Baidu’s online encyclopedia currently introduces Yun Dong-ju as a Chinese national. (image: Seo Kyeong-Deok)
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese internet search behemoth Baidu has been falsely claiming that renowned Korean poet Yun Dong-ju (1917-45) is a Chinese national, an activist professor said Wednesday.
Baidu’s online encyclopedia currently introduces Yun as a Chinese national, part of the ethnic Koreans living in China, explained Seo Kyeong-Deok, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul.
Baidu also introduces Korean independence activists Lee Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil as Joseon nationals and part of Joseon-jok, ethnic Koreans who migrated to northeast China.
Other famous independence activists, Yu Gwan-sun and Kim Koo, have correctly been introduced as Korean nationals, while their ethnicity has been left unidentified.
Earlier this year, Baidu encyclopedia incorrectly introduced kimchi as a variation of pao cai, a type of pickled vegetable consumed in China.
Diplomatic officials in South Korea have vowed continuous efforts to correct the false information, contacting relevant parties and agencies for correction.
“Longjing Village in China’s Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture where Yun Dong-ju was born now holds a sign that says ‘home of China’s Patriot and Poet,’ which is also a serious problem,” Prof. Seo added.
The sign claims that Yun Dong-ju, falsely introduced as ‘Chinese Korean,’ was a Chinese patriot.
Wednesday marked the 102nd anniversary of Yun Dong-ju’s birth.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
