"Unable to Drink Much, So She Shared It with Her Daughter-in-law"
After a video showing actress Jeon Wonju sharing a single drink among several people at a cafe sparked controversy as "mocking small business owners," the production team issued an explanation.
On the 26th, the production team of the YouTube channel Jeonwonjuingong on social media (SNS) apologized, saying, "We are truly sorry for causing discomfort while watching due to the content of the video." They went on to explain, "We filmed the content after obtaining prior cooperation from the coffee shop, and we proceeded carefully so as not to cause any harm to the business."
The production team stated, "All staff and everyone who entered the site that day ordered their own drinks to observe a minimum level of courtesy," adding, "Jeon Wonju is unable to drink a large amount of coffee, so she ended up sharing it with her daughter-in-law."
In the video released on the 24th, Jeon Wonju and her daughter-in-law ordered one cafe latte at a cafe they visited after a meal. The daughter-in-law said, "Even when it is my husband, me, and my mother-in-law, she always insists on ordering just one drink," adding, "These days, one drink per person is the basic rule at cafes, but even when I suggest ordering two, she tells us to order only one." When the coffee they ordered came out, she took paper cups out of her bag so they could share the drink, and this scene was shown in the video.
After the video was released, criticism poured in on self-employed business owners' communities such as "It Hurts to Be the Boss," arguing that Jeon Wonju's behavior was inconsiderate and harmful to the operation of the establishment. Netizens raised their voices in criticism, saying that behavior which harms someone else's right to do business in order to save one's own money should be clearly distinguished from frugality.
Jeon Wonju, widely regarded as one of the entertainment industry's leading icons of thrift, is known to hold assets worth around 10 billion won through investments in stocks and gold. In 2011, she revealed that she bought SK Hynix shares in the 20,000 won range and has held them long term, earning her the nickname "Jeon Won Buffett." In addition, she has maintained a thoroughly frugal lifestyle, such as turning off the boiler when going out and reusing scripts. However, her way of using the cafe in this case has drawn criticism from some who say it goes against contemporary etiquette.
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