The Reuters headline says that the current South Korean president is cracking down on “anti-Chinese, anti-foreigner rallies” (October 2, 2025). These are harming the image of South Korea and harming the economy, says the incumbent, Lee Jae Myung (shown above).
What have South Koreans got against the Chinese people and foreigners?
Under the headline, though, we learn that the motive of the protesters is not so broad or at least not always so broad. For the report tells us about “far-right groups” whose “anti-Chinese rallies” include rallies that have been “specifically targeting the Chinese Communist Party, since before the government started allowing visa-free entry to tourists from China at the start of this week.”
Lee Jae Myung: “We must completely banish self-destructive and totally useless behaviour that damages our national interests and national image.”
Reuters: “Lee has been working to improve ties with South Korea’s Asian neighbour ahead of an expected visit by President Xi Jinping for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit that starts on October 31.”
Obviously, the Chinese Communist Party, an instrument of totalitarian political control and systematic murder, is not coextensive with the people of China. Nor can the willingness of the people of any country to protest the Chinese Communist Party damage that country’s “image” in the minds of people who value freedom.
The Reuters report doesn’t say much more. But it’s clear what the problem is, for Lee: not a general anti-Chinese prejudice but a specific well-informed animus against the Chinese Communist Party, including Xi, who leads it and represents it and all it stands for. Lee doesn’t want Xi to hear of to see any crowds opposed to the CCP regime, as this may impair South Korean efforts to appease that regime.
The smartest…
“Lee’s foreign policy leanings were already visible during the 2024 campaign,” Asia Times reported a few months ago. “In March of that year, he said South Korea should not involve itself in the China–Taiwan conflict. ‘Why does [the Yoon administration] harass China? Just say “xie xie” [“thank you”] to China and “xie xie” to Taiwan,’ he said, making a hand gesture of gratitude that drew laughter from the crowd.
“His remarks were praised by Chinese commentators online, who called him ‘the smartest and most intelligent politician’ in South Korea and suggested his comments would help restore economic ties with China. In South Korea, however, the response was more critical. The opposition People Power Party accused Lee of adopting a ‘subservient’ stance and failing to defend South Korea’s national interests.”
