"Japanese Friend Claims Overcharged at Gangnam Hair Salon"
Netizens Divided... "Not a Scam" vs "Rip-off"
Park Myungsoo's Remarks Revisited... "Never Go to Gangnam Hair Salons"
A story about a Japanese friend paying about 800,000 won at a hair salon in Korea has sparked heated debate among netizens.
On the 18th, a post titled "Charged 800,000 won at a hair salon, is this a scam?" was uploaded on an online community. The post became a major topic, recording 4,200 views as of 10 a.m. on the 19th. The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "My Japanese friend arrived in Korea yesterday and got a perm and a haircut at a hair salon."
The Japanese friend, Mr. B, received a perm and a haircut from the deputy director at a hair salon in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Afterwards, the amount Mr. B paid to the salon reached a whopping 800,000 won. According to the receipt photo attached by Mr. A, the price for the "Perfect 4D OO (specific brand) perm" was 449,000 won, and the "Number One Secret Young & Rich Shine" was 350,000 won, totaling 799,000 won.
Mr. A explained the situation, saying, "The problem is that the exact amount was not clearly informed before the procedure, and my friend did not sign when paying by credit card." He added, "My friend understands Korean to some extent, but the hairdresser spoke too fast during payment, so he could not ask additional questions." He continued, "They tried to add about 500,000 won more for hair products, but my friend refused to buy them and then paid 800,000 won."
Mr. A said, "I also think this amount is quite expensive," and asked for opinions, wondering if this situation constitutes a scam and how to handle such cases.
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "The price list is not hidden, so I don't understand why they went to an inherently expensive place," "If the price was clearly stated and they accepted it, then the Japanese friend has the problem," "It's expensive, but Gangnam prices are generally like that," and "The deputy director's procedure prices are usually higher than those of regular designers."
On the other hand, some netizens reacted with comments like, "They probably took advantage of the fact that he was a foreigner," "Is it reasonable to pay 800,000 won for a haircut?" "He should go there in person and demand an explanation," and "I wonder what kind of perm products justify that price."
Meanwhile, debates about hair salon prices are not new. On the 12th, broadcaster Park Myung-su revealed that he goes to a hair salon that charges 25,000 won, sparking discussions among netizens about whether this price is expensive or not. Park said that getting a haircut at that price is cheap, but some argued that even this price is quite high for ordinary people. Park said, "I only go to the hair salon near my house; a haircut costs 25,000 won, and if I get a perm, it’s 55,000 won," adding, "Expensive doesn’t always mean better. It’s convenient to go near home. I never go to Gangnam."
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