New Delhi: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor on Tuesday expressed regret over the offence caused to Indians due to an “unauthorized” tweet from the account of the official Pakistan Hyundai on Kashmir.
Check the tweet here:
Hyundai Motor statement:#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/Ir5JzjS2XP
— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 8, 2022
Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia and also American food chain KFC faced backlash on social media for tweets and Instagram/Facebook posts by their dealers and outlets in Pakistan on February 5, talking about “Kashmir Solidarity Day” and “right to freedom”.
Pizza Hut also came under attack for posts on Kashmir from their Pakistan social media handles.
Hashtags such as #BoycottKiaMotors, #BoycottKFC, #HyundaiWithTerrorist and #HyundaiMustApologise started trending on Twitter. Indian Twitter users called out the companies and posted screenshots of the posts even after those were deleted.
Following the outrage, KFC on Monday apologised for a post from its Pakistan-based franchise supporting separatists in Kashmir.
“We deeply apologise for a post that was published on some KFC social media channels outside the country. We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride,” KFC India official account tweeted.
Pakistani Hyundai dealer’s tweet called for support of Pakistan-sponsored ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ and for the ‘remembrance of those struggling for freedom in Kashmir’.
On Sunday, Hyundai Motors India put out a message on social media reiterating its commitment to the Indian market and its parent company issued a statement over the post on Tuesday.
Notably, the Ministry of External Affairs (MES) had summoned Ambassador of Republic of Korea on Monday. “Strong displeasure of government on unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed. It was highlighted that this matter concerned India’s territorial integrity on which there could be no compromise,” the MEA said.
Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea Chung Eui-Yong called External Affairs Minister this morning. While they discussed several issues, the RoK Foreign Min also conveyed that they regretted the offence caused to people and the Government of India by the social media post, it added.
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