Chinese tourists are facing backlash online after allegedly using a nursing room at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport as a place to prepare instant noodles using hot water meant for mothers and babies.
According to foreign media reports, posts about the incident recently went viral on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, sparking strong criticism from South Korean netizens.
South Korean broadcaster SBS first highlighted the issue last Sunday, revealing that multiple social media users had openly shared their “tips” on using airport nursing rooms to access free hot water.
Several posts and videos reportedly showed travellers entering the breastfeeding rooms to prepare cup noodles after discovering that convenience stores inside the airport did not provide hot water services.
One tourist even claimed to have searched throughout the entire terminal before eventually finding hot water inside the nursing room, before sharing the so-called “money-saving hack” online with other users.
The controversy quickly triggered heated discussions online, with many South Korean netizens accusing the travellers of misusing facilities specifically designed for mothers and infants.
Critics argued that nursing rooms should remain private, hygienic and reserved for breastfeeding mothers rather than being turned into dining or resting areas by travellers.
The incident also reignited wider debates surrounding tourist etiquette and public behaviour overseas, especially involving viral social media trends encouraging people to bypass rules or exploit public facilities for convenience.
As the story spread further online, reactions remained divided, with some defending the tourists’ actions as harmless while others described it as disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour in a sensitive public space.
