MANILA, Philippines — Filipino netizens have flooded Twitter with “#CancelKorea” as they expressed dismay over racist remarks supposedly from Koreans.
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.
While 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.
“I’m very sorry if my tattoo offends you. I love Korea. Please forgive me,” Poarch said Wednesday in another post.
@bellapoarch #greenscreen Here is a photo of my arm tattoo. I love Korea🥺😭 I would never do anything to hurt anyone.
“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
FLEX KO LANG LOLO KO. HE IS A KOREAN WAR VETERAN. FILIPINO SOLDIERS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES JUST TO PROTECT YOUR COUNTRY. BE GRATEFUL☺️#cancelkorea pic.twitter.com/13QENkTo2v
— Xena Glaze (@xenaglazeurbano) September 9, 2020
Koreans calling Filipinos ugly without knowing that Philippines is rank #2 when it comes of having beautiful people. Philippines have already won 4x in Miss Universe pageant while Miss Korea can't even enter Top 5. lol #cancelkorea pic.twitter.com/U8Wd1mOZYI
— 𝙺𝙰𝚈𝙴 🇵🇭 (@lustrouskaye) September 9, 2020
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.”
Lol, you all have the audacity to trend the "#cancelkorea" when you guys are doing the same also😂 Them calling you guys "dark skinned" and you guys calling them "Plastic Faces" Nothing changed you are a Racist itself! pic.twitter.com/6hXVe4gixC
— Jeon Catalyst¹³ (@Hoseokiebbbb) September 9, 2020
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