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White influencer Oli London slammed for identifying as ‘non-binary Korean’

Though people supported them for identifying as non-binary, many expressed annoyance over them allegedly appropriating the South Korean flag

Oli London was embroiled in controversy as they allegedly appropriated the South Korean flag. They also went on to come out as nonbinary Korean. The British influencer, who is so obsessed with BTS' Jimin that they spent $165,000 on surgery to look like him, shared a post on their Instagram on June 16 sharing their pronouns were “they/them/Korean/Jimin." In the social media post, they said, “After undergoing my transition surgery I now identify as non-binary.”

On Monday, June 21, London also shared a video on their YouTube channel, where they said, “I do identify as Korean. This is my choice, my decision. It’s not hurting anyone.” On June 18, they took to Twitter where they shared a picture of a flag that looked similar to the South Korean flag but with the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ pride flag. They wrote, “This is my new official flag for being a non-binary person who identifies as Korean. Thank you for the overwhelming support it was so hard for me to come out as Them/they/kor/ean#olilondon #nonbinary.”

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Though people supported them for identifying as non-binary, many expressed annoyance over them allegedly appropriating the South Korean flag and calling themself non-binary Korean. A person on their YouTube video commented, “it is absolutely okay for you to be non-binary. you CAN NOT be korean unless your parents and your parents parents are actually of korean blood and descent. Even if you live in Korea, you are not korean. you are a just a foreigner living in korea. Imitating Jimin is fine but identifying as a different ethnicity is NOT OKAY. As for the Korean flag, i cant say anything bc i personally am not korean but it is mad disrespectful. Please listen to what we are saying and seek help.”

Another one said, “I'm a Korean non-binary" He's saying ‘Korean’ as if it is a sexuality bruh, also he's mocking the enbys saying his pronounce are ‘Jimin’ and ‘Korean.’” A third added: “If you read the comments, NOONE has any issues with your sexual identity. If you are interested in other culture, that's also fine. But not fully knowing the language itself, or practicing their lifestyle, doesn't make you Korean. Eating kimchi and saying two or three sentences don't make you Korean. You live in your own bubble, showing concerns and talking about the issues which are not even there.. that's disturbing. You are not ‘bullied for your identity’, you are Criticised for your half hearted attempt of learning Korean and culture.”

Some Twitter users were also fuming after London shared the flag. A user tweeted, “i am a person belonging to the non-binary umbrella, and this offends me A LOT, being Korean is a nationality, not a gender, you are making fun of all the non-binary umbrella, the neo pronouns and the entire lgbtqa + community! really stop please.” A second user said, “Cultural appropriation, also how can you change an official flag?! Do you realise how offensive that is? You've disrespected THEIR culture and you've embarrassed the UK.” “As someone who identifies as nonbinary and uses neopronouns this is very disrespectful and personally hurts me a bit. it took me years to accept my gender and my pronouns and this just makes me feel gross /g,” a tweet added.