprimand and correct the star.
Edit your comment… There’s a huge debate between using “xin qi” or “pao cai” to refer to kimchi in Mandarin, and as a Chinese who is promoting in South Korea, it makes the issue even more sensitive. Either delete your translation or change it to “xin qi.”
— Fan
His comment sparked an online debate, with a tweet about his post garnering over 1 million views on X. A Chinese fan tried to explain the situation using Korean.
일상에서는 신치 잘 안쓰고 보통 (한식)파오차이라고 표기합니다 많이 쓰는 단어는 아니지만 피클을 서양식 파오차이라고도 부르는 등 절임채소류는 파오차이로 묶어불러요
파오차이라는 단어 자체에 김치의 원조=중국이라고 주장하는 의미가 내포되어 있지도 않으며 그런 의미로도 잘 안씁니다 https://t.co/h5Nt4kcSvm pic.twitter.com/f5KJOIFQGv— 我超 (@luvs3mbarrassin) February 2, 2025
People don’t use “xin qi” IRL in daily life to refer to Korean kimchi and just call it “pao cai.” Although it might be less common, we call pickles “Western pao cai” and we just call most fermented or pickled vegetables “pao cai” in general too. Most people actually don’t use “pao cai” to try to assert that kimchi originated in China.
— luvs3mbarrassin
Koreans tried to explain that it was a sensitive topic that Hanjin should have taken more care with as an idol promoting in Korea.
한국에서 활동하는 중국인이면 한국어만 좀 써.. 우리나라 김치에 예민한데 굳이 중국어로 써야겟냐 파파고 좀 써 https://t.co/XksApuBkLl
— 햄 (@hamzzangzz) February 1, 2025
If you’re a Chinese promoting in Korea, only use Korean… Our country is so sensitive over the kimchi issue, so did he have to write it in Chinese too? Use Papago or something.
— hamzzangzz
Netizens from both countries continue to debate the matter online, with some defending him over the casual usage, and others condemning him for his lack of caution.
