"My Face Is Burning": Korean Mother and Daughter Lying on Airport Chairs Abroad Spark Manners Controversy

Photo of Incident at Singapore Changi Airport Spreads Online

Online criticism has erupted after a photo surfaced showing a Korean mother and daughter lying across several chairs at a crowded departure gate in an overseas airport. Netizens pointed out a lack of basic etiquette in public spaces, describing the behavior as "damaging to the nation's reputation."

A Korean mother and daughter lying across several chairs at Singapore Changi Airport. Screenshot from an online community.

Recently, an online community post titled "Korean Mother and Daughter Cause Disturbance by Occupying Benches During Flight Delay at Singapore Changi Airport" included a photo and an eyewitness account.

The poster, identified as A, wrote, "Around 11 a.m. on the 11th, while many passengers were sitting on the floor waiting due to a flight delay, a Korean mother and daughter were lying across five benches." A added, "The daughter appeared to be in the upper grades of elementary school, and the woman, presumed to be the mother, opened her eyes to look at people but then closed them and went back to sleep."

According to A, at the time, the waiting area was crowded with passengers headed to Incheon or Japan, leaving a shortage of available seats. Many travelers were reportedly sitting on the floor or wandering around the airport.

After the photo was released, netizens criticized the behavior, commenting, "I hope they're not Korean," "If this keeps happening, Koreans will get a bad reputation abroad," "No manners in public places," and "What is the daughter learning from her mother?"

However, some offered a different perspective, suggesting, "They might have been resting due to illness," or "They could have been connecting passengers who had been traveling all day," indicating there could be understandable reasons for their actions.

Meanwhile, controversy over the lack of manners among Korean tourists abroad continues to surface. In September, similar criticism arose at Da Nang International Airport in Vietnam.

According to a post on an online community at the time, some tourists-believed to be Korean-were seen lying down with their bare feet on chairs and tables in the airport lounge. The poster pointed out that they occupied tables with glassware and sofas that other passengers could have used, emphasizing, "While it's understandable to be tired, at the very least, basic etiquette should be observed in shared spaces." Netizens responded in the comments, saying, "Now I understand why the term 'Ugly Korean' exists," expressing self-reflection and concern.