New Delhi: The outrage over Hyundai’s Pakistan affiliate publishing a social media post on Kashmir spilled into the diplomatic space, with the South Korean foreign minister reportedly expressing regret after India summoned the Republic of Korea envoy to lodge “strong displeasure”.

The South Korean conglomerate had faced backlash after Hyundai Pakistan’s Twitter account posted a message to support Kashmir’s “struggle for freedom” with the hashtag “#KashmirSolidarityDay”.

On Tuesday morning, Hyundai had issued a second and more apologetic statement, expressing regret “for any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity”.

Later in the day, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that following the social media post by Hyundai Pakistan, India’s envoy in South Korea had sought an explanation from the South Korean firm’s headquarters on Sunday.

“The offending post had been removed subsequently,” he said.

A day later, on February 7, the South Korean ambassador was summoned by MEA. “The strong displeasure of the Government on the unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed to him. It was highlighted that this matter concerned India’s territorial integrity on which there could be no compromise. We expected the Company to take appropriate action to properly address these issues,” said Bagchi.

Subsequently, South Korean foreign minister Chung Eui-yong called up his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar on Tuesday.

In a tweet, Jaishankar stated that they discussed the “Hyundai matter”. The MEA spokesperson elaborated that the South Korean foreign minister “conveyed that they regretted the offence caused to the people and Government of India by the social media post”.

Bagchi also indicated that India’s pressure led to Hyundai Motor releasing a more contrite press note. “A statement was also issued by Hyundai Motors conveying its deep regret to the people of India and making it clear that it does not comment on the political or religious issues”.

He added that India welcomes foreign investment, but it is “also expected that such companies or their affiliates will refrain from false and misleading comments on matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The read-out from the South Korean foreign ministry on the phone call between the two foreign ministers stated that the two sides discussed bilateral issues and ways to expand the Special Strategic Partnership. There was no specific mention of the furore over Hyundai Pakistan’s social media post.

Later, another South Korean auto firm Kia Motors issued a “deeply regret” statement over its Pakistani affiliate’s Kashmir tweets.

While India took up the matter with South Korea, the Pakistani affiliates of several other foreign transnational companies, including KFC and Pizza Hut, also made similar social media posts mentioning “Kashmir Solidarity Day”. It is not yet known whether India also diplomatically raised concerns with the ambassadors of firms from the US, Japan and other countries, whose Pakistani franchisees had also published social media posts on Kashmir.

On February 7, KFC India stated on Twitter: “We deeply apologize 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.”

Pizza Hut Pakistan also shared a similar post on Kashmir on its Facebook and Instagram page. In its statement, Pizza Hut said that “it does not condone, support or agree with the contents of a post circulating in social media. We remain steadfast in our commitment to serve all our brothers and sisters with pride.”

The US embassy spokesperson said that the US Charge d’Affaires did attend a meeting at MEA on Tuesday. But, she did not state the reason for the senior US diplomat going to South Block. “We do not comment on our internal diplomatic discussions,” she said. There was also no response from MEA on the meeting.

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