A day after South Korean automaker Hyundai faced a massive backlash on social media in India for a tweet by Hyundai Pakistan on Kashmir, high level talks were held between South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong and India’s Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.
According to a statement shared by the Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the South Korean foreign minister and Jaishankar spoke on the morning of February 8. Among other things discussed, Bagchi said that Chung Eui-yong “conveyed that they [South Korea] regretted the offence caused to the people and Government of India by the social media post [by Hyundai Pakistan].”
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Bagchi also said that immediately after the post was noticed, the Indian ambassador in Seoul contacted the Hyundai headquarters to demand an explanation.
“The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday 7th February 2022,” Bagchi also said, adding, “The strong displeasure of the Government on the unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed to him. It was highlighted that this matter concerned India’s territorial integrity on which there could be no compromise. We expected the Company to take appropriate action to properly address these issues.”
“India welcomes investments by foreign companies in various sectors. But, it is also expected that such companies or their affiliates will refrain from false and misleading comments on matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Bagchi concluded.
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The post by Hyundai Pakistan has since been taken down and Hyundai Motors has also issued a statement of apology, clarifying that it does not comment on political or religious issues.
Hyundai was not the only international company to face backlash for its post on “Kashmir Solidarity Day,” a national holiday that is only observed in Pakistan. Others, including fast food giants KFC, Pizza Hut, and Dominos, also faced the wrath of Indians after posts on “Kashmir Solidarity Day” by the official pages of the Pakistan division of these companies were circulated on social media.