TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese tourists are reportedly buying badges that say they are from Taiwan to distinguish themselves from Chinese nationals as anti-China protests mount in Seoul ahead of the APEC summit.
A Taiwanese tour guide surnamed Lin (林), who was leading a group in Seoul’s Myeongdong area, told the New York Times that to avoid harassment from demonstrators, some members of his group wear badges or carry signs marking themselves as coming from Taiwan. He explained, “If they get mistaken as Chinese and harassed, they can show it and they’ll be left alone.”
The guide also advised his group members to avoid speaking Mandarin if they encountered anti-China protests nearby. The far-right protesters have been seen carrying signs such as “Korea for Koreans” and “Stop the Chinese Boats,” with some even shouting racial slurs.
On Oct. 10, a Taiwanese netizen posted on Threads, “Recently, anti-Chinese sentiment in South Korea has gotten quite intense. Should I wear this kind of badge?” The post included a photo of a badge that read “I’m from Taiwan” in English and “I’m Taiwanese” in Korean, alongside a cartoon character holding a Taiwanese flag, per Munhwa Ilbo.
By Oct. 16, the designer of the badge said there had been a sudden surge in orders in recent days, attributing the spike to media attention generated by the post.
These protests appear to have originated from demonstrations supporting the ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Many far-right activists and internet personalities backing Yoon have long promoted anti-China rhetoric, including accusations of Beijing meddling in South Korean elections.
