A popular South Korean travel vlogger with over 2.3 million YouTube subscribers was the victim of a daring theft while filming in Ethiopia. (Photo: a screenshot from Youtube)
SEOUL, Apr. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – A popular South Korean travel vlogger with over 2.3 million YouTube subscribers was the victim of a daring theft while filming in Ethiopia, losing cash worth around 400,000 won in a well-executed scam by a local man, according to footage from the incident.
In a video posted on April 4 to the “Teo” YouTube channel, the vlogger known as Pani Bottle, along with the actor Gong Myung, can be seen wandering the streets of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in search of a tour company.
The footage shows a local man suddenly calling out to Pani Bottle, claiming there was something on his jacket. As Pani Bottle examines his coat in confusion, the man approaches and begins brushing it off with his own clothing in an overly solicitous manner.
“Oh, did I get something on me?” Pani Bottle asks innocently as the man repeatedly apologizes while appearing to deliberately fondle the vlogger’s coat pocket area for nearly 10 seconds.
It was only after returning to their hotel that Pani Bottle realized his wallet, containing around 400,000 South Korean won in cash, was missing. (Photo: a screenshot from Youtube)
Distracted by the ruse, Pani Bottle fails to notice as the man slyly retrieves his wallet from his pants pocket before abruptly departing to a waiting vehicle across the street.
It was only after returning to their hotel that Pani Bottle realized his wallet, containing around 400,000 South Korean won in cash, was missing. “He deliberately spat on me to take my wallet. I had it right here in my pocket,” he can be heard saying with dismayed realization.
While the brazen theft occurred right before the camera crew’s eyes, none were initially aware of the ploy. Luckily, the production team was holding the group’s payment cards, though Pani Bottle lost all his cash.
This was not the first time the globetrotting vlogger has been victimized by thieves. In January 2022, his laptop bag containing around 1.5 million won in cash, a notebook computer and other gear was stolen from a bus during a trip to Peru. He has also previously had valuables stolen while traveling in Ukraine.
Though the crew suggested reporting the theft to local police, a resigned Pani Bottle dismissed it as “a waste of time,” believing the chances of recovering the stolen money or identifying the thief were virtually nonexistent.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
