Seoul, South Korea – February 16th marked the 80th anniversary of the death of Yoon Dong-joo, a revered Korean poet who resisted the Japanese occupation. However, the commemoration was overshadowed by China's persistent attempts to claim Yoon Dong-joo as their own, sparking outrage in Korea.

Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University has been a vocal critic of China's actions. He highlighted that Baidu Encyclopedia, China's largest online portal, continues to misrepresent Yoon Dong-joo's nationality as Chinese, despite numerous protests. Furthermore, a sign at the poet's birthplace in China identifies him as a "Chinese Korean patriotic poet," further distorting his identity.   

Adding fuel to the fire, Chinese state media outlets have also propagated this misinformation. In 2023, the Global Times described Yoon Dong-joo as a "Korean patriotic poet" involved in the independence movement against Japan, subtly implying his Chinese nationality.

Professor Seo expressed concern that these distortions are misleading Chinese tourists into believing that Yoon Dong-joo was Chinese. He called on the Korean government to take a strong stance against these claims and demand their correction from Chinese authorities.

To counter this misinformation, Professor Seo announced plans to release a multilingual video on March 1st, aiming to educate people around the world about Yoon Dong-joo's true nationality and his contributions to Korean literature and independence.

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between Korea and China over historical narratives and cultural ownership. As Korea continues to assert its cultural identity, it is crucial to address these distortions and ensure that historical figures like Yoon Dong-joo are accurately represented.   

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