India summons South Korean envoy over Hyundai's Kashmir tweet

INDIA said on Tuesday (8) it had summoned South Korea's ambassador to express displeasure over a social media post by a Pakistan partner of Hyundai Motor over disputed Kashmir.

The foreign ministers of India and South Korea also spoke over the telephone as the car company faced a backlash in India from social media users incensed by comments expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

South Korean foreign minister Chung Eui-Yong expressed his regret during the conversation with Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday (8).

The diplomatic escalation is a rare moment of discord between the two countries that have long enjoyed friendly ties and highlights the risks global companies face while navigating local sensitivities amid rising nationalism in the region.

The row erupted on Sunday (6), a day after Pakistan marked the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day. Posts on behalf of Hyundai's partner, the Nishat Group, appeared on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram commemorating what it described as the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination.

South Korea's envoy was called into the Indian foreign office on Monday (7) to register New Delhi's protest against the posts, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.

"The strong displeasure of the government on the unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed to him," he said.

"It was highlighted that this matter concerned India's territorial integrity on which there could be no compromise. We expect the company to take appropriate action to properly address these issues."

Earlier on Tuesday (8), Hyundai issued a statement saying it deeply regrets any offence caused to Indians by an "unauthorised" tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner.

"As a business policy, Hyundai Motor Company does not comment on political or religious issues in any specific region," Hyundai said in a Twitter post.

The company said its independently-owned distributor in Pakistan made Kashmir-related social media posts from its accounts, and "misused the Hyundai brand identity".

"We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity. We have put in place processes to prevent a future recurrence," Hyundai said.

The Nishat Group, Pakistan's largest business conglomerate, did not respond to a request for comment.

Hyundai is India's second-largest carmaker after Maruti Suzuki, selling close to half a million vehicles in the country in the last fiscal year and exporting over a million units, making it India's largest car exporter.

Hundreds of people on social media demanded the company apologise for being insensitive to India's concerns. Others said they were cancelling their car orders.

Twitter users in India have made similar calls in the past, seeking to boycott Chinese goods in 2020 after a border clash between the two Asian giants. Amazon.com Inc has also faced social media backlash in India after its overseas website was found selling goods with faces of Hindu gods and other sacred symbols.

KFC and Pizza Hut tender apologies

Quick service restaurant chains KFC and Pizza Hut also apologised following outrage over social media posts from their Pakistan-based franchise supporting separatists in Kashmir.

Both KFC and Pizza Hut are subsidiaries of US-based Yum! Brands that also owns the popular brand Taco Bell.

"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," according to a message on KFC India official account on Twitter.

After facing backlash over an Instagram post on Kashmir by its official handle in Pakistan, Pizza Hut issued a statement saying "it does not condone, support or agree with the contents of a post circulating in social media".

In a social media post, a verified account of KFC had supported the separatists in Kashmir and posted "Kashmir belong to Kashmiris."

An Instagram post from the verified account of 'Pizzahutpak' had said, "We stand with you. Kashmir Solidarity Day."

Both the social media posts have been deleted after #BoycottKFC and #BoycottPizzaHut started trending on Twitter.

India and arch-rival Pakistan rule parts of Kashmir but both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Tens of thousands of people have died since an armed insurrection against New Delhi's rule in India-controlled Kashmir broke out in 1990.

India says Pakistan supports the insurgency in Kashmir, a charge denied by Islamabad. Pakistan says it only provides diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people.

(Reuters & PTI)