Taiwanese Woman Attacked by Men in Hongdae Says, "Police Told Me Not to Cry and Just Go Home"

Sexually Harassed by Two Korean Men in Hongdae, Filed a Report
"Police Closed the Case Without Even Checking CCTV"
Taiwanese Foreign Ministry Demands Action from Korean Authorities

A Taiwanese YouTuber who was assaulted by a stranger in Hongdae, Seoul, has sparked controversy by revealing the inadequate response of the Korean police. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to support the victim and has demanded that Korean authorities take measures to ensure the safety of Taiwanese nationals.

A popular Taiwanese YouTuber claimed to have been assaulted by Korean men in Hongdae, Seoul. Screenshot from Lyu Li Ying's YouTube channel.

According to Taiwanese media outlets such as FTV News on September 16, YouTuber Lyu Li Ying, who has 460,000 subscribers, disclosed the details of the assault on her YouTube channel that day. Lyu Li Ying has been introducing Korean beauty, food, and lifestyle culture to Taiwan through her channel.

In the video, Lyu Li Ying explained that while she was walking with two friends in the streets of Hongdae, Seoul, two unfamiliar men approached them, engaged in unnecessary physical contact, and put their arms around her shoulders. She expressed her discomfort and asked them to stop, but claimed that one of the men suddenly slapped her, initiating the assault. Lyu Li Ying recounted, "When he slapped me again, I couldn't tolerate it any longer," describing the situation at the time.

The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation. Before the police arrived, Lyu Li Ying had her friends leave the scene out of concern that they might face disadvantages due to visa issues. Both friends had entered Korea on work visas.

A popular Taiwanese YouTuber claimed to have been assaulted by Korean men in Hongdae, Seoul. Photo by Ryu Rying Instagram

However, she expressed disappointment with the police response at the scene. Lyu Li Ying said, "The police simply wrote down our passport numbers and told us, 'Incidents like this are common. Don't cry, just go home and rest.' They closed the case without even checking the CCTV footage."

In the video, she revealed, "My entire arm was severely bruised," and reported suffering serious contusions on her arms, chest, and legs, as well as a fractured finger.

Lyu Li Ying stated that she slept for two days after the incident due to extreme fatigue and plans to file an official police report again with a medical certificate issued by the hospital.

As the incident became a topic of debate on social media, the Taiwanese authorities also took action. Lin Chao-hong, Director-General of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing that "the Taipei Representative Office in Korea has contacted the Korean police to request that the case be handled according to the law and will provide Lyu Li Ying with necessary support." He also explained that the representative office has immediately coordinated with the Korea Tourism Organization and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to demand proactive measures to ensure the safety of Taiwanese travelers.

Director Lin urged Taiwanese nationals traveling in Korea to "always be mindful of their own safety while traveling, and in the event of an emergency, to report to the police immediately and also contact the emergency line of the Taipei Representative Office in Korea or the Busan Office." He added, "If necessary, family members or acquaintances in Taiwan may also contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' emergency center to request assistance."