Lee Youngcheol of 'Youngcheol Burger' Passes Away on the 13th
Korea University Students and Alumni Express Their Condolences
As news spread of the passing of Lee Youngcheol, who ran the famous 'Youngcheol Burger' near Korea University, students and alumni of the university have been expressing their condolences.
As of December 15, more than 1,400 condolence messages had been posted on Lee's mobile obituary. One mourner wrote, "For a while, I couldn't hold back my tears and cried alone. I visited as recently as October, and he showed no signs of illness at all. I regret not visiting more often." The message continued, "I miss the delicious side dishes, beer, and the sight of the owner serving us."
Another mourner shared that they recently visited Lee to greet him before their wedding, saying, "Whenever I went to the shop, he always welcomed me with a bright smile, and if he wasn't busy, it felt like we could sit and chat together." The mourner added, "I wanted to visit him and share my news after finishing my doctoral program, but now I can't, and that pains me. My last memory is of him always saying thank you as I left the shop."
A message left under the name 'Kodae21' read, "I will never forget the taste, from the time I proudly introduced Youngcheol Burger as a Korea University specialty to friends from other universities, to the times I took it to the baseball field after class."
Mr. Lee Youngcheol, who made the 1,000-won 'Youngcheol Burger' a famous item at Korea University, passed away on the 13th at the age of 58. Yonhap News
A graduate who identified as a member of the class of 2014 wrote, "I was a student who often stopped by Youngcheol Burger and called out my order while studying at the science and engineering campus." The graduate recalled, "I first discovered Youngcheol Burger when the 1905 Burger was sold for 1,905 won, and after that, I visited frequently while studying at Hana Square. I still vividly remember the owner generously using his own money to provide plenty of burgers during free giveaway events on the Korea University community site." The graduate concluded, "Now that I'm part of society, I am determined to live by the warmth he showed. I want to express my gratitude as he takes his final journey."
One mourner recalled Lee in the early 2000s, when he was running his business with a handcart. "When he started selling from a cart around 2000, he was a young owner in his early thirties, and I remember he wasn't much older than the senior students at the time. Seeing students eat burgers and drink several cups of cola for just 1,000 won made me wonder how he could make a profit," the mourner reminisced.
The mourner continued, "Now, even the students who were underclassmen at that time are approaching 50 years old. Although this sudden farewell is heartbreaking, I want to remember first and foremost the owner's sincere, kind, and generous spirit during his lifetime."
He Maintained the 1,000-Won Burger Despite Losses... Donated 20 Million Won Annually for Students
Lee passed away on December 13 after battling lung cancer. He was 58 years old.
Around the year 2000, Lee, then listed as a credit delinquent with only 22,000 won to his name, set up a handcart in front of Korea University and began selling 1,000-won burgers. Though the 'street burger' was simple-a hot dog bun filled with stir-fried meat, cabbage, and sauce-its affordable price satisfied hungry students and made it a Korea University specialty.
After opening a shop, Lee went on to operate about 40 franchise locations around 2005. Even after switching to pork loin, he did not raise the price, and he maintained the 1,000-won price even when rising ingredient costs meant a 200-won loss per burger.
Since 2004, Lee donated 20 million won each year to Korea University to establish the 'Youngcheol Scholarship' for students in need, and he continued his relationship with students by giving away thousands of Youngcheol Burgers for free at annual festivals.
However, after 2009, Lee faced financial difficulties as he tried to upgrade his menu amid increasing competition in the area, and he eventually closed the business in 2015. In response, Korea University students launched a 'Save Youngcheol Burger' campaign. At the time, 2,579 people participated in the Youngcheol Burger crowdfunding effort, and the 8 million won goal was reached in just one day. Over the course of a month, a total of 68,115,000 won was raised, which provided the seed money for the shop's reopening, including the deposit.
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