Filipina TikToker’s rising sun tattoo sparks feud among netizens
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino netizens have flooded Twitter with “#CancelKorea” as they expressed dismay over racist remarks supposedly from Koreans.
https://www.facebook.com/2375401376004720/posts/2737412869803567/?extid=AmA4OG1yIBDbdMSI&d=n
All of this stemmed when Filipino TikTok influencer Bella Poarch, born in Hawaii, posted a video of her dancing and exposing a Rising Sun tattoo on her left arm.
@bellapoarch So I decided to make a dance for this sound & I’m not even good at dancing🤣
Korean TikTok users took offense to the tattoo which was associated with Japanese imperialism during World War II.
It is said to remain offensive in South Korea due to Japan’s harsh treatment of Koreans during the war.
Article continues after this advertisementWhile some netizens respectfully pointed out why her Rising Sun tattoo was offensive, some resorted to name-calling and racial slurs referring to Filipinos as “poor and uneducated” as seen in now-viral screenshots.
Article continues after this advertisement“I’m very sorry if my tattoo offends you. I love Korea. Please forgive me,” Poarch said Wednesday in another post.
https://www.tiktok.com/@bellapoarch/video/6868895080074267909
“I did not know the history behind this tattoo and I will educate others about it. I only found out when Koreans told me about it on TikTok,” she added.
The incident prompted Filipinos to call out Koreans through the hashtag “CancelKorea” and “ApologizeToFilipinos.”
Some netizens noted that thousands of Filipino soldiers were sent to the Korean war in 1950 while some boasted of the Philippines’ pride like its tourist destinations, Miss Universe titleholders, among others.
This is my Lolo, a Korean war veteran. He was so happy when he visited South Korea again last year and got chance to offer flowers to our fallen heroes. Filipino soldiers died for your country. REMEMBER THAT. 💯 #cancelkorea pic.twitter.com/C55pxWyQxH
— AK ✈️👨🏻✈️ (@akitabaquero) September 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/xenaglazeurbano/status/1303567476677107712
https://twitter.com/lustrouskaye/status/1303524290675879936
While the hashtag was filled with posts highlighting the Philippines’ good traits, there were also some who called out fellow Filipinos for their offensive remarks towards Koreans like calling them “plastic faces.”
https://twitter.com/Hoseokiebbbb/status/1303578794502975490
Some netizens even made fun of how Koreans supposedly “can’t learn English” without leaving their country.
#cancelkorea
imagine calling someone dumb while you can't even learn english without leaving your country pic.twitter.com/TO6qZ5RRXp— bakuzakii❖ (@bakuzakii) September 9, 2020
#cancelkorea "Filipinos are uneducated"
Koreans right now trying to read Filipinos English tweets: pic.twitter.com/sDLVqouugg
— Dwaekki_IN生 (@DwaekkiB) September 9, 2020
