Actor Lee Jang-woo has been embroiled in a controversy over unpaid supplies at his sundae soup restaurant.
On the 17th, Dispatch reported that the sundae soup restaurant operated by Lee Jang-woo has not paid 40 million won for pork byproducts for eight months.
According to the report, Mr. A, who runs a livestock product distribution company in Cheonan, said that since Nov. 2023 he supplied pork heads, intestines and other byproducts to the sundae soup restaurant run by Lee Jang-woo but the payments were not settled on time. He said the unpaid amount grew to as much as 64 million won, and that about 40 million won still remains overdue.
Mr. A said he continued the transaction because Lee Jang-woo personally came down to Cheonan to check the meat quality and showed enthusiasm. But even while payments were overdue, Lee Jang-woo conducted large-scale promotion on broadcasts and YouTube, saying, "I boiled 100 pig heads myself," and "It's my restaurant."
As the unpaid amount issue grew, the corporation that runs the sundae soup restaurant told Dispatch, "Lee Jang-woo is not the actual owner. Friend Mr. B was the CEO, and Lee Jang-woo only helped at the start and was not deeply involved in operations," and "The unpaid amount issue is a problem the former operator, friend Mr. B, should solve," offering an explanation that Lee Jang-woo is also a victim.
In connection with this, Lee Jang-woo's agency HUNUS Entertainment said, "We are checking the situation regarding the matter," expressing a cautious stance.
Meanwhile, Lee Jang-woo married actress Jo Hye-won in Nov. last year.
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