A South Korean research report indicates that Chinese netizens are systematically posting negative comments on news and posts related to industries where South Korea and China are in competition. These comments primarily disparage Korean products while praising Chinese ones, and this trend is increasing.
The report, titled “Cognitive Warfare in Korea-China Competitive Industries,” was released by a research team led by professors Kim Eun-young and Hong Seok-hoon. They analyzed comments on platforms like NAVER, YouTube, and NATE from July 2023 to August 2024.
The team identified 77 suspected Chinese accounts on NAVER, organized into two groups coordinated by core users. Similar negative comments have appeared in competitive sectors like electric vehicles and smartphones for several years, with increasing frequency recently.
The report categorizes these manipulative behaviors into three types: dismay, divide, and dismiss. Examples include comments suggesting the superiority of Chinese cars over Hyundai, or claiming that the U.S. will betray South Korea.
The researchers believe the 77 NAVER accounts are just the tip of the iceberg, with 239 similar accounts found on YouTube posting even more frequently. They call for establishing a database and analysis mechanism to counter this new form of cognitive warfare and urge the government to develop countermeasures.
Source: Yonhap News Agency, September 29, 2024
https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20240929000800881?section=china-relationship/index