Tanghulu store employee in sticky situation for pouring boiled sugar syrup into storm drain

Social Affairs

Published: 14 Dec. 2023, 15:16 Updated: 14 Dec. 2023, 16:21

Tanghulu store employee in sticky situation for pouring boiled sugar syrup into storm drain

An employee from a tanghulu store pours sugar syrup into the drainage on the road in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Dec. 3. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

An employee from a tanghulu store was spotted pouring boiled sugar syrup into a storm drain on the street in Gyeonggi earlier this month.

According to the report by public broadcaster KBS, the employee disposed of the sugar syrup through the metal grates on the street in front of the tanghulu store in Yongin, Gyeonggi, around 2 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Tanghulu is a Chinese dessert of skewered sugarcoated fruits.

Once the boiled sugar syrup entered the drain, steam billowed out.

Soon after, the sugar syrup solidified and formed crystals in the drainage.

Sugar has a melting point of 185 degrees Celsius (365 degrees Fahrenheit).

Boiled sugar can quickly become clumpy and thicken even when kept away from the heat or fire for several seconds.

Smoke comes out from the drainage after the boiled sugar syrup was poured into it. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

“Fluid that can turn into solid material should not be dumped at the drainage,” Jeong Chang-sam, a professor of the Department of Smart Construction and Disaster Management from Induk University, said in the KBS’s report.

“If the drainage hole gets clogged [with the solid materials], nearby areas can be flooded,” he added.

The tanghulu franchise confirmed the mishap at one of their branches and promised to take measures to prevent reoccurrences.

The district office is reviewing whether it can impose a fine on the store.

BY HAN JEE-HYE, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]