Recently, in a city bus in Jeju Island, a controversy arose when a passenger, presumed to be a Chinese tourist, was reported to have smoked.
Professor Seo noted on the 28th through social media (SNS) a viral video titled "Is this a real incident with a Chinese tourist in Jeju? Smoking in the Bus." Seo stated, "A female passenger is shown sitting in her seat and smoking while flicking ash out the window," adding, "One passenger shouted, 'Where is that cigarette smell coming from? What era are we in that you tell me to get off?'"
He continued, "The bus driver briefly stopped the vehicle, approached the passenger, and warned, 'You cannot smoke here,'" and added, "Then that passenger threw the cigarette out the window and closed it."
Professor Seo pointed out that the behavior of Chinese tourists visiting Jeju Island has been problematic several times. He remarked, "Last year, there was controversy when a Chinese child was defecating in public, and the woman, believed to be the mother, along with their party, did not intervene to stop the child's behavior," and noted, "Photos of a pile of trash, including leftover cup noodles and beverage bottles, left behind at a convenience store frequently visited by Chinese tourists were shared online, eliciting public outrage."
Seo remarked, "This is due to the lack of global citizenship awareness among Chinese individuals," and emphasized, "We need to reflect on why Chinese tourists are not welcomed and are criticized in different countries." He continued, "Instead of just watching, we must impose minor criminal penalties for these thoughtless actions to prevent such incidents from happening again."