The controversy started from a statement by TikToker Goi Mang Ve during a press event hosted by KTO – Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam to launch a campaign promoting Korean tourism. Sharing her thoughts on Korean cuisine, she said she was “very impressed by the anglerfish dish.” Back in Vietnam, she couldn’t finish a whole fish because she was put off by the fishy smell. But in Korea, perhaps due to the cooking method, the fish didn’t have that smell and tasted more like chicken, so she was able to eat it all.
A reporter offered some feedback: “Travel has so many highlights, every place has its own beauty and charm. You said you like anglerfish, but you also said you couldn’t eat fish in Vietnam but could in Korea. Think about it, our coastline stretches 3,200 km, so aren’t our fish delicious? Why not talk about how fish is prepared, the food culture, cooking methods, or preservation techniques that we could learn from?”
The clip capturing this exchange went viral on social media on the evening of August 20, sparking outrage and criticism from many netizens who accused Goi Mang Ve of “insulting Vietnamese fish to praise Korean fish.” In response to the backlash, she posted an apology, explaining that her lack of experience and poor choice of words caused misunderstandings. “I have never had experience answering questions in front of a crowd, so I deeply regret that my way of speaking, expressing feelings, and choice of words were unclear, which may have caused misunderstandings about “criticizing Vietnamese cuisine.”” she wrote.
The TikToker clarified that the message she really wanted to share was: “Even though I’m someone who generally doesn’t like eating fish, when I got to try anglerfish in Korea, I realized it’s a type of fish I can enjoy and want to recommend to others who also don’t like fish, so if they have the chance to visit Korea, they can try it too.”
The reporter in the clip also spoke up, saying she only intended to offer constructive feedback, not to criticize or nitpick. She wanted to suggest deeper approaches and fresh perspectives for TikTok content creators to provide more nuanced and diverse reviews of their trips. The reporter also expressed regret that the situation caused controversy and misunderstandings.
