A Vietnamese tourist visiting South Korea has become the center of controversy after posting a photo on social media of herself performing yoga in leggings in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, a historic cultural landmark in Seoul.
On Tuesday, Vietnamese news outlet VNExpress reported that the woman, who visited South Korea on October 29, shared an image showing her practicing yoga in front of the stone wall next to Gwanghwamun, one of the main entrances to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The photo depicts the woman, dressed in full-body leggings, performing an advanced yoga pose with her hands planted firmly on the ground, her fully exposed in a public space.
The post quickly went viral, triggering a wave of criticism, especially in Vietnam, where the display of yoga in public spaces is a controversial subject. Many commenters expressed concern over the appropriateness of practicing yoga in front of such an iconic cultural landmark.
Cultural Sensitivity and Public Behavior: A Hot Debate
Online commenters compared Vietnam’s revered heritage sites, such as the Imperial City of Hue, which, like Gyeongbokgung Palace, holds significant cultural and historical value. Some argued that while yoga itself can be a positive practice, performing it in a public space like this—especially at a sacred or historical site—was disrespectful and inappropriate.
In response to the backlash, the woman defended her actions, stating that she had not violated any regulations and pointed out that security personnel at Gyeongbokgung did not intervene or issue warnings while she was there. She appealed for moderation in the criticism, emphasizing that her intentions were harmless.
She further argued for mutual respect, saying, “Everyone has their own preferences, and we should respect our differences.”
This incident is part of a growing debate in Vietnam over the practice of yoga in public spaces. Earlier this year, a similar controversy arose when a woman was photographed performing yoga in leggings atop Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak in Vietnam at 10,326 feet.
In another incident this May, 14 women were fined for performing yoga in the middle of a street in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam. The women were charged with illegal assembly and obstructing traffic, sparking further discussions about the limits of personal expression in public spaces.
As yoga continues to grow in popularity, the debate over where and when it’s appropriate to practice remains heated. With cultural norms and personal freedoms often at odds, the discussion about public yoga raises larger questions about respect for shared spaces and the importance of cultural sensitivity.
As both Vietnam and South Korea grapple with these issues, it remains clear that the boundaries of personal freedom, public decorum, and respect for cultural landmarks will continue to be at the heart of conversations in both countries and beyond.
Comments0