|
Amid a series of unfounded stories in the Chinese media alleging that Koreans say Confucius, Lao Tsu and the Buddha have Korean lineage, one has appeared on a portal site saying the Koreans claim swimming ace Michael Phelps is Korean. To make it look credible, the writer pretends to cite the Chosun Ilbo and research done by a professor at Sungkyunkwan University. This is wholly in line with methods some Chinese have been using to distort and fabricate stories about Korea.
This story was posted on Chinese portal site Dongbeiwang, or Northeast Web, on Tuesday. ¡°According to the Chosun Ilbo, a history professor at Sungkyunkwan University Park Boon-gyung claimed that the U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps is of Korean descent,¡± the story starts. ¡°Around 1,000 B.C., Koreans living in Jeju Island on the southern tip of Korea crossed the Pacific Ocean and settled in America. A large number of them moved to the east coast and settled in present-day Baltimore, Maryland. The Phelps are Maryland natives and therefore, there is a big possibility that the Phelps are of Korean lineage. Doesn¡¯t that explain how a swimming genius came into being in inland Maryland? He has blood of Koreans who came to America by crossing the Pacific running in his veins.¡±
This story is a contribution to Baidu by an editor identified as Chen Jing, and edited by Dongbeiwang. Some Chinese media apparently aim to spread a negative image of Koreans as a people who shamelessly distort history, thus indirectly lending credence to Chinese attempts to co-opt early Korean history, commentators say.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
