Gwangjang Market Caught Using 'Tricky Sales'
Menu Changed Arbitrarily from 6,000 Won to 10,000 Won
Foreign Customers Charged Double the Price
Despite pledging to exercise restraint amid the "overcharging controversy," Gwangjang Market is reportedly still overcharging foreign tourists.
YouTuber Matjipnamja visited Gwangjang Market with a foreign friend. [Photo by YouTube 'Matjipnamja']
On the 7th, a post titled "The latest on Gwangjang Market after being criticized for scamming with Sundae" went viral on online communities and social media platforms. The post was a clip from a video uploaded last month on the YouTube channel "Matjipnamja," showing the host visiting Gwangjang Market with a foreign friend and ordering sundae (Korean blood sausage) and dumplings.
The host said, "I received reports that foreigners are being heavily scammed by a new type of fraud at Gwangjang Market," and added, "A foreign friend close to me wanted to visit Gwangjang Market, so we came together." He continued, "Since the video by 'Tteokbokki Queen,' both merchants and consumers have been more cautious," and explained, "Feeling somewhat reassured, I followed a friendly-looking auntie who was soliciting customers into her shop and sat down." The YouTuber "Tteokbokki Queen" had previously raised suspicions in February about price inflation through a "menu substitution" scam at a Gwangjang Market store.
Since the friend accompanying him was a foreigner, the friend ordered the food directly in English. They spoke in English until just before placing the order, creating a situation where it was easy to mistake them for foreigners. The host claimed, "The auntie glanced quickly and, seeing we didn’t seem Korean, mixed meat dumplings with kimchi dumplings," adding, "The sundae was served normally, but even though we ordered meat dumplings, she said 'mix, mix' and mixed in kimchi dumplings." He further explained, "The single menu was 5,000 won, but the mixed menu was 10,000 won," and said, "I was dumbfounded watching the menu substitution happen right before my eyes. My friend also noticed my stern expression and was equally shocked. I was so embarrassed I didn’t know what to say."
The host added, "At the next table, Southeast Asian tourists were charged double with the 'mix, mix' scam," and "What’s even more shocking is that the 'mixed dumplings' menu didn’t even exist on the menu." He concluded, "People really never change."
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "This is why I don’t go to the market," "Is it okay to treat foreigners like that?" "That’s why derogatory terms like 'Ugly Korean' exist," "A disgrace to our country," "They said they would restrain themselves last time, but they’re still doing this," "I hope foreigners hear about this and avoid Gwangjang Market," and "I’m embarrassed for them."
Meanwhile, Gwangjang Market merchants held a resolution meeting last December to recover trust lost due to the overcharging controversy and pledged to carry out strict self-regulation activities. During an interview in January, the merchants’ association showed signs of self-regulation by introducing a fixed quantity labeling system, but criticism is mounting that actual improvements have not been made due to the unscrupulous sales practices of some merchants.
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