When Stopping a Child from Harassing Fish... Parents Say, "Isn't It Just a 1,000 Won Bill?"

"Aquarium in the Store Hit by Children Customers"
Parents: "Isn't it Just a Thousand Won... We'll Compensate if It Dies"
"Fish Are Precious Pets to Someone," They Appeal

The story of a business owner suffering stress due to customers mistreating the fish in the aquarium has come to light.

Stock photo unrelated to the content of the article

On the 3rd, an online community called 'Because It's Painful, I'm the Boss' posted a thread titled 'Children Abusing Animals, Devil Customers.' The author, Mr. A, said, "A year ago, I received a custom aquarium and tropical fish as a birthday gift from someone who runs an aquarium business," adding, "I had it installed inside the wall in front of the store entrance as part of the interior. When customers saw the aquarium and said 'It's pretty' while taking photos, I felt pleased and happy as well."

However, he lamented, "The problem started when children customers came; every time they shouted 'Yaap' and 'Die' while hitting the aquarium glass with their hands." He continued, "Regardless of the child's behavior, the parents do nothing and just look at their phones. When it gets too bad, I approach and explain, 'Fish are living beings too. If you keep hitting like that, the fish can get stressed and die. This is also animal abuse.'" He added, "Mothers respond unpleasantly, saying things like 'They're just a thousand-won fish each; it doesn't make sense that one hit would kill them,' 'If they die, I'll pay for it,' and 'They're fish, how is this animal abuse?' There have been several near fights because of this."

Mr. A said, "Hitting dogs or cats is abuse, but hitting fish is abuse too. They are precious pets to someone," and confessed, "When I see parents allowing their children to hit the fish with their hands just because they are cheap, low-cost fish, and children smiling happily while repeatedly hitting, it gives me chills." He added, "Of course, there are well-behaved children who just watch quietly, but when children customers deliberately hit the fish dozens of times causing stress, I feel like I might develop 'child aversion.' I wonder if this is a problem of parental education or if they are devils from birth."

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "If a child behaves like that, parents should stop them, but the problem is parents who just let it happen," "It's important to teach the value of life properly from a young age," "You reap what you sow," and "Unfortunately, it might be better to remove the aquarium from the store."