The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'

  • 3

    INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry

  • 5

    College students turn to 1,000 won breakfast to beat inflation

  • 7

    Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan

  • 9

    BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals

  • 11

    Carmakers unveil latest models at Seoul Mobility Show

  • 13

    Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal'

  • 15

    Japanese top visitors to Korea in 2023 as tourism rebounds

  • 17

    BTS Jimin breaks record for K-pop soloist with 'Face'

  • 19

    Gwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrects

  • 2

    Children, pregnant women executed, tortured in North Korea: report

  • 4

    Korea to scrap customs form for travelers without dutiable goods

  • 6

    NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience

  • 8

    Korean aesthetics, spirit live on at Gyeongbok Palace

  • 10

    Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik'

  • 12

    Seventeen to drop new EP next month

  • 14

    South Korea nominates new ambassador to US

  • 16

    INTERVIEWSouth Korea needs to make decision on sending lethal aid to Ukraine : CNAS CEO

  • 18

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to visit May 18 National Cemetery

  • 20

    Koreans warned against making inappropriate videos in Thailand

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sat, April 1, 2023 | 10:45
Trends
Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year
Posted : 2023-01-31 08:30
Updated : 2023-02-01 15:33
Dong Sun-hwa
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR
Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR

'Culture has no nationality'

By Dong Sun-hwa

On Jan. 21, Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans, apologized soon after sending a message to her fans that read: "What r u bunnies (the name of the quintet's global fandom) doing for Chinese new year?"

What raised the eyebrows of numerous Korean fans was her use of the phrase, "Chinese New Year." They insisted the 17-year-old's word choice was inappropriate, as the Lunar New Year is a major holiday celebrated in many countries other than China, including Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. Thus, the K-pop star had to issue an apology, promising she would be more careful with her words and actions in the future.

Just one day later, the British Museum ― which shared a Twitter post introducing its special performances celebrating "Korean Lunar New Year" on Jan. 12 ― deleted it and uploaded a new post with the hashtag, "#ChineseNewYear." The first national public museum of the world is believed to have made the modification in the face of severe criticism from Chinese internet users, who accused it of "cultural appropriation."

Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR
The British Museum's Twitter post with the hashtag, "#ChineseNewYear" / Captured from Twitter

These incidents have brought up a question: What is the best way of referring to this annual holiday? According to experts, "Lunar New Year" is the least-controversial term.

"An attempt to give nationality to shared culture is not a fashion of the 21st century," Jieun Kiaer, a professor of Korean Language and Linguistics at the University of Oxford, told The Korea Times. "Such an attempt was frequently made in the preceding century, when some countries strived to show off their cultural dominance by adding their names to different cultural assets. But today, doing so can trigger political spats."

The professor added that the majority of English-speaking countries, such as the U.K., often used the phrase, "Chinese New Year" in the past due to an old habit.

"In bygone days, many English-speaking countries thought that being 'Chinese' means being 'pan-Asian,' as China was the first Asian country they encountered and actively interacted with," she said. "Since they were not exposed to other Asian cultures, they simply described Asian stuff as 'Chinese-something,' as evidenced by the cases of 'Chinese cabbage' and 'Chinese pancake.' But the term 'Chinese' is quite complex and political in reality."

However, the trend is changing thanks to social media platforms, which have provided people with a range of information about Asia, prompting them to explore its diverse aspects and hidden gems.

"Asian awareness has significantly improved and people in the West are now replacing the 'Chinese New Year' with the term the 'Lunar New Year,'" Kiaer said.

Lim Dae-geun, a professor of Chinese Cinema Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), also underscored that culture has no nationality.

"It is not completely wrong to add 'Korean' or 'Chinese' to the Lunar New Year since both countries celebrate it, but culture does not hold any nationality in essence," he said. "The concept of nationality was formed after modernization. The Lunar New Year was created before the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948 and the People's Republic of China in 1949. But today, people tend to confine culture within a specific nation, instead of relishing it together."

Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR
"Tteokguk" (sliced rice cake soup), eaten by many Koreans on New Year's Day / gettyimagesbank
A legion of Chinese online users even criticized some celebrities and institutions ― including the Walt Disney Company ― for using the phrase, "Lunar New Year," but Lim pointed out that this is unwise.

"If Beijing continues to claim ownership of shared culture that originated in China, it will lose the chance to further disseminate its culture, with other countries trying to break away from Chinese influence and develop their unique customs and rituals."

Although the Lunar New Year is believed to have started in China's Shang Dynasty in the 14th century B.C., experts believe other countries can still claim it as their own, because they celebrate it in their distinctive styles and manners.

"In the case of Korea, the way people celebrate the Lunar New Year is different from that of Chinese, except for eating dumplings," Kiaer explained, adding that Korea has its own word "Seollal" that specifically refers to this holiday.

Korean people also eat "tteokguk" (sliced rice cake soup), perform "sebae" by bowing to elders on their knees, and play traditional games such as "yutnori." In China, people eat fish and moon-shaped rice cakes, light firecrackers and put on red outfits, which are believed to bring luck and prosperity.

Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR
Young children perform "sebae" to elders at a senior center in Seoul, Jan. 17. Korea Times file

Korea, China in cultural feud

This is not the first time that internet users in Korea and China have faced cultural clashes. They have quarreled over the roots of specific items like "kimchi" (fermented cabbage) and "hanbok" (traditional Korean dress) in recent years amid souring Korea-China ties. Most recently, Beijing has lifted its ban on short-term visas for Japanese travelers, but not for those from Korea. The suspension was imposed earlier this month, when Seoul and Tokyo tightened COVID-19 quarantine measures on the arrivals from China that lately saw a spike in the number of patients.

China, which shares traditional culture with many other Asian countries like Japan and Vietnam, has been particularly at odds with Korea, with people from these two countries exchanging harsh and hurtful words against each other.

Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR
K-pop boy band BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music

It seems Chinese online users are trying to "contain" Korea's growing cultural clout, Lim says.

"Among different Asian countries, Korea's cultural power fueled by the success of K-pop, K-dramas and K-films is most visible these days," Lim explained. "I believe this has made some Chinese nervous. On top of that, China is emphasizing nationalism and patriotism in the present day, and the so-called 'internet nationalism' led by online users has gained moment over the last five to six years."

The Chinese government strengthened patriotic education within schools to promote loyalty toward the party for Chinese students who were born after 1990, collectively known as "jiulinghou."

"Koreans need to remain resolute, but raise their voices when they need to make their claims," Lim noted.


Emailsunhwadong@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal' Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal'
2Gwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrectsGwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrects
3Koreans warned against making inappropriate videos in ThailandKoreans warned against making inappropriate videos in Thailand
4[INTERVIEW] North Korean defectors bear brunt of remittance scams INTERVIEWNorth Korean defectors bear brunt of remittance scams
5Ambassador offers taste of Ghana to Korea Ambassador offers taste of Ghana to Korea
6Korea ready to greet BIE inspection team Korea ready to greet BIE inspection team
7Gimpo airport to launch care service for dogs Gimpo airport to launch care service for dogs
8Yoon gov't disputes Japanese media's claims about summit Yoon gov't disputes Japanese media's claims about summit
9Mirae Asset, SK Telecom team up for security token businessMirae Asset, SK Telecom team up for security token business
10Regulators urge financial groups to minimize interest rate hikesRegulators urge financial groups to minimize interest rate hikes
Top 5 Entertainment News
1IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream' IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'
2[INTERVIEW] Foreign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry
3NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience
4BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals
5Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik' Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group