"Is Korea a Racist Country?" Because They Didn't Give a Hitchhike?

by Kim Eunha

Published 09 Apr.2023 08:43(KST)

Foreign Tourists Criticized in Video After Failing to Hitchhike at Mannam Plaza
Account Deleted Amid Controversy...Netizens Condemn "White Supremacy"

A foreign tourist couple sparked outrage among Korean netizens after posting a video criticizing Korea when their reckless attempt at hitchhiking within the country failed.

On the 8th, multiple online communities posted a thread titled "Foreigners saying Korea has severe racial discrimination." The post included screenshots from a video showing the foreign tourist couple attempting to hitchhike from Seoul to Busan, failing, and then taking a bus.

Photo by TikTok capture

They tried hitchhiking from the Seoul Mannam Rest Area to Busan. At the beginning of the video, the woman held a paper that read "Busan→" and smiled while giving a thumbs-up, but no one gave them a ride. They moved locations trying to catch a ride but eventually gave up hitchhiking after 5 hours and headed to a bus stop.

A man carrying a large backpack was also seen waiting for a bus at a bus stop in Seocho-gu, Seoul. They said it took 7 hours by bus to reach Busan. They complained, "I didn’t expect traveling in Korea to be this difficult. It was the worst hitchhiking experience. Korea has severe racial discrimination. This is the first time we’ve experienced this."

During the bus ride to Busan, they also said, "After arriving in Busan, the bus driver got into a minor accident and fought with another driver," adding, "I didn’t expect traveling in Korea to be this exhausting."

Even after arriving in Busan, they criticized the cherry blossom scenery, saying, "The cherry blossom views were unimpressive." They added, "Everywhere in Busan was filled with concrete buildings. It was a dull and boring landscape." The two, from Slovenia, are reportedly funding their world travels through content editing and other means.

Netizens who watched the video commented, "They complain without any prior preparation for the trip," "Even top stars would hesitate to give rides from Seoul to Busan," and "They interpret cultural differences as discrimination." Some also responded, "It seems they expect excessive kindness just because they are white."