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Ever since the end of World War II, relations between Japan and Korea have been frosty at best. No matter how many decades have passed, such dark stains in history have a tendency to linger in people’s minds.
Take Korean YouTuber Hong Sung Hyuk, for example. Although his channel is generally lighthearted and mostly involves him chatting up beautiful women on streets, one video recently highlighted his supposed anti-Japan sentiment in stark detail. He had driven all the way down to the airport to purchase a flight ticket to Japan worth 1.35 million won ($1,150).
▼ But instead of taking the plane, he ripped it up to shreds.
Hong’s message was clear to viewers: he was boycotting Japan. Yet despite the video showing him tearing up the ticket with grim satisfaction, the fact remained that he had already contributed toward Japan’s economy just by buying it. So he was essentially helping the country he hates while wasting good money.
▼ He did clean up his mess after like a proper law-abiding citizen, though.
Considering his obvious mistake and the channel’s general direction, the whole video comes across as more of a publicity stunt than a purposeful message to boycott Japan, not to mention that he could potentially walk up to a counter for a ticket refund. Most viewers, including his own subscribers, managed to see through his bluff and not take it too seriously:
“If you want to boycott, don’t buy the ticket in the first place.”
“This is all an act to get more subscribers.”
“That’s not boycotting at all.”
“You’re just delaying all the other passengers on board.”
Despite all that has happened, keep in mind that many Korean people do not feel this way, and Japanese youth these days love all things Korean. Both cultures have incredibly exciting stuff such as pop culture and food that have ended up influencing each other’s societies, and to shun one side is to lose out on enjoying the best things in life.
Sources: YouTube/Clark TV, Facebook/Hong Sung Hyuk via Hachima Kiko
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© SoraNews24
33 Comments
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Serrano
a flight ticket to Japan ( from Korea ) worth 1.35 million won ($1,150).
Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. He bought it so I guess he thought it was worth the price.
Fendy
He’s not doing it right! Once he has cut up the ticket, cleaned up the floor and requested a refund, he then needs to burn the money he received. :)
shogun36
Never watched his channel before, never will after seeing this. Next.
BackpackingNepal
And little Japanese kids say...'Baakaa!...
wtfjapan
Never heard of em.
just another herbivorous man wearing more makeup and beauty products than his girlfriend or boyfriend
wtfjapan
$1,150 What? That is ten round trip economy sessions with a hotel for three nights. Why was he spending so much? Perhaps it should have been $115?
being 1150 id say its a business class ticket which is changeable, also if his video become viral or even a decent amount of views hell make that back just in youtube advertisments. pure publicity clickbait
extanker
So he packed his bags, drove to the airport, just to film himself ripping up a plane ticket that can be replaced simply by walking over to the ticket counter? What a tool.
That bandwagon is getting kinda full with everybody jumping on it like this.
mike1492
Never heard of em.
Harlock
LOL it's just a boarding pass, he can have multiple printed out.
ReturningGrace
This guy isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. The airline, regardless of which one, will sell his seat to another. They pocket both fares.
Armel MALEJACQ
Probably rperinted the ticked right after and went to ask for a refund. These moronic youtubers are sooooooooooooo boring....
Kag
You can actually get the ticket reprinted.
You need both passport and ticket to board hence you can say you lost the ticket and have it reprinted.
kwatt
If Koreans boycott 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japanese can have more chance to buy tickets at the entrances.
gogogo
Basically destroyed an entire country of fans.... good luck with that.
Heckleberry
Why is this news? Fodder for racist comments. Maybe post some of the cr@p posted by Japanese Youtubers? There are plenty of deluded nutjobs to choose from.
NCIS Reruns
I'd retaliate but there's nothing Korean for sale around here except dried seaweed and kimchee....
Andrew Crisp
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………………………..
Sam Watters
Look Japan's colonial rule was terrible---no question about that---but how can people feel so badly about something they did not experience?
oldman_13
My opinions of vloggers and social media 'influencers' and other such legends in their own minds has never been favorable.
Idiots like these only continue to reaffirm my belief..
Harryliow Jen Fei
Forgive this fool guys, his just another YouTuber trying to get as much attention as possible while wasting own cash to prove something... Wel in my opinion questionable purpose. This actions are very insecure, is a shame really.
Gorramcowboy
Good. Don't need your presence.
JJ Jetplane
Waste of time; however, he was smart because his video will likely garner a lot of views as most negative videos do. The fact that it is also on this news site shows that he is getting the publicity he wanted. The real crime is that he is taking lightly something that some people feel very serious about.
smithinjapan
Lame. And clearly from the responses even by Koreans they know it's just an act. I guarantee after he filmed this he went to the counter for a refund, and I doubt very much he then donated it to some Korean charity or something.
Rena Matsui
If he wants to make a meaningful impact, just make a public declaration on your channel that you will not buy anything that was made in Japan, will not visit Japan, will not watch/support anything associated with Japan until they change to your liking. And actually stick to it. But of course that won't happen because again, this is merely to make himself look "cool" and get some cheap publicity. Typical poser type.
showchinmono
It was flight ticket of Korean Air this guy has just shredded
Speed
Wow, that was pretty stupid.
shonanbb
$1,150 What? That is ten round trip economy sessions with a hotel for three nights. Why was he spending so much? Perhaps it should have been $115?
Rena Matsui
As with 99% of all "professional" YouTubers - it's merely for publicity. As the article clearly mentions and would be common sense to anyone not spending half their day on YouTube, destroying the paper ticket does not cancel the value of the flight purchase. It might be fully refundable, credited for use on other travel, etc. All for show.
lucabrasi
It had better have been a first-class ticket.
Otherwise, he’s a cheapskate patriot....
Nobnaga
ok....