Ji-sung Park has asked Manchester United supporters to stop singing a chant about him due to its stereotypical reference to people from his country eating dog meat.
Park was a big fan favourite during his seven-year stint at Old Trafford between 2005-2012, so much so that his name is still sung on the terraces nearly a decade on from his departure.
However, while he says that he knows fans did not intend to cause offence with the well-known song — which includes a derogatory joke about Korean people eating dog meat — Park has asked for the chant to no longer be sung.
The former midfielder has been moved to explain to fans why the words are hurtful after hearing United supporters sing the song against Wolves in August when the Black County club presented their new signing, fellow Korean Hwang Hee-chan.
“I’m really sorry for him to hear that,” Park said on the official UTD podcast.
“I know that United fans don’t mean any offence to him for that song 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.
“That particular word is very discomforting for Korean people, and I really feel very sorry for the younger players who heard that kind of song.
“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 hate it. The culture has changed.
“I really request the fans to stop singing that word. It causes discomfort to Korean people when they hear that song. It’s time to stop.”
Credit: Manchester Evening News
