Actor Jeon Won-ju's 'one order for three people at a café' remark has not cooled down easily. Although the production team issued an apology and explanation, the debate continues because it highlights differing sympathies over the "methods and limits of frugality" rather than being a simple incident.
In the YouTube video released on the 24th, Jeon Won-ju visited a café with her daughter-in-law and naturally mentioned her habit of ordering only one drink to share even when several people go together.
That day, Jeon Won-ju's daughter-in-law accepted it as a familiar part of daily life but showed an embarrassed expression, and viewers focused on the fact that she even revealed she had brought paper cups in advance. Jeon Won-ju also emphasized frugality as a way of life, mentioning past awards for thrift.
The video's intention was closer to an entertainment scene showcasing the "frugality king" character, but reactions were mixed. In particular, there were consecutive criticisms about whether the way they used the store was appropriate given the difficulties self-employed people face in an economic downturn. While individuals' frugality can be respected, not making at least minimal purchases while using a business's space can be a burden from the owner's perspective, voices on the ground say.
Ultimately, the core of the debate shifted from the "attitude of saving" itself to the question of how far that behavior can be allowed when it affects others' livelihoods. The production team explained that the filming was conducted with prior agreement, actual orders were placed according to the number of people, and they took measures to prevent harm. Nevertheless, because the habit mentioned in the video also spread, the controversy does not seem to be dying down easily.
Meanwhile, there are many opinions that Jeon Won-ju's generation, having experienced war and poverty, should be understood as valuing frugality as a virtue. However, since past lifestyles and current consumer culture have changed, the prevailing view is that this case shows social standards for using public spaces have also shifted.
In the end, this debate is assessed to have become an opportunity to ask again how to balance "individual frugality" and "consideration for others" within a self-employed environment struggling to get through hard times, beyond criticism directed at a specific person.
[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube
[OSEN]