A video of a Japanese woman visiting Korea who was moved to tears by the kindness of a bus driver has been gaining attention online.
On October 16, several online communities posted a video titled “A Korean Bus Driver Experienced by a Japanese Person Recently.” The video was part of a vlog uploaded by a Japanese model, identified as Ms. A, who recently visited Korea and shared her experiences on her YouTube channel, asking, “Why are Koreans so kind?”
A Japanese woman visiting Korea was moved to tears by the warm kindness of a Seoul bus driver. Online community, YouTube capture
According to the video, Ms. A visited Korea for a photo shoot but faced difficulties from the moment she arrived, including getting lost. After barely managing to complete her schedule, she found herself lost again while trying to return to her accommodation. She eventually boarded a bus to her hotel but, due to her limited Korean, was unsure if she was on the right route.
At that moment, she unexpectedly heard someone speaking Japanese. The bus driver, fluent in Japanese, asked, “Are you Japanese?” Noticing that Ms. A seemed lost, the driver asked for her destination and reassured her, “This bus goes to that hotel.”
Later, when Ms. A realized she did not have enough balance on her transportation card and could not pay the fare, the driver told her, “Please have a seat for a moment,” and explained, “Many Korean buses do not accept cash. I will let you ride for free this time.” Exhausted and anxious, Ms. A was deeply touched by the driver’s kindness and tearfully expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much.”
The bus driver’s kindness did not end there. When the bus arrived at the stop near her hotel, the driver explained, “Get off here and cross at the signal.” He then gently advised her, “Seoul is safe even at night, but please avoid places that are too dark.” Moved by his kindness, Ms. A was brought to tears, asking, “Why are people here so kind?”
Ms. A, who uploaded the video, explained, “I visited Korea without any time to prepare, so I was lost throughout the trip.” She shared that people she met on the streets, in taxis, and on buses-including at Myeong-dong Station-were all kind and helpful. She added, “Although I was physically exhausted, my heart was filled. I am truly grateful.”
Japanese netizens also praised the kindness of Koreans, leaving comments such as, “This is something only possible in Korea,” and “Even I was moved to tears.”
As the video spread online, many viewers responded with empathy, saying, “This is true diplomacy,” “When you’re lost abroad and a local helps you, it really brings tears to your eyes,” and “She must have been so grateful.” In particular, the bus driver’s fluent Japanese drew comments like, “He must have lived in Japan for a long time,” and “She was lucky to meet someone so proficient in Japanese.”
There were also unconfirmed rumors circulating that the bus driver was “a former diplomat with 34 years of experience who is now living a second life as a bus driver,” but these claims have not been verified.
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