Seoul: South Korean netizens and intellectuals are reacting negatively to photos of a Vietnamese female tourist practicing yoga in tight leggings at a historic royal palace in the center of Seoul. The incident arose earlier this week when the woman shared photos on social media showing herself in a handstand yoga pose in front of Gyeongbok Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), during her recent visit to South Korea.According to Yonhap News Agency, the controversial photos were reported by VN Express, a Vietnamese newspaper, which triggered criticism from many social media users in both countries. The woman defended her actions by stating that she was not cautioned by the palace's security staff.Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor of Seoul's Sungshin Women's University, raised concerns about potential damage to the nation's cultural properties. "Vietnamese media pointed out that she acted inappropriately at a Korean historical site and South Korean netizens also criticized her," Seo stat ed on his social media."She is free to practice yoga in any country or region but it is clearly wrong to do yoga against the wall of cultural assets of other countries. Her alleged assertion that such conduct would not be a problem is wrong," the professor said, urging Gyeongbok Palace officials to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.Many netizens agreed with Seo's views, denouncing her act as "rude and offensive." A Yonhap News reader commented, "Gyeongbok Palace is a national treasure of South Korea and its people. Her yoga done deliberately in front of the palace was clearly an insult to the Korean people."Another reader questioned the woman's choice of location, asking why she chose the palace when there are many other places to exercise, and emphasized the importance of observing basic order and manners.
- October 12, 2026
