Korean YouTuber Faces Sexual Harassment While Traveling in India

① Korean YouTuber Sexually Harassed During India Trip

A local man sexually harassed Korean travel YouTuber Kelly during her trip to India. On December 12, Kelly uploaded a video of her trip to the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. She was seen enjoying her trip to India, meeting locals, conversing, and trying local food as she walked through the streets.

While she was exploring a shop, a man approached her. Without any warning, he put his arm around Kelly’s shoulder and wrapped his arm around her neck, pressing his body against hers. The startled YouTuber tried to move away, but the man rubbed her shoulder with his hand before disappearing out of the camera’s view.

The YouTuber managed to handle the sudden situation with a calm smile. However, she showed signs of discomfort and said, “I need to get out of here”. She added, “He seems to like hugging. I don’t know why”.

The video sparked discussions not only in Korea but also in India. As of the 21st, the video has garnered over 1.07 million views, indicating its high interest level. Indians who watched the video apologized on behalf of the man.

In the comments, Indians apologized to the Korean YouTuber, saying, “As an Indian, I apologize on his behalf,” “As an Indian citizen, this is unbearable,” “Don’t be kind to people like the last man,” “As Indians, we are truly sorry for his behavior,” and “All Indians will feel sorry.”

Along with their apologies, they also offered advice to the YouTuber. One Indian commented, “Don’t be kind to people like the last man. If you feel uncomfortable, scream or take action. That will make them afraid to do such things next time. I’m sorry”.

② Indians Apologizing on Behalf

The video started to spread more widely in India, leading to local media coverage. One Indian even reported the man to the local police on behalf of the YouTuber, indicating how seriously the situation was taken.

Many Indians expressed their anger and insisted that such incidents should not be tolerated. Eventually, Indian police launched an investigation and announced the perpetrator’s arrest. Local media reported that the Pimpri Chinchwad police in the Pune district arrested a man for inappropriate physical contact with the Korean YouTuber.

The police said that because the man’s face was visible in the video, it did not take long to arrest him. This is not the first time a Korean YouTuber has been sexually harassed in India.

In April, Korean travel YouTuber Jenbebey released a video titled “Don’t Travel Alone in India as a Woman.” While traveling in the Rajasthan region of Jodhpur, she noticed a man following her. The YouTuber said, “That’s the guy from earlier,” revealing that he had been lurking around her for a while.

The man waited for the YouTuber to arrive and then pulled down his pants. Upon seeing this, the YouTuber quickly left the area and sought help from nearby people. She screamed, “Help me!” but the man continued to follow her. When the YouTuber ran towards a group of people nearby, the man finally fled.

The video also sparked controversy in India. The Jodhpur police launched an investigation and arrested the man. The police stated, “The perpetrator is a resident living near the area” and “He was arrested for disturbing public order as the victim did not file any complaints about the incident.”

③ India Known for Its Poor Public Safety

India is notorious for its poor public safety among many tourist destinations. Although it is known worldwide as a backpacker’s paradise with many fantastic tourist attractions, it is often considered dangerous for solo traveling, especially for women. There have been numerous cases of foreign tourists being victimized in India.

India is a place where sexual crimes against women occur frequently. As a country with low women’s rights, the sexual crimes occurring locally are so severe that they shock the world. Not only against locals but also against foreigners; sexual crimes are happening frequently, which is still a controversial issue.
If you are planning a trip to India, avoiding revealing clothes and conspicuous behavior is advisable.

It is safer to travel in groups rather than alone. Also, it is recommended to mainly travel to tourist spots and famous places. Avoid going to dark places and avoid sightseeing in alleys or secluded places. During your trip, if strangers show kindness, you should be suspicious. Especially in India, it is advisable to avoid going out late at night after sunset.

By. Mia Han