By Lee Han-soo
A Japanese home-stay operator who allegedly sexually assaulted a Korean guest on Monday is an Airbnb host, adding to controversy surrounding some of the home-sharing application's members.
Incidents in the past year have heightened concerns.
In July 2016, a Korean woman traveling Switzerland found a camera hidden in the living room of her accommodation.
In May, a Korean woman discovered a hidden camera in the bathroom of her Airbnb house in Japan.
On June 28, a Korean couple found a camera disguised as a fire detector in their Airbnb house in Japan.
There has been an outcry to strengthen controls but Airbnb is in a bind because the only measure it can take is to expel hosts that have committed sexual offenses.
The controversy has led people to cancel trips or avoid using Airbnb.
"I initially planned my trip through Airbnb," Hwang Min-su, 27, who is going to Taiwan in August, told The Korea Times. "However, the recent news has led me to believe that the application is not safe."
Hwang said she has cancelled her Airbnb reservations and booked a hotel instead.
"It may be more expensive, but I can sleep comfortably knowing that it is safe."
Meanwhile, Airbnb officials said they do not tolerate sexual crimes.
"The host who is involved in a crime will be expelled from the application for the safety of our guests," an Airbnb official told the Chosun Ilbo, a Korean news outlet.
The Airbnb crime-related stories have led to a website called "Airbnb Hell," where users upload "uncensored" stories about the dangers of the service.
A Japanese home-stay operator who allegedly sexually assaulted a Korean guest on Monday is an Airbnb host, adding to controversy surrounding some of the home-sharing application's members.
Incidents in the past year have heightened concerns.
In July 2016, a Korean woman traveling Switzerland found a camera hidden in the living room of her accommodation.
In May, a Korean woman discovered a hidden camera in the bathroom of her Airbnb house in Japan.
On June 28, a Korean couple found a camera disguised as a fire detector in their Airbnb house in Japan.
There has been an outcry to strengthen controls but Airbnb is in a bind because the only measure it can take is to expel hosts that have committed sexual offenses.
The controversy has led people to cancel trips or avoid using Airbnb.
"I initially planned my trip through Airbnb," Hwang Min-su, 27, who is going to Taiwan in August, told The Korea Times. "However, the recent news has led me to believe that the application is not safe."
Hwang said she has cancelled her Airbnb reservations and booked a hotel instead.
"It may be more expensive, but I can sleep comfortably knowing that it is safe."
Meanwhile, Airbnb officials said they do not tolerate sexual crimes.
"The host who is involved in a crime will be expelled from the application for the safety of our guests," an Airbnb official told the Chosun Ilbo, a Korean news outlet.
The Airbnb crime-related stories have led to a website called "Airbnb Hell," where users upload "uncensored" stories about the dangers of the service.
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