The South Korean tourists at the quarantine area in Danang City on February 24
The statement which was published in both South Korean and Vietnamese recounted a YTN news report broadcast on February 25 and 26 which shared the opinions of some South Korean tourists about their short stay in a quarantine area in the Vietnamese central city.
"YTN repeatedly broadcasted the news for the safe return of South Korean people," the statement said. "With the obligation and responsibility of a news agency, we believed that we need to make public all the interviews with these South Korean citizens about their unexpected quarantine."
The news agency said they were sorry that the interviews included bad comments by the tourists on the conditions and foods at the quarantine area.
"We just believed that we needed to publish the whole personal opinions of the interviewees. We didn't mean to disregard Vietnamese culture, the agency explained.
YTN stressed that they would continue to tell the truth and protect South Korean citizens, but at the same time be more careful in the way of broadcasting to avoid misunderstanding, especially regarding culture difference.
On February 24, a group of 20 South Korean visitors arrived in Danang on a flight from Daegu City which is South Korea’s Covid-19 epicentre.
When being informed about the isolation for monitoring by local authorities, some people in the group refused. They were temporarily kept at the Danang Lung Disease Hospital before boarding a flight sponsored by the Vietnamese government back to South Korea the following day.
In the YTN’s report, some South Korean visitors complained about the meals served to them at the quarantine area, saying that their meal comprised only “some pieces of bread.”
The South Koreans also complained that the quarantine conditions in the quarantine area were bad and they “could not even wash.”
The YTN report stirred public outrage among internet users in Vietnam who criticised the South Korean news agency for its one-sided reporting.
Many people said that the South Korean visitors should have thanked Vietnamese authorities for their efforts in fighting and preventing Covid-19 outbreak.
Following the broadcast, chairman of Danang City People's Committee, Huynh Duc Tho, said that they had tried to treat the South Korean people the best they could.
"We served them South Korean foods and Vietnamese banh my or bread with pork pie during their short stay in the quarantine area," the Danang official said.
"A lunch was prepared by one of the best South Korean restaurants in the city. For breakfast we served them Vietnamese Banh My which is also a popular local dish."
A meal served to the South Korean tourists
The Danang chairman also said that the conditions at the old hospital may not be good but they were clean and ensured essential requirements.
