Ji-Sung Park wants Man Utd fans to stop singing an offensive song, with an article with quotes posted onto the official club website.
Although he doesn’t believe the supporters mean to cause offence with the chant, which contains a reference to Koreans eating dog meat, he believes it makes Korean players feel uncomfortable.
Park claims some of the Old Trafford faithful sang the song towards Wolves’ new signing Hee-Chan Hwang – a South Korea international who signed from RB Leipzig in the summer – during their Premier League fixture at Molineux in August.
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ON MAN UTD’S WEBSITE:
Ji-sung Park has appealed to Manchester United fans to stop singing a song about him which contains a negative stereotype about his native Korea.
The United legend said he knew that supporters did not mean to offend him by singing the song, which includes a disparaging joke about Koreans eating dog meat. But he said he wanted to educate fans about why the words are hurtful to him and his compatriots.
Park was a huge crowd favourite during his trophy-laden time with United between 2005 and 2012, and his song is still heard from the terraces nine years after he left Old Trafford.
The retired midfielder said he had been prompted to speak out after hearing United’s away fans sing the song at Molineux in August when Wolverhampton Wanderers unveiled their new signing Hwang Hee-chan, who scored twice in this weekend’s victory over Newcastle.
“I know that United fans don’t mean any offence to him for that song,” said Park, “but still I have to educate the fans to stop that word [dog meat], which is usually these days a racial insult to the Korean people.”
Park made his plea during a powerful interview for the official UTD Podcast, in which he recounted his journey to becoming the most successful Asian footballer in history, with four Premier League titles, and a Champions League and Club World Cup to his name.
Nicknamed ‘Three Lungs’ because of his prodigious work-rate, Park blazed a trial for other Korean footballers to forge successful careers in Europe, including current Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min.
Park says he feels proud that fans created a song in his honour, but this is mixed with discomfort over the words, and he does not want younger Korean players to be subjected to it.
“Listening to the chant even 10 years later now, I feel sorry for the younger me who tried to overcome this discomfort that I felt back then.
“I also feel responsible for the young people who are still discriminated against as Asians or Koreans, and struggling with that kind of discomfort.”
“In Korea, things have changed a lot. It is true that historically we have eaten dog meat but these days, particularly the younger generation, they really dislike it. The culture has changed.”
Park, who was capped 100 times for South Korea and played in three World Cups, spoke of his pride about being Korean, and urged United fans to look beyond stereotypes at the many positive things his country has to offer, from K-pop and Korean dramas to world-leading technology.
“I really request the fans to stop singing that word,” he said. “It causes discomfort to Korean people when they hear that song. It’s time to stop.”
Manchester United fully supports Ji-sung’s comments and urges fans to respect his wishes.
Twitter users reacted as Ji-Sung Park says he wants Man Utd fans to stop singing the offensive song…
@UtdYam1: fair enough, if you are really a park fan, and not a racist, you should have no objections
@BFernandes_18_: He’s right tbh
@Willftbl: Just stop the chant or change the words. Clearly it’s offensive.
@safs_lad: We need to respect his will. He deserves that.
@_nmesis: We were belting this one out around the Stretford End yesterday, 3 fellas behind me were also singing it and were like “this is the most racist song ever” after we stopped. Maybe we should stop singing it
@UnitedMadMUFC: “Park, Park wherever you may be, you eat dogs in your home country. Could be worse, you could be scouse, eating rats in your council house!”
@BurningtonFc: The fact this was his song is madness to begin with 😟 ffs. The song slanders Park. How was this even considered acceptable 😒😒
@RunkeGlenn: If the player the chant is for doesnt want people to sing it then there really isnt any reason to continue singing it.
@RassyMUFC: Tbf when I first heard it as a kid I thought it was a bit insensitive
@Omni_man96: Should have been stopped a long time ago! #NoRoomforRacism
@GoonerMat: @Rob_S_Wilcock imagine reading this and not just thinking ‘fair enough, we’ll stop’
@JD_UTD_: Should’ve been changed a while ago tbh, fair enough, glad he’s said something rather than just suffered in silence
@thedeadman92: It’s always meant affectionately. Hes loved by our fans. Like everyone is in on it being a stereotype as a joke. But if Park dosent like it. I won’t sing when I Go.
Are you saying the proudly or admitting u didnt know better?
— david ibbotson (@djibbotson) October 3, 2021
That’s Anfield after they sing YNWA once mate
— Mark (@UTDMxrk) October 3, 2021
It is absolutely offensive, it was a different world when he was playing. Are you saying we should accept racism just because we get paid?
— Mo (@MoCap786) October 3, 2021
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