"Soldier Son on First Leave Wants to Eat Scallops"... How Did the Generous Owner React?

5kg Order with "Order Only 2kg" and 3kg Service Provided

A story about a soldier son on his first leave wanting to eat scallops and receiving 3 kg for free from the store owner has become a hot topic online.

On the 15th, an online community called 'BobaeDream' posted a thread titled "My son went to the military." The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "My son volunteered for the GOP (General Outpost)" and "Climbing the barbed wire fence must be tough, but he tries to stay positive, saying his legs will get stronger, and now he is coming home on his first leave."

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He revealed the order details, saying, "When I asked him what he wanted to eat, he said scallops, so I ordered 5 kg of Hong scallops online." Mr. A wrote in the inquiry section, "My son is on his first military leave and wants to eat scallops. Please send fresh and good ones." The store owner replied, "If it's your son's first military leave, I can't just give it away," and canceled the original 5 kg order, asking to place a new order for 2 kg instead. He also sent greetings, saying, "Son, enjoy the meal with your family and have a great weekend."

Mr. A expressed, "I am very grateful, and this is the first time I have had such an experience. Beyond the amount, I was deeply touched," adding, "Both my son and I enjoyed the meal with gratitude." He further said, "If I can give even a little to someone, I would gladly do so."

[Image source=Online community 'BobaeDream' capture]

Netizens who saw the post responded with comments like, "Where is this store? We need to support it," "The owner is awesome," and "Stores like this deserve to do well." When some suspected it might be a viral ad for the scallop company, Mr. A clarified, "Absolutely not. The world has become very harsh," and "I wanted to share this because it was such a thankful experience." He also added, "I run a small snack bar in my neighborhood, so I have no connection to scallops. I would rather promote my snack bar."

Meanwhile, recently, heartwarming stories of soldiers on leave receiving free food, pocket money, or services have been reported multiple times. On the 2nd, an online community for self-employed people called 'Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss' posted a thread titled "Something I only saw on the news." The author, Mr. B, shared that he visited a sashimi restaurant with his nephew, a Marine on his first leave, and received a surprise sashimi cake gift.

Mr. B said, "They gave the service because he is a soldier protecting the country. It turned out the owner’s son was also serving in the military." His nephew’s luck continued that day. At a different pub, the owner, a Marine veteran, secretly gave the nephew some pocket money. Also, a stranger paid for Mr. B’s table bill. Mr. B shared, "My nephew’s first leave started and ended with tears. As his aunt, I was very moved," and added, "I am learning from this too," expressing a warm sentiment.

Additionally, there are ongoing cases where unknown citizens pay for soldiers’ meals or business owners waive food charges. In January, a woman in her 20s paid for a soldier’s meal at a restaurant near Yongsan Station in Seoul, and in the same month, a man in his 20s paid for a soldier’s meal at a Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant near Eonju Station in Gangnam-gu. These stories gained high view counts after being shared on social media platforms.

Last year, a caf? part-timer became a notable figure after writing a message of support on the lid of a drink ordered by a soldier, saying, "Thank you for protecting our country." At that time, Park Min-sik, the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, sought out the part-timer to express his gratitude and personally wrote a recommendation letter for an internship position.