*This content was translated by AI.
A Korean YouTuber who suffered racial discrimination at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America has received an invitation from FIFA. Following the unfortunate incident, local Mexican fans also sent sincere apologies and messages of support, and the YouTuber responded with a touching reply.
FIFA announced on the 17th (Korean time) via a statement: "We are very pleased that Korean YouTuber Yoon Soo-jin has accepted an invitation to attend the second group stage match between Korea and Mexico, which will be held on the 19th in Guadalajara, Mexico." It further stated, "The day of the match will be observed as 'International Day Against Hate Speech,' and Yoon Soo-jin will join us in conveying a message of respect and inclusion."
Yoon Soo-jin is an influencer better known by her activity name 'Ino-nyang.' However, she suffered a distressing racial discrimination incident at the North American World Cup venue.
The incident occurred during the first group stage match between Korea and the Czech Republic on the 12th. Ino-nyang filmed a selfie video capturing the atmosphere in the stadium stands via her social networking service (SNS). Most fans greeted the camera warmly.
However, a man wearing a Mexico national team T-shirt sitting behind Ino-nyang made the 'eye-slitting' gesture by holding both index fingers to the corners of his eyes while looking at the camera.
The 'eye-slitting' gesture involves stretching the corners of the eyes horizontally with fingers to caricature the appearance of Asians. It has long been used as a racist expression mocking Asians and draws strong criticism even on international sports stages.
As the video spread via SNS, football fans around the world expressed anger.
Reactions from Mexican local media and fans were no different. Mexico's daily newspaper El Universal reported, "Ino-nyang was filming a video greeting Mexican spectators brightly. However, after one fan made a gesture, he behaved mockingly behind her, and the atmosphere became uncomfortable. The man brought both hands to his eyes and made a motion as if tearing them apart."
The media further explained, "The incident did not go unnoticed on SNS. Many Mexican fans apologized for the man's racist behavior and criticized his actions. They also emphasized that this racism does not represent all Mexicans."
According to reports, Mexican fans responded with messages such as, "I sincerely apologize for the bad time you had in my country. But please believe me, there are many kind people who would protect you in such a situation," and "We are not those kinds of people. Long live Korea."
A post expressing apology also appeared on the Korea-related board of the global online community Reddit. One user who identified as Mexican wrote, "That idiot does not represent all of our people. Korea is a very beloved country here," and added, "I just hope Korea and Mexico play a great match."
El Universal highlighted that "Ino-nyang expressed gratitude for all the support messages. She stated she will continue to focus on showcasing the beautiful side of Mexico. She also thanked fans for their support of the Korean national team."
In fact, Ino-nyang wrote on her SNS, "My first Mexico, arriving after a 16-hour flight. The heat and atmosphere of the World Cup, which I am experiencing for the first time, will surely be unforgettable."
She continued, "The World Cup made me feel that while there are strange people in the world, there are far more good people. I am so happy that there is still one more match to watch live next week (Korea vs. Mexico). I will enjoy it without regrets until the end and cheer until my voice gives out. Go Korea!"
Meanwhile, the individual who committed the racist act was identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the Jalisco State Geomatics Engineers Association. As the controversy grew, netizens found an SNS account believed to belong to the man in the video and poured out criticism. Mexican media reports also continued to point out Ulises Fernando's racist behavior. Eventually, the relevant SNS accounts were switched to private.
Subsequently, Ulises Fernando publicly apologized, stating, "I sincerely apologize to all, including the YouTuber. I deeply regret my actions and clearly understand what responsibility I must bear at this moment." He also resigned from his position as association president. He explained, "I submitted my resignation to avoid causing harm to my affiliated institutional investors. This incident was entirely a personal action, and I will fully bear the consequences and responsibility."
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*This content was translated by AI.
