PETALING JAYA: Social media influencer Kim Seri has issued a public apology and promised to refund customers affected by issues arising from her Korea travel packages, pledging to settle the matter by or before February 1, 2025.
Kim Seri took to Instagram to express that she is doing her best to resolve the situation.
She said that documents would be provided to all customers who had previously made bookings.
"First of all, I would like to sincerely apologise for all the concerns and difficulties I have caused.
"I ask for your understanding that, at this moment, I am unable to issue refunds in one go.
"However, I assure you that I will resolve this issue through a repayment plan, where all outstanding amounts will be paid by or before February 1, 2025," she said.
In a separate post on the same platform, Kim Seri said she is resigned to the possibility of ending up behind bars.
"If my path leads to the cane or the noose, I am resigned.
"It is no longer about peace or fear; it is now about acceptance and surrender. After trying every means to find a solution, I am still faced with endless trials," she wrote.
Meanwhile, the police have received five reports related to allegations of being scammed by the influencer and businesswoman through the Korea travel package.
Dang Wangi District Police Chief, Asst Comm Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, confirmed that the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters had received reports on the matter, although they were treated as out-of-jurisdiction cases.
"Checks found that five police reports have been lodged concerning these alleged scams," he said Wednesday (Dec 18).
On the Thread platform, an individual uploaded a list of 42 alleged victims, claiming that the travel agency scammed them for over RM600,000.
Previously, several Malaysians who used her services had also complained and expressed their frustration over the matter.
According to TikTok user eetafoodhq, who used Kim Seri’s services, nothing went as planned during their trip to Korea.
The user claimed that the hotel was changed, the food was substandard, and on the fourth day, no bus was provided because the company allegedly failed to make payment.
"When we returned to Malaysia, nearly half of us had to pay additional baggage fees at the airport amounting to 290,000 won (RM902.19) for 20kgs.
"Imagine how much we had to pay. She told us to pay first and file a claim later. She even suggested leaving the excess baggage behind to be shipped to Malaysia," they said.
In addition, a woman known as Sam revealed that she was left stranded in Korea by Kim Seri and could not return to Malaysia.
"We were promised morning flight tickets, but they were only given on the second day. It turned out that our names were not listed with any airline.
"Kim Seri gave the excuse of a system issue, which caused our names to be excluded from the flight ticket list," she said.
Previously, a video went viral on social media showing a woman claiming to be one of Kim Seri’s victims. She and her group were stranded at Incheon International Airport in South Korea because there were no flight tickets as promised by the influencer.
The woman claimed that checks at the ticket counter revealed that her name and her group’s names were not in the system. However, she managed to return to Malaysia on Tuesday (Dec 17) with the help of an individual.
@thestorydaily Malaysian influencer based in Korea, Kim Seri, has recently gone viral on social media regarding tourists who used her services for vacations in South Korea. In an IG Story update, Kim Seri announced that she would process refunds for the canceled Korea trips by 4 PM today. She also mentioned providing further details, including a new WhatsApp number for refund-related inquiries, which will be handled gradually. Let’s hope this issue reaches a positive resolution.
