Controversy Erupts Over Jeju Restaurant Featured on 'Seong Si-kyung's Eating Show'

A popular meat restaurant in Jeju, which gained fame after being featured on Seong Si-kyung's YouTube channel, has come under fire following its appearance on MBC's 'True Story Investigation Team' aired on January 23, 2025. The restaurant, located just a 10-minute drive from Jeju International Airport, is at the center of a family dispute involving a man who is currently raising his two children alone after his wife left him. He is embroiled in a divorce lawsuit and conflicts with his ex-wife's family, who operate the restaurant on land that was gifted to them by his grandfather in 2019.

The man's ex-father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law run the establishment, which they lease at a low rate without a security deposit, citing family ties. The man's wife, who was co-managing the restaurant with her brother, abruptly left him and filed for divorce. In an attempt to reconcile, he modified the lease agreement for the restaurant and had it notarized, only to discover that his wife was allegedly having an affair.

During the show, the wife was seen still working with the man she was accused of cheating with. She expressed her feelings of betrayal, recounting a moment when she had hoped to share a meal with her husband but found that he had eaten everything. The husband's father-in-law criticized him, claiming he was foolish for signing the contract, while the mother-in-law denied the affair allegations.

Currently, the husband is engaged in a legal battle involving divorce, a lawsuit against the alleged affair partner, and a dispute over the restaurant lease. Despite the turmoil, the restaurant continues to thrive, reportedly generating annual revenues of around 1 billion won, thanks in part to its exposure on Seong Si-kyung's channel. Following the broadcast, netizens identified the restaurant as the one featured in the show, leading to a flood of comments on the video, with many expressing their intent to visit.

One local commented on the video, lamenting that residents missed the original broadcast due to local programming, urging Seong Si-kyung not to delete the video so that more people could learn about the situation. The video, posted 11 months ago, shows Seong Si-kyung visiting the restaurant after being recommended by a friend, highlighting its appeal to visitors, including athletes training in Jeju.

Meanwhile, the husband continues to work as a taxi driver to support his children, expressing regret over the current state of affairs, while the wife’s side maintains that they will continue operating the restaurant until 2031 as per their contract.