Seoul cafe removes ‘No Chinese’ Instagram bio after human rights probe
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A formal complaint was filed accusing the cafe, identified as Permanent Habitat, of discrimination against Chinese nationals.
PHOTOS: PERMANENT.HABITAT/INSTAGRAM
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SEOUL – A cafe in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong has deleted its controversial Instagram bio declaring it does “not accept Chinese guests” after the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) launched an investigation into alleged racial discrimination.
The cafe, identified as Permanent Habitat, became the centre of public backlash in October after posting the message “We’re sorry. We do not accept Chinese guests.”
The post quickly spread across South Korean and Chinese social media, sparking heated debates over racism and anti-China sentiment just days before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
According to the NHRC, a formal complaint was filed accusing the cafe of discrimination against Chinese nationals.
The commission subsequently interviewed the owner and recommended the removal of the post. The owner then signed a written pledge to delete the message, which was taken down by noon on Nov 2.
An NHRC official said the case will likely be closed without further deliberation since the owner agreed to address the incident and prevent a recurrence of it. The commission plans to submit an investigation report for review, including the owner’s signed statement, to the Committee for Correction of Discrimination.
The controversy initially erupted after a Chinese influencer known as Henry, who lives in South Korea and has more than 190,000 followers on Instagram, condemned the cafe on social media in Chinese, English and Korean. “This is the most racist cafe I’ve ever seen in Korea,” he said in the viral video.
His remarks drew millions of views across Instagram and Chinese platforms, fuelling criticism that xenophobia towards Chinese nationals is becoming normalised in South Korea.
The incident appeared to have stemmed from a dispute between South Korean and Chinese customers, Seongdong District Chief Jeong Won-o said in an interview with MBC Radio’s Kim Jong-bae’s Focus programme. The cafe owner reportedly explained that the decision was meant to avoid further conflicts inside the cafe.
While the exact circumstances have not been confirmed, Mr Jeong said the disagreement may have started after some customers complained about loud conversations in Chinese at the cafe. He added that, within a week of the ban, online communities began spreading calls to boycott tourism in Seongsu-dong, along with growing negative sentiment towards South Korea.
The incident reignited debate over the absence of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law in South Korea.
Sookmyung Women’s University law professor Hong Sung-soo said that “exclusion zones that began with children are now extending to nationality and race”, calling the case “a wake-up call demanding stronger political and social intervention to prevent hate from becoming mainstream”. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
