A disturbing confrontation at a Daiso outlet in Suncheon, South Korea, has triggered nationwide outrage after a mother allegedly berated a store employee and forced her to kneel in apology.
According to the South China Morning Post, the incident happened on 21 November 2025, when a staff member politely reminded a young child not to run near the entrance for safety reasons.
The employee, dressed in a red uniform, told the child, “Running around like this is really dangerous.”
What began as a simple safety reminder quickly escalated into an intense verbal attack.
The child’s mother — said to be in her late twenties — reportedly erupted in anger, shouting profanities at the employee and threatening to lodge a complaint with Daiso’s headquarters.
Viral footage shows the shaken worker bowing repeatedly and apologising while the mother continued scolding her. The employee was then pressured into kneeling on both knees, rubbing her hands together in a plea for forgiveness. Even as the mother walked out, the worker followed her to the door, still apologising.
Onlookers expressed shock, with one witness saying, “She did not do anything wrong. I don’t understand why she had to endure such humiliation.”
Another noted that the customer was “yelling at someone old enough to be her mother.”
In response to the backlash, Daiso Korea issued a statement supporting the staff member. The company confirmed she will receive legal assistance, paid leave, and mental health counselling. They added that surveillance footage is being reviewed and that police have opened an investigation.
