“A friend with such good character that all his classmates are rooting for him” ... ‘Namdaemun Scarf Man’ was heartwarming even in his school days

[Financial News]  A high school classmate has come out in support of the so-called ‘Namdaemun Scarf Man,’ who has drawn attention for his witty banter, saying he was a friend with good character even back in their school days.
A video titled ‘Posts Left on the Namdaemun Scarf Man Video by a High School Classmate and Moms Who Are Regular Customers’ was uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Docu Hanbam’ on the 8th.
The video featured the story of Vendor A, who sells scarves and other items at Namdaemun Market in Jung District, Seoul, and has recently become wildly popular on social media and various online communities.
In particular, a comment from a netizen who identified themselves as A’s high school classmate caught people’s attention. The netizen praised him, writing, “I went to high school with him, and he’s such a good person that all his high school classmates are rooting for him. I’m proud of him.” Other netizens responded with comments such as, “Seeing his high school classmate say they’re proud of a friend with such good character, there must be a reason people are flocking to him.”
Videos of A selling six scarves for 10,000 won at Namdaemun Market and joking with customers—“You guys are overspending right now. Even if you buy them, you won’t use them when you get home,” “Just take in the good vibes, have a look around, and go,” and “Don’t feel intimidated”—spread across social media, making him a hot topic and earning him the nickname ‘Namdaemun Scarf Man.’
As his popularity soared and crowds became too large to handle, A closed his shop for four days starting on the 31st of last month. He reopened on the 4th of this month, but suspended business again when the congestion continued. On the 6th, he even hired staff from a private security company at his own expense, but with crowds still gathering on the weekend of the 7th, he ended business early. He temporarily closed the shop on the 8th.
Meanwhile, Jung District, Seoul, has begun taking steps to manage safety as Namdaemun Market has become a popular destination for foreign tourists and young people, alongside the popularity of the ‘Namdaemun Scarf Man.’  
Jung District plans to ask the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to add the area around Namdaemun Market to the managed zones under its ‘Mass Gathering Crowd Management System.’ The aim is to prevent in advance any safety incidents that could result from crowds gathering at a particular shop.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter