A franchise restaurant located in a large shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, is sparking controversy by introducing Korean dishes as Northeast Chinese cuisine.
Professor Seok Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University noted on the 14th through his social networking service (SNS) that, "I confirmed this through recent reports from Koreans living in Thailand." According to Professor Seok, the restaurant in question is Ant Cave, operating at One Bangkok, and it is known to have numerous chain locations in China.
The cover of the menu featuring dishes like kimchi stew, soybean paste stew, and soft tofu stew included a description stating "Northeast Chinese cuisine," along with a picture of kimchi being made at the bottom. The kimchi-related dishes were incorrectly labeled as China's 'paocai' (泡菜). The restaurant's decor also utilized images of selling tteokbokki while wearing hanbok.
Professor Seok pointed out, "The Chinese franchise ‘Micheon,’ which has surpassed 1,000 locations with bibimbap as its signature dish, promotes itself as 'a non-material cultural heritage of Joseonjok' inside its stores, sparking controversy. Although Koreans operate Chinese restaurants around the world, they do not claim Chinese food as Korean. "
He emphasized, "It is blatant theft to use the nationality and territory of Joseonjok as a pretext to incorporate Korean indigenous culture into one's own culture," adding, "Chinese people should first learn to respect the cultures of other countries."