[국제]Two-year incarceration crisis for “cruel” review … International public opinion war

[앵커]

Controversy is emerging when a resort in Thailand sues foreign guests to the police for leaving negative reviews as “hostile.”

If convicted, he will face up to two years in prison. The guests and the resort argue with each other for legitimacy through Internet sites, and it is a war of international public opinion.

Reporter Kim Sang-woo on the report.

[기자]

In the Thai economy, the tourism industry has a high proportion of 20%.

With the prolonged outbreak of the coronavirus, tourist centers for foreigners are practically closed.

The same goes for Sea View Resort on the island of Koh Chang.

This is a review from an American visitor to Wesley Barnes on a travel website last July.

“Find another hotel where the staff are unfriendly, don’t laugh and are friendly like they avoid crowns.

According to the Bangkok Post and others, the complex sued Mr. Barnes for defamation.

Barnes made a scandal for not paying the corkage he had to pay to drink the alcohol he brought, and even exempted him.

Barnes was arrested on the 12th after the resort’s indictment and released after bail, but if convicted, he could face up to two years in prison, 200,000 baht, and a fine of approximately 7.4 million won.

Mr. Barnes responded by explaining his position on various sites, and the complex also delivered an official statement to the site, which is becoming a display of international public opinion.

The crime of defamation has been reported to be abused in Thailand as a means of suppressing freedom of expression against so-called “strong people” such as politicians.

At the end of last year, a Thai journalist who posted a tweet criticizing the working environment of a company-run chicken farm was sentenced to two years in prison for defamation, AFP reported.

In Thailand, which is a constitutional monarchy, there have recently been protests calling for royal reform, saying: “This country belongs to the people, not the king.”

This is YTN Kim Sang-woo.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]