"Elephant Pants and Shirts for 40,000 Won, a Rip-off"... Thai Vendor Fined for 'Embarrassing Thailand'

[Financial News] A vendor at a Thai floating market who sold clothes to a well-known Korean YouTuber at prices higher than normal has faced public criticism and was ultimately fined.
On the 11th (local time), Thai media outlets such as One 31 and Khaosod reported that authorities in Ratchaburi Province issued a warning and imposed a fine on the vendor at the floating market who was accused of overcharging a Korean customer. The fine was 2,000 baht, approximately 90,000 won.
The overcharging controversy came to light through YouTube. Cullen, a popular Korean YouTuber with three million subscribers active in Thailand, posted a video on his channel the previous day about his visit to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which sparked the issue.
Cullen visited the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market near Bangkok. This popular tourist destination is well-known among Korean visitors for its shopping experience along the canal by boat.
Cullen and his friend Pijong toured the floating market by boat. During their visit, a shop owner used a hook to pull their boat over and began showing them various clothes for sale.
Pijong chose a white shirt embroidered with a dragon, and the vendor explained it was 'meticulously hand-embroidered,' asking for 600 baht (about 27,000 won). After bargaining, Pijong managed to get a 100 baht discount. Cullen purchased elephant-patterned pants for 400 baht (about 18,000 won). He tried to negotiate a 100 baht discount, but was unsuccessful, so they paid a total of 900 baht (about 40,000 won) for both items.
It is reported that similar dragon-patterned shirts and elephant pants are sold online for 200–400 baht and 100–200 baht, respectively.
The video spread through Thailand’s social networking service (SNS), and Thai netizens criticized the vendor, saying, 'As someone from Ratchaburi, I am deeply embarrassed. Officials should act before all the tourists disappear,' 'The female shop owner hooked the boat and sold clothes without any bargaining, and the prices were outrageous,' and 'Authorities should investigate for tax evasion. This is ruining Thailand’s image.'
In response to the criticism, Ratchaburi authorities announced on their official SNS, 'Regarding the case of overpriced clothing sold to a Korean influencer at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, we have issued a warning and imposed a fine.'[email protected] Seo Yoon-kyung[email protected] Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter