I’m not Japanese, so I’m not going to pretend I’m well-versed enough in their daily culture and social norms to make a definitive judgment here.
For context, Illit uploaded an in-house video where the girls were shopping at Don Quijote, the big megastore chain in Japan. But there’s been a clip from the video that’s going very viral in Japan rn. The clip shows Wonhee freely tossing items into her cart, letting go of her cart and leaving it in the middle of the aisle multiple times, running around, and even drifting the cart a few times. I also don’t think Illit’s video editor helped in this case by adding subtitles like “Wonhee leaving her cart 626 times” or “Wonhee running around 392 times” which obviously amplified the narrative.
This ended up drawing a surprising amount of attention from Japanese people online. Some comments were harsh and they even said she has a “bad upbringing.” Others pointed out that she should be more mindful in public spaces, handle items more carefully since they’re not yours until you pay for them, running around with the cart can lead to accidents, and avoid leaving carts in the aisle because it can be an inconvenience to other customers.
But I’ve also seen more measured takes. Some people felt that judging her entire character off a single clip is excessive, and that instead of throwing personal attacks, it might be more constructive to think of it as an opportunity to teach them about local manners. Many Japanese Glitts have also been active in the comments saying it’s not that serious, that Wonhee was just being playful and cute as always, and that there was no malicious intent.
It’s been gaining traction extremely fast. I’ve seen multiple posts hit millions of views within hours. One clip alone is already nearing 12 million views and it hasn’t even been a full day. Here’s the clip if you haven’t seen it.
As for how I feel about it, I personally don’t think it’s as terrible as some are making it out to be, but I’m not a Japanese person, nor have I lived there so I’m not gonna definitively say whether it was right or wrong. I’m definitely guilty of acting similarly when I was a child. Wonhee just turned 20 in Korean age, so yes, she’s technically an adult, but it’s not like she committed some heinous crime. Could she have been a bit more composed while shopping? Sure, but harsh personal attacks on her character feel unnecessary imo.
At the same time, I completely understand why some Japanese viewers might feel her behavior came across as inconsiderate or disruptive, especially if it clashes with local norms around public etiquette. That perspective deserves respect, especially since they’re guests in that country.
I won’t lie though, I am a bit shocked at how much traction this has gotten. If there are any Japanese fans or people who had lived in Japan, I’d genuinely appreciate more insight. Are Wonhee’s actions as a patron strongly frowned upon in a public setting in Japan?
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