A Chinese internet influencer faces fines and deportation, and even a ban from entering Thailand, for a video criticizing Bangkok's red-light district.
A video posted online by Chinese tourist Wang Ziyu criticizing the red-light district quickly attracted the attention of the Immigration Department and the Royal Thai Police. Wang and her companions were taken to the local police station for questioning and investigation into the crime of “damaging the reputation and image of Thailand” in late December.
Photo of Wang and his friends being summoned to a Thai police station after the incident of making a video that defamed the country. Photo: Baidu
Wang is known as a Kol (internet influencer) with more than 3 million followers. She arrived in Bangkok on a tourist visa on November 2 and posted several videos sharing her travel experiences. On December 5, she shared a video of herself wandering around the red-light district of Nana (Nana Plaza), talking about the nightlife there and commenting that "99% of the visitors here look shabby", the area is "unsafe", and urged women not to come here alone.
Wang's video quickly sparked controversy and backlash online, drawing the attention of the authorities and forcing her to delete the video and issue a public apology in English, Thai and Chinese.
"I understand that my words may have had a negative impact and I deeply regret it," Wang wrote on Facebook, apologizing to the red-light district and the Thai people. She also pledged to "use social media responsibly and tactfully" in the future.
Screenshot of video of Wang visiting the Nana red-light district. Photo: SCMP
Despite Wang's apology, Thai police have investigated and taken legal action against the tourist. Major General Phanthana Nutchanart, a representative of the Immigration Department, said Wang was found to be working in Thailand without a permit, violating visa policy. Wang could be fined up to 10,000 ($1,400), deported from Thailand and even blacklisted from future re-entry.
Some people defended Wang for "just telling the truth, doing nothing wrong". However, others said that speaking ill of a country you visit is disrespectful to its people and "deserves to be blacklisted".
Nana Plaza is one of the three famous red-light districts in Bangkok, located on Sukhumvit Soi 4, always bustling with tourists and bars springing up side by side. If Patpong or Soi Cowboy red-light districts are famous for their solicitation tricks, sometimes ripping off customers, Nana Plaza is considered more civilized, but no less vibrant.
Anh Minh (According to SCMP )
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