YouTuber Exposes Shocking Discrepancies at Seoul's Gwangjang Market: Overcharging, Unsanitary Practices, and Rude Service Reported

A popular YouTuber, known for their channel 'Strange Snack Shop' with 1.49 million subscribers, has ignited controversy after revealing a distressing experience at Seoul's renowned Gwangjang Market.

In a video uploaded on April 4th, titled 'This Might Make Me Never Visit Gwangjang Market Again,' the creator shared their initial visit to the bustling market, expressing disappointment with the service encountered. They reported that out of five street food stalls visited, four exhibited unfriendly behavior.

A particularly alarming incident occurred at a kal-guksu (noodle soup) restaurant. The YouTuber claimed to have witnessed a disturbing practice: "I saw them take noodles that already had garnish on them from the previous customer's bowl and re-boil them for the next order," they alleged.

At another snack stall, the creator ordered 'Large Sundae' advertised for 8,000 won. However, the vendor unexpectedly demanded 10,000 won, stating, "We mixed it with meat, so it's 10,000 won." The YouTuber expressed frustration, stating, "I never asked for it to be mixed with meat," and added, "I wanted to argue, but I stopped due to the surrounding attention."

The YouTuber also highlighted the vendors' attitudes towards foreign customers. "I saw several instances where vendors suddenly shouted at foreign customers, even when the situation didn't warrant it," they noted. "It was sad to see foreigners who came to Korea with expectations fueled by groups like BTS or 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'"

Expressing further dismay, the creator added, "This is supposed to be a representative place that foreigners always visit when they come to Korea. Even if there are many one-time tourists, this is not the way to treat them." They mentioned witnessing hygiene issues, price gouging, and vendors refusing card payments despite having card readers visible, insisting on cash transactions.

The video garnered immense attention, surpassing 2 million views within 18 hours of its release. Netizens flooded the comments section with agreement, stating, "They pointed out issues that needed to be addressed for the market's image," "This is an embarrassment for the country to foreigners," and "Gwangjang Market's overcharging problem truly needs fixing."

This incident follows a similar 'price gouging' controversy last year concerning a 15,000 won assorted jeon (pancake) platter. At the time, the market merchants' association promised to implement 'standard portion labeling' and 'accept card payments,' but recent criticisms suggest these measures are still not consistently followed by all vendors.

Korean netizens reacted strongly to the YouTuber's exposé, with many expressing shame and disappointment. Comments included, "I feel so embarrassed for foreigners visiting," "This is why I'm hesitant to recommend Gwangjang Market to my foreign friends," and "They need to fix these issues before it becomes a bigger national embarrassment."