Korean Job Discussion Forums

bigpun · Joined: 16 May 2007

I have been boycotting the two bars this guy owns because of his policy of refusing service based on race. I caved and went there for the CL final early Sunday morning because of my friends. But the way I saw him treat two of his customers was completely reprehensible. Two young Korean fellas were standing near the big screen, but in order to get out of the way of people sitting at the bar, they were leaning against the end of the bar near the cash register. What brought this about was simply that these guys were standing in the wrong place. I understand the need to keep a part of the bar clear so serving staff can pick up drink orders and so on. But instead of asking them to move, he started shouting at them that they can't stand there. He was rude and aggressive to these two guys, he started swearing at them, and getting violent with them, pushing and shoving them. As far as I could tell, one guy was trying to to explain that he was simply trying to get out of the way of people sitting at the bar - he was not trying to be rude - but the owner's response was come around the bar and shove him repeatedly. The Korean guys didn't make a single move to respond. Their friends stepped between them and moved them away, but it was appalling to see. And it is not the first time that this has happened by any means - he has a history of treating customers like this, but not the white ones.

Between this and the insulting and blatantly racist way he refused service to diplomats from Trinidad (where I was born) and their African colleague, it sickens me that he can call himself Canadian. Consider what kind of a person you are supporting, and what actions you are condoning when you patronize his bars.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

If you don't like one bar, for any reason, don't go there and give them your money. There are so many other bars in Seoul.

nukeday · Joined: 13 May 2010

I've been to both of these bars probably a combined 40 times or so. Never seen any racial tension, and the wing/rib tuesdays draw in a pretty diverse crowd.

I've seen the owner get curt with new Korean staff, but who hasn't had a boss they hated?

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I don't go to either bars for the same reasons. I've also see this behaviour with my own eyes, and prefer to take my business elsewhere.

rchristo10 · Joined: 14 Jul 2009

Where is this place you're complaining about?

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

hapigokelli · Joined: 04 Aug 2009

This is a real surprise to me as I have been to both of those bars repeatedly over the last 2 years and I've never seen behavior like that from the owners.

orosee · Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Location: Hannam-dong, Seoul

I have seen maybe 3 such shouting matches over the past 3 years, it does happen more often than that based on the experience of friends who frequent SR's or 3AP more often, and it seems to be based on mood swings rather than racism (the bars are both filled with 30-50% Koreans). The entire thing seems to be rather random (as in the OP's story) and not systematic. With Summer coming up, it might simply be the best to frequent other bars where the aircon actually works.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

I've been there many times with Koreans, nary a problem. Moreover, the owner has a pretty good reputation as an employer amongst the bartenders of Itaewon. I think you might be creating an issue where there isn't one.

rickpidero · Joined: 03 Sep 2009

I went there once and the owner was a complete a-hole, never going back. Some people are just d!(ks, not racist.

Koreadays · Joined: 20 May 2008

Ive been there and seen the owner act like a *beep*!
it's amazing this douche bag even got into the bar business.
Gunter was hard but he wasn't stupid like these new owners..
they are trying to do what gunter did, but they just don't have the experience to pull it off, they are riding on the coat tails of gunters success anyway.
if these idiots were to have opened this bar without gunter first. they would of been closed already.
I avoid this bar all the time unless I am dragged there by my friends and I can't convince everyone else to drink elsewhere.

the bar is garbage.
it only succeeds due to location and the name Gunter made for it.
the owners can get away with being dicks because people will still keep coming. they know this..

shifter2009 · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: wisconsin

hmmm this isn't the first time on Dave's someone has brought up the owners there being jerks.

chrisinkorea2011 · Joined: 16 Jan 2011

never been there but i have heard bad things from non whites and good things from white people, which makes this posting seem all a little too more familar with what people are saying.

regardless i say dont go there and simply frequent another bar. or jump the owner lol

Mods - that last part was a joke lol

schlotzy · Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Location: South Korea

I went there for the first time this past weekend. I don't know anything about racism there, but everyone working behind the bar were absolute dicks. I've never in my life been somewhere where the servers were SO rude for no reason.

We spent a lot of money in the first hour there on food and drinks and later left because of it. I will definitely never go back.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Lemme get this straight, they were leaning near the cash register? If I owned the place and saw that, I'd be pretty hacked off myself. I wouldn't start shoving but, I'd definitely be on edge. Especially if someone's stole money from me before.