A large cafe on Jeju Island, which became famous for being run by a well-known entertainer, stirred controversy for illegally using state land.
On the 6th, KBS News reported, "A cafe that gained fame about three years ago after word spread that it was run by an entertainer was found, following an on-site investigation by Seogwipo City, to have illegally converted about 6,000 square meters (roughly 1,800 pyeong) of forest land for non-forestry use."
According to the report, walking paths were created around the cafe building, and a large parking lot for visitors' convenience was provided near a grass-covered hill with swings and other sculptures. Most of the parcels surrounding the cafe building were forest land.
Seogwipo City requested an investigation by the autonomous police into the part involving mountain damage, and the cafe operator explained, "We learned belatedly that it corresponded to illegal conversion of forest land and tried to remedy it, but we could not because of financial circumstances."
Entertainer A, who served as a co-representative of the cafe, said, "My contract ended in April of this year, and I am not currently in charge of running the cafe. At the time the cafe was established, I was only in charge of some interior work and did not know about matters related to the site."
Seogwipo City plans to issue an order to restore the site to its original state depending on the results of the autonomous police investigation.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]