"Poor Dad, Can't Buy Me an iPhone" Daughter Shouts... Chinese Father Kneels Down [Video]

Dad Kneels to Daughter Asking for iPhone
"I Feel a Father's Heart... Wanted to Discipline My Daughter"
60% of Korean Men, 71% of Women Use iPhones

A video showing a father kneeling and apologizing to his daughter, who was nagging him to buy an iPhone but he said he could not afford it, has sparked controversy.

A father kneeling down, apologizing to his daughter who is asking for an iPhone.
[Photo by Weibo]

On the 22nd (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that on the 4th, a father knelt and apologized to his daughter on a street in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. The controversy arose from a video filmed by a passerby identified as Mr. A. The video became a huge sensation on social media, garnering 100 million views.

In the video released by Mr. A, a teenage daughter walking on the street shouts at her father, "Other parents buy their kids iPhones. But you don't have money to buy me an iPhone." The father then kneels down, bows his head, and repeatedly says "I'm sorry," blaming himself for his financial inability. As bystanders watched the scene, the daughter seemed embarrassed and said, "Please get up. Hurry and get up," while pulling on her father's clothes. The confrontation between the two lasted about five minutes.

A father kneeling down, apologizing to his daughter who is asking for an iPhone.
[Photo by Weibo]

In an interview with SCMP, Mr. A said, "I could feel the father's sadness," and added, "I wanted to slap the daughter who made her father kneel." Netizens who saw the video reacted with comments such as "This is why strict discipline is important," "What's so special about an iPhone," "It hurts to feel the father's feelings while kneeling," "How did the father feel," and "Already being extravagant at such a young age."

Meanwhile, South Korea is the country with the most expensive smartphone prices in the world. Market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) revealed that South Korea has the highest average selling price (ASP) for smartphones, surpassing Japan and the United States. The average price for purchasing a smartphone domestically is around 900,000 won, which is more than twice the global average price of 370,000 won.

This result was largely influenced by the young generation's strong preference for expensive iPhones. Among teenagers, there is a saying, "If you don't buy an iPhone, you become an outcast," indicating that peer culture has a significant impact. The recently released iPhone 15 saw sales increase by 20-30% compared to its predecessor, recording the highest sales ever. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 iPhone 15 buyers are in their 20s and 30s. According to a Gallup survey, 65% of young people aged 18-29 use iPhones, with 60% of men and a remarkable 71% of women using iPhones.