Speed Skater Apolo Ohno Public Enemy No. 1 in South Korea
February 19, 2010
SEOUL—South Koreans love to hate Japanese-American speed skater Apolo Ohno. Again in the crosshairs here for being “too physical” in his medal-winning 1500m race, Korean media animus against the love-patched Ohno is peaking during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
And the Korean public wholeheartedly agrees.
A South Korean company once sold toilet paper emblazoned with Japanese American speed skater Anton Apolo Ohno’s face: Ohno joyfully winning the gold, Ohno kissing his medal, Ohno laughing. One video game features an Ohno character you can shoot in the head.
Hatred of Ohno has spanned three Olympics and has even resulted in death threats against the 28-year-old Federal Way, Washington native.
“Koreans see someone so cunning and conniving that he would try to pit Korean against Korean and benefit,” writes Sporting News
