According to a report by South Korean TV station KNN on September 1st, a photo in Chinese was recently posted on the doors of Seoul Metro Line 2 in South Korea, causing dissatisfaction and questions among some South Koreans. In response, South Korean authorities explained that these photos were displayed by the Seoul city government as examples of poetry from various countries, intended for foreign tourists and residents of Seoul to appreciate.
According to reports, the ‘controversial’ photo was taken at the Hongda Entrance Station on the Seoul Metro Line 2. The photo features a famous work by the Chinese Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji, titled ‘Chou Nuer·Shu Bo Shan Dao Zhong Bi’. The original Chinese text is printed above the photo, while the Korean translation is printed below it.
Some Koreans are dissatisfied with the content in the photos, claiming that it is an example of 'Chinese culture infiltrating' and that 'Chinese characters are placed above Korean characters'. Related posts quickly spread on Korean social media.
South Korea Seoul Metro Line 2: Soldiers' Chinese Poems – Video Screenshots
Regarding this, officials from relevant South Korean departments explained that Seoul has been displaying poetry on the subway platform since 2008. In 2023, the display was expanded to include more overseas poems, with the aim of providing these poems for appreciation by foreign tourists and Seoul residents.
Seoul Metropolitan Government selected 24 works, covering thirteen languages, and set them up at thirteen stations, including the entrance of Hongdae Station. The original language and Korean translation of each work will be displayed together. Officials emphasized that subway station displays not only Chinese works but also works in English, Japanese, German, French, Vietnamese, and other languages.
Some Korean netizens are also confused by this so-called "controversy". Some argue, "If we read Korean poems abroad, is that also a form of cultural infiltration?" Others criticize the critics for "making a mountain out of a molehill", saying that "it's just an introduction to overseas works using both the original text and the translated version."
