Gwangjang Market Merchants Association, Business Suspension Order Issued to the Company
Recently, Gwangjang Market, which has become a 'hot place' not only for locals but also for foreigners as overseas stars including British pop singer Sam Smith have visited one after another, has been embroiled in a 'price gouging controversy.' As a result, the market authorities have taken strict action by suspending the business of the concerned vendor.
YouTuber embarrassed by 'price gouging' while introducing to foreigners
The controversy began with a video posted on June 16 on the YouTube channel 'Heecheolism.' YouTuber Yoon Heecheol visited Gwangjang Market to introduce a famous Seoul spot to his Vietnamese acquaintance but ended up being overcharged.
At the time, Yoon ordered a plate of assorted jeon (Korean pancakes) priced at 15,000 won, saying, "Since foreign friends came, let's try some delicious jeon."
The shop owner then said, "One plate of assorted jeon is not enough for three people," and recommended ordering more.
When Yoon's group said, "We'll eat first and then order more," the owner retorted, "It's not much. It's the amount for two people. 15,000 won is not enough," giving a somewhat scolding remark.
While handing over the plate of assorted jeon, the restaurant staff again insisted on ordering additional dishes, saying, "The portion is small, so you need to order more."
Yoon, holding the plate, was greatly surprised and asked, "Is this 15,000 won?" The jeon, consisting of ingredients like crab sticks, ham, and zucchini, contained just over ten pieces.
A Vietnamese woman in the group exclaimed, "(This is) 15,000 won? It's too expensive," expressing astonishment at the high price. Picking up one piece of crab stick jeon, she jokingly said, "I'll try the 2,000 won crab stick," making a pointed joke.
Moreover, the restaurant refused card payments and requested bank transfers.
Gwangjang Market Merchants' Association steps in
As the video was reported in the media and the controversy grew, the Gwangjang Market Merchants' Association imposed a 10-day business suspension on the vendor. The association is reportedly considering implementing a fixed pricing system and standardizing food portions by weighing them on scales.
Domestic tourist attractions are suffering from repeated 'price gouging controversies.' There are even concerns that the tourism industry, a major driver of local economic growth, could be adversely affected.
The controversy was sparked by the KBS2 variety show '1 Night 2 Days' aired in June. The cast visited a traditional market in Yeongyang County, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and purchased old-fashioned snacks, but the vendor demanded 70,000 won per bag.
This incident led to the sharing of experiences of 'price gouging' by some vendors at domestic tourist sites and traditional markets, bringing the issue to the forefront.
While price gouging may be the problem of some vendors, its impact affects the entire image of the venue. If the recurring issue of price gouging at tourist sites is not resolved promptly, there are concerns that the local economies in Korea could be jeopardized.
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