I Never Knew It Was This Dangerous at Barbecue Restaurants... Finger Amputation Risk from 'Cylindrical Chairs'

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Medical professionals have issued a warning that cylindrical storage chairs, commonly used in barbecue restaurants for storing coats or bags—so-called 'Kkangtong Chairs'—can cause finger amputation accidents. On July 23, a social media post from Professor Lee Ho-hyung of Hanyang University Hospital, who is responsible for replantation surgeries on trauma and amputation patients, began circulating again after originally being posted on his social networking service (SNS) account in April. At that time, Professor Lee posted a photo of the cylindrical storage chair and introduced it as "the second piece of furniture that deserves a subtle sense of caution."

Professor Lee further stated, "Strictly speaking, it is not actually furniture, but these chairs, commonly seen in barbecue or gopchang restaurants, are quite dangerous," warning that "if you sit down carelessly with your finger caught in the gap, an amputation could occur." He went on to mention, "I have personally treated five actual finger amputation cases," adding that "replantation surgery takes a long time and often results in significant aftereffects." In addition, he previously commented from his experience as an emergency surgeon that the most dangerous item among furniture, in his opinion, was the washbasin. He had warned, "Never put your weight on or climb onto a washbasin."

The most hazardous part of this chair is the gap between the lid and the main body. If someone pulls the chair forward or changes its direction and places their finger in the gap while sitting down with their full weight, the finger can be forcefully compressed, leading to an amputation accident. This is especially likely if a person does not notice that the lid is slightly ajar and rests their hand on the edge of the chair, or when closing the lid improperly after placing items inside. Professor Lee cautioned, "A moment of negligence can cause a major accident," urging users to always check that the lid is completely closed before using the chair.

There have been numerous accounts from people who experienced similar accidents. One user shared, "I almost suffered a severe injury when I pulled the chair to sit down, unaware that the lid was lifted, and sat with my finger caught in the gap. The pain prevented me from lifting my body, so I ended up pressing down on my finger even more with my weight." Other users also shared their experiences, including "My finger got caught in the same chair and started bleeding beneath the nail," "An acquaintance had to get a metal pin inserted into their fingertip after the same type of accident," and "Even after replantation surgery, the injured finger became shorter than the other." Accordingly, experts emphasize that when using cylindrical storage chairs, people should avoid grabbing the edge of the lid when sitting down and that caregivers must pay close attention to ensure children do not play near the chairs or open and close the lids.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.