Master, recently South Korea banned anti-China rallies in Myeongdong and even said insulting tourists is not allowed. This feels very sudden to me.

Sudden? Actually not. Lee Jae-myung labeled it as 'disturbance', and the police quickly enforced it. This is the result of combined political and economic pressure.

I saw reports saying that shop owners jointly protested, claiming the rallies harmed their business. So economic considerations are the real key.

Exactly. 'When people are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame.' Economic interests often outweigh political slogans. If Chinese tourists stop coming, the Myeongdong business district cannot survive.

Does this mean the South Korean government is turning pro-China?

It shouldn’t be understood that way. It’s more like a return to rationality. A mature country won’t let extreme emotions hijack public space. Lee Jae-myung simply chose a more pragmatic path.

This pragmatism reminds me of the ancient Chinese wisdom of 'the Doctrine of the Mean'. It’s not about completely following one side, but finding balance amid contradictions.

Well said. The Doctrine of the Mean is not compromise, but dynamic balance. With this move, South Korea both safeguarded its diplomatic image and responded to economic realities—truly 'acting according to the circumstances'.