A video showing a foreign man embracing and kissing a statue of a haenyeo (a female free diver, a symbol of Jeju) has sparked controversy after being made public.
According to a recent broadcast of JTBC's "Sagen Banjang," the video, apparently filmed near Hamdeok in Jeju City, showed a foreign man performing an obscene act next to the haenyeo statue.
The foreign man, identified as A, is presumed to have lived in Jeju for about a year. A has taken the position that he did not know his behavior was something to be criticized, but critics within the local community say it is difficult to view the incident as simply a cultural difference.
The person who filmed and posted the video is reported to be a Korean resident of Jeju. The tipster pointed out, "Any Jeju resident would know the symbolism the haenyeo holds in Jeju," and added, "What I understood even less was the act of laughing together and posting the video rather than stopping it." The tipster posted on their Instagram that "consuming the haenyeo statue as a laughingstock is an act of ignorance and rudeness," and said they later received an apology from the man who filmed the video, who said he was "ashamed and embarrassed."
The foreign man, A, explained that "he did not know the behavior would be a problem" and is reported to have requested that his face be blurred. The tipster explained the reason for bringing the matter to public attention, saying, "(A) did apologize, but seeing him continue to only demand that the post be deleted made me question whether he was truly reflecting on it."
As the haenyeo is regarded as a cultural heritage representing Jeju and a symbol of the community, criticism has continued among internet users that it was inappropriate behavior toward a public sculpture.
