SEOUL, KOREA: A small, trendy café near Seoul Forest has found itself at the centre of a storm—after posting a notice online saying it would not serve Chinese customers. The message has sparked sharp accusations of racial discrimination and drawn the attention of local officials.
Seongdong District Mayor Chong Won-o said he plans to meet with the café owner to urge a change. He clarified that Seongsu-dong has become one of Korea’s representative tourist destinations for both locals and foreigners and vowed that the government will do its best to persuade the café to reconsider.
The controversy began when the café updated its English social media bio with a simple, stark line: “Sorry, we do not accept Chinese customers.” Several Chinese visitors posted online about being turned away, sharing their frustration and disbelief.
The story caught fire when Henry, a Chinese influencer in South Korea with 190,000 Instagram followers, shared the post on Oct 22. According to him, a Chinese customer made the effort to visit the café only to be rejected for being Chinese. He said he can’t understand this level of hatred towards China. His post drew hundreds of comments, with reactions ranging from outrage to reluctant sympathy.
Some defended the café, arguing that certain Chinese tourists had behaved poorly, while others called out the decision as deeply hypocritical. One Korean commenter apologised but understood the owner’s frustration after bad experiences with certain Chinese tourists.
The café’s owner told local media that anti-China sentiment in society influenced the decision. “When Chinese customers come in, the atmosphere among Korean patrons changes. I didn’t want to create that reaction,” they said, adding that the policy might change “once anti-China sentiment dies down”.
This incident comes amid growing tensions in South Korea over Chinese tourism. The government recently allowed visa-free group travel from China, and far-right groups have pushed measures to limit Chinese investment in real estate, medical services, and even elections. Detractors believe these moves could intensify social disconnection and fuel xenophobia.
For most people, the café has become more than just a local enterprise; it now represents a distinct cultural clash. As the debate continues, this café’s story is a blunt cue that in a fast-globalising city, even a tiny café can become the epicentre of a much bigger conversation about ethnicity, unique cultures, individuality, and community.
