"Such a Menu in Gwangju?"... Restaurant Sparks 'May 18 Disparagement' Controversy with Red Ketchup on Tteokgalbi

Expression Used in Far-Right Communities Appears on Menu
Restaurant Deletes Item and Apologizes... May 18 Foundation Also Criticizes

A restaurant in Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, Jeonnam, has sparked controversy by using language that belittles the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising as the name of a menu item. Although the restaurant has apologized, claiming ignorance of the expression’s meaning, criticism continues.

A menu that sparked controversy for belittling the May 18 Democratic Uprising was sold at a restaurant in Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. Yonhap News, Thread

According to Yonhap News Agency on October 6, a post appeared on social media earlier that day featuring a photo of the menu from a restaurant that opened last month, accompanied by the comment, “Is it really appropriate for a bar in Gwangju to use a menu name like this?”

The controversial dish, a grilled short rib patty topped with ketchup, was sold under the name “Pitteokgalbi.” This term combines “blood” and the traditional local dish “tteokgalbi” and has been used on some far-right online communities to mock the victims of the May 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.

As the controversy spread, the restaurant posted an apology on social media. The restaurant stated, “We thought it would be good to describe the same dish in a different way. We believed it was a meaningless word,” adding, “After learning that it could be controversial, we immediately removed the menu item and apologize for causing discomfort.”

However, online users found it hard to accept this explanation, pointing out the use of the word “blood” in the dish’s name and the topping of red ketchup as reasons for skepticism. Many argued that it is difficult to believe the naming was accidental and that the restaurant was unaware of the connotation.

Comments on the post included, “How can you play such a prank while running a business near the former Jeonnam Provincial Office, a symbolic site of May 18?” and “You can’t cover the sky with your palm.”

Park Kangbae, Executive Director of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, told Yonhap News Agency, “During the Starbucks ‘Tank Day’ incident, there were explanations that it was done to sell goods, and in the case of Baejaego students, that they wanted to boost team spirit. But regardless of intent, the fact remains that they hurt the victims. Whether it was done knowingly or unknowingly, if it causes pain and harm to someone, responsibility cannot be avoided.”

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