Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing speaks during a press briefing to local journalists at the Embassy of China in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing criticized the efforts of certain South Korean conservative factions to exploit anti-China sentiment for political gain. Dai, who began his term late last year, warned that such actions could jeopardize bilateral relations between the two countries.

During his first briefing with local journalists at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday, which was attended by over 10 domestic and international media outlets, including The Korea Times, Dai addressed allegations of Chinese interference in South Korea's elections.

"I am well aware that these groups represent only a tiny minority in South Korea and do not reflect the broader society," he said. "However, their strong disruptive influence could significantly impact the development of China-South Korea relations."

His comments come in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial and unsubstantiated remarks about China during his impeachment trial. Yoon, who is currently facing impeachment due to his brief imposition of martial law at the end of 2024, claimed that China's alleged interference in South Korea's elections influenced his decision to impose emergency military rule.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated over economic policies and security concerns, particularly following South Korea's recent restrictions on downloading China's new artificial intelligence application, DeepSeek. Dai criticized the move as an attempt to politicize technology issues, calling it discriminatory.

Dai also cautioned that continued anti-China demonstrations here could tarnish South Korea's global image and deter Chinese tourists from visiting the country.

"All digital devices, including smartphones and tablets, have potential data security risks," he said, implying that concerns over DeepSeek were not unique.

"China's position is clear: we oppose discriminatory responses to technological and scientific matters under the pretext of stabilization or regulation," Dai said. "The Chinese government has always required Chinese companies operating abroad to comply with local laws and regulations. At the same time, we place great emphasis on data privacy and security. China has never demanded that companies or individuals illegally collect or store data."

In response to concerns that the United States might pressure South Korea to join its efforts in countering China, Dai warned that "choosing the U.S. unilaterally while abandoning China's vast market would not be a wise decision." He suggested that if South Korea were to diminish its presence in the Chinese market now, it could face challenges in reentering in the future.

The ambassador also refuted claims that growing ties between North Korea and Russia were diminishing Beijing's influence over Pyongyang, saying, "Russia-North Korea relations have nothing to do with China-North Korea relations." He reaffirmed China's stance on North Korea's nuclear issue, advocating for a step-by-step approach to easing tensions.

Dai also extended his condolences to the victims of a recent highway construction collapse in South Korea, which led to the deaths of two Chinese workers. He urged South Korea to implement measures to safeguard the safety and rights of Chinese laborers.

Acknowledging potential differences in perspectives, the ambassador stressed the importance of constructive engagement and highlighted the economic and diplomatic benefits that have resulted from bilateral cooperation.

The ambassador said Korea's diplomatic ties with China contributed to Korea's economic prosperity and also supported China's reforms.

"Throughout this process, China and Korea have mutually benefited from each other. Looking back, no one would doubt that establishing diplomatic relations was the right decision," he said.

While differences persist, Dai urged both sides to prioritize their shared interests by learning from experience and moving forward based on common goals rather than magnifying or emphasizing differences and conflicts.

"Since the latter half of last year, through joint efforts, China-Korea relations have stabilized and are now developing in a positive direction," he said.

Dai, who previously served as China's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, has been recognized for his proactive communication efforts, including sharing his views through X, formerly Twitter. In addition, his decision to hold a press conference open to both domestic and foreign media was seen as an unorthodox move for a Chinese ambassador to South Korea.