CMV: Western women traveling to South Korea for “cultural experiences” are often driven by the same kind of fetishization that brings Western men to Thailand.

There’s an interesting double standard in how we talk about travel and attraction across cultures. When Western men go to Thailand, society often condemns it as fetishization, men seeking “exotic,” more compliant partners, or chasing a fantasy tied to power and race.

But when Western women travel to South Korea, often under the label of “cultural exploration” or “self-growth,” it’s treated as harmless or even empowering. Yet if we look closer, it’s not so different. Many of these women are fully aware that their Western appearance, their white skin, their foreignness, makes them stand out and attracts attention. And often, that attention is exactly what they’re seeking.

It’s not just about liking the culture; it’s about enjoying a form of fetishization in reverse, being idealized for traits that make them feel special or superior back home. They know this dynamic exists, and in many cases, they knowingly lean into it.

Both sides, men and women alike, are engaging with a fantasy built on unequal cultural perceptions. The only difference is how society judges it: when men do it, it’s sleazy; when women do it, it’s “romantic” or “open-minded.”

Change my view: Is there really a moral or cultural distinction between these two behaviors? Or are both just different expressions of the same globalized fetish for “the exotic other”?