🍵 K-pop in Paris

In case you missed it:

• Lijuan Deng of China wins silver in Women’s Speed Climbing

• Fabin Li of China wins gold and Theerapong Silachai of Thailand wins silver in Men’s 61kg Weightlifting

• Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand wins gold and Qing Guo of China wins silver in Women’s 49kg Taekwondo

• Zhihui Hou of China wins gold and Surodchana Khambao of Thailand wins bronze in women’s 49kg Weightlifting

• Team China wins gold and Team USA wins silver in Artistic Swimming

Olympics

Did marriage proposal overshadow Chinese Olympian’s gold medal win?

Chinese badminton star Huang Yaqiong's Olympic mixed doubles gold medal victory was immediately followed by a surprise marriage proposal from her boyfriend Liu Yuchen on Friday. The post-victory gesture has divided opinions online, with some celebrating the spectacle and others criticizing it for purportedly overshadowing the 30-year-old's achievement.

Romantic moment: A viral video of the proposal shows Huang proudly displaying her gold medal as Liu knelt and asked her hand in marriage. After placing the ring on her finger, he kissed her hand as the crowd cheered. She took to Instagram to thank her fiance for "making my day." 

Divided opinions: Critics argued the proposal diminished the athlete's accomplishments, with WNBA star Sydney Colson writing on X: “Proposing to me after I win gold?? Baby you’ll never hear from me again! Had to make it about you.” Meanwhile, supporters of the couple celebrated the gesture, with some pointing to Huang's apparent happiness. “She won Gold and getting married to the love of her life, it’s the best day of her life if anything,” a commenter said.

Olympics

Korean culture makes major waves in Paris

The 2024 Paris Olympics has not only seen a showcase of athletic prowess — it also became a stage for the vibrant influence of Korean culture. From dynamic performances to cultural immersions, Korea is making itself known both inside and outside the event venues.

K-pop in Paris: Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno’s floor routine to a medley of hits by K-pop boy group Stray Kids dazzled the crowd on July 28. Despite not advancing through the qualifications, her striking blue hair and impressive flips captured the hearts of K-pop fans worldwide. Stray Kids member Hyunjin acknowledged her performance on a fan community platform. “I'm so honored. She was so beautiful,” he wrote. Italian gymnast Elisa Iorio, on the other hand, showcased her love for BTS with a tattoo of their “Love Yourself” album logo and Korean lettering.

Korea House and cultural events: The makeshift Korea House, operated by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, has drawn massive crowds since its opening on July 26. Located at the Maison de la Chimie in central Paris, it offers a variety of food tastings and cultural experiences. On Aug. 1, guests were treated to a hanbok fashion show, which showcased the work of seven designers under the artistic direction of Seo Young-hee. This week, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will host events including a live painting performance by children’s book writer Lee Gi-hun, a talk session with writers Yun Koeun, Baik Sou Linne and French author Bernard Minier, and a lecture by photojournalist Kang Hyung-won on Korean historical artifacts.

Olympic Bites

Suni Lee joins viral TikTok meme, pokes fun at herself: TikTok users are creating a new Olympic meme by sharing videos of their athletic mishaps, set to an instrumental remix of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Olympic gymnast Sunisa “Suni” Lee joined the trend, humorously posting a clip of her own fall during the women's balance beam finals, where she tied for fifth place with Simone Biles. Despite her disappointment, the 21-year-old Hmong athlete embraced the meme, captioning her video with, "unfortunately i was selected for the olympics.” The TikTok post, poking fun at her fall, became a viral hit. Lee concluded her 2024 Olympic journey with three medals: gold in the team event and bronzes in the women's artistic all-around and uneven bars. 

@sunisalee_

😭🥲🥲

Samoan discus thrower achieves Olympic feat not seen in 68 years: Samoan discus thrower Alex Melei Rose made history by qualifying for the Olympic finals in Paris, his third Olympic Games appearance. The 32-year-old athlete secured the last qualifying spot by achieving his personal best of 62.88 meters. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Samoa and the region, as Rose is the first Pacific Islander in 68 years to reach an Olympic final in athletics. He will compete in the finals against top athletes, including Lithuanian world record holder Mykolas Alenka, on Thursday. 

Tending sheep awaits double Olympic champ in rural China: Chinese swimming sensation Pan Zhanle, who won two gold medals and broke his own world record in the 100-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics, is eager to return home to his rural life and spend time with his sheep. The 20-year-old's paternal grandfather from a village in Zhejiang province revealed that Pan prefers the quiet of the countryside and enjoys playing with animals. “Walking the sheep is a way he can relax a bit,” Pan’s grandfather said. “The sheep are waiting for him.”

Politics

Tim Walz’s long history with China surfaces

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has reportedly sparked interest in China shortly after his naming as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. But while he has an extensive history with the country — including a year spent teaching in Guangdong in 1989 and numerous subsequent visits — his record shows he is tough on Beijing when it comes to policy, particularly on human rights.

A longstanding connection: Walz’s connection with China dates back to 1989, when he taught English and American history at Foshan No. 1 High School under a Harvard University program. He described his decision to teach in China as “one of the best things I've ever done.” Walz and his wife Gwen Whipple, a fellow teacher, spent their honeymoon in the country. They also started a company organizing educational trips to China for U.S. students, which ran from 1994 to 2003. Over the years, Walz has visited China at least 30 times and has spoken positively of the Chinese people. “They are such kind, generous, capable people,” he said upon returning to the U.S. in 1990.

Positions on China issues: Despite his personal ties, Walz has maintained a critical stance on China regarding human rights and democracy. He has sponsored multiple bills condemning China’s human rights record and has served on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. His advocacy includes calling for the release of the late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and supporting the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. “We need to stand firm on what they’re doing in the South China Sea,” Walz said in 2016, emphasizing the importance of balancing criticism with areas of potential cooperation.

News

U.S. pro-democracy scholar convicted of spying for Beijing

Shujun Wang, a 75-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen and scholar with deep connections to New York's dissident Chinese community, was convicted of acting as a foreign agent for Beijing without notifying the attorney general. Convicted in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday, Wang faces up to 25 years in prison.

Found guilty: Arrested in 2022 as part of a Justice Department initiative to curb Chinese surveillance and harassment of critics abroad, Wang was found guilty of gathering detailed information on U.S.-based activists, including dissidents' contact information, for China's Ministry of State Security since 2006. Prosecutors presented evidence, including encrypted messages and detailed diaries, that Wang had been a double agent for over a decade. Despite admitting to communication with these agents, Wang's defense claimed it was benign and did not harm the U.S. Wang’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Chinese community in shock: Wang's indictment is part of a broader Justice Department effort against transnational repression by Beijing, which has included other high-profile cases. The case shocked the Chinese community, who had long trusted Wang, a founder of a prominent pro-democracy group. “The indictment could have been the plot of a spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real. Wang was willing to betray those who respected and trusted him,” Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.

News

Hiroshima calls for nuclear disarmament on 79th bombing anniversary

Hiroshima officials on Tuesday urged world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons, emphasizing the pressing risk of atomic war amid ongoing conflicts. The call coincided with the 79th anniversary of the Japanese city’s bombing, marked by a memorial attended by 50,000 people that included survivors, their families, government officials and international representatives.

What officials are saying: Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui stressed the need to reject the reliance on military force to resolve international issues. “Our unity will move leaders now relying on nuclear deterrence to shift their policies,” he said at the memorial. Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki echoed this sentiment, warning, “As long as nuclear weapons exist, they will surely be used again someday.” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan's commitment to nuclear disarmament. “The calamities that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki 79 years ago and the suffering endured by the people must not be repeated,” he said.

What survivors are saying: Survivors, known as “hibakusha,” continue to advocate for a nuclear arms ban. Abe Shizuko, 97, shared her harrowing experience, saying, “We must never use nuclear weapons that create atomic bomb survivors like me.” Kawasaki Satoko, 93, said, “Many years have passed, but I feel that the day when the bomb was dropped is like yesterday. I strongly hope that nuclear weapons will be abolished.”

Final Bites

Jungkook, Lisa lead K-pop nods at the VMAs: BTS’ Jungkook and Blackpink’s Lisa garnered top nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards. Jungkook received nods for best collaboration and best K-pop for his song “Seven” featuring Latto, while Lisa secured four nominations for her solo single “Rockstar” in categories including best K-pop, best choreography, best editing and best art direction. This marks Jungkook’s third consecutive year of nominations. Additional K-pop nominees include Tomorrow X Together, NCT Dream, Stray Kids and NewJeans. Le Sserafim was nominated for “Push Performance of the Year” for their hit song “Easy.” The category honors the best artist among those chosen for the “MTV Push” campaign. The VMAs will take place at New York’s UBS Arena on Sept. 10.

BTS’ Suga apologizes for DUI incident: BTS member Suga has been charged under South Korea’s Road Traffic Act for allegedly driving his electric scooter under the influence, police said on Wednesday. Suga, whose real name is Min Yoongi, allegedly fell while parking his electric scooter on the streets of the Hannam neighborhood in the Yongsan district of Seoul on Tuesday night, according to BigHit Entertainment. In a WeVerse post, the 31-year-old idol admitted to the violation, which resulted in a fine and his license being revoked after failing a breathalyzer test. He added, “I bow my head in apology to everyone as it is my responsibility and there is no room for excuse. I apologize to everyone who was hurt by my careless and wrong actions and I will be more careful in my actions to avoid such incidents in the future."

Kumail Nanjiani will reportedly play DC hero in upcoming series: Kumail Nanjiani, known for his roles in the HBO show “Silicon Valley” and Marvel Studios’ 2021 film “Eternals,” is set to play the time-traveling superhero Booster Gold in the upcoming DC Universe series of the same title, “Blue Beetle” star Xolo Maridueña reportedly confirmed. In the comics, the character, created by Dan Jurgens, is Michael Jon Carter, a disgraced athlete from the future who uses stolen technology to become a superhero in the present day. The series was announced by DC Studios CEO James Gunn in January 2023 and is described as "the superhero story of imposter syndrome." DC Studios has yet to officially announce the reported casting. 

San Francisco stops Chinatown bike lane plan amid opposition: San Francisco's plan to create a bike lane through Chinatown has been halted after strong opposition from community leaders. The San Francisco MTA proposed protected bike lanes, but business leaders, including Edward Siu of the Chinatown Merchants United Association, rejected the idea due to congestion and parking concerns. Siu contacted Mayor London Breed's office, leading to further discussions and the eventual suspension of the bike lane plan on Monday. While some appreciate the quick response, bike advocates are disappointed, arguing it contradicts the city's traffic reduction and bike lane goals. Mayor Breed’s office says it is working to improve communication for future projects.