Tipping Culture Becomes a Hot-Button Issue in the United States
Controversy Grows as Some Shops in Korea Start Requesting Tips
The tipping culture has once again become a topic of heated debate among American netizens.
On October 20 (local time), the Daily Mail introduced a video that is currently trending among American netizens. The video shows employees at a restaurant in the United States confronting a customer, claiming, "The customer did not leave a tip," and following him to protest. In the video, a man is about to get into his car after finishing his meal when a bartender and a server quickly approach him. They block the man's car and demand, "Give us a proper tip." The bewildered man gets out of his car and asks, "What do you want me to do?" One of the employees filming the video says, "My brother is a police officer. You need to go back to the restaurant right now."
The tipping culture has once again become a topic of debate among American netizens. On the 20th (local time), the Daily Mail introduced a video currently trending among American netizens. The photo is not related to any specific content of the article. Pixabay
The man stands with a baffled expression before getting back into his car. The video ends with the caption, "He was cornered, and the police arrived."
It is unknown whether this man actually left the restaurant after giving a larger tip. However, opinions among netizens regarding the video are sharply divided. One netizen pointed out, "Chasing someone down for not leaving a tip is clearly wrong, and if you want to make more money, you should find another job." Another commented, "You cannot force someone to tip. The problem is that everyone thinks they deserve a tip." On the other hand, another netizen argued, "Tipping is not mandatory, but if you are not going to tip, you should not go to a restaurant."
The once natural practice of tipping has recently become a hot-button issue even within the United States. According to a survey conducted last year by CouponBirds of 1,199 Americans, three out of four respondents said they believe the tipping culture has become excessive. Two out of three said they often tip out of guilt. Most respondents at the time said that the minimum wage should be raised to eliminate the need for tipping.
The man stands with a bewildered expression before getting back into the car. The video ends with the caption, "He was cornered, and the police arrived." It is unknown whether this man actually left the restaurant after giving a larger tip. Daily Mail
Meanwhile, some cafes and restaurants in Korea have recently introduced tipping, sparking controversy. In July, a photo of a tip box placed at a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo District was shared on social networking services (SNS) in Korea, along with a post saying, "I was about to pay after eating, but there was a tip box right in front of the cashier." The tip box in the photo read, "Did you enjoy your meal? We always strive to provide the best service and cuisine. Thank you." The poster expressed displeasure, writing, "This is Korea. Do not bring in tipping culture. Don't muddy the waters."
In July, a photo of a tip box placed at a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo District was shared on social networking services (SNS) in Korea, along with a post saying, "I was about to pay after eating, but there was a tip box right in front of the cashier," sparking controversy. Online community
Consumers have also generally responded negatively. One netizen commented, "Prices are already high, and if tipping becomes the norm, it will be a big problem," while another said, "Instead of passing the burden onto customers, the owner should raise employees' wages." There have been several controversies in Korea as some establishments have suggested that customers leave tips. In particular, some netizens have argued that this practice is illegal. According to current food sanitation laws, the price of food must include both VAT and service charges, and this must be clearly indicated on the menu. It is illegal to forcibly demand an additional service charge from customers. However, experts have noted that in Korea, tipping is optional and not mandatory, so the act of tipping itself is not generally considered a violation of the law.
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