The People Power Party (PPP) has unveiled legislation – dubbed the “Three Shopping Prevention Law” – targeted at Chinese citizens, claiming that they had been abusing the country’s national health insurance system and making speculative property purchases. The party also said Chinese nationals should not be involved in local elections in South Korea.
The bill plays into growing anti-China sentiment among younger South Koreans and reflects an inclination by the PPP to use far-right rhetoric to shore up support among its conservative base, according to analysts.
But they warn that such legislation could jeopardise South Korea’s interests, given that its top trading partner is China and the fragile state of their bilateral relationship.
Lim Sung-hack, a political-science professor at the University of Seoul, said the PPP’s claims echoed those of far-right extremists on social media and in street rallies.
“I’m afraid the country’s top opposition party, which should be focused on presenting reasonable policies to return to power, is drifting towards the extreme right,” Lim told This Week in Asia. “Their xenophobic rhetoric is reminiscent of far-right movements in Europe.”
