SEOUL • #BoycottJapan is trending in South Korea.
Angered by Japan's move to restrict exports of vital manufacturing materials to the country, South Koreans have taken to Instagram and other social media platforms to show their support for boycotts of travel to Japan and Japanese consumer products.
More than 2,400 public posts with the hashtag #BoycottJapan have been shared on Instagram since the measures were imposed last Thursday, with some including a picture that uses Japan's rising red sun icon as "O" in the word "No".
"NO, Boycott Japan: Don't go, don't buy," it said.
While support for any boycott so far appears limited, the push highlights the growing risk of open economic warfare between the two American allies.
Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government announced restrictions on sales to South Korea of materials necessary to produce vital components in high-tech manufacturing.
South Korea is Japan's third-largest export market, worth 5.79 trillion yen (S$72.58 billion) in trade last year.
The latest flare-up, amid decades of ill will over Japan's past aggression, came when South Korean courts seized assets belonging to Japanese companies they held liable for cases of forced labour during the 1910 to 1945 period of colonisation.
Although Mr Abe has denied that the export controls are retaliation, the spat has fanned nationalistic sentiments in both countries.
In recent days, South Korean Internet users have been sharing cancellation confirmations for flights to Tokyo, Osaka and other popular travel destinations.
South Koreans make up 13 per cent - 584.2 billion yen or S$7.3 billion - of spending by foreign tourists in Japan last year, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
South Korean netizens have also circulated lists of "Korean alternative" products to replace Japanese goods.
Koreans are being encouraged to shop at SPAO, Samsung C&T Corp's 8 Seconds or Top 10, instead of Fast Retailing Co's Uniqlo.
Shoppers are also urged to consider beauty products by Able C&C's Missha instead of those by Shiseido, as well as beer from HiteJinro but not Asahi Group Holdings.
Fast Retailing gets about 6.7 per cent of its sales from South Korea, while a South Korean joint venture between Asahi and Lotte Chilsung Beverage earned less than 1 per cent of its revenue there, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Mr Je Hyun-jung, director of the Centre for Trade Studies & Cooperation at the Korea International Trade Association, said that while there is no ban that would impact most consumer products, the uncertainty could disrupt supply chains and increase the costs of doing business.
"This is something that should be resolved politically, not have a damaging impact on the industry," Mr Je said.
Meanwhile, an umbrella association of South Korean mom-and-pop stores announced its participation in the boycott.
The Korean Supermarkets Alliance, an organisation representing more than 23,000 stores, said it would temporarily halt sales of Japanese products, including beers by Asahi and Kirin Holdings, and Japan Tobacco's Mild Seven cigarettes.
"We will fight Japan's attitude towards its wartime history and retaliatory measures," association president Lim Won-bae said in a statement.
BLOOMBERG
