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Influencer Oli London 'doesn't believe they're doing anything wrong' by 'identifying as Korean'

Watch: Korean-identifying influencer Oli London feels 'trapped' by British body

Oli London, a British influencer who is now identifying as Korean, has said they "don't feel like they’re doing anything wrong" amid the backlash.

The 31-year-old has spent an estimated $150,000 on cosmetic surgery to look more Korean, basing his look on BTS star, Jimin.

Speaking on This Morning on Tuesday, London, who uses they/them pronouns, spoke out after declaring they had "transitioned into a non-binary Korean".

“I feel the only way of really comparing this was maybe with someone that's transgender, and I mean no offence to transgender community this is just how I would explain it, is someone that feels like they're born in the wrong body,” London said. “So for the last nine years, I've felt like I've been trapped.

<p>British singer and influencer Oli London appeared on This Morning to talk to Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about his decision to undergo 'racial-transition surgery' because they 'identify as Korean'.</p>
Oli London appeared on This Morning to talk to Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. (ITV)

“Since I lived in Korea, I feel like I identify as Korean everything about the culture is me. I feel at home there, I don't feel judged, I feel like Korean people accept me. I feel like I have the look now.

“So it's been a very difficult journey but I just feel like it's how I felt inside, and I've just felt trapped, and there's no better way of explaining it than that and it's like someone that maybe is born in the wrong body.”

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When asked by Phillip Schofield for a little more clarity, London added: “I feel like in a past life I was meant to be born in Korea, yes.”

When confronted by Schofield about comments from Sandra Song, a Korean national who believes London’s efforts are “incredibly offensive, especially since it effectively trivialises our identities because they're suddenly trendy”, London dismissed her as being “too woke”.

“I think it's fantastic people have opinions, but I feel like people are so quick to play the race card,” London told the ITV morning show. “I do feel like they were quite harsh with their criticism and I feel like they have a lack of understanding.

"Of course I understand the journalist was of Korean ancestry, and I respect Korea so much - but I just feel like people are so quick to judge these days.

<p>British singer and influencer Oli London appeared on This Morning to talk to Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about his decision to undergo 'racial-transition surgery' because they 'identify as Korean'.</p>
'Transracial' Oli London on This Morning discusses 'identifying as Korean'

“It's fine to identify as 100 different genders, it's fine to identify as an alien if you want to, but why can't I identify as Korean? I don't see why people take offence and I understand that she may be from Korean ancestry and I respect that but I just feel she's just targeting me wrongly.

“I haven't actually done anything wrong to offend Korea.”

Read more: BTS trading card withdrawn after online backlash over 'racist' depiction

Interest in the influencer was sparked last month when, as part of Pride month, London tweeted a rainbow-coloured reimaging of the South Korean flag.

They declared it as their “new official flag for being a non-binary person who identifies as Korean."

They later shared a video from a hospital bed after undergoing eye surgery, a facelift, and a brow and temple lift in order to "make their eyes look more Asian".

This adds on to the dozen other surgeries London has previously had, including multiple nose jobs, jawline surgery, and skin-whitening injections.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.

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