By Dong Sun-hwa
South Korean singer Lee Hyori has come under fire from Chinese netizens for allegedly ridiculing former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong.
Lee, a member of new K-pop girl group Refund Expedition formed on the reality show Hangout with Yoo, appeared on the programme on Saturday and discussed her musical activities with the show’s host, comedian Yoo Jae-suk.
On the show, Yoo plays Jimmy Yoo, CEO of an entertainment company that represents Refund Expedition – comprising Lee, Hwasa of girl group Mamamoo, rapper Jessi and soloist Uhm Jung-hwa.
While they were talking about Lee’s Refund Expedition stage name, the singer said: “What about a Chinese name? We can go global with it. How about ‘Mao’?”
Her remark led to a backlash online in China, with many Chinese internet users saying Lee ridiculed Mao, who was chairman of the Communist Party of China from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. His theories and polices are collectively known as “Maoism”.
“Why do you play a joke with a great man of another country?” one Chinese user posted on Lee’s Instagram, which has been bombarded with more than 100,000 negative comments over two days.
Another wrote, “Learn to respect others.”
But many South Koreans said Lee did not intent to insult anyone and that Chinese netizens had stretched the meaning of her words.
“Lee did not use any belittling terms, but merely talked about her stage name,” one South Korean netizen wrote. “Is Mao a surname only for Mao Zedong?” reads another comment.
The singer has not commented on the issue.
Lee recently wrapped up her activities as a member of one-off K-pop group SSAK3, which was also created through Hangout with Yoo. The act, consisting of comedian Yoo Jae-suk, singer-actor Rain and Lee, ruled music streaming charts with the tracks In The Summer and Beach Again.
Lee began her singing career as a member of the girl group Fin.K.L in 1998 with the album Blue Rain. She made her solo debut in 2003 and rose to stardom with a smash-hit 10 Minutes. She also featured in several popular shows including JTBC’s Hyori’s Bed & Breakfast (Hyori’s Homestay) in 2017-18.
Read the full story at The Korea Times
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