A Taiwanese influencer was reportedly assaulted in South Korea after rejecting a man who allegedly tried to proposition her for sex while she was walking in Seoul’s popular nightlife district.
According to reports from Taiwanese media outlet Formosa News, the incident involved Taiwanese YouTuber and influencer Liu Liying and allegedly took place in Hongdae, a busy entertainment area located in Seoul’s Mapo District.
Liu said she had been walking with a female friend when they were approached by two male strangers.
One of the men allegedly began flirting with her and later made inappropriate advances. After Liu rejected him, the man allegedly slapped her, leading to a confrontation that reportedly escalated into a physical assault.
The influencer claimed the man repeatedly hit her during the incident, leaving her with multiple visible injuries.
Photos later shared on her social media account showed extensive bruising on her arms and legs, sparking outrage among her followers online.
Influencer Claims Police Initially Dismissed Incident
On Sept. 15, Liu posted about the incident on Threads, where she detailed the alleged assault and criticised the initial response she received after seeking help from local authorities.
According to Liu, officers who attended to the case allegedly told her such incidents were “common in the country” before advising her to return home and rest after recording her personal information.
Her claims quickly attracted attention online, with many netizens expressing concern over tourist safety and questioning the handling of the case.
The incident also triggered heated discussions across Asian social media platforms, especially after early online rumours incorrectly identified the suspects as Korean nationals.
Seoul Police Confirm Suspects Were Chinese Nationals
However, the Mapo Police Precinct later clarified that the men involved were actually Chinese nationals.
According to Korean media reports, police confirmed they received a report involving a Chinese man in his 20s allegedly assaulting two Taiwanese women in the Hongdae area.
Authorities added that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case has since drawn widespread attention in both Taiwan and South Korea, with many online users calling for stricter protection for foreign visitors and stronger action against violent behaviour in nightlife districts.
Hongdae is one of Seoul’s most popular nightlife and youth culture hotspots, attracting large crowds of tourists, university students and street performers daily.