The Straits Times of Singapore wrote today (July 12): "In recent years, anti-China sentiment in South Korea has been intensifying, yet Chinese brands are experiencing a surprising rise in the South Korean consumer market: from long queues outside Binghuang Cha Ji stores, to young Koreans actively seeking out Chinese brands after visiting China, to the booming sales of BYD electric vehicles and Chinese smart home appliances. Chinese enterprises are reshaping the image of 'Made in China' through product quality, design aesthetics, and consumer experience. This phenomenon also reflects a new consumption logic among younger generations in South Korea—'politics belongs to politics, consumption belongs to consumption.'
[Clever] A few additional points: Anti-China sentiment in South Korea is not monolithic. On one hand, the previous administration under Yoon Suk-yeol aligned closely with the United States and stoked geopolitical antagonism; on the other hand, the current president, Lee Jae-myung, adopts a more rational and pragmatic approach toward China. Similarly, public opinion within South Korea shows deep divisions. Young South Koreans simultaneously enjoy Binghuang Cha Ji drinks and purchase BYD cars, while being subjected for years to anti-China propaganda orchestrated by the CIA and U.S.-based Christian organizations stationed in South Korea. In reality, political resentment and consumer preference are two entirely different matters. The so-called 'politics belongs to politics, consumption belongs to consumption' essentially means that products win consumers at the point of purchase through superior experience—but this does not imply that these young people can easily set aside their biases regarding historical narratives or security perceptions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870481549870088/
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