For the third year, allegations of back advertising have emerged, "It's really not true"… The controversy in Yeosu even sparked satire.
YouTuber and broadcaster Pungja met directly with the victim regarding the controversy of unkind service at a Yeosu restaurant, once again confronting the allegations of 'back advertising' surrounding her.
In content released on the YouTube channel 'Studio Suje', on the 19th, the meeting between Pungja and a customer who complained about unkind service at a Yeosu restaurant was captured. As the customer's story gained widespread attention through the video, stirring the local community, Pungja carefully invited him to have a conversation.
Pungja said, "I know how difficult it is to take this step. You probably never thought it would become such an issue, and it must have been hard to handle," offering heartfelt comfort. The individual also conveyed that it was "even worse than depicted in the video," sharing the situation at that time. Hearing this, Pungja cautiously opened up about the misunderstandings and criticisms directed at herself.
"I have visited over 400 restaurants while running 'Ttoganjip' for more than three years. But lately, I've heard criticisms like 'Why not check the reviews?' and 'What are the selection criteria?' In fact, the purpose of 'Ttoganjip' is to recommend restaurants that citizens have visited more than once. The key is to trust the sincere recommendation that 'I enjoyed the food and want to go again,'" she emphasized. Pungja added, "I probably won't go through all the reviews in the future. I have believed that there is sincerity behind that one recommendation, and that's how I've operated."
However, the sparks of controversy did not end there. The allegations of 'back advertising' that had been raised several times in the past were once again directed at Pungja. Particularly, due to past misunderstandings over the Angyang episode, which resulted in the complete editing and re-shooting of the video, Pungja expressed even greater feelings of injustice.
"Again, the talk of back advertising has come up. Honestly, it's extremely frustrating. Even if I say it's really not true several times, it keeps following me. Even my father said, 'If you were paid, you should have checked properly.' I couldn't hide my feelings of anger," she said, visibly emotional. She continued, "This is a story that has been repeated for three years. I have never received a penny in advertising fees. I even put up a 'retirement bet' to prove that. This is not back advertising, really," she firmly declared.
The production team of 'Ttoganjip' also clarified their position through broadcast subtitles, stating, "Ttoganjip has never received a single restaurant advertisement."
In this situation, netizens are also sending warm support to Pungja. On online communities and social media, encouraging voices are continuing, such as, "I know Pungja is a really kind and honest person," "It's nice to see her sticking to her principles," and "I hope she doesn't get hurt unnecessarily."
The incident at the Yeosu restaurant, which became the center of controversy, could not shake Pungja's sincerity and beliefs. Rather, it served as an opportunity to reflect on the principles and direction of 'Ttoganjip,' and trust in Pungja is deepening even further.
[Photo] Video capture
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