"Limited Edition Shoes as If They Were Mine"... Customer Furious Over Lost Shoes at Restaurant

Forcing shoes in using a shoehorn
Restaurant is also responsible for compensation if shoes are lost

A man was caught wearing someone else's shoes as if they were his own at a restaurant. On the 10th, a post titled "Why on earth do people wear others' shoes at restaurants?" was uploaded on the car community 'BobaeDream.' The author, Mr. A, reported that his shoes were stolen around 7 p.m. on the 9th at a Chinese restaurant in Incheon Chinatown. The shoes were a product made to commemorate the 30th anniversary of a famous brand.

A man was caught wearing someone else's shoes as if they were his own at a restaurant. On the 10th, the car community 'BobaeDream' posted an article titled "Why on earth are you wearing someone else's shoes at a restaurant?"
[Photo by online community 'BobaeDream']

Mr. A said, "I've never experienced shoe theft at a restaurant before," and added, "The thief even used a shoehorn to forcefully put on the shoes and took them away calmly. This is not a mistake but an intentional theft, pure theft." He continued, "There is CCTV footage and card transaction records. The restaurant reported it to the card company. They will contact me tomorrow. Transfer the shoe cost. The color was completely different, so this was intentional theft." The CCTV images shared by Mr. A show a man leaving the restaurant naturally as if wearing his own shoes.

Netizens responded with comments such as, "This is a structure where they will definitely be caught 100%. Contact the shoe owner in advance and proceed with an agreement," "The color and shape are completely different; how can they confuse them?" "I've been victimized twice already at barbecue restaurants and other eateries," and "Who wants to steal shoes that someone else has worn?"

Can you get compensation from the restaurant for shoes lost there?

In some restaurants, as in previous cases, a notice stating "We are not responsible for lost shoes" is posted to avoid liability for shoe loss incidents. However, even if the restaurant clearly states that it will not take responsibility for lost shoes, it cannot be exempted from liability for damages.
[Photo by Online Community]

In some restaurants, to avoid responsibility for incidents like shoe loss, signs stating "We are not responsible for lost shoes" are posted. However, even if the restaurant clearly states that they are not responsible for lost shoes, they cannot escape liability for damages.

According to Article 152 of the Korean Commercial Act (Liability of Public Service Providers), a public service provider is liable for damages caused by loss or damage to items entrusted by customers unless they prove that they were not negligent in the custody of those items. Furthermore, even if they notify customers that they are not responsible for personal belongings, they cannot be exempted from the liability stated in paragraph 1. Therefore, even if a sign says they are not responsible for loss, compensation can still be claimed.

However, the compensation ratio may vary depending on whether the restaurant owner provided a locked shoe cabinet, offered plastic bags for individual shoe storage, or installed CCTV, and whether they can prove that they took reasonable care to prevent shoe loss. Therefore, if you lose your shoes at a restaurant in the future, you can actively demand compensation from the restaurant. If the restaurant continues to say "compensation is difficult," you can apply for damage relief through the Consumer Agency to receive a prompt resolution and compensation.