Franchise Owner's Heartfelt Note Amid Controversy Surrounding Baek Jong-won
In light of recent controversies surrounding Baek Jong-won, the CEO of The Born Korea, a touching note from a franchise owner of the popular pizza chain, 빽보이피자 (Baek Boy Pizza), has captured public attention. On May 31, a post titled "A Tearful Note" appeared on an online community, featuring a photo of a note received from the local franchise owner after ordering delivery from Baek Boy Pizza.
In the note, the owner expressed gratitude for customers choosing Baek Boy Pizza despite the challenging economic climate and apologized for any distress caused by the various issues related to The Born Korea. The owner pledged to maintain their original passion for the business, stating, "I will continue to run my business without losing my initial spirit. I have poured my heart into preparing your order. Enjoy your meal and stay healthy. Thank you for your order."
The author of the post, identified as A, shared their thoughts, saying, "I occasionally receive such notes when ordering through delivery apps, but most are generic phrases asking for good reviews. This note from the Baek Boy Pizza owner brought me to tears." A further lamented, "Why should the franchise owner apologize? It seems public sentiment towards Baek Jong-won has reached an irreversible point, and it’s unfortunate that the franchise owners bear all the risks. These individuals are innocent heads of families and the biggest victims in this situation."
Reactions from netizens were mixed. Some expressed empathy, stating, "I’m in tears since early morning. What have the franchise owners done to deserve this?" and "I’ve been visiting places like 빽다방 (Baek Dabang) with the same mindset." Others, however, suggested that franchise owners should seek compensation from Baek Jong-won, arguing that they should have considered the risks before joining the franchise.
On May 30, Baek Jong-won released a video on his official YouTube channel featuring franchise owners from The Born Korea. This was interpreted as an effort to restore brand trust and show support for franchise owners amid growing concerns about the impact of the ongoing controversies surrounding him. Baek Jong-won has faced multiple allegations, including issues related to pricing discrepancies, misleading product information, and safety management failures. On June 6, he announced on his YouTube channel that he would cease all broadcasting activities and vowed to revitalize the organization and improve communication with employees to change the corporate culture.
