"I never even thought they would run off without paying"
A scene where a woman dressed in tennis sportswear eats at a gukbap restaurant and leaves without paying has sparked controversy.
On the 15th, JTBC's 'Sageon Banjang' broadcasted CCTV footage taken on the 9th at a gukbap restaurant in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. In the video, a woman wearing a tennis skirt with a racket slung over one arm and a hat pulled down low enters the gukbap restaurant. The woman sits down and orders food through a kiosk, and when the gukbap arrives, she also takes side dishes from the self-service corner. After finishing her meal, she wipes her mouth, stands up, passes by the counter, and leaves the store without paying.
The store said, "We thought she went to smoke or to the restroom," adding, "We never imagined she would dine and dash in that situation." They continued, "The store has been open for three months, and there have already been five dine-and-dash incidents," some of which were reported. The store emphasized, "It's not about punishment, but business is tough, so please pay when you eat."
Netizens who saw the video reacted with comments such as, "She leaves so confidently," "Maybe she thought she paid because she ordered through the kiosk," and "They should switch to kiosks that require payment upon ordering."
Meanwhile, dine-and-dash is punishable under the Minor Offenses Act with a fine of up to 100,000 won, detention, or a surcharge. Furthermore, if it is habitual or intentional, it can be prosecuted as fraud under the Criminal Act, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
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