A violent altercation involving a Korean woman assaulting two Vietnamese women at a self-service photo booth in Hanoi has sparked national outrage and prompted formal apologies from her employer.
Incident Details
According to famous Vietnamese news outlet Kenh14, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on July 11 in the My Dinh area of Hanoi. CCTV footage and a viral social media post from one of the victims detail how two Vietnamese women were inside the booth, using the paid facility within their allotted time. Outside, two Korean women were waiting and began impatiently urging them to hurry.
One of the Korean women, identified as A, entered the booth and allegedly struck one of the Vietnamese women’s arms, pulled her hat, and grabbed her hair, escalating into a full physical assault. She was also seen kicking the victim and pinning her to a corner, despite attempts by staff and other individuals to intervene. One of the victims is reportedly suffering from headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite following the incident.
The photo booth’s management confirmed that their staff reported the altercation to the police immediately. However, the company’s Google review page was flooded with negative ratings as public anger grew.
Official Company Apology
On July 17, Saekyung Hi-Tech Vietnam (Saekyung Vina), the employer of the Korean woman involved, issued a public apology. In a statement signed by CEO Jeon Seong-wook, the company acknowledged the incident and condemned the employee’s behavior, “We sincerely apologize to the Vietnamese authorities, citizens, Korean residents, and all those affected by this incident.”
Saekyung Vina confirmed that the woman, though currently based in Korea, was on a business trip in Vietnam at the time of the incident. The company also announced that she has been dismissed from her position, adding, “Such unethical behavior cannot be tolerated. It goes against our company’s core values of respecting Vietnamese law and culture.”
The company pledged to implement mandatory behavioral guidelines for overseas staff and to conduct regular training to prevent similar incidents. Following the viral spread of the incident, Sekyung Hitech’s official website became inaccessible, displaying a “server overload” error message due to a surge in traffic. Sekyung Hitech’s shares on South Korea’s KOSDAQ fell nearly 4% during the day, dipping as low as 6,300 won. Investors expressed concern that reputational damage might affect the company’s long-term business performance.
Public Response and Privacy Concerns
As the story gained traction online, personal information about the Korean woman was leaked, sparking concerns over doxxing and retaliation. She responded publicly, stating, “I too am a victim due to my personal information being exposed in connection with the ‘photo booth assault incident.’ I hope no further doxxing occurs.”
Vietnamese authorities are currently conducting a formal investigation into the matter.
The incident quickly ignited criticism on Korean community site TheQoo, with users expressing embarrassment and urging accountability:
- Did they really do that on a business trip?
- Those two just ruined the good image of Korea that Coach Park Hang-seo built up in Vietnam.
- What did the company do to deserve this, seriously…
- Wow, unbelievable…
- It’s going to be hard for them to find a job now. Vietnam might even ban their entry. Seriously, why would you hit someone?
This case highlights the importance of cultural respect and individual conduct abroad not only for maintaining personal dignity but for representing one’s country. The strong reaction from both Vietnamese and Korean communities underscores the broader impact of such incidents in the digital age.