Hong Seok-cheon Opens Up About Restaurant Closures: 'Even I Couldn't Overcome COVID-19'

Entertainer Hong Seok-cheon has candidly shared the pain of his successive restaurant closures, while still expressing his enthusiasm for future business ventures.

Previously, Hong revealed on social media that he had lived in a state of constant tension for nearly 20 years while running his restaurants. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic eventually forced him to close his last establishment, leading him to lament, 'COVID-19, that guy was too strong for me to handle.'

During a recent appearance on the MBC entertainment show 'Save Me Holmes,' he confessed for the first time about another business failure in Yeouido. He had opened a Thai cuisine restaurant there after finding success in Itaewon, attempting a Thai-style buffet for the first time.

However, the reality differed from his expectations. Hong explained, 'Yeouido wasn't a commercial district for enjoying leisure like Itaewon. Speed and turnover are vital, but trying to run a Thai buffet and selling coffee meant the rotation wasn't happening.' He added, 'We had to make money quickly during lunchtime, but there were no customers in the evening. Everyone went to Gangnam or other areas after work.' Ultimately, he decided, 'I realized it wouldn't work and closed the place.'

Despite these setbacks, Hong continues to show his entrepreneurial spirit. While looking at a chicken restaurant property in Daehangno on the show, he suggested ideas for its future use, even humorously proposing to rebrand a historic brand like 'Duldul Chicken' into 'Deoldel, Dal-dal Chicken,' which elicited laughter.

Hong Seok-cheon was widely recognized as a successful restaurateur, opening multiple establishments in Seoul's Itaewon district. His restaurants were known for their unique themes and culinary excellence, attracting a diverse clientele. Despite facing business challenges, he remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his resilience and creative endeavors.