A Mexican trade association leader is expected to lose his position after a video showing him making a racist gesture toward a South Korean influencer during a World Cup match went viral online.
South Korean content creator Yoon Su-jin, known online as inocat_t and followed by nearly nine million people across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, was filming herself celebrating South Korea’s opening World Cup win over Czechia in Jalisco, Mexico, when the incident occurred.
While recording, Ulises Bernal, president of the College of Topographic and Geomatic Engineers of Jalisco, appeared in the background.
The man’s racist gesture
Footage shows him laughing, making hand gestures, and then pulling his eyes into a slanted shape before sitting back down. Yoon appeared visibly shocked as she looked toward her camera.
Reacting to the moment, Yoon wrote in Korean: “I came all the way to Mexico for the World Cup, but … am I being too sensitive?” She also described the experience by writing: “POV: You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism.”
The backlash was unsurprisingly quick, prompting a huge response from the engineering association.
A spokesperson for the government trade association told The New York Post: “We are deeply saddened by what is happening regarding this incident.”
They also confirmed that disciplinary action was being considered, explaining that “the Honor and Justice Committee is meeting this same day” and that Bernal would be “removed from office.”
Yoon-su Jin was subjected to racist abuse at the World Cup. Credit: Yoon-su Jin/TikTok
Social media condemns abuse
Many social media users expressed support for Yoon and condemned the behavior of Bernal, in what was supposed to be a celebration of football.
One commenter wrote: “That’s rude, that’s not right! I apologize, not all Mexicans are like that.”
Another person dismissed Bernal’s actions as ignorance rather than representative of the country, saying: “Just as there are people all over the world with something wrong with their brains, that guy is no exception.” The commenter added: “Let it go and enjoy everything else.”
However, not everyone agreed that the gesture was offensive. Some users argued that people were overreacting.
One ignorant commenter claimed: “A few years ago, no one took offense at that gesture. Today, people are so thin-skinned that they call anything racism.”
Another person attempted to defend the behavior as part of local culture, writing: “That’s just how we are in Mexico. We give everyone nicknames, we make fun of everything, and we love to tease and banter — it’s what makes us happy.”
The commenter continued: “Just because there’s a lot of racism in the US, people want to apply that same standard to Mexico? Give me a break.”
The incident has sparked broader discussion online about racism, cultural differences, and the behavior expected from public figures during major international events like the World Cup.
