Providing 'Free Coffee for Military Personnel' Service Thinking of Son in the Army
"I Was Also a Soldier"... Many in Their 50s and 60s Request Free Coffee"
A cafe owner who provides free coffee service to soldiers has sparked controversy by revealing the difficulties he faces.
A signboard of a cafe providing free coffee to Republic of Korea Armed Forces soldiers. [Photo by Online Community]
On the 14th, a post titled "Two Months of Free Coffee for Soldiers" was uploaded to an online community, drawing attention. The author, Mr. A, who runs a cafe located in Namyangju, said, "My son enlisted in the military, and whenever I see soldiers, I think of him, so I have been offering free coffee to soldiers for the past two months." He added, "Not many people have come, but I would like to share a few memorable stories."
Mr. A recalled, "First, I remember bringing soldiers who were outside the store inside to serve them coffee. Soldiers came in a military truck to the gym in the adjacent building, which was being demolished, to pick up free mats. They noticed the sign at the door that said 'Free Coffee' and hesitated." He continued, "I ran out, brought seven of them inside, and served them coffee. When I gave them a few cookies, they almost cried," sharing the situation at the time.
Secondly, he said, "When a soldier visited the cafe with his girlfriend, I told him, 'Soldiers get free coffee, and if you are going to marry your girlfriend, she is also considered a soldier’s family member, so I will provide her coffee for free.' The soldier said he was getting married, so I treated the girlfriend as a soldier’s family member and gave her coffee for free."
Mr. A also shared an experience with a difficult customer. He said, "A sober-looking man in his 50s or 60s, heavily intoxicated, claimed, 'I was a soldier too,' and asked for free coffee. I explained that free coffee is only for those currently serving in the military, but he cursed me, saying, 'You shouldn’t run a local business like this,' and left. That day, I almost tore down the 'Free' sign but held back," expressing his frustration.
He added, "Although I haven’t served free coffee to many yet, I plan to continue this service even after my son is discharged."
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "Troublesome people probably don’t realize they are troublesome," "This is a heartwarming story in a harsh society. I should also try to be considerate of soldiers protecting our country," "The owner has a good character," and "The owner and the troublesome customers who demanded free coffee are such a stark contrast."
Meanwhile, the number of restaurants offering free food to soldiers is increasing. In December last year, a Chinese restaurant that provided free Guobaorou (sweet and sour pork) and Tangsuyuk (Korean-Chinese sweet and sour pork) to soldiers became a hot topic on social media. This was a gesture to allow soldiers on leave to enjoy a hearty meal before returning to their units.
In 2015, Starbucks also offered free "Coffee of the Day" to soldiers on special leave. At that time, Starbucks established a special recruitment track for soldiers nationwide, contributing to the employment and social integration of discharged soldiers. They also held local interviews and coffee seminars in key frontline areas to accommodate soldiers, gaining significant social attention.
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