SEOUL: South Korean news media on Friday expressed anger and outrage after Chinese security guards beat and severely injured a South Korean photojournalist covering President Moon Jae-In鈥檚 visit to Beijing.
Opposition parties and Internet users joined in, saying the incident epitomized the Asian giant鈥檚 attitude toward its smaller neighbor.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party urged Moon to call off his four-day state visit and return home immediately, saying the violence was a 鈥渢error attack against the whole of South Korea.鈥�
The photographer was thrown to the floor and kicked, reportedly suffering fractured facial bones and ruptured vessels in an eye, as Chinese security personnel stopped South Korean photographers following Moon鈥檚 delegation at a trade show.
鈥淢istreatment of President Moon and lynching of a Korean journalist 鈥� This is the Chinese Dream,鈥� the Chosun Ilbo, South Korea鈥檚 largest-circulation daily, headlined its editorial, referring to President Xi Jinping鈥檚 promise of prosperity and influence.
Chosun and other newspapers noted Moon had his first three meals in China without any Chinese officials on hand, with a lunch with Premier Li Keqiang unilaterally scrapped.
He was greeted by an assistant minister when he landed, while Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was welcomed last year by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Chosun said the perceived diplomatic slight and the violence against a member of Moon鈥檚 presidential press corps were 鈥渘ot accidental鈥� and were driven by 鈥淐hina鈥檚 arrogant and violent nature鈥� and 鈥淪eoul鈥檚 subservient attitude.鈥�
鈥淭his rudeness China exhibited toward the South Korean presidential entourage is the very nature of the Chinese Dream,鈥� it added.
The English-language Korea Times called it 鈥渁n appalling use of force by Chinese security.鈥�
鈥淲e are dumbfounded and enraged at such violence against visitors... We are outraged by the rude welcome,鈥� it said.
Internet users also reacted angrily.
鈥淐hina trampled upon Korea and the whole Korean people,鈥� one said in a posting.
But others said many Korean photojournalists are overly eager to get the best possible images and often cross cordons, sparking trouble with security guards.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday that while the trade show had been organized by the South Korean side, 鈥渋f someone is hurt, of course we are concerned about that.鈥�
South Korea outraged by journalist beating in China
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