Ongoing 'Meoktwi' Crimes Cause Small Business Owners to Sigh
"Sales Have Dropped Due to Recession... I'm Angry"
Recently, so-called 'meoktwi' incidents, where people eat without paying and run away, have been rampant. As these dine-and-dash crimes continue amid the ongoing economic downturn, the sighs of small business owners are growing deeper.
On the 4th, a couple at a wine bar in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, consumed about 200,000 won worth of wine and food and left without paying, sparking public outrage.
CCTV footage capturing a couple fleeing without paying for their food at a wine bar in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Online community]
The owner of the wine bar, Mr. A, posted on an online community, saying, "The police said they can't catch them, so I'm asking for help as a last resort," and uploaded a screenshot of the couple captured on the closed-circuit television (CCTV). Earlier, Mr. A had reported the couple to the police but recently received a message saying, "It seems unlikely we can catch them."
According to Mr. A, the 'meoktwi' incident occurred around 8:50 p.m. on January 22. That day, a couple ordered expensive wine and food but left the establishment without paying.
Mr. A explained, "The man took a call first and left, and shortly after, the woman pretended to check a text message before hurriedly running out." He added, "These days, sales have dropped significantly due to the recession, and paying staff salaries is a burden. More than the money, people with no sense like this must be caught and taught a lesson."
He also expressed, "It's not a small amount, and if they hadn't paid, they could have talked it over the next day, but this seems intentional. Thinking about those who cause harm to others and laugh it off as a mere anecdote makes me very angry."
Last month, controversy over a 'suit couple' who ran off without paying 44,000 won
CCTV footage capturing a couple who ate at a pub in Incheon and ran away. [Image source=Online community]
This is not the first case of customers running off without paying. Last month, a man and woman dressed in suits fled without paying 44,000 won at a pub in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, causing controversy.
The owner, Mr. B, said, "These are tough times, and the first customers ran off without paying 44,000 won," attaching photos of the couple. The photos show the man and woman in suits leaving the restaurant.
Mr. B pointed out, "The two went outside together, then only the woman came back pretending to check her phone. While the staff was briefly occupied elsewhere, she gathered her belongings and left naturally." He added, "Sometimes customers leave by mistake, but this woman seemed clearly intentional."
He continued, "Due to the nature of the pub, customers sit at tables for a long time and come and go for reasons like smoking, so we can't keep an eye on the hall constantly," and expressed his frustration. Mr. B reported the couple to the police on charges of dine-and-dash.
According to the National Police Agency, there were a total of 94,752 police dispatches related to dine-and-dash incidents last year. Under the Minor Offenses Act, a person who eats food sold by others and fails to pay without a legitimate reason can be punished with a fine, detention, or penalty not exceeding 100,000 won.
Moreover, if intent is proven, fraud charges may apply. In such cases, the penalty can be imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to 20 million won.
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