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A pedestrian walks outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul on January 10, 2023. File Photo:VCG

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has expressed concerns to South Korea regarding the incident in which a man attempted to rush through the gate of the Chinese embassy last week. The man was later apprehended and the embassy said that it will await further updates from South Korean police, the Global Times learned from the embassy on Tuesday. 

South Korean police arrested a man who tried to rush through the gate of the Chinese embassy in central Seoul as he reportedly attempted to "attack" the building on February 14. The 40-something man, surnamed Ahn, attempted to get inside the Chinese embassy building at 7:36 pm without permission, according to Yonhap News.

The Yonhap News called the man a “suspected Yoon supporter” and mentioned that he - wearing Captain America's most iconic costume - also showed up at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)'s building in Seoul on February 10. The NHRCK adopted a controversial recommendation last to guarantee South Korean President Yoon' Suk-yeol’s right to defense during his ongoing impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea told the Global Times that they have expressed “concerns and regret” over this matter to the South Korean side.  

“We have noticed that the police have taken action and are conducting an investigation, and we will await further updates from the police,” said the Chinese embassy.

On Monday, South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "We are closely communicating with the Chinese embassy and the police in charge to prevent similar incidents from happening again," regarding the intrusion of the man, according to South Korea’s The Maeil Business Newspaper. 

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The government has continued to exchange and communicate with the Chinese side in various fields to enhance friendly sentiment between Korea and China and promote mutual understanding," according to South Korea’s The Maeil Business Newspaper. 

Anti-China sentiment is spreading among far-right conservatives in South Korea amid the martial law fiasco, according to Korea Times. 

In response, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing said in a post on X on February that China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and opposes relating South Korea's internal issues with China for no reason.

China and South Korea have close exchanges in various fields including people-to-people exchanges, with a large number of nationals working, studying, living and traveling in each other's country. In this regard, it is hoped that the South Korean side would effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals in South Korea, Dai noted.