Concerns are being raised about China’s alleged “hanbok appropriation” through these platforms. (Photo: a screenshot from Prof. Seo’s social channel)
SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – As Chinese online shopping platforms AliExpress and Temu gain a larger foothold in the South Korean market, concerns are being raised about China’s alleged “hanbok appropriation” through these platforms. As of February 6, AliExpress boasted approximately 6 million monthly Korean users, while Temu had around 4 million Korean users.
The popularity of these budget-friendly Chinese online malls has led to a surge in revenue for CJ Logistics, which holds exclusive domestic shipping contracts with AliExpress. This success has reportedly led AliExpress to consider a direct entry into the Korean market.
The assault on Korea’s e-commerce sector by Chinese low-cost shopping malls is intensifying, with Alibaba Group’s B2B (business-to-business) platform 1688 planning to launch a Korean language service within the month.
However, there are growing concerns over a subtle “hanbok appropriation” scheme through these platforms. China has made controversial claims that Korea’s traditional hanbok attire originated from China’s traditional hanfu clothing. A search for hanbok on these Chinese shopping platforms also brings up hanfu, suggesting a link between the two.
Professor Seo Kyoung-duk from Sungshin Women’s University highlighted this issue on social media, noting the prevalence of “hanbok appropriation” on these popular Chinese shopping sites. (Photo: a screenshot from Prof. Seo’s social channel)
Professor Seo Kyoung-duk from Sungshin Women’s University highlighted this issue on social media, noting the prevalence of “hanbok appropriation” on these popular Chinese shopping sites. He pointed out that AliExpress has categories like “Chinese hanbok,” selling hanfu and supporting China’s baseless claims regarding the origin of hanbok.
Temu is reportedly in a similar situation. Seo warned that searching for “hanbok” on these platforms results in “hanfu” appearing in the search results as well, potentially misleading international customers and constituting deception towards Korean consumers.
Seo emphasized that if Chinese companies wish to do business with Koreans, they must at least show the basic courtesy of respecting Korean culture and history. He urged AliExpress and Temu to make swift corrections and called on Korean consumers to remain vigilant.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
