[On-site Video] "Feeling Betrayed" Cultural Event in Front of Eulji OB Bear... Urging Coexistence with Building Owner

Eulji OB Bear President Announces 'Proactive Response' Policy

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] “I think evicting Eulji OB Bear is stealing history. I feel betrayed and angry.”, “I can’t just eat everything by myself, that’s not right.”

At 7:30 PM on the 25th, the 'Eulji OB Bear Joint Countermeasure Committee' held a cultural event near the demolished Eulji OB Bear pub. They danced and cheered while holding signs with phrases such as ‘Manseon Hof should talk with Eulji OB Bear’.

Some citizens took their place next to the Manseon Hof main branch, holding a banner that read ‘Condemn the forced eviction of Eulji OB Bear by the building owner Manseon Hof’. They also held signs with phrases like ‘Building owner Manseon Hof should coexist with Eulji OB Bear’ and ‘Euljiro Nogari Alley belongs to all of us, not to anyone alone’.

The conflict between Manseon Hof and Eulji OB Bear has been ongoing since 2018. At that time, regarding the lease contract renewal, Eulji OB Bear lost both the first and second trials in the eviction lawsuit filed by the building owner, and the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, putting them in a situation where they had to vacate the store.

Then, in January of this year, Manseon Hof purchased part of the building where Eulji OB Bear was located, becoming the building owner. Afterwards, the building owner filed an eviction lawsuit demanding the store be vacated, and the court ruled in favor of the building owner in October 2020. Subsequently, there were five forced eviction attempts against Eulji OB Bear until August last year, and after the sixth forced eviction on the 22nd, the store was demolished. Manseon Hof claims there is no problem as the eviction was carried out legally according to the court’s ruling.

However, some citizens criticize the building owner’s behavior for preventing Eulji OB Bear from operating any longer in Nogari Alley. Office worker Na Dong-hyuk (46) revealed that he was a regular customer of Eulji OB Bear. He said, “I came out to support the owners of Eulji OB Bear by cheering them on because the building owner is forcing out Eulji OB Bear, one of the few remaining stores, through forced eviction.”

Na said, “Eulji OB Bear has been selling nogari here for 40 years, and the name Nogari Alley was given thanks to them. I think evicting Eulji OB Bear is stealing history,” adding, “I feel betrayed that the people who worked hard to create this alley were driven out.”

Citizens who witnessed the cultural event held in front of Eulji OB Bear agreed that the building owner should coexist with Eulji OB Bear. Jin Jung-seop (60), who happened to come across the cultural event and eviction news in Nogari Alley, said, “Legally, the building owner’s actions are not problematic,” but added, “Those who have should give back. I can’t just eat everything by myself, that’s not right.”

Lee Sung-min (50), who came to the cultural event for the first time after hearing about it on social media, said, “The law was ultimately made for people to live harmoniously, but I think the building owner is using the law as an excuse to wield violence,” and added, “Is it really right to trample on someone else’s daily life and livelihood to satisfy one’s own desires and gains just because it’s legally correct? I have doubts.” He continued, “I hope the two parties?the building owner and the Eulji OB Bear owners?can resolve this through dialogue, but it doesn’t seem easy.”

Choi Soo-young (67), who has been running Eulji OB Bear as the second generation following the founder, acknowledged that Manseon Hof’s decision is legal but insisted that coexistence is necessary for the development of Nogari Alley.

Choi said, “From a legal standpoint, we can’t respond. Many people are being forced out and suffering like this,” adding, “We don’t claim to be the founders who created this alley, but we thought it was an alley and store for all of us, so driving out the stores like that is not right.”

Choi pointed out that every time Manseon Hof expands its store in Nogari Alley, other businesses have to leave their places. He said, “Every time a Manseon Hof branch opens in Nogari Alley, many owners who used to operate here are forced out from three, even up to five places,” adding, “In a way, we are the ones who have endured the most.”