"Only 18 Minutes Since Sitting Down,
'Hurry Up and Eat'...
After Yeosu, Now Unfriendly Service Controversy at a Sokcho Restaurant"
Recently, public outrage erupted after it was revealed that a restaurant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, had treated a solo customer rudely. Now, a similar incident at a restaurant in the well-known squid stall alley, "Ojingeo Nanjeon," in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, is stirring controversy. Ongoing "unfriendly service controversies" at tourist destinations are raising concerns that such issues could deal a blow to the domestic tourism industry as a whole.
"Only 18 minutes since I sat down, just 2 minutes since the steamed squid was served..." YouTuber expresses frustration
An employee at a squid stall restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, urging a single customer to "eat quickly." YouTube by Mr. A
On August 7, a video posted on a YouTube channel in June began gaining attention on various online communities and social networking services (SNS). The video clearly shows YouTuber A being treated poorly by the owner of a squid stall restaurant.
At the time, YouTuber A entered the restaurant, took a seat at an outdoor table with an ocean view, and ordered two servings of raw squid, one whole steamed squid, and a bottle of soju. However, shortly after the food was served, an employee repeatedly asked A to change seats and made it clear that A was not welcome to stay long.
About nine minutes after the raw squid was served, an employee said, "Miss, could you eat inside instead of out here?" After the steamed squid was brought out, the employee continued with remarks like, "Are you going to eat there?" and "Hurry up and eat." Since there were plenty of empty seats inside the restaurant at the time, A was left bewildered.
A commented, "It's only been 18 minutes since I sat down, and just 2 minutes since the steamed squid came out. I don't understand why they're acting like this. Is this considered a long time?" She added, "Honestly, this is why I don't really like tourist spots, but at least the atmosphere is nice."
Customers who order less are sometimes pressured to leave
An employee at a squid stall restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, was revealed to have treated a solo customer rudely, sparking controversy. A's YouTube
The video also captured the restaurant employee being rude to other customers. When a group tried to order less food than the number of people, the staff member said, "If you order, 13 side dishes come out. Aprons, wet wipes, paper cups, chopsticks, gochujang, vegetables (are all provided)." This was essentially an attempt to pressure the group to leave, and they eventually walked out.
Witnessing this, A remarked, "They said they wouldn't serve the group because there's nothing to gain, but I don't know if that's right. It's too much of a tourist spot to expect friendliness. For some people, this could be a bad experience." Afterwards, A moved to another restaurant, saying, "I realized that some places still only care about peak season profits. Eating while feeling pressured was uncomfortable, so I don't think I'll ever visit Ojingeo Nanjeon again."
Continued 'unfriendly service controversies' at tourist destinations..."Threat to domestic tourism as a whole, structural response needed"
An employee at a squid stall restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, was reported late for being unfriendly to a single customer, sparking controversy. A's YouTube
A similar controversy recently occurred in Yeosu as well. YouTuber B visited a famous restaurant in Yeosu, ordered two servings, and was eating when the owner suddenly pressured B to finish quickly, saying, "You have to eat quickly," "If you stay like this, the time is unlimited," and "I need to seat reservation customers." In response to B's protest, the owner retorted, "It's just 20,000 won," "You can just leave," and "Why are you acting like this?" As the video spread online, some people even commented, "I won't travel to Yeosu anymore." The city of Yeosu responded with emergency administrative measures and follow-up actions to address the situation.
Experts warn that repeated "unfriendly service" controversies at tourist destinations could undermine trust in domestic tourism overall. Experts point out, "For tourists, a single trip can shape the entire image of a city," and criticize the attitude of some merchants who focus solely on short-term profits, saying it threatens the local tourism industry as a whole. They advise that the government and local authorities need to take structural action, such as strengthening crackdowns, expanding voluntary reporting systems, and launching consumer protection campaigns.
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