"Why Is the Chairman Here?"...The Ramen Shop Where Lee Jae-yong Waited in Line and Dined Alone Revealed

Spotted Dining Alone at a Famous Ramen Shop in Kyoto, Japan
"Chairman Waiting in Line?"
"How Good Must It Be?"?Sparking Buzz Online

A video capturing a man presumed to be Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, dining alone at a ramen shop in Kyoto, Japan, has recently gone viral online. As the footage showed him enjoying a meal by himself at a small restaurant without any entourage, internet users reacted by saying, "Surprisingly down-to-earth," and "He seems very approachable."

Last April, a man presumed to be Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, was spotted dining alone at a cozy ramen shop in Kyoto, Japan, which recently became a hot topic online. YouTube channel 'Fogmin'

On January 26, various online communities began to focus on a Kyoto travel video uploaded last September by travel YouTuber 'Pogmin.' In the video, the YouTuber visits a cozy ramen shop near Kyoto Station.

This small restaurant is famous for its ramen and rice dishes made with clam broth, and it is so popular among both locals and tourists that there is always a long line. The YouTuber introduced the place by saying, "I've always been curious because there is always a line."

"Why is the Chairman here?"...A Familiar Face at the Counter

While eating ramen, the YouTuber was surprised to notice a man sitting at the counter behind him. After hearing a comment from his companion and turning around, he appeared visibly startled, asking, "Why is he here?"-a moment that was captured in the video.

The YouTuber said, "He must have had some business in Japan, as he was quietly eating ramen alone," and added, "I wanted to say hello, but I thought it might disturb him, so I didn't. Meeting him at a small ramen shop in Kyoto at the same time was even more surprising than seeing a celebrity." He also commented, "If the Chairman comes here to eat alone, it must be a restaurant even he approves of."

As the video spread, speculation grew online that the man could indeed be Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Internet users pointed out that his facial features without glasses, graying hair, and his outfit-a dress shirt with a lightweight padded vest-closely resembled Lee's usual appearance. In particular, since the video appears to have been filmed between late March and early April, when cherry blossoms bloom, and given that Lee traveled to Japan for a seven-night, eight-day business trip in early April last year, this theory has gained further traction.

Price list of a ramen shop in Kyoto, Japan, where Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is speculated to have dined alone. A bowl of ramen is sold for 950 to 1200 yen (approximately 9,000 to 11,000 won). YouTube channel 'Pogmin'

Menu Board Also Draws Attention

The restaurant's menu board has also attracted interest. According to the menu, the signature clam broth ramen is priced at 950 to 1,200 yen (approximately 9,000 to 11,000 won), making it quite affordable. Rice dishes with clams and plain rice are also reasonably priced at 150 to 200 yen. Internet users responded, "Even the Chairman eats ramen for 10,000 won," "If Lee Jae-yong eats 10,000-won ramen, who am I to complain," "Down-to-earth and approachable," and "He seems really friendly."

Other comments included, "Even a chaebol chairman waits in line," "That place will be a waiting hell from now on," "He looks just like Lee Kun-hee," "He looks even more like him without glasses," "I'm going there to get Lee Jae-yong's energy," and "This will become a must-visit spot for Koreans traveling to Kyoto."