Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is calling for restraint of “irrational” behavior over the disqualification of a Taiwanese taekwondo athlete at the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Anti-South Korean sentiment has flared up in Taiwan since its leading taekwondo contender, Yang Shu-chun, was disqualified during a match she was winning against a Vietnamese competitor for allegedly using extra sensors in her sock. The anti-South Korean sentiment stems from the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) being headed by Korean officials.

Following Yang’s disqualification, Taiwan citizens burned South Korean flags and have attempted to boycott South Korean goods.

President Ma said Yang will receive the same treatment as a gold medalist and asked the ATU to apologize for saying that Taiwanese athletes’ conduct was unsportsmanslike.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the move to disqualify Yang was irrelevant to the South Korean government or the South Korean people. The ministry asked the Taiwanese people to express their opinions in a peaceful and rational manner.

The ministry also requested that the police bolster security at the South Korean Embassy and at a Korean school in Taipei at which eggs were thrown by locals.