Zhou Yubo, general manager of the Korean branch of the People’s Daily, an organ of the Communist Party of China (courtesy of Gunsan City)
A few days ago, the “Chinese composite culture village” promoted by Gangwon Province became the focus of attention in South Korea, triggering more than 600,000 people to sign a protest, and the construction company concerned said it would reconsider its construction plan, and the project was facing collapse. At the same time, the activities of the female manager of the Korean branch of the Communist Party’s People’s Daily in South Korea and her relationship with South Korean dignitaries have also attracted widespread attention.
Chinatown Construction Raises Concerns of Korean Public
In December 2018, Gangwon Province signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily to build a “Chinese complex cultural village,” or Chinatown, in Chuncheon City and Hongcheon County. It is expected to cover an area of 1.2 million square meters, about the size of 170 soccer fields, equivalent to building a “small China” in South Korea, with core facilities such as a traditional Chinese cultural street and a Korean branch of the Shaolin Temple. Gangwon Province is one of the fourteen provinces in Korea, located in the center of the Korean Peninsula, the geographical location is very important. Therefore, after the news gradually spread, it aroused the concern of Koreans.
According to a report by NTD Korea, there is an analysis that the project may cause national security concerns. The project is located 10 minutes away from Chinatown, where the 11th Division of the Army, a reserve force of South Korea, is stationed, and where many military facilities are located. Gangwon Province also shares a border with North Korea, with the 38th parallel running through the province.
Kim Jong-moon, a representative of the Nakajima Prehistoric Site Preservation Headquarters, interviewed at the construction site of the hotel in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
In addition, Gangwon-do plans to build a Chinese-only luxury hotel in Chuncheon City as a complementary facility to Chinatown, but the site chosen for the hotel is on the Chuncheon Nakajima prehistoric site, which is currently the largest prehistoric site in the world with over 10,000 artifacts excavated. According to the representative of the Nakajima Prehistoric Site Preservation Headquarters, Kim Jong Moon, the construction company is forcing the construction work despite confirming the existence of the relics, and if it continues, it may cause damage that is difficult to recover.
The representative of the Chuncheon Nakajima Prehistoric Site Preservation Headquarters, Kim Jong Moon, also said that the Chinese Communist Party is vigorously promoting the “Northeast Project” and trying to instill in neighboring countries the historical concept that “China was the pillar of all Northeast Asia, including the Korean nation,” and that the Nakajima relics could The Nakdo relics can overturn this argument of the Chinese Communist Party. Representative Kim said that building a hotel on the prehistoric site of Nakajima, which is very important for the preservation of Korea’s national history, is tantamount to erasing history and destroying the future.
The project is widely resisted and faces total cancellation
And many Korean people also see it as a form of cultural infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party.On December 6, 2019, the “Chinese Composite Cultural Village” project was launched at the People’s Daily headquarters in Beijing, and the deputy editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily said in his speech that “the current Sino-Korean relations are steadily developing The deputy editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily said in his speech that “the current relationship between China and South Korea is developing steadily”, and that “more ways and paths of spring breeze and silent rain are needed to promote public opinion between the two countries”, and that “the Chuncheon Chinese Cultural Complex Village project is a useful attempt”.
The “Chinese Cultural Complex Village” in Gangwon Province was also confirmed as a “Belt and Road” project of the Chinese Communist Party, and reports of the launch ceremony in 2019 also appeared on the official website of the Chinese Communist Party’s Belt and Road. In the report, the deputy director of the State Information Center’s Big Data Development Department said that “culture is an important force in the construction of the Belt and Road”. Yoon Chang-un, general manager of Kolong Global, who is in charge of the construction, said in his speech that the Chinese Cultural Complex Village project “is a key project to implement the spirit of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The news of the construction of the Chinese cultural complex in Gangwon Province has caused disgust and continuous protests among Koreans. However, on March 23, 2021, the Gangwon Province government announced through the Gangwon Province Daily that the name of the project would be changed from “Chinese Cultural Complex Village” to “Korea-China Cultural City” in spite of public opposition and outcry, and that it would be positioned as a representative project to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. The project will be a representative project to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, and the construction will be accelerated from the second half of this year.
On March 29th, Korean people signed a petition on Cheong Wa Dae’s website, stating their concerns about the Chinese Cultural Complex Village, expressing their dismay at the forced construction of the project in Gangwon Province, and demanding that the project be cancelled. As of May 3, the number of signatures reached 670,780, and according to the relevant regulations, if the number of petitioners exceeds 200,000, Cheong Wa Dae or the relevant agency must respond.
In the face of the rising public pressure, KORUN International, which is in charge of the construction project, said on April 26, “Regardless of the objective reality, more than 650,000 people have participated in the petition, and we cannot ignore this public sentiment. Even if it suffers a huge economic loss and time loss, the project plan will be completely reexamined” and announced the cancellation of the project.
In contrast, at his own press conference on the 10th anniversary of his inauguration on April 27, Governor Choi Man-shun of Gangwon Province responded to a reporter’s question about China-related projects such as the cultural village by saying, “There are anti-China sentiments (in Korea) and serious anti-Japanese sentiments. Although there is some resistance, in the general direction, it is better to enhance people-to-people exchanges through cultural exchanges and reduce the disgusting feelings. I will respect the feelings of the people and at the same time eliminate the aversion,” he said, leaving room for the project to move forward.
The government is trying to get closer to the governor of Gangwon Province
South Koreans have noticed the presence of a woman in the Gangwon-do Cultural Village process: Zhou Yubo, the general manager of the Korean company of People’s Daily, the online version of the Chinese Communist Party’s official media.
In 1997, Kangwon Province spent 380 billion won to build an international airport in Xiangyang County, but the airport, which was completed in 2001 and officially opened on April 8, 2002, was closed due to chronic demand. elected governor of Gangwon Province, and his first task was to activate the Xiangyang International Airport.
In the same year that the People’s Daily opened its branch in Korea, Zhou Yubo was hired by the People’s Daily as its first general manager, and she approached Choi on the grounds that she could “promote Xiangyang International Airport in China” and continued to build up her friendship.
On November 11, 2013, JIN AIR, a low-cost airline, signed a memorandum of understanding with twenty-three Chinese cities, including Changsha, Hunan Province, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, and Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, to launch scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from Xiangyang International Airport.
On March 4 of the following year, Zhou Yubo was awarded the title of “Honorary Governor” by Gangwon Province, and on the same day, Cui Wenxun posted the following on his Facebook page: “Lately, every time I pass through Xiangyang Airport, I am so happy to have my head held high. If things go on like this, Incheon International Airport is not even worthy of envy anymore. Thank you very much to Ms. Zhou Yubo, Honorary Governor of Gangwon Province and General Manager of People’s Daily Korea, for her great promotion.”
In 2014, Ms. Zhou Yubo, General Manager of People’s Daily Korea, was appointed as “Honorary Governor of Gangwon Province”. (Screenshot from People’s Daily Online)
Zhou Yubo also introduced Governor Cui Wenxun to the local government of the Chinese Communist Party, and Gangwon Province held major events such as the Korea-China Friendship Marathon and the Korea-China Media Forum through her good offices.
Frequent contacts with the Korean political circles to network with pro-China forces
Zhou Yubo has also been extensively close to other political figures.
On September 11, 2015, Zhou Yubo visited Jeollabuk Province and received a gift of calligraphy from Governor Song Ha Jin. On September 14 of the same year, he visited the then governor of JeollaNamdo, Lee Nakyeon, and signed an agreement on matters seeking joint development and cooperation. In addition, cooperation agreements were signed with many Korean government agencies, including more than a dozen autonomous regions, economic autonomy regions of the Yellow Sea and East Coast, and Korean overseas promotion agencies. These include Gangneung City-Pyeongchang County (2013), Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk Province (2013), Gunsan City, Jeollabuk Province (2013), Iksan City, Jeollabuk Province (2015), Tamyang County, Jeollanam Province (2017), Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province (2017), Haedong County, Gyeongsangnam Province (2017), and South-Dong District, Gwangju Metropolitan City (2017).
According to an interview with former Gangwon Province congressman Kim Jin-dae conducted by NewDaily Korea, Choo Ok-bo has befriended more influential Democratic Party members, such as Park Won-soon (former mayor of Seoul), Song Yong-gil, Park Young-seon, and Kim Young-chun.
Choo was also selected as an honorary citizen of Seoul on October 28, 2015, when Park was mayor. In introducing the reasons for her selection, the Seoul Metropolitan City said, “She actively publishes news about Seoul on People’s Daily, China’s largest state-run online news network, and as vice president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea, she is enthusiastic about helping Korean companies enter the Chinese market. In addition, she was appointed as a member of the Northeast Asia Committee of Gyeonggi Province, Korea in 2020.
In January 2021, People’s Daily Online published the New Year’s greetings of many Korean politicians, including the 46th Prime Minister Ding Seok-gyun, who was controversial for being too pro-China, Congressman Park Byung-seok, Governor of Gyeonggi Province Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Chungnam Province Yang Seung-chae, Democratic Party Congressman Do Jong-hwan and others. This is also the work of Yubo Cho.
Google search results for “Cho Ok-bo” show that she has signed dozens of agreements with Korean autonomous regions, companies, and institutions. (Photo: Google screenshot)
In July last year, she personally interviewed Democratic Party’s Ko Min-ting, who graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in Chinese and was elected to the 21st National Assembly. In the interview, Congressman Ko said, “Both Korea and China are countries that know ‘trust and righteousness,’ and the mutual help during the New Guinea epidemic is a typical example. A friend who helps in times of trouble is a true friend.”
Promoting the “One Belt, One Road” project “Chinese Complex Cultural Village”
In December 2018, representatives of five organizations, including the Communist People’s Network, the Gangwon Provincial Government, Kolon International, Internal and External Housing and Construction, and the Korean Martial Arts Association, held a briefing session and signed a memorandum of understanding to build the Chinese Complex Cultural Village. As early as 2009, the cultural village was planned to be built in the La Vie est Belle tourist area covering 5 million square meters in the Hongcheon-gun area of Chuncheon City, and Kolon International was the construction company for the golf course in the La Vie est Belle tourist area.
In an interview with Korea’s NewDaily, former Kangwon Province congressman Kim Jin-dae said that the world’s Chinatown is currently a naturally occurring area for Chinese people, and that the planned construction of a Chinatown in a designated area is incomprehensible, and that he believes it is a Communist Party’s attempt to fulfill its Chinese dream. “Culture One Belt, One Road”.
Although the South Korean government has not explicitly stated its participation in the CCP’s “Belt and Road,” both Chinese and South Korean participants at the 2019 launch ceremony called the cultural village a “Belt and Road” project in their speeches. In addition, in a December 9, 2019 report released by the Gangwon Provincial Office, Governor Choi Man-shun explicitly stated that the Gangwon Province Chinese Cultural Complex Village is “the only Belt and Road project in Korea. According to an April 14 report by the Chinese language Epoch Times, the project is being fully managed by People’s Daily Online from planning to development and promotion. Zhou Yubo, the general manager of the Korean branch of People’s Daily, is the actual driving force behind the project.
In addition, Zhou Yubo appears to be in charge of bringing in Chinese capital. In December last year, the Gangwon Provincial Assembly held a special committee on budget settlement, during which the director of the Gangwon International Investment and Trade Bureau, Ahn Kwon Yong, revealed, “Regarding the Chinese side, People’s Daily is not putting in its own company’s money, but bringing in money after finding investors. Due to Wuhan pneumonia (CCP pneumonia), there was some delay in finding investors.”
The Great CCP Outreach Mission by People’s Daily
In 2010, People’s Daily Online, the online version of the party media sponsored by the CPC Central Committee, set up a branch in South Korea, and Zhou Yubo was appointed as its first general manager in late 2011, as seen in her statements five years later, carrying out the CPC’s big outreach mission in South Korea with the help of People’s Daily.
In January 2017, People’s Daily Online held a symposium in Beijing on the 20th anniversary of its founding, and the relevant report said, “People’s Daily Online has conscientiously implemented the requirements of the Party Central Committee, and …… has become a major forum for spreading propaganda of the Party’s theories and line policies.” In Zhou Yubo’s speech, she said “People’s Daily Online Korea has become the No. 1 media outlet for China’s (CCP’s) communication to South Korea.”
Zhou Yubo speaks at a symposium on the 20th anniversary of the founding of People’s Daily Online in 2017. (People’s Daily screenshot)
Zhou Yubo said that the successful entry of the Korean version of People’s Daily into the news search database of Naver, the largest search engine in Korea, and becoming the only foreign media to provide services in the local language “means that China’s Korean-language outreach has entered a whole new stage,” and that the Korean company, relying on People’s Daily and People’s Daily “It has developed into the No. 1 media for China’s communication to Korea, not to disgrace the mission of foreign propaganda.”
Zhou Yubo’s article when she joined People’s Daily for five years (web screenshot)
Zhou Yubo also mentioned that after she arrived in Korea, she held an annual average of 20 lectures in the People’s Daily Korea series, and cooperated with all sectors in Korea to hold more than 10 large-scale exchange events annually.
Experience and reasons for employment are doubtful
In the ten years since she was appointed to People’s Daily Korea, Zhou Yubo has been “fruitful”. So, who is she?
In an interview with her in the Korea Economic News on April 18, 2016, it was stated, “In 1997, at the age of 23, Zhou became the youngest professor in the Korean language department of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China, and has been a bridge and window between Korea and China since she became the first general manager of People’s Daily Online Korea in 2011. “
According to a related report in the Chinese edition of Chosun Ilbo on March 2, 2012, “Zhou Yubo, formerly a university professor, taught Korean at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing for 14 years.” Also, a report in the Joongang Daily dated August 29, 2011, states, “Her excellent Korean language skills were universally recognized, and when she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 1997, she was hired by the president as an important professor, even though she did not have a master’s degree.”
Zhou Yubo’s Baidu search results (Baidu screenshot)
But according to information released by China’s largest portal Baidu and others, Zhou Yubo’s main experience is as a “lecturer in the Korean Department of the School of Foreign Languages at the University of International Business and Economics,” and according to Chinese universities, a 23-year-old university graduate without a master’s or doctorate degree can hardly become a professor at her alma mater, ” 14 years as a professor” and “youngest professor” should be falsified or exaggerated.
Also, how did Zhou Yubo become the first general manager of the Korean branch of People’s Daily from a scholar and lecturer? The reasons for this are not yet known to the outside world. Although she was hired for her “fluency in standard Korean,” there are negative comments that “the Chinese Communist Party has long used women from their country to lobby in political circles around the world, not as a normal form of diplomacy, but as a malicious, low-level tactic that has gained worldwide notoriety. ”
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