Imagine if the Philippine passport had as many advantages as those from countries like Singapore, New Zealand, and the United States. Ever wondered how far would local passport holders go for love? Or in some cases — removing remnants of a former love?
Such is the story of TikToker Kassie Yeung, who travelled all the way from Los Angeles to Seoul to remove an old love padlock that she and her ex put at a popular tourist spot. The 23-year-old’s journey took a total of 5,953 miles. (Talk about bringing a new meaning to the ’00s song A Thousand Miles.)
She posted her video on 12 May 2021. As of writing, it has now garnered 9.6 million views and over two million likes. Many viewers applauded this insane amount of effort, with some even saying that they’d like to do the same with theirs!
Also read: Seoul Searching: Love Locks & City Views in Namsan Tower
A recap of this TikToker’s Seoul love lock story
So, Kassie went all the way to the top of N Seoul Tower (otherwise called Namsan Tower), where the fences are overflowing with colourful love locks. Before the pandemic, many travellers (usually couples) would flock there to add a lock as a symbol of their love. It’s quite similar to the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, which used to have thousands of locks until the government had these removed in 2015.
In an interview with Insider, Kassie shared that she and ex placed their love lock back in the summer of 2019. Fast forward to spring 2021, she went back alone to remove it “out of pettiness.” Not gonna lie — this makes us wonder just how terrible that breakup might have been. But hey, who are we to judge?
Also read: The Baguio Breakup Curse — How Real Is It?
Her TikTok video starts with her on a plane bound for South Korea. Upon arriving and heading out of the airport, she makes a beeline for a store to buy a pair of wire cutters. Later, she takes a bus to N Seoul Tower, where she takes the cable car to the top, and finally, makes it to the spot where the famous love locks are. The video ends with her “ta-da” moment of showing the lock that she cut off!
Also read: Join the TikTok Trend During Home Quarantine — Yay or Nay?
Was that all she really went to Seoul for?
Admit it, many of you have probably thought like, “Wait, she travelled halfway across the globe just for that?” Never mind the, you know, current travel restrictions and the time, money, and effort it takes. Not to mention, Kassie told Insider that it took her around 30 minutes to find the exact lock. Imagine going through hundreds of love locks, just to find the one you left almost two years ago!
Yep, it sounds like one of those absurd stunts that only happen in comedy flicks. But to answer your burning questions — no, that wasn’t all she went to Seoul for. In fact, her initial purpose was to pursue a backup dancing career in the Land of Morning Calm. But while trip-planning, she remembered that she and her ex’s love lock was still there. And so Kassie figured, why not make a detour?
Okay, now that makes more sense. She also posted another hilarious video last 3 June, with her scratching her head at how her initial video has reached so many news outlets worldwide!
View this post on Instagram
Also read: 15 Filipino TikTok Users To Follow While On Quarantine
Did you also leave a love lock in N Seoul Tower with a now-former S.O.? Well, we recommend checking out these Seoul Airbnbs — some of which are nearby that famous attraction, too! And if you have a limited budget, but you really must go, then check out these money-saving tips for Seoul.
A wise man once said: Okay nang malugi sa pag-ibig, ’wag lang sa travel. Kidding aside though, let us know what you think of this TikToker’s Seoul love lock story on our Facebook page.
Featured image credit: Chris Putnam | Canva Pro
