Four Malaysian women were caught taking photographs inside a women-only bathing area at Hillspa in the Haeundae district of Busan, South Korea, on Monday.
The incident occurred at a jjimjilbang, a traditional Korean bathhouse where patrons are required to be unclothed, as reported by detikTravel.
A visitor identified as Hanyoritta stated she was cleaning herself after using the sauna when she observed the group entering the facility wearing clothes, hijabs, and sunglasses. She told detikTravel that the women began taking photos in her direction, prompting her to dress quickly, alert security, and notify the police.
Security personnel detained the group in the lobby until police arrived to conduct an inspection of their mobile devices. According to SuaraGarut.ID, authorities confirmed that photographs were taken inside the bathing area, though none of the images captured other patrons in a state of undress.
Despite the discovery of the photos, police released the four tourists without arrest or fines, opting only to issue a warning. Hanyoritta expressed frustration to detikTravel, noting that the women were laughing while speaking with officers.
The incident gained attention after Hanyoritta shared her experience on Threads and filed a formal complaint regarding the police response through the South Korean government's e-People portal. SBS News reported that the case sparked a debate among South Korean social media users, many of whom praised the reporting of the incident but criticized the police for being too lenient toward foreign visitors.
Taking photos or recording video in public bathhouses is a serious criminal offense in South Korea. While some Malaysian social media users apologized for the behavior of their compatriots, others suggested the group may have intended to take photos as souvenirs, according to reporting by The Rakyat Post.
The incident has caused concern among the Malaysian community living in South Korea. The Rakyat Post said that these residents fear the actions of the four tourists could reinforce negative stereotypes and lead to stricter scrutiny of Malaysians at immigration checkpoints.
This concern exists against a backdrop where some Malaysians living in the country already report facing heightened questioning and societal bias. Following the event, Hanyoritta remains distressed by the encounter, stating that she still finds it difficult to calm down despite the official resolution of the matter.
Taking photos or recording in jjimjilbang and other public bathhouses is a criminal offense in South Korea because these areas require visitors to be naked.
Police in Busan inspected the mobile phones of the four tourists and confirmed they had taken photos inside the facility. However, they did not make an arrest or issue a fine, choosing instead to provide a warning, as reported by both detikTravel and SuaraGarut.ID.
Hanyoritta has since filed a complaint through the e-People portal regarding the handling of the case.
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