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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Hamzy is the professional name of Ham Ji-hyung, a South Korean mukbang creator. In January 2021, the agency that handled her China-facing work announced it was ending cooperation with her after a dispute over a liked comment about ssam culture and her statements that kimchi and ssam are part of Korean food culture. Hamzy apologized for liking the comment without reading it closely, but she did not retract her position on kimchi.
Who Hamzy is
Hamzy is the creator name of Ham Ji-hyung, a South Korean YouTuber known for mukbang-style food videos, in which she eats large meals on camera while talking to viewers. Her channel gained an audience in both Korea and China, which is why a Chinese agency handled part of her work there. Contemporary reports from January 2021 gave subscriber figures that varied by outlet. Those numbers describe that month only and should not be read as her current audience size.
What set off the dispute
The controversy began with a food video posted on January 15, 2021, according to Korean reporting from that week. The video showed Hamzy eating bibimbap and white kimchi, among other dishes. Beneath it, a viewer praised her for eating ssam (rice or vegetables wrapped in leaves, eaten in one bite) after seeing online claims that the wrapping-food culture belonged to China. Hamzy had liked that comment.
Some Chinese internet users read the like, together with related remarks, as an insult to China. Korean coverage also points to translation of part of the comment as a factor that intensified the reaction, because the meaning of the disputed wording shifted depending on the language a viewer read it in. The exact wording as it circulated in Chinese is not something this article can reconstruct, so the translation issue should be read as reported context rather than a settled account of what every participant understood.
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Timeline of the episode
- January 15, 2021: Hamzy posts the food video that became the setting for the comment exchange.
- January 16–17, 2021: The dispute spreads on social media. Hamzy posts an apology livestream, which she later said was urged by the China-facing agency that wanted a quick response.
- Shortly after: The agency announces it is ending cooperation with her, as reported by Korean outlets.
- January 20, 2021: Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) interviews Hamzy. In that interview she explains her apology, the translation context, and her position on kimchi.
The CNA interview is the clearest first-person account from the period. The other dates and sequence come from contemporary news coverage rather than from platform records, so precise hour-by-hour details are not established.
Hamzy’s apology and her position on kimchi and ssam
Hamzy said she had treated comments on her videos as expressions of support and had not carefully read the disputed wording before liking it. In her CNA interview, she said she understood why Chinese viewers would be angry if they believed she had endorsed an insult against Chinese people. She said she apologized for the careless like, not because she accepted that kimchi or ssam is Chinese cuisine. She also said she did not hate China and did not intend to insult Chinese people.
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On the food question, she was direct. As translated from CNA’s Chinese-language report, she said: “If I have to say kimchi is Chinese food in order to work in China, I will not do activities in China.” This is a translation of CNA’s text published January 20, 2021, not a verified English transcript of her words, so readers who need the exact phrasing should consult the original Chinese-language article.
The apology and the kimchi position are separate. Reducing the episode to “she was fired for saying kimchi is Korean” leaves out the comment, the like, the translation issue, and the apology she gave. It also leaves out the fact that her apology did not change her stated view of the food.
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- HIGH-GRADE CERAMIC AND FOOD-SAFE COATING - Crafted from the finest natural stoneware, this authentic fermentation jar ensures that the flavors you taste come only from your vegetables. A carefully designed, food-safe coating prevents oxidation and improves temperature stability, resulting in well-preserved and delicious fermented vegetables.
- GAME-CHANGING WATER SEAL - The Kenley 1 gallon sauerkraut crock is designed to make fermentation easy so you get great results every time. The water seal lid lets fermentation gases escape while keeping air out, ensuring your vegetables are properly preserved and taste great.
- ENHANCE FERMENTATION WITH WEIGHTS AND POUNDER - The fermentation crock comes with unglazed weighting stones to keep all kimchi or sauerkraut submerged under the brine during fermentation. The pounder is added to pack down the cabbage, releasing its juices and speeding up the fermentation process.
- EASY TO USE AND CARE FOR - The fermenting crock is double-glazed for easy cleaning and care. To clean, simply remove any stray vegetable matter when empty, wash with your usual washing-up liquid, and dry fully. Sturdy yet elegant, the Kenley fermentation crock looks great on any countertop.
The agency’s stated reason and what followed
The Chinese agency’s statement, as reported by Korean outlets in 2021, described Hamzy’s conduct as an insult that seriously affected Chinese audiences and damaged trust with Chinese fans. On that basis it announced the end of cooperation. Some contemporary reports also described China-facing content, accounts, or shop activity being removed or closed.
Korean outlets reported the statement in translation. A primary copy of the agency’s original announcement is not established here, so the agency’s rationale should be presented as its own stated position, not as a verified quotation. The reporting describes what was announced in January 2021. It does not show what any account, store, or contract looks like today.
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- Innovative Water Seal Lid: The sauerkraut crock is designed with a water-sealed lid that allows fermentation gases to escape, preventing oxidation and bad odors while maintaining air circulation. This feature ensures perfect fermentation conditions, keeping your vegetables submerged in the brine. Equipped with fully glazed weights and an 9-inch wooden pounder, our ceramic crock helps pack down your vegetables, ensuring consistent and efficient fermentation every time.
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What the 2021 coverage does not establish
- Hamzy’s current subscriber count, upload schedule, or whether her channel is still active in the same form.
- Whether she has a current working relationship with any Chinese agency or platform.
- The present status of any China-facing content or account mentioned in 2021 reports.
- A verified original text of the agency’s statement or of every platform post involved.
Anyone searching for Hamzy’s present situation should check her own channels and recent coverage. The events described here are a documented January 2021 episode, and the reporting that exists is limited to that period.
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