"Forced Partnership with Delivery Chicken Vendors Was My Fault"…Apology from Part-Time Worker in Beachfront Power Abuse Controversy

Jeju Hyeopjae Beach 'Gapjil' Controversy Erupts
Part-time Worker Says "Lies Told Out of Personal Grudge"

Recently, a story spread about a tourist at a famous beach in Jeju who was not allowed to eat delivered chicken after paying to rent a pavilion, sparking a controversy over 'gapjil' (abuse of power). As the controversy grew, a part-time worker at the beach admitted, "I lied to the customer that outside food was not allowed due to personal grudges," and apologized.

Mr. C paid 60,000 won to rent a pavilion.
[Photo by Online Community]

On the 8th, a post titled "I am the person involved in the Jeju beach incident" was uploaded on an online community. A, who identified as a part-time worker at the beach, said, "I sincerely apologize to the families who came to visit," and added, "I was worried about how to apologize for ruining your pleasant trip, and after hearing that you left a post on an online community, I am leaving this apology."

A explained, "I have been working at this beach for two years," and "A year ago, while helping the owner and working at the beach, there were many disputes with the neighboring business, and it was so difficult that I even proceeded with a lawsuit." He continued, "During that time, this person changed their chicken brand and reopened this year," and "When I saw that person, with whom I had a very bad relationship, deliver to the store where I work, I lied to the customer saying 'outside food is not allowed.'"

A said, "It was wrong to act out of personal grudges, and I am truly sorry for causing great harm to the customer," adding, "I deeply apologize for causing great inconvenience to the customer, our owner, and many others because of me. The image of Jeju these days is very bad, and I am very worried that many people might be harmed because of me. I apologize once again."

Netizens who read the story responded coldly with comments such as "I don't believe it," "Isn't this just scapegoating by putting the part-timer forward?" "Does a part-timer really work hard enough to get into a lawsuit with the neighboring business?" "It seems like the owner wrote this excuse, not the part-timer," and "Stop making lame excuses." Netizen B, who claimed to have experience working at Hyeopjae Beach, criticized, "The whole story is a lie," and said, "If a partnered company orders, don't they get 2,000 won per word? Everyone in Hyeopjae knows this, so stop making pathetic excuses."

Earlier, on the 6th, claims of gapjil at Hyeopjae Beach in Jeju spread mainly through social media and online communities. Visitor C, who came to the beach with family, rented a pavilion for 60,000 won but was told by the pavilion owner, "If it is not a company affiliated with our store, you cannot eat there," and ended up eating the delivered chicken back at the hotel. C said, "The children were so hungry that we spent over an hour returning to the hotel," and criticized, "Not allowing us to eat chicken at the pavilion we rented with our own money is gapjil."