"I asked, and they agreed"
"It's clearly stated on the menu"
"Only charged 8,000 won" → "Paid 10,000 won and confirmed until the end"
A video posted by a YouTuber has sparked controversy after they claimed to have ordered sundae (Korean blood sausage) marked as 8,000 won at Gwangjang Market in Seoul, but were asked by a vendor to pay 10,000 won because offal was mixed in. The vendor has since responded, expressing a sense of unfairness. However, the YouTuber refuted the vendor’s claims by clarifying the facts in the comments section of their video.
YouTuber "Strange Snack Shop" expressed frustration over experiencing rude treatment from some merchants at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul. YouTube capture
On the 4th, the YouTuber "Strange Snack Shop," who has 1.48 million subscribers, uploaded a video titled "If this is how it is, I don't think I'll ever go to Gwangjang Market again." The YouTuber, who frequently visits traditional markets, stated, "I visited five stalls at Gwangjang Market that day, and four of them were unfriendly." They also claimed, "When I went to eat kalguksu, the noodles for the customer right after me were mixed with seaweed flakes and garnishes in a way that anyone could misunderstand when the noodles were being cooked."
Later, when the YouTuber went to eat sundae, an argument broke out with a vendor over the price. The menu listed "large sundae" at 8,000 won, but the vendor demanded 10,000 won. When the YouTuber asked, "It says 8,000 won here, so why is it 10,000 won?" the vendor replied, "Because I mixed it with meat." The YouTuber responded, "I never asked in advance if they would mix it with meat, nor did I request it. I stopped at that point because people around were watching."
YouTuber "Strange Snack Shop" expressed frustration over experiencing rude treatment from some merchants at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul. YouTube capture
The vendor, in response to the controversy, claimed that the menu board clearly states there is an extra charge for mixing meat, and that they had asked the YouTuber directly. In an interview with Channel A, the vendor said, "I asked, 'Should I mix it for you?' and they said yes. After eating, when I said it was 10,000 won, they interrogated me as if I had done something wrong." The vendor added, "So I told them to just pay 8,000 won and let them go," explaining the situation at the time.
After these explanations and rebuttals became public, the YouTuber responded, "According to the media interview, they said I ordered assorted sundae from the beginning, so why did they serve me the regular large sundae?" They continued, "The vendor said in the interview that they asked, 'Should I mix it with meat?' but neither I nor my companion were asked, which is why we were confused."
Regarding the claim that they "interrogated the vendor," the YouTuber said, "The video contains footage of the situation at the time," dismissing the accusation. As for the claim that the vendor said, "Just pay 8,000 won and go," the YouTuber stated, "I paid by bank transfer, so there is a record. I repeatedly confirmed until the end that I had paid 10,000 won for the sundae."
Finally, the YouTuber expressed disappointment at the response from the Gwangjang Market Merchants' Association, which stated that there were no problems at Gwangjang Market and suggested the YouTuber had approached the situation with an agenda. The YouTuber said, "Is this really the official position of the merchants' association? It's truly disappointing." They added, "I gain strength from people who leave comments saying that I am not the type of person to do such things, and it is such a great comfort that it brings me to tears."
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