Even Sun Wukong Wouldn't Dare Flip a Somersault in Korea

The viral hashtag has sparked a wave of witty comments and satirical observations about Korean culture. Chinese netizens have been poking fun at Korea's societal norms and cultural quirks. One popular comment reads: "Who understands my pain? 'The pen is too thick, can't see the place anymore'" - a humorous take on the pressures of conformity in Korean society.

Others joined in, making tongue-in-cheek remarks about Korea's tendency to claim ownership of cultural icons. For instance, a netizen joked that "300 years later, Korea will uncover the remains of US troops stationed in Korea and claim that Caucasians originated from Korea." The Monkey King Sun Wukong, a beloved character from Chinese mythology, has become an unwitting mascot for this meme. Netizens quipped that in Korea, even pigs eating watermelons (a reference to another Chinese mythological character, Zhu Bajie) would be subject to strict rules.

A Russian netizen chimed in with a witty comment that sparked laughter across the internet. The Russian netizen joked, "300 years from now, Korea will excavate the remains of U.S. troops stationed in the country, and Koreans will claim that white people originated from Korea." Taiwanese host Wang Leehom also made sarcastic remarks about Korea on his Weibo account, with one netizen sarcastically noting that in Korea, "not even Zhu Bajie, the pig-like deity, can eat a watermelon without making it a challenge." Another commenter quipped that Korea is a place where even "Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, wouldn't dare perform a backflip."

The lighthearted jabs reflect a broader undercurrent of amusement and playful teasing among international netizens, who poke fun at Korea's occasionally over-the-top national pride and tendency to make exaggerated claims. These comments also highlight the cultural nuances at play, with Chinese netizens often embracing a more playful and irreverent approach to humor, whereas Koreans tend to favor a more understated and subtle forms of humor.

The aesthetic preferences of the two cultures also differ, with Chinese netizens often embracing a more playful and irreverent approach to design, whereas Koreans tend to favor a more minimalist and elegant aesthetic. One Weibo user, 绗倞眠, quipped that the humor lies in the "pen being too thick to see the place" - a clever remark that highlights the cultural differences in humor and aesthetics.

As the internet continues to bridge cultural divides, it's heartening to see that humor can be a universal language, even if it's not always immediately translatable. The #在韩国孙悟空一个跟斗都不敢翻# challenge serves as a delightful reminder that cultural differences can be a source of entertainment, education, and mutual understanding - and that sometimes, all it takes is a good laugh to bring people together.