Spread of 'One Person One Menu' in the Food Service Industry
Shakra Hwangbodo Expresses Dissatisfaction on SNS
As more restaurants in the food service industry introduce '1 person 1 meal' and '1 person 1 menu' policies, consumer complaints surrounding these rules are also accumulating.
Singer and broadcaster Hwangbo, formerly of the group Chakra, expressed her frustration after being asked to order one menu item per person when she visited a cafe. [Photo by Hwangbo SNS]
On the 31st, multiple online communities continued to post complaints about the '1 person 1 menu' ordering principle. Business owners who enforce this rule expressed their frustration over troublesome customers and asked for understanding.
On the 26th, a story titled 'Curious about opinions on 1 person 1 drink' was posted in the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm a Boss). The discussion arose over whether ordering one drink and two cakes for three people at a cafe could be considered as substituting the cakes for the '1 person 1 drink' rule. The post sparked a heated debate with hundreds of comments.
Singer and broadcaster Hwangbo, formerly of the group Chakra, expressed her frustration after being asked to order one menu item per person when she visited a cafe. [Photo by Hwangbo SNS]
Hwangbo, a singer and broadcaster formerly of the group Chakra, recently shared her experience of being taken aback when asked to comply with the 1 person 1 menu requirement at a cafe.
On the 30th, Hwangbo posted on her social media, "I ordered the most expensive Patbingsu (shaved ice with sweet red beans), but the store told me to order according to the number of people. The price of the Patbingsu was more expensive than four drinks," along with a photo of the dessert. It is known that she eventually ordered coffee in addition to comply with the 1 person 1 menu rule.
Self-employed business owners shared various opinions such as, "Nowadays, it's not 1 person 1 menu but 1 person 1 drink as the basic rule. If it looks like customers will stay long, we have to say something," "In our store, if you order bread over 2,000 won, it counts as ordering one drink," and "We just let it be."
Some point out that the issue stems from 'Kagongjok' (people who study for long hours at cafes) who order only one drink but stay for extended periods. Recently, franchise cafe Ediya posted a notice stating, "Additional orders required if using for more than 3 hours," and "Please place additional orders when using the store for a long time. We ask for your kind understanding."
With rising costs such as various prices and electricity bills increasing the expenses of running cafes, Kagongjok who lower turnover rates have become a headache for cafe owners.
Meanwhile, according to a Supreme Court ruling in September 2009, the long-term seat occupancy by Kagongjok can be considered an act that significantly hinders cafe operations and can be punished as business obstruction (interference with business). Accordingly, the Kagongjok controversy is expected to continue in the future.
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