"Unaware Owners Punished, Kids Drink Confidently... Feeling Unfair as They Are Supported by the Country"

Business Suspension and Fine for Selling Alcohol to Minors
"Instead of Reflecting After Being Caught, They Drank at Another Bar"

A banner displayed by a restaurant that was suspended from business due to employing minors at a competing establishment [File photo]

A business owner who was suspended for selling alcohol to minors and caught in a liquor crackdown has sparked controversy by sharing that the teenagers involved continue to drink without remorse.

On the 17th, a post titled "Minors are innocent, I pay a 30 million won fine, is this a fair society?" was uploaded on an online community and gained attention. A self-employed person running a jokbal (pig's trotters) restaurant, Mr. A, began by saying, "I was caught in a minor liquor crackdown on Christmas Day."

Mr. A explained the situation, saying, "(On Christmas Day) around 10:30 PM, two women who were already intoxicated visited the store," adding, "They were already drunk, wearing revealing clothes and heavy makeup, so the part-time worker thought they were adults. Because it was Christmas and busy, the worker said they couldn’t check their ID cards. Moreover, my restaurant has a certain price range and jokbal on the menu, so teenagers are not our main customers, which made me let my guard down."

He continued, "I was in the kitchen helping with the shortage of staff, not in the hall, so I was unaware of what was happening outside," and said, "There was absolutely no reason for me to intentionally sell alcohol and jokbal to teenagers just to make money, based on the circumstances."

Mr. A added, "Although I feel it’s unfair to be punished due to the part-time worker’s mistake, since it happened in my store and the law is the law, I am trying to accept it humbly," and said, "The twenty-year-old part-time worker is trembling like a criminal and apologizing. However, she has a good relationship with other employees, hasn’t quit, and continues to come to work. I do not blame her at all."

"The minor who made me pay the fine keeps drinking... I feel wronged because the country supports them"

Geumcheon Youth Shelter workers are patrolling the entertainment district around Sillim Station to find teenagers hanging out.

However, Mr. A became furious after discovering that the minor who caused the fine by drinking at his store was posting about continuing to drink on their social media (SNS).

Mr. A appealed, "It’s been three days since they were caught at my store, but instead of reflecting, they posted photos of alcohol and side dishes at another bar on their Instagram story," adding, "Not only during the year-end and New Year period, but even yesterday, they posted photos of alcohol and side dishes on their story, as well as pictures with friends taken at a bar."

He continued, "A part-time worker at my store said they saw those girls drinking at a bar. I thought it might be a misunderstanding, so I checked their SNS, and sure enough, they posted photos of alcohol and side dishes," and said, "They have been to more than ten bars in about two weeks."

Mr. A expressed anger, saying, "Minors who deceive adults and roam bars like ticking time bombs are innocent and go to bars every day," and added, "They don’t drink secretly in secluded places but drink and smoke while pretending to be adults at bars located on main streets, deceiving adults. Those minors are supported and protected by the country’s laws."

Later, the minors called Mr. A and said, "We’ll come to get the electronic cigarettes, so please keep them ready." Mr. A expressed bitterness, saying, "How confident and fearless of adults must they be to say something like that while drinking?"

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "Every time I hear about this, I get so angry," "From the store owner’s perspective, the business suspension is frustrating enough, but having to pay a fine too is incomprehensible," "How long will we keep spoiling and neglecting such teenagers? The future looks bleak," and "The parents of those minors should be made to pay the fine."

Meanwhile, last month, the Ministry of Government Legislation submitted six bills, including amendments to the 'Youth Protection Act,' to the National Assembly to ease the burden on business operators regarding age verification of purchasers. The amendments include provisions that exempt business operators from sanctions such as business suspension if the youth used forged or stolen IDs or if age verification was not possible due to assault or threats, thereby reducing the burden on business operators.