Will the 40-Year-Old Eulji OB Bear Be Demolished... What Do You Think? [A Reporter Visits]

'Imdaechabunjaeng' Eulji OB Bear Faces Survival Crisis... First Forced Eviction Failed
Public Committee Requests "Prevent Gentrification in 'Nogari Alley' Commercial Area"

In an alley in Chungmuro, Jung-gu, Seoul, the pub 'Eulji OB Bear' is bustling. Customers gather in small groups, drinking beer and chatting. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "I'm really grateful. Customers come like this to protect the store..."

At around 9:50 a.m. on the 3rd, about 50 regular customers gathered at the hop house 'Eulji OB Bear' located in an alley in Chungmuro, Jung-gu, Seoul, to block the forced eviction execution amid a lease dispute with the building owner. As a result, the eviction of the hop house was temporarily halted that day. The owner of OB Bear repeatedly bowed his head to the customers who visited the store.

However, some criticize this as ignoring legitimate law enforcement. While understanding the regret over OB Bear, a long-established store (nopo) founded in 1980 and operating for 40 years this year, there are concerns that this is a kind of 'Eul' treatment rather than the building owner's power play.

In the afternoon, OB Bear's owner Kang Ho-shin, whom we met, emphasized that they have practiced 'coexistence management' and said, "We cannot allow this." He argued that the entire alley has been revitalized and became known as 'Euljiro Nogari Alley' thanks to OB Bear, with outsiders and money circulating in the alley, but ultimately, the self-employed who played that role are being pushed out, which is a gentrification phenomenon.

This place operates only until 11 p.m., unlike typical bars. Four years ago, it used to close at 10 p.m. Kang said, "The reason my father closed the store early was so that at least our customers could return home early and spend time with their families," adding, "With that intention, he kept the closing time for 36 years."

This is an explanation that OB Bear has practiced a kind of 'coexistence' as a member of the Euljiro alley, not just for simple profit. Kang said, "(For that reason) this place was designated as a 'Seoul Future Heritage' and was selected as a '100-Year Store' by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the first for a hop house," but lamented, "I don't know what good all that does."

The president of 'Eulji OB Bear' is grilling 'Nogari' over a charcoal briquette fire. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Regarding the customers who rushed to the hop house to prevent the eviction, he expressed gratitude, saying, "What kind of customers would do this much for us?" Kang especially emphasized, "Not only customers but also nearby self-employed business owners and small business owners all came." He added, "Those feelings and appearances played a big role in making OB Bear not just a simple business but forming this 'Nogari' alley and promoting it externally."

The thoughts of citizens met near this alley are similar to Kang's. A company worker in his 40s, Mr. Kim, said, "OB Bear has been operating for 40 years this year," and added, "If the building owner says to leave and the law says so, we can't help it, but I think our society should think once about whether 40 years of history can just disappear like that."

Another office worker in his 30s, Mr. Lee, said, "I think this bar (OB Bear) played a big role in making this alley famous and attracting outsiders who are not original residents." He added, "These days, Euljiro is called 'Hipjiro' among young people, and this place is no different. I think this should be taken into consideration."

'Eulji OB Bear' Anju Nogari. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

However, there is also an opinion that OB Bear cannot avoid the law just because it is a long-established store. A company worker in his 30s, Mr. Park, said, "Not only OB Bear but also famous stores in Hongdae and elsewhere often have no choice but to close or operate elsewhere due to building owners," and added, "I understand the gentrification conflict, but since the law is the law, there is no choice." He continued, "I think the sadness and the desire to continue business here are somewhat different matters."

A company worker in his 40s, Mr. Kim, said, "Even if they operate elsewhere, regular customers will probably come to those places," and added, "Personally, I think the law is the law, but the district office or some institutional measures should solve this problem."

Currently, the building owner notified the termination of the lease contract in June 2018, three months before the contract expired, requesting the store to be vacated. On September 6 last year, OB Bear received an electronic eviction order, making forced eviction possible.

Citizens are considering various solutions such as curbing gentrification amid the lease dispute surrounding OB Bear. The 'Joint Countermeasures Committee for Coexistence in Nogari Alley' (Gongdaewi), which includes 15 businesses and self-employment-related organizations such as OB Bear, the Association of Merchants Who Want to Run Their Business Comfortably, and the Livelihood Economy Research Institute, urged, "The landlord should seek ways to promote coexistence rather than evict OB Bear, and prevent gentrification and the displacement of merchants in the 'Nogari Alley' commercial district."

The committee also emphasized, "Please establish measures to revitalize the commercial district through coexistence with various stores, not through monopoly by a specific store." They appealed, "This is not a simple landlord-tenant issue but a problem where only specific stores survive due to redevelopment while others disappear."