Controversial Chinese broadcaster Jang Wook-rye resumes social media after two years, sparking backlash again

Chinese broadcaster Jang Wook-rye has resurfaced on social media after a two-year absence, reigniting controversy over his past remarks that denigrated Korean culture. Jang, who had been embroiled in a scandal for claiming Korean cultural elements like the Dano festival and Confucius were stolen from China, posted a brief greeting in Chinese on his social media account, accompanied by new profile pictures.

This marks his first update since his activities were halted two years ago following intense backlash from the South Korean public. In May 2024, Jang made a series of offensive statements during a personal live broadcast, asserting that Korea was appropriating Chinese culture. He even threatened to conduct street interviews while wearing traditional Chinese imperial attire, mockingly stating it would feel like an emperor inspecting a vassal state.

Further fueling the controversy, Jang also made unsubstantiated claims that many Koreans could trace their ancestry back to China. The escalating criticism led to the cancellation of all his scheduled activities in South Korea, prompting his abrupt departure from public life.