‘I’m scared to visit Korea’: Seoul subway sign branded ‘fatphobic’

A Seoul subway sign has been called "fatphobic" by several online users, with some insisting it has left them scared to visit Korea.

A video of the sign at Sangbong station in Jungnang District, eastern Seoul, from Korea-based TikToker "KoreAlo" (@dailydoseofkorean) has been viewed 26.8 million times and liked by 2.1 million people. [SCREEN GRAB]

A sign designed to encourage passengers on Seoul’s subway to take the stairs featuring a heavy set human figure has sparked fresh controversy online, with some commenters insisting it has left them scared to visit Korea.

On the floor of Sangbong station in Jungnang District, eastern Seoul, there are two stickers — one featuring a thin figure aligned with the healthier choice of taking the stairs and another of a rotund figure pointing to the easier option of taking the escalator.

While the signs have been in place for some time, Korea-based TikToker "KoreAlo" (@dailydoseofkorean) has recently gone viral with his post, which sparked online debate over the acceptability of the signage.

In his video, which has been viewed 26.8 million times and liked by 2.1 million people, he shows the signs and added captions “Korea is so mean” and “imagine seeing that every day.”

Within the over 19,000 comments, there was divided commentary about the ethics and suitability of the sign.

“That is a sign to show that, if you take the stairs you will exercise, if you take the automatic [stairs] you’ll end up like that. Not mean, accurate,” said one comment that was liked nearly 12,000 times.

Another comment said: “I’ve seen similar signs all over, but they’re more ‘Take care of yourself: take the stairs instead!’ This isn’t unique to any one place.”

However, other popular comments said, “I’d cry on the spot” and “Now I’m scared to visit Korea.” One comment noted, “this is fatphobic, plain and simple.”

Another said: “There is actually no way. Korea does not sugar coat.”

The lighter side of the comments noted the larger figure has a likeness to Baymax, the animated Disney character from “Big Hero 6” (2015).

“It looks like Baymax,” said one comment, while another said “if you wanna be slim just use the stairs, but if you wanna be like baymax use the escalator.”

The video has contributed to an online narrative that Korea is fatphobic. Another TikToker — "Melody of Her Seoul" (@melodyofherseoul) — has posted several videos on fatphobic issues in Korea, including a video on a similar sign in Daegu which has received over 460,000 views and over 33,000 likes.

TikToker "Melody of Her Seoul" (@melodyofherseoul) has posted several videos on fatphobic issues in Korea. [SCREEN GRAB]

That video gathered similar comments, such as: “I really love Korean culture, kpop, kdramas, kvariety but because I am plus [sized], I am really scared that if I am going to visit I will hate this country.”

Another said: “My boyfriend is from Daegu. Now I am scared to visit his hometown when we travel to Korea” while one poster said: “[This is] honestly my biggest fear when I visit SK [South Korea] in March.”

BY TREVOR TREHARNE [trevor.treharne@joongang.co.kr]