A prominent leader of a local Mexican trade association was filmed making a racist slanted-eye gesture toward a South Korean influencer during a World Cup match in Jalisco, Mexico. After the video spread widely online, officials confirmed to The Post that he will be removed from his position.
The influencer, Yoon Su-jin, who has a combined following of nearly 9 million across TikTok and YouTube, was recording herself as she celebrated South Korea’s opening World Cup win over Czechia on Thursday. In the background, Ulises Bernal — president of the College of Topographic and Geomatic Engineers of Jalisco — appeared on camera making the offensive gesture.
As Yoon filmed, Bernal, a trade group official wearing Mexico’s away national team jersey, could be seen laughing and flashing several hand signs behind her. Moments later, he pulled the racist gesture, smiled, and leaned back in his seat while Yoon looked into the camera in apparent shock, according to the video.
“I came all the way to Mexico for the World Cup, but … am I being too sensitive?” Yoon, who posts under the name Incocat_t, wrote in Korean.
She also added: “POV: You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism.”
A spokesperson for the trade association, which is responsible for training and licensing engineers, told The Post, “We are deeply saddened by what is happening regarding this incident.”
When asked if Bernal would face any punishment, they said “the Honor and Justice Committee is meeting this same day” and that Bernal would be “removed from office.”
Yoon’s social media followers showered her with love and support.
“That’s rude, that’s not right! I apologize, not all Mexicans are like that,” one person
commented.
“Just as there are people all over the world with something wrong with their brains, that guy is no exception,” an online looker said. “Let it go and enjoy everything else.”
However, there were some followers as insensitive as Bernal.
“A few years ago, no one took offense at that gesture,” one person claimed. “Today, people are so thin-skinned that they call anything racism.”
Another bizarrely insisted the gesture was a reflection of “Mexican culture.”
“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 person wrote. “Just because there’s a lot of racism in the US, people want to apply that same standard to Mexico? Give me a break.”
