"People Line Up for 2 Hours Even for Plain Water"... After Crowds Flock from Across the Country, Gwangmyeong Bungeoppang Stall Suspends Business

Gwangmyeong Bungeoppang Seller Goes Viral for Resembling Cha Eunwoo
"District Office Staff Came By, and I'm Physically Exhausted"... Suspends Business

The owner of a bungeoppang street stall in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, who set the internet ablaze with his striking resemblance to actor Cha Eun-woo and even earned the nickname “Bungeunwoo” (“Cha Eun-woo who sells bungeoppang”), has suddenly decided to suspend business. Word spread through social media services (SNS) and online communities, drawing a surge of customers from across the country. The owner also faced administrative guidance from the district office and physical exhaustion.

The bungeoppang stall owner, identified only as Mr. A, drew attention for his handsome looks and came to be nicknamed “Bungeunwoo.” Screenshot from Instagram.

"Even a two-hour wait is fun"... A scene reminiscent of a fan meeting

The situation began with eyewitness accounts and photos recently posted on various online communities and social media. As soon as photos of A, a young man who grills and sells bungeoppang on a street in Cheolsan-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, were posted, his exceptionally handsome looks, on a par with those of a celebrity, became a major talking point.

Online, he was nicknamed “Bungeunwoo,” meaning “Cha Eun-woo of the Gwangmyeong bungeoppang scene,” and even a map detailing the stall's location began circulating. After that, customers hoping to buy bungeoppang formed long lines in front of the stall, with strollers among them. Wait times stretched to one or two hours, and the area was packed with people.

Visitors to the stall responded enthusiastically: “I waited two hours, but seeing his face made me forget my frustration,” “With a face like that, he could sell plain water and it would still sell well,” “I'll come again tomorrow,” “Seeing his face made the wait feel not boring at all,” “He's better-looking than most celebrities,” “He's by far the best-looking bungeoppang seller I've ever seen,” and “This feels more like a fan meeting than a bungeoppang shop.”

According to reports, A is a university student who studied theater and film. He had reportedly been running the bungeoppang stall on the side while balancing his studies and other work.

Physical exhaustion and a visit from the district office... Decision to suspend business

However, the overwhelming attention became a burden that was difficult for the inexperienced owner to handle. The workload had become excessive as customer numbers surged, and there were also signs of possible administrative action over the stall's unauthorized setup.

A, the owner of a bungeoppang street stall, has become a hot topic for his handsome looks and earned the nickname "Bungeunwoo." Screenshot from Instagram.

On the 18th, A posted an announcement on his social media account beginning, “Hello, I'm the young man who grills bungeoppang,” and announced that he would suspend business. A explained the circumstances, saying, “Those who were there when I opened will know that a district office employee visited the day before and we discussed various matters,” and “Even before opening, I was balancing other work while also running the bungeoppang stall, so it's physically exhausting, and I'm working more than 10 hours every day.”

He continued, “I never imagined so many people would visit over the past two days,” and said, “For the reasons above, I will suspend business for a while and, unfortunately, will have to close this weekend.” However, he did not provide details about the district office employee's reason for visiting or the guidance given, nor did he say when he might resume business.

This is not the first time a bungeoppang stall has gained online popularity because of its owner's looks. In 2024, Kim Jong-oh, who sold bungeoppang in Seoul's Gwanak-gu and Sillim-dong areas, also drew attention for his handsome looks. Kim, who worked as a freelance model, said late that year that he had been contacted by the district office regarding the stall's registration and would stop selling. Kim later expanded his activities, receiving an invitation to a department store pop-up event and appearing on terrestrial television programs, including KBS's "Morning Yard."

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