Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

'We don’t sell loneliness': Restaurant faces backlash for rejecting solo diners

A restaurant’s notice rejecting solo diners under the slogan “We don’t sell loneliness” has stirred debate online, drawing criticism over what many saw as outdated views on eating alone.

2025-11-12

BTS member Jungkook spotted dining alone at barbecue restaurant in Itaewon

K-pop boy band BTS member Jungkook was recently spotted dining alone at a well-known barbecue restaurant in Seoul without his manager in sight.

2025-10-31

Solo diners are on the rise, but restaurants still say 'no soup for you'

Solo dining is on the rise as single-person households and budget-conscious consumption increases, but the restaurant industry isn't moving at the same pace, with some establishments turning away diners seeking to eat alone.

2025-09-10

Prices of naengmyeon and samgyetang climb again in Seoul

The cost of popular restaurant dishes in Seoul rose again in July, with naengmyeon (cold noodles) and samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) leading the seasonal increase.

2025-08-20

Local Korean eateries disappearing as ingredient prices climb and culinary culture shifts

While global demand for Korean food rises, the neighborhood kitchens that defined it are closing one by one.

2025-07-26

Koreans choose restaurants over rooms for luxury hotel membership programs

Forget room service and turn-down chocolates — for a growing number of Koreans, the real draw of five-star hotels isn’t the suite, it’s the steak.

2025-05-12

Jeju Food & Wine Festival to feature 'Culinary Class Wars' chefs cooking up gourmet cuisine

A gourmet festival where visitors can experience the culinary talents of both Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” (2024) stars and Jeju-based chefs will be held across Jeju Island until next month.

2025-05-05

Solo dining means 'freedom' for young Koreans — but it could also be making them unhappy

The "2025 World Happiness Report," released last month, highlighted the rise in solo dining and its connection to declining happiness levels.

2025-04-29

TGI Fridays pulls out of Korea as nation moves on from casual dining

TGI Fridays is closing all its locations in Korea as the popularity of casual dining declines.

2025-02-05

CatchTable launches beta service in Japan servicing around 500 dining spots

Korean restaurant reservation app CatchTable released its beta service in Japan earlier this week, its app operator Wad said on Friday.

2024-12-27