Japanese YouTuber Faces Rude Treatment at Korean Restaurant

A recent incident involving a Japanese female YouTuber has sparked outrage after she was reportedly mistreated at a restaurant in South Korea. Ayumi, who runs the YouTube channel '시골 언니 아유미', shared her experience in a video titled 'A Japanese Person Almost Cried Because the Restaurant Owner Was Angry'. Ayumi, a frequent visitor to Korea, visited a popular budae jjigae restaurant in Seoul on March 12.

Upon entering the restaurant alone, a man presumed to be the owner told her, 'We don’t serve one portion.' When Ayumi requested two portions, he sighed and instructed her to sit down, expressing his displeasure by stating that they typically do not serve single portions.

Feeling awkward, Ayumi apologized, explaining that she had heard the budae jjigae was delicious. The video included subtitles noting that the owner appeared upset, making her feel sad while eating. Despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, the restaurant eventually prepared a single portion of budae jjigae for her.

However, the poor treatment continued when Ayumi ordered soju. The man reacted by saying, 'Oh, come on, now you want alcohol too?' and informed her that they do not serve alcohol during the day, despite other tables in the restaurant consuming drinks.

Ayumi expressed her confusion over his anger, stating, 'I don’t understand why you’re upset. I’m scared, my heart hurts.' Nevertheless, she maintained her composure, stating, 'The food is not at fault,' and finished her meal quietly.

The video has since gone viral across various online communities, drawing significant backlash. Popular travel YouTuber Pani Bottle (Park Jae-han) even left an apologetic comment on the video, saying, 'I’m so sorry for this.'

Netizens reacted strongly, with comments like 'This is an embarrassment for the country,' and 'I feel sorry just watching this.' A representative from the restaurant later stated in a phone interview that they were unaware of the incident but confirmed that they typically do not accept single diners.