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Eating alone is a simple joy for many, but one restaurant in South Korea is having none of it, sparking a heated debate about the country's dining culture
According to South China Morning Post, a noodle shop in Yeosu, South Jeolla, has gone viral for a sign that explicitly bans solo diners unless they meet some rather bizarre conditions.
In a viral post on 17 November, the owner listed four "options" for those dining alone: pay for two servings, eat two servings, call a friend, or come back with a wife next time.
To add salt to the wound, the sign features a speech bubble declaring, "We don't sell loneliness. Please don't come alone"
Some netizens felt that the restaurant owner's mindset was outdated, while others questioned why eating alone is equated with being lonely.
However, a few defended the establishment, noting that "if the owner is willing to take the financial hit, it is their choice and should be respected".
This isn't an isolated incident of discrimination against honbap (solo dining) customers
This hostility contrasts sharply with reality, as single-person households in Seoul jumped from 29.5% in 2015 to 39.3% in 2023.
