A press conference condemning hate incitement, organized by the Joint Response Council of Chinese Korean Organizations and the Borderline Voice Research Institute. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — More than 100 citizens staged a counter-rally in Seoul’s Daerim neighborhood on Thursday evening to oppose a far-right demonstration marked by anti-Chinese sentiment, with members of the Chinese Korean community publicly speaking out for the first time.
Gathered outside Exit 5 of Daerim Station, parents, residents, and civic groups denounced the rhetoric of hate groups rallying across the street. “This is not only an attack on immigrants, but on our children and their future,” said Kim Yehwa, head of the CK Women’s Committee and a local parent. “We will not allow discrimination to stand in front of our children.”
Participants called for solidarity, chanting “hospitality wins” in response to the far-right group’s shouts of “Long live the U.S.-Korea alliance.” Emotions ran high, with some longtime Chinese Korean residents moved to tears.
Local educators and parents expressed concern that the rallies are traumatizing nearby students. The principal of a middle school in the area had earlier appealed to police and local officials to block the far-right gathering, warning of psychological harm.
A far-right conservative group holds a “Protest Against Election Fraud” rally in Daerim-dong, Guro District, on September 25. (Yonhap)
Community leaders urged stronger government action. Kim Horim, head of the National Federation of Overseas Koreans, said: “Hate and discrimination in front of schools and marketplaces threaten the peace and safety of the entire community. Immigrants are hardworking taxpayers and neighbors.”
Merchants also voiced alarm over economic damage, saying repeated hate rallies discourage customers and tarnish Daerim’s reputation. “Daerim is the livelihood we built with sweat,” said Lee Dong-wook, head of the local Chinese Korean Merchants’ Association. “These gatherings hurt not just us, but the whole community.”
The counter-rally highlighted growing pushback against extremist groups, which have increasingly targeted neighborhoods with large immigrant populations after being restricted from staging protests in central Seoul.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
