A viral video showing a South Korean tourist waving his country’s flag at China’s Changbai Mountain has sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. The incident, which occurred on July 25, was recorded by a YouTuber named “girit” during a livestream of his trip to the mountain.
In the footage, the tourist unfurled the South Korean flag and sang its national anthem while standing at the summit, overlooking Tianchi Lake. A staff member, dressed in red and appearing to be a park employee, promptly intervened, confiscating the flag and stopping the man. According to the video, some South Korean tourists at the scene pointed out that the area is Chinese territory and such actions are inappropriate.
South Korean news outlet YTN reported the incident on Wednesday. On Thursday, China’s Global Times contacted the Jilin Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Management Committee for clarification. A spokesperson confirmed the incident took place in the northern section of the scenic area but did not specify the exact time. The staff member noted that local police had already handled the case and that similar incidents had occurred before, with staff consistently intervening swiftly.
The video reignited debates on Sina Weibo, with some users praising the park staff for their quick action, while others criticized the tourist’s behavior and emphasized the need to respect China’s laws and regulations.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice, foreign nationals are generally prohibited from displaying their national flags in public spaces within China, except during designated events like a foreign country’s national day—where the Chinese flag must also be displayed alongside it.
