[Comprehensive] 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' Apologizes for Unauthorized Recipe Use, Announces Business Withdrawal

'Deopjuk Deopjuk' Side "Sincerely Apologizes"

The owner of a Pohang Deopjuk restaurant, who appeared on "Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant (Alley Restaurant)," complained that a franchise company stole the recipe he personally developed. The photo shows Pohang Deopjuk featured on the "Alley Restaurant" broadcast. Photo by SBS from the "Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant" broadcast screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] The owner of a Pohang Deopjuk restaurant who appeared on the SBS program 'Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant (Alley Restaurant)' has claimed that a franchise company stole the recipe he personally developed, and the franchise company has officially apologized.

On the 12th, 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' issued an official statement apologizing, saying, "During the process of franchising Deopjuk, we used 'menu name plagiarism' and 'phrases that could be mistaken as related to the broadcast."

'Deopjuk Deopjuk' said, "We caused great harm to the representative of The Sinchon’s Deopjuk in Pohang, who developed Deopjuk through months of research and effort," and added, "On Sunday evening the 11th, we thought it was right to visit the representative in person to apologize, so we went to Pohang directly, but he found it difficult to meet face-to-face, so we could not meet him, and we regretfully post this apology statement."

They continued, "We admit all faults and will withdraw all franchise business of the 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' brand as of today," adding, "We will continue to make efforts until the representative’s wounds are healed. We deeply reflect on causing harm to the representative by not observing the proper ethics that should be upheld, and we will ensure that such incidents never happen again. We sincerely apologize once again."

Earlier, on the 11th, according to the delivery application 'Baedal Minjok' and others, the franchise company 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' sold products very similar to the Pohang Deopjuk featured on 'Alley Restaurant.' 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' used words like 'alley sniper' in the menu name, making their products reminiscent of those broadcast on 'Alley Restaurant.'

However, 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' is unrelated to the Pohang Deopjuk restaurant. On the 9th, the Pohang Deopjuk owner posted on his Instagram, "I have not opened a Deopjuk restaurant in other regions. Please do not take it away, please. My months of worries, my months of efforts, and the praise from Mr. Baek Jong-won, I hope it does not harm Alley Restaurant during these three months."

As the situation unfolded, consumer criticism continued. Also, on the same day, 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' rose in real-time search rankings on major portal sites, drawing attention.

As the controversy continued, the 'Alley Restaurant' production team also made a statement. The 'Alley Restaurant' side said, "We are preparing various ways to help the Pohang Deopjuk owner."

Meanwhile, 'Deopjuk Deopjuk' has currently modified the menu name and suspended delivery services.