"Youngcheol Burger" Kept the "1,000 Won Promise"... Lee Youngcheol Passes Away

Donated 20 Million Won in Scholarships Annually
Students Raised Funds to Reopen After Closure

Lee Youngcheol, who operated the famous "Youngcheol Burger" near Korea University, has passed away at the age of 58.

According to university sources on the 13th, Lee passed away earlier that day. It was reported that he had been battling lung cancer. The funeral is being held at the Korea University Hospital funeral hall in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The procession will take place at 6:30 a.m. on the 15th, and the burial site is Seoul Metropolitan Crematorium.

Lee Youngcheol, who operated the famous "Youngcheol Burger" at Korea University, passed away on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

Due to his family's difficult financial situation, Lee was unable to complete elementary school and began working at the age of 10, moving between Chinese restaurants, military uniform factories, and construction sites. Around the year 2000, branded a credit delinquent and left with only 22,000 won, he set up a cart in front of Korea University and started selling burgers for 1,000 won each. Although his "street burgers" were made in a simple way-with stir-fried meat, cabbage, and sauce stuffed into hot dog buns-they became a beloved staple among students for their affordable price, earning the reputation of a Korea University icon. He later opened a store, and by around 2005, he operated as many as 40 franchise locations.

Even when he switched the pork in his burgers to loin cuts, Lee did not raise the price. When the cost of ingredients such as cabbage and Cheongyang chili peppers soared, he continued to sell his burgers for 1,000 won each, even though he lost as much as 200 won per burger.

Starting in 2004, Lee donated 20 million won annually to Korea University to provide the "Youngcheol Scholarship" for students in need. During regular festivals, he also gave away thousands of Youngcheol Burgers for free.

In 2009, with the opening of various new eateries offering similar prices in the area, Youngcheol Burger attempted to upgrade its menu but eventually faced financial difficulties and was forced to close in 2015. In response, Korea University students launched a campaign to save Youngcheol Burger. A total of 2,579 students participated in the "Youngcheol Burger Crowdfunding" campaign at the time. The initial fundraising goal was 8 million won, but 20 million won was collected in just one day, and a total of 68,115,000 won was raised over a month. This money was delivered to Lee and used as seed money for the store's deposit and the revival of Youngcheol Burger.

After news of Lee's passing was announced, an outpouring of condolences from Korea University alumni has followed, including from KBS announcer Choi Seungdon, a graduate of the university's English Education Department.