TikTok turmoil: Chinese influencer in hot water after Soi Nana video, fined for illegal work

The Immigration Bureau police conducted an investigation into a Chinese TikToker who gained viral attention for her video shot in Soi Nana. Subsequently, she was fined for working in Thailand without the required permit.

Thai netizens urged the police and relevant authorities to take action after the Chinese woman, later identified as Wang Zi Yu, made a video that could tarnish the image of Thai tourism. The woman said in the video that 99% of people in Bangkok’s Soi Nana were bad and that the soi was dangerous for visitors, especially women.

Immigration officials responded to the complaints and summoned Wang for questioning. According to the police, Wang was living in Thailand legally on a Thailand Privilege Card.

Nevertheless, the woman was found to be working and earning income without the necessary permit. Investigators discovered that Wang engaged in the online sale of various products, yet neither she nor her shop possessed the required permit to operate the business.

Her actions contravened Sections 8 and 101 of the Royal Decree on the Management of Foreigners’ Work, with penalties ranging from a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 baht. In addition, Wang faced the possibility of deportation and a two-year ban on obtaining a work permit in Thailand.

Regarding her video featuring Soi Nana, Wang asserted that she harboured no intentions of tarnishing the image of the place or Thailand. She clarified that her sole aim was to caution foreign women about the need to be vigilant when travelling alone.

While immigration police refrained from charging her over the video, they issued a warning to Wang and other content creators, urging them to refrain from publishing content that could adversely impact Thai tourism. Officers emphasized that such actions violated multiple Thai laws and could lead to severe consequences.

ORIGINAL STORY: Discrediting Thailand: Chinese TikToker’s distorted info about Soi Nana in Bangkok

A Chinese woman has been slammed by netizens for discrediting and destroying the image of tourism in Thailand by portraying Soi Nana in Bangkok as dangerous and full of bad people.

A Facebook page, Lui Jeen (ลุยจีน), shared a video of the spiteful woman who is famous on the Chinese social media platform called Douyin.

“Chinese TikToker makes a video with distorted information about Soi Nana. You work and make money in Thailand but you create content to discredit the country. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!”

The page also provided followers with a translation of the Chinese caption and her words.

“Today I will take a risk to tell all women what will happen if you come to Soi Nana. I walk this Soi in fear. I’m going to stand here and see what happens next.”

In the video, a foreign man approached the Chinese woman and spoke to her. She was seen waving her hand in protest and apologising. She later revealed that the man asked her how she was today. She added that the man was too close to her and she would never be able to escape in time if he grabbed her.

The Chinese woman ended the video by issuing a warning to all women.

“Women should not come to Soi Nana alone because it is very dangerous. You never know what will happen to you or who you will meet. The people here, 99% of them, are not good people.”

Angry Thais respond

The Facebook page administrator and some Thai netizens agreed that the Chinese TikToker was in the wrong place. She was dressed in sexy clothes and standing randomly in the Soi giving the impression she was offering sex services.

The administrator added that while there were some sex workers in the Soi, there were also many legitimate businesses operating there.

The administrator added that the woman should refrain from randomly capturing videos or pictures of people in the area and assuming negative perceptions. It was noted that people may visit the Soi solely for food and drink, and not with any ill intentions.

Furthermore, the administrator disclosed that her Chinese friends had forwarded the video and expressed their disapproval of the woman’s actions. The friends, who had previously visited the Soi, revealed that they did not find it intimidating, and the locals were friendly.

It was reported that the Chinese woman had previously created a video stating that Thailand was unsafe for travel, receiving substantial negative feedback. Despite this, she persisted in such actions.

Some netizens urged relevant authorities to take action against her behaviour, saying it was a threat to the country. Others said she should return to her home country if Thailand is too dangerous to stay.