A restaurant in South Korea has sparked widespread controversy after it was revealed that it refuses service to any customers who come alone. At a time when the number of single people living in the country is increasing, photos of a sign posted outside a restaurant serving a variety of dishes in the city of Yeosu, located in South Jeolla Province, have spread widely on social media. After one online influencer visited the restaurant and shared their experience, which included the restaurant's refusal to serve them because they were alone, as reported by the Korea Times. The controversial sign offers four options for customers visiting the restaurant alone: pay for two meals and eat two portions, call a friend, come back next time with a spouse, or simply not come alone. The sign also included a speech-bubble phrase that reads: 'We don't sell loneliness... please don't come alone.' This post, which garnered over 30,000 views, has caused a sharp divide among social media users, with many expressing their anger at the restaurant's policy. One person wrote that the owner's mindset is 'old-fashioned,' while another questioned, 'Why do we link eating alone with loneliness?' A third person said, 'It seems the restaurant doesn't respect its customers.' On the other hand, some people showed understanding for the restaurant owner's decision, considering that it is his right to adopt the policy he wants as long as he bears the consequences. One person said, 'If the owner is ready to bear the financial loss, it's his decision and it should be respected.' This is not the first time a restaurant in South Korea has done this, as single customers, locally known as 'honbab,' have faced similar situations before. In July, a person who was eating alone in another restaurant in Yeosu faced inappropriate comments from staff who asked him to hurry up with his meal because other restaurants were waiting for more customers, despite him having ordered two meals. Earlier this year, news spread about another restaurant that put up a sign preventing single customers from using social media platforms while eating. This debate comes at a time when South Korea is seeing a significant increase in the number of single-person households. Their proportion in the capital, Seoul, rose from 29.5% in 2015 to 39.3% in 2023, while data indicates that more than 42% of South Koreans eat at least one meal alone every day. A sociology professor at Stanford University's branch in South Korea, Ji-Wook Shin, believes that the country needs to address the negative perception of people living alone in a more systematic and comprehensive way. In contrast to this trend, many restaurants in mainland China welcome single customers and offer them specialized services amid a thriving 'single-person economy.' According to experts, this economy targets singles through various sectors including food, real estate, social networking, education, and home appliances, highlighting a clear difference in how the two countries deal with single individuals.
