A restaurant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which sparked a controversy for urging a female YouTuber to "eat quickly," has received administrative sanctions following a hygiene inspection.
According to Yeosu city on the 25th, the city's food sanitation department conducted a special hygiene inspection on the restaurant on the 15th and imposed a fine of 500,000 won for "violating hygienic handling standards."
The controversy arose on the 3rd when a female YouTuber posted a video titled "A restaurant that gives me a hint within 20 minutes despite ordering for two by myself." The video included scenes of the owner telling the YouTuber, who was in the middle of her meal, "It's not just one lady coming" and "Hurry up and eat" while saying, "If you keep this up, (the time) is endless, isn't it?"
The YouTuber ordered for two at the price of 26,000 won when she was told that she could not order for one. She entered the restaurant at 10:40 a.m., which was relatively empty. The flustered YouTuber explained, "It doesn't take that long to eat. I've only been here for 20 minutes," but the restaurant staff retorted, "So? With 20,000 won?" The YouTuber eventually tried to leave without finishing her meal. The owner said, "Just go (without paying)," but the YouTuber completed her payment via bank transfer. This restaurant was previously introduced as the top dining spot in the Yeosu episode of the YouTube show hosted by the YouTuber and broadcaster Fungsaja.
As complaints continued to arise on online communities, the city inspected the scene to determine the facts and conducted a kindness training session. Separately, the city began a special sanitation inspection to investigate the hygiene conditions and cleanliness of food ingredients.
The restaurant is reported to have directly conveyed an apology to the female YouTuber. The YouTuber stated through YouTube on the 22nd, "I received an apology from the restaurant in the evening," adding that "the restaurant sent a sincerely apologetic email, which included their thoughts and feelings of regret after much contemplation." She further stated, "Now that they have sincerely apologized, I do not wish to continue to be in conflict."
On the 20th, a photo of an apology notice posted on the restaurant's entrance appeared on an online community. The notice handwritten stated, "I apologize for causing a problem. I will greet customers kindly and gently in the future. I am sorry."