As nearby merchants express their dissatisfaction with the recently opened cafe by actor Lee Dong-gun in Jeju, netizens are engaged in a heated debate.
On the 17th, social media posts emerged from business owners operating near Lee Dong-gun's cafe located in Aewol-eup, Jeju.
A person identified as A, who runs a cafe near Lee Dong-gun's, stated, “They worked until 11 PM, making it impossible for me to sleep, and my dog Jin-soon in the yard couldn’t sleep either. It seems they are using our parking lot. I have no attachment to my cafe and even promote other cafes, but this is not a good start.”
Another cafe owner, presumed to be B, also claimed, “There are residents nearby, yet they filmed late into the night without consideration. Isn’t it polite to ask for understanding first? Even after complaints, they continued working until 11 PM.”
B added, “Thanks to Lee Dong-gun's cafe, our business is thriving, and our parking lot and cafe are doing well during peak season. I’m not saying this because I’m worried about losing sales to a neighboring cafe. I just dislike seeing those who lack manners succeed.”
B further mentioned, “To create some buzz, I’m considering changing our cafe's name to Tiara Cafe and encouraging people to take photos at both Lee Dong-gun's cafe and ours. I believe in repaying rudeness with rudeness.” The name ‘Tiara’ refers to the group of Lee Dong-gun's ex-girlfriend, Ji-yeon.
Netizens have shown mixed reactions to the post.
Some supported the merchants, saying, “Working until 11 PM is a nuisance,” and “It must have been uncomfortable for the residents nearby,” while others reacted with, “This is excessive territoriality,” and “Bringing Ji-yeon into this is crossing the line.”
Meanwhile, Lee Dong-gun opened his cafe in Aewol-eup, Jeju, on the 14th. It is reported that the cafe received a warm response, with long lines on its opening day.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
