Comments Pour In After He Posts “On My Way to Work” Video... Cheers as “Namdaemun Scarf Man” Returns

Shared an update on social media after four days
Temporarily closed due to safety concerns as visitors flocked to the shop

The so-called “Namdaemun Scarf Man,” who became a hot topic online for his unique sales style, posted a video after four days, drawing considerable attention. His brief post also received thousands of comments, prompting an enthusiastic response.

Mr. A, a scarf seller at Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, posted a video on his Instagram account on November 4 with the caption “On my way to work.” It was his first post in four days, since he announced a temporary closure on October 31 due to safety concerns.

The video shows Mr. A walking with Namdaemun in the background. He also commented, “People around me kept telling me to interact with everyone, so I’m trying to post a video, but it doesn’t suit me.”

A shop owner at Namdaemun Market. Instagram screenshot

Online users expressed how glad they were to see him again, imitating his way of speaking. Comments included, “You’ve got to say something, don’t you?” and “How come it feels like you’re talking even when you’re not?” Others wrote, “Please interact with us once a day,” “Seeing you every day on Shorts is making you feel familiar,” and “I’m not even your friend, but I keep checking your Instagram every day, boss.”

Mr. A sells scarves at Hanyangsa in Namdaemun Market. The scarves he sells are reportedly priced at 10,000 won for six. Recently, conversations between Mr. A and his customers spread on social media, making him a hot topic.

What caught online users’ attention was Mr. A’s distinctive sales approach. Unlike other sellers who try to sell their goods, Mr. A would discourage customers, saying things like, “You’re overspending right now. Even if you buy a scarf, you won’t wear it when you get home,” and “Mom, just look around. It doesn’t suit you, so don’t buy it.” He also chided customers choosing scarves, saying, “You have to dig down to find the pretty ones, but you’re too lazy, so you keep picking from the top.”

He also made blunt comments about his own products, calling them “like trash” and saying, “Put it in a doghouse,” and drew attention for telling customers, “Don’t buy it; just rub it and go.” His videos quickly surpassed 4 million views as word spread among online users. His Instagram following also topped 30,000 in just one week.

However, the influx of customers hoping to buy scarves and visitors wanting to take photos near his shop caused congestion in the market alleys. As a result, Mr. A announced a “temporary closure” on October 31, saying, “I’ll reorganize things for safety and take some time to recover.”

The day before, Mr. A also explained why he had temporarily suspended business during an appearance on the YouTube channel “Namdaemun Dadaguri.” He said, “It’s to prevent safety accidents and avoid inconveniencing neighboring merchants,” adding, “For the time being, I won’t announce specific opening or closing times. I’ll run the business according to the situation on site.”

He added, “I’m sorry in case people come from far away only to find they’ve made a wasted trip. It couldn’t be helped, for everyone’s safety and livelihood.”

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