AliExpress Faces Controversy Over Bags Featuring Chun Doo-hwan’s Face
Bags featuring the face of former President Chun Doo-hwan have appeared on an online shopping platform, sparking controversy.
On the 12th, according to the May 18th Memorial Foundation, an eco-bag inscribed with Chun Doo-hwan’s face and the English phrase "THE SOUTH FACE" was uploaded to AliExpress, a Chinese e-commerce platform, on the 8th.
The eco-bag is sold by a seller based in Singapore, who describes it as a "creative canvas bag" with a price set at approximately 15,000 KRW.
May 18th Memorial Foundation's Active Response and Halt of Sales
On the 9th, the May 18th Memorial Foundation sent an official document to AliExpress Korea requesting a ban on the sale of products using Chun Doo-hwan's image.
The foundation emphasized, "Using the image of Chun Doo-hwan, who instigated a coup and deployed martial law troops to Gwangju, is an act that distorts the history of democracy."
Through the official document, the foundation stated, "Just like the Japanese Rising Sun flag and the German swastika, products associated with Chun Doo-hwan, who violently suppressed the May 18th Democratic Movement, should not be distributed,” and requested, "A ban on these products must be enforced, and relevant regulations should be reviewed."
As a result of the foundation's protest, the controversial listing has now been deleted from AliExpress, making it unavailable for search and sale.
This incident has once again highlighted the ethical issues that can arise when commercializing the images of historical figures, as well as the importance of historical awareness.
There is growing concern that a more cautious approach is needed regarding the use of images related to sensitive historical events, such as the May 18th Democratic Movement.
Experts point out that the sale of such products can distort perceptions of historical facts and inflict secondary harm on victims.
Additionally, there are calls for sales policies that consider the historical context of each country on international online shopping platforms.
Image sources: May 18th Memorial Foundation, Sputnik, Chun Doo-hwan / News1
