“You left side dishes, so pay 1,000 won each”... Restaurant demands money from elementary school students [What do you think?]

[Financial News] Claims have emerged that young students dining at a restaurant were asked to pay an extra 1,000 won per person for leaving their basic side dishes. The students were reportedly flustered and about to pay when a customer who had been watching protested that the charge was unfair.
A post recently appeared on the online community Bobaedream saying that the writer had witnessed students being asked to pay extra at a restaurant for leaving side dishes.
According to A, who wrote the post, students who appeared to be around sixth grade in elementary school or first year of middle school visited the restaurant and had a meal. After eating the side dishes provided as standard once or twice, the students did not touch what remained because it was spicy.
The restaurant reportedly had a notice posted saying that customers would be charged 1,000 won for leaving side dishes.
The problem arose when the students finished their meal and went to pay. A described what happened: “The kids had finished eating and were paying when the woman serving them said, ‘You left the side dishes,’ and asked them to pay 1,000 won each.”
A added, “Maybe because they were still young, they didn’t know what to do and tried to hand over the money.”
After seeing the students try to hand over the money, A protested to the restaurant staff. A said it was unfair to charge them separately when they had not asked for extra side dishes and had only left some of the basic side dishes provided from the start.
According to A, after the protest, the staff member told the students to leave without paying the extra charge, without offering any explanation.
Most commenters who saw the post supported A for speaking up on the students’ behalf. Some criticized the restaurant’s demand, saying, “You did the right thing,” and, “I’ve never seen anyone who tried to get rich off kids’ pocket money do well.”
Another commenter also said, “It’s not like they asked for extra side dishes. This is too much,” expressing the view that demanding money because they left basic side dishes went too far.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter