Photo of Korean tourists resting barefoot at Vietnam airport draws backlash on S.Korean social media

Published on Wednesday under the headline 'An embarrassing scene in the Da Nang Airport Lounge,' the article featured images of several travelers lying down with their shoes removed, placing their bare feet on lounge furniture.

The photos had gone viral on South Korean social media a day earlier.

According to the account, the incident occurred a few days earlier as the group waited for a night flight. 

“There were not many foreigners, but they looked uncomfortable,” the author wrote, referring to other passengers and Vietnamese lounge staff.

The post urged South Korean travelers to be more mindful of their conduct abroad, especially in shared public spaces.

Da Nang has become a top international destination for South Korean tourists in recent years, according to Maeil Kyungjae. 

Last month, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism held the 2025 South Korean Tourist Appreciation Week to mark the arrival of the one millionth South Korean visitor.

South Korea remains one of Vietnam’s largest sources of international tourists.