'Come on, Chinese': PSG fan racially insults Lee Kang-in

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in was racially insulted by an apparent fan after an open training session on Friday.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in reacts during the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Oct. 22. [AP/YONHAP]

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in was racially insulted by a supporter who called the Korean footballer “Chinese” during an open training session on Friday.

In a video shared on the Paris Vibe X account on Friday, the fan visited PSG’s training center in Paris ahead of the team’s match against Marseille and high-fived multiple players, including Lee. During his encounter with Lee, however, he said in French, “Allez mon chinois,” translated to “Come on, Chinese.”

Calling a Korean national Chinese or another Asian nationality is a racist insult, as it carries connotation that all Asians look the same.

This marks the first time that Lee has become a target of racism since he moved to PSG, where he joined last season and established himself as a key player.

This is not the first time that Korean footballers have been subjected to racist abuse in Europe.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Hwang Hee-chan was subjected to a racist abuse during a friendly against Portuguese side Farense at Estádio Algarve in the Algarve, Portugal, in 2022.

Similar incidents are also still common in the Premier League, with both Hwang and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min subjected to racist abuse from opposing fans at least once a season. Former Manchester United star Park Ji-sung used to get the same treatment, with his own fans even singing a song about Koreans eating dogs.

Son was even the subject of a racist joke from one of his own teammates earlier this summer: Rodrigo Bentancur told a presenter on Uruguayan TV that all Koreans look the same. He later apologized Son about the remarks.

Neither Lee nor PSG have yet to comment on the video as of press time.

The defending Ligue 1 champions were due to face Marseille in the Ligue 1 at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France later on Sunday as of press time.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN, JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]