Ulleungdo "Fatty Samgyeopsal" Controversy Explained: Restaurant Owner Apologizes for Serving Stew Meat by Mistake

"Half the Meat Was Fat," YouTuber's Video Sparks Controversy
Restaurant Owner: "Employee's Mistake While I Was Away... My Fault"

A controversy erupted after a well-known YouTuber received "fatty samgyeopsal," consisting mostly of pork fat, at a restaurant in Ulleungdo. The restaurant owner has apologized, explaining that the wrong cut of meat intended for stew was mistakenly served due to an operational error.

A YouTuber complained about poor service after receiving "fatty samgyeopsal" at a samgyeopsal restaurant in Ulleungdo. Screenshot from YouTuber Kkuiun

On July 21, during a broadcast of JTBC's "Incident Chief," the owner of the Ulleungdo restaurant at the center of the controversy apologized, stating that while he was away, an employee mistakenly served pork shoulder meant for stew. He admitted, "It was my mistake."

The owner explained, "That day, I was at the hospital, so while I was gone, an employee seems to have sliced and served meat that had been set aside nearby. The cut was pork shoulder, and it was meant for stew." He continued, "The employee was working alone, so I guess that's why the mistake happened, but ultimately, the responsibility is mine. I did not manage the restaurant properly." He bowed his head and added, "I feel very sorry to the YouTuber and also to the people of Ulleungdo."

The controversy began when a YouTuber complained about receiving "fatty samgyeopsal" at the restaurant. The YouTuber "Kkuiun," who has around 550,000 subscribers, uploaded a video on July 19 titled, "Is Ulleungdo always like this? It was my first visit and I was very surprised." In the video, the YouTuber ordered a serving (120g) of samgyeopsal for 15,000 won at a barbecue restaurant in Ulleungdo.

The issue was that more than half of the raw meat portion served consisted of fat. When the YouTuber asked, "Do you intentionally serve half fat like this?" the restaurant responded, "Unlike on the mainland, we don't cut the meat into precise shapes; we just slice it thickly and serve it as is. At first, customers may refuse, but after grilling, they say it's delicious."

As the video spread online, it sparked what has been called the "samgyeopsal price gouging" controversy. Online commenters criticized, "What they're selling isn't samgyeopsal, it's a scam," "Are they ripping customers off?" and "That's not samgyeopsal, it's pork shoulder or ham."

Amid this controversy, complaints also arose regarding lodging services in Ulleungdo. At the hotel where the YouTuber stayed, the air conditioner reportedly did not work all night, and there was no response or apology from the hotel. The YouTuber said that upon checking out, he inquired about the air conditioner at the front desk, but only received the answer, "It's being repaired."

The YouTuber also pointed out the early check-out time of 10:30 a.m. and the refrigerator being at room temperature, despite the room costing 90,000 won per night, remarking, "This is a level of service I've never seen anywhere else in the country."

Previously, Ulleungdo had faced criticism from tourists over issues such as price gouging and the refusal to serve solo diners, fueling complaints about poor service. In response, Ulleung County announced a large-scale tourism policy to address its reputation for high prices, and last year, it was recognized as an outstanding local government in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "Local Price Stability Management Evaluation." However, with renewed criticism surrounding tourism in Ulleungdo, the region's tourism image is expected to take another hit.