A YouTuber who suffered from unfriendly service at a restaurant that appeared as a famous dining spot in Yeosu has received an apology from the restaurant, concluding the controversy.
On the 22nd, YouTuber A posted on his channel community, "I received an apology call from the restaurant in the evening. After receiving it, many thoughts and feelings crossed my mind. I was burdened by the numerous media inquiries that I experienced for the first time, and the attention and interest that exceeded my expectations were very difficult for me. I think the restaurant staff felt similarly to me."
He noted, "The restaurant sent me a sincere apology via email, and the message contained their deep reflections and feelings of regret. I understand that those who took an interest in this matter probably thought of it as their own issue, and there may still be many unresolved questions. However, now that they have sincerely apologized, I do not wish to continue being at odds," and expressed, "So I want to conclude this matter here."
He added, "Recalling the unpleasant experiences of dining alone that anyone has faced at least once, I want to express my gratitude to those who offered warm comfort to me, a stranger, and I will strive to show a better side of myself."
Earlier, on the 3rd, A uploaded a video titled "A restaurant that gave me the side-eye for ordering two servings alone in 20 minutes" on his channel. A visited a Korean restaurant that was singled out as a 'top dining spot' by the satire program 'DdoGanjip' in Yeosu. However, the restaurant staff rushed A's meal with remarks such as, "You should eat quickly," and "A lady doesn't just come alone."
Ultimately, A felt uncomfortable, stopped eating, and got up from his seat. The restaurant stated, "We won't accept the payment," but A left the restaurant having paid for his meal via bank transfer. After the video was released, criticisms regarding the restaurant's unfriendly attitude poured in. Given that it was a restaurant that appeared on 'DdoGanjip' and gained significant popularity, the negative public opinion surged, and A shared his sentiments directly with the satirical program to convey the circumstances at that time.
As the controversy escalated, the city of Yeosu conducted an on-site inspection of the problematic restaurant on the 16th. The restaurant reportedly explained that "the YouTuber filmed without consent" and "my loud voice caused a misunderstanding." Moreover, in an interview with Yeosu MBC on the 18th, the restaurant owner reiterated, "I filmed without consent," "I just told them to eat quickly and leave," and "I was unfairly accused due to my loud voice."
However, due to the restaurant's unapologetic attitude, public criticism intensified, and ultimately, the restaurant posted a handwritten apology on the entrance, stating, "We apologize for causing a problem. From now on, we will welcome customers in a friendly and gentle manner. We are sorry." This apology note spread through online communities, and A, the affected party, also mentioned that having received a direct apology, "I want to conclude this matter here," suggesting that the controversy may be coming to an end.
However, netizens who experienced the restaurant's irresponsible initial response expressed cold reactions, saying, "People don't change. They are just trying to get out of this situation," "Please do not take down the video," "Honestly, would they have apologized if they hadn't been on air?" and "They're forced to apologize because of media exposure and a sudden drop in sales." In particular, not only A but also numerous other victims who had similar experiences expressed negative views towards the attempt to smooth this over with an apology to A alone.
[Photo] YouTube
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