China’s expanding claims over Korean cultural traditions have sparked fresh controversy as Jilin Province officially recognized dolsot bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish, as part of its cultural heritage listings.
The ongoing cultural dispute between China and South Korea has intensified in recent years, encompassing everything from traditional food and clothing to historical kingdoms. These claims appear to be part of China’s broader political strategy to unify ethnic minorities under a single Chinese identity.
Bibimbap Battle
According to Korean media, Jilin Province has officially designated dolsot bibimbap as part of its cultural heritage. “The document released by the Jilin provincial government described the dish as a culinary technique developed by Joseonjok, an ethnic Korean minority in China,” the report said.
Several dolsot bibimbap franchises in the province have since leveraged this heritage designation as a promotional tool. China justifies these cultural claims by pointing to the Joseonjok communities in Jilin, who are recognized as one of China’s 56 official ethnic groups.
This isn’t the first time Korean culinary traditions have been at the center of dispute. The kimchi versus pao cai controversy escalated when China registered pao cai as an international standard in 2020.
“Previous controversies have involved China asserting that hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, and kimchi — which it called ‘pao cai’ — belong to its heritage,” Korean media reported.
Historical Claims
China’s cultural assertions extend beyond cuisine to historical sovereignty. The country has claimed ancient Korean kingdoms such as Goguryeo (37 BCE–668 CE) as part of Chinese history.
This perspective conflicts with South Korea’s preservation of Goguryeo relics in places like Pyongyang. Chinese academics often describe the kingdom as a “local Chinese regime,” reflecting a Sino-centric historical narrative.
“China, on the other hand, postulates itself as the center of East Asian culture. This Sino-centrism is the legacy of the tributary system during the imperial dynasties, which perceived other Asian states, such as Korea, as historically and culturally part of its periphery,” experts note.
Traditional Dress Dispute
The traditional Korean dress hanbok has also become a flashpoint. Chinese state-linked social media accounts have described it as a “variant of Chinese clothing,” citing historical Tang dynasty influences.
Chinese historical dramas have featured hanbok-like costumes claimed as “traditional Chinese attire,” further fueling disputes over cultural ownership. “China has downplayed the controversy over a woman clad in Hanbok who appeared to represent ethnic Koreans in China,” Korean media reported.
Political Strategy
Analysts suggest these cultural claims form part of a broader political strategy rooted in China’s “One China, Many Ethnicities” framework.
“Claiming Korean culture as ‘Chinese’ is a bid to incorporate Korean minorities into a greater Chinese identity, legitimizing its rules over their region – Yanbian Korean Autonomous Region – and people,” experts explain.
The Chinese Communist Party “prioritizes unifying the ethnic minorities in a single identity to prevent any possibilities of conflicts or secessionist movements,” according to diplomatic analysts.
Public Backlash
These cultural claims have triggered significant public backlash in South Korea, including online outrage, petitions to the Foreign Ministry, and boycotts of Chinese products.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry has conducted bilateral talks but has yet to reach a resolution on these cultural disputes. Public sentiment remains strong, with many Koreans expressing frustration online.
“China keeps insisting that since the Joseonjok is one of China’s minority groups, their cultural elements are part of Chinese culture. By that logic, the culture of Chinese immigrants living in Korea, such as qipao (a Chinese dress) and pandas, should also be considered part of Korean culture,” read one comment on the Naver website.