A South Korean taxi driver is being heavily criticized after a Thai tourist posted a video recording of him making sexually inappropriate comments while on a tour to Seoul Station. The case was reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The tourist, whose identity she protected, uploaded the video on 19 June. The driver, in the video, uses a translating app in order to talk to her and asks a number of intrusive questions such as whether she had a boyfriend and why she remained unmarried.
The discussion became ominous when he told her that he could get her a job and said, “It is not hard. You just need to clean rooms.” When he heard that she was going to Busan, he volunteered to drive her there himself. More ominously, he added, “If you do not have money for the fare, you can pay with your body.”
The lady narrated experiencing fear, especially after the driver halted the car halfway in order to continue talking to her. Although he finally took her to Seoul Station, he gave her his phone number and inquired when she would return.
Online Outrage and Apology from Locals
Following the posting of her experience on social media, the tourist warned others to be careful while taking taxis in South Korea. She also disclosed that she had reported the driver using the same ride-hailing application. SCMP reports that since her video was posted, she has accumulated over 660,000 likes and over 400 comments.
Both South Koreans and Thais reacted with anger. One South Korean user posted, “I am sorry that such a terrible thing happened to you.” Another cautioned, “You should inform the police about this. This is sexual harassment. If this kind of person is not punished, they will do the same to others in the future.” A third said, “We should punish this driver severely for sexual harassment or at least expose his personal info.”
Fears of Legal Loopholes
SCMP pointed out that South Korean law does not treat verbal sexual harassment as a criminal offence unless accompanied by physical contact in public. This loophole in the law, it is claimed, permits untold amounts of inappropriate and predatory behavior to go largely unmonitored.