Chinese Netizens Are Causing a Fuss Over Actor Lee Dong-wook’s Past Remarks.
On Weibo, the hashtag “Lee Dong-wook, South Korea Doesn’t Eat Mooncakes” has been gaining major traction, racking up over 98.12 million views and more than 32,000 posts. The issue has quickly turned into a heated online discussion among Chinese users.
The controversy stems from comments made by Lee Dong-wook during Chuseok last year. When Chinese fans asked on the fan communication platform Bubble whether Koreans also eat mooncakes during the holiday, the actor responded, “Chinese fans, Koreans don’t eat mooncakes. The way we celebrate the holidays is different.”
He further clarified by adding, “Stop talking about mooncakes. We eat songpyeon.”
Once his reply was translated into Chinese and circulated online, backlash emerged from Chinese netizens. Some criticized the statement, saying, “South Korea is disrespecting Chinese culture (mooncakes)” while others questioned, “Don’t you eat mooncakes in South Korea?” A few even accused South Korea of cultural appropriation, claiming, “It seems like South Korea will soon try to claim mooncakes as their own food.”
Meanwhile, South Korean netizens expressed confusion at the uproar. Reactions on online communities included, “What’s the problem? Lee Dong-wook just stated a fact,” and “He just said they don’t eat it because they don’t.”
The ongoing debate highlights sensitive cross-cultural tensions around traditional foods, particularly during major holidays such as Chuseok in Korea and the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.
