"That guy eating alone at the ramen shop, that's Lee Jae-yong, right?"...Samsung chairman spotted at a 10,000-won Kyoto ramen joint

According to The Financial News, a travel YouTuber’s video introducing tourist spots in Kyoto has belatedly drawn attention after it appeared to capture Lee Jae-yong eating ramen alone. The footage, in which a man resembling the Samsung Electronics chairman appears, was filmed in April last year and uploaded to YouTube in September of the same year.

On the 25th, several online communities picked up on a Kyoto travel video posted last September by travel YouTuber "Pogmin" under the title "A Kyoto Arashiyama trip that guarantees success if you follow this route."
The channel has fewer than 5,000 subscribers, but the video suddenly gained traction because of one man who happened to be caught on camera.
True to its travel theme, the video showcases Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, where visitors can enjoy traditional scenery under full-bloom cherry blossoms, as well as tourist attractions and eateries such as Tenryuji Temple, which is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
The man at the center of the buzz appears near the end of the video.
On the last morning of the Kyoto trip, Pogmin visits a ramen shop near the hotel, saying, "It’s a famous spot popular with both locals and foreigners," and adds, "Every time I passed by during my stay, there was always a line out front. I went early on the last morning to place my order."
The YouTuber goes on to describe ordering food at the small restaurant, which has only a few tables and a bar counter, using a kiosk. A moment later, he also takes time to talk about how the ramen tastes.

While eating his ramen, he turns his attention to a man sitting alone at the counter with his back to the camera. It appears that a companion sitting across from Pogmin, who could see the man’s face, told him it was "Chairman Lee Jae-yong," prompting the YouTuber to start focusing on the man as well.
Pogmin comments, "Maybe he has some business in Japan and quietly came here alone to enjoy a bowl of ramen," then reveals his thoughts with on-screen text reading, "I thought about going over just to shake his hand, but I didn’t want to bother him," as he turns his head to look at the man’s back.
He adds, "Running into him at a small ramen shop in Kyoto at the exact same time... I found it more surprising than seeing most celebrities."
A little later in the video, the man identified as Chairman Lee finishes his meal, stands up, and turns around, and this moment is captured in full. The footage also shows him looking directly at the smartphone the YouTuber was using to film.
In the video, the YouTuber refers to the man as Chairman Lee Jae-yong, but perhaps mindful that this has not been officially confirmed, he did not mention Lee in the title or thumbnail. As a result, the clip appears to have gone largely unnoticed until it suddenly went viral about four months later.
Viewers who heard rumors that the video featured Chairman Lee began watching it to judge for themselves whether it was really him.
Many pointed out similarities, from his facial features such as his earlobes and sharp eyes, to his hairstyle with graying hair at the back, and even his outfit: a light padded vest worn over a dress shirt and slacks, which matched Lee’s usual style.

They also noted that Pogmin described the filming period as "a beautiful spring when the flowers are in full bloom," and compared this with news reports that Lee Jae-yong took a seven-night, eight-day business trip to Japan in early April last year.
At the time, the exact itinerary of Lee’s trip to Japan was not disclosed. However, observers speculated that he met with materials, parts, and equipment partners belonging to Lee Kun-hee Japanese Friends (LJF), a group of Samsung’s partner companies in Japan, to review supply chains. Kyoto is one of Japan’s key semiconductor industry hubs.
Netizens who watched the video reacted with comments such as, "Even Jae-dragon eats alone, so why did I ever feel pathetic about eating by myself?", "Did Lee Jae-yong also stand in line alone to eat there?" and "I can’t believe Lee Jae-yong is having a 10,000-won bowl of ramen by himself."
Some viewers, noticing the moment when he makes eye contact with the smartphone filming the scene, left witty remarks like, "He’s checking whether it’s a Samsung Galaxy," "Samsung phones are rare in Japan, so seeing one probably caught his eye," and "If you don’t want to feel self-conscious in case you ever run into Jae-dragon, you’d better use a Samsung phone."
Other comments included, "I’m taking some of Jae-dragon’s good energy with me," "I came here after hearing the rumors—this is a pilgrimage spot now," and "If I go to Kyoto, I’m definitely visiting this ramen shop."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter