20s Woman Who Paid for a 'Honbap' Soldier's Meal... "Because He Is a Soldier"

"A Corner of My Heart Swelled with Emotion"
Touched by the Mackerel Set Meal Payment

A story has been shared about a woman who paid for a soldier's meal.

On the 16th, a thank-you message from a soldier was posted on the military-related Facebook page ‘Yukgunhunsongso Daesin Jeonhaedeurimnida’ (hereafter Yukdaejeon). Soldier A introduced himself as a sergeant belonging to the Army’s 5th Corps, just a few days away from discharge.

Mackerel set meal that Mr. A ate at the time. [Photo by Yuk Daejeon]

He shared an incident that happened at a rice meal restaurant near Yongsan Station, saying, "I went to the rice meal restaurant to have lunch before boarding the train,” and “Since there were not many seats, I ended up sitting diagonally across from a woman who looked to be in her 20s at the same table.” He continued, “After finishing the meal and about to pay, the owner said, ‘The woman sitting with you said you are a soldier and paid for your meal together,’ so I thought I should personally express my gratitude and ran out.”

Sergeant A said, “I ran up to the woman walking while wearing a white padded jacket and said, ‘Are you the one who paid for the mackerel rice meal? You didn’t have to, but thank you so much.’ She replied, ‘Because you are a soldier.’ After expressing my thanks several times, I headed to Yongsan Station to catch the train.”

He added, “Receiving kindness just because I am a soldier made my heart swell with emotion. I am grateful to the woman who gave me a gift I will remember for a lifetime,” and “I will maintain my soldierly spirit during the remaining period and fulfill my role faithfully as a reservist after discharge.”

A story of a soldier posted on Yukdaejeon on the 11th [Photo by Yukdaejeon Facebook capture]

Netizens who heard this story responded with comments such as, “It’s a relief that the perception of soldiers seems to be changing these days,” “Soldiers earn low wages, so meal money is precious,” “It feels heartwarming,” and “I wish I had met someone like this during my active duty.”

Recently, there have been heartwarming stories online about citizens paying for meals or coffee for soldiers in uniform. On the 11th, an active-duty soldier shared a touching story from a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant near Eonju Station in Gangnam, Seoul. He said a man in his 20s paid for his meal and added, “It was a moment that made me realize once again how many people care about soldiers.”