| A news report from Thai news outlet Bright TV documents a Korean YouTuber criticized for filming Thai women without their consent and sexually harassing them. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
The Korean Embassy in Thailand has recently highlighted and warned Korean YouTubers against uploading inappropriate content while traveling in the Southeast Asian country, specifically any content that includes the sexual harassment of local women.
Several Thai news outlets, including Bright TV and Amarin TV, reported earlier this month about a male Korean YouTuber who was accused of filming Thai women in the streets without their consent and sexually harassing them. This prompted the embassy's warning.
A Thai woman interviewed by local media said she felt “scared and uncomfortable” when the man, holding his camera, approached and asked her out for a drink. She rejected him multiple times, but the YouTuber did not leave and continued to film her without permission. The woman also said when she visited his channel, there were dozens of videos of him harassing other Thai women.
The videos also featured vulgar and obscene content in local hostess bars and the sexual objectification of Thai women including a hotel staffer.
As of Friday, the YouTuber's videos have been taken down but there are still other male Korean YouTubers with similar content on their channels.
Following criticism from Thai residents, the Korean Embassy in Bangkok has issued a warning to its citizens to refrain from such behavior, which violates local law.
“Asking random people out for drinks in the streets or visiting local hostess bars for video content may be offensive to Thai people. Also, filming people without consent may be punished on charges of breach of personal information and privacy,” a statement issued by the embassy said, Wednesday. “We ask our citizens who visit or live here to be cautious not to cause any harm to the country's dignity.”
Online users here are condemning the YouTuber for “disgracing the nation.”
“The Thai police should arrest him immediately. He is an ugly Korean,” read a comment on Naver's news section.
Another commenter wrote, “I've seen other YouTubers doing similar things in Southeast Asian countries. It's a disgrace. The government should revoke their citizenship.”