'Gwangmyeong Bungeun-woo' Turns Down TV Appearance Offer: "I've Got Bungeoppang to Make"

Long lines form at his stall over his resemblance to Cha Eun-woo
Threads account gets 1.2 million views in a day
On "Mr. Trot" appearance rumors, he says, "I only got an offer"

The operator of a bungeoppang stall in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, whose resemblance to actor Cha Eun-woo has drawn attention online, received an offer to appear on a TV program but said he plans to focus on running his business for the time being.

Lee, who sells bungeoppang in Cheolsan-dong, Gwangmyeong, recently opened an account on the social media platform Threads and reportedly began communicating with users.

On October 22, Lee posted on his account: "I'm a young man who makes bungeoppang in Gwangmyeong. I look forward to connecting with you." He added, "I thought I'd give Threads a try. It's cold out, so be careful not to catch a cold." News of Lee's new account spread quickly, attracting 3,400 followers in a single day, while his posts received 1.2 million views.

The Gwangmyeong City bungeoppang stall operator, who drew attention for resembling actor Cha Eun-woo, said he would focus on his business for the time being. Screenshot from social media (SNS)

Earlier, photos and videos showing Lee selling bungeoppang spread across online communities, drawing tremendous attention. His appearance reminded people of Cha Eun-woo, a member of the group ASTRO and an actor, earning him the nickname "Gwangmyeong Bungeun-woo," meaning "Cha Eun-woo selling bungeoppang."

His friendly manner toward customers also became widely known, and people continued to visit the stall to buy bungeoppang or see the seller in person. Crowds gathered near the stall, making it look like an idol fan meeting, and some customers reportedly waited more than one to two hours to buy bungeoppang. Posts also poured in from people sharing screenshots of navigation routes showing one-way travel times of four to nine hours to reach the stall.

Lee briefly suspended business amid the sudden attention. Denying some online rumors, including claims that he had moved locations, he explained, "More customers than expected have been coming, and juggling other work has taken a physical toll." He added that he was also having trouble securing ingredients.

Lee soon resumed sales, focusing on red bean and custard cream bungeoppang. According to information shared on social media, Lee is a university student who studied theater and film, and has been running the bungeoppang stall while also pursuing his studies and other work.

As he became a hot topic online, interest also grew in whether he would appear on a TV program. When a user asked about rumors that he would join the trot audition program "Mr. Trot," Lee replied, "I only got an offer. I have bungeoppang to make, so when would I sing?" He indicated that he intends to focus on the stall he currently runs.

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