Namdaemun Market scarf vendor to appear on SBS Masters of Living

The "Namdaemun Scarf Man" will appear on SBS 'Masters of Living' at 9 p.m. on the 9th, showcasing the unique sales strategy that has drawn crowds so large he has had to end business early for safety. Despite telling customers not to spend their money, the vendor sells six items for 10,000 won using witty banter developed over decades of experience.

"It's just what's left over. Don't spend your money." The "Namdaemun Scarf Man," who has shaken up social media with a bizarre sales method of discouraging customers from buying items rather than selling them, will finally appear on television to reveal his witty banter and unique sales secrets.

In the SBS program 'Masters of Living,' airing at 9 p.m. on the 9th, the scarf sales master, who has emerged as a celebrity in Namdaemun Market through online word-of-mouth, will be highlighted. The master gained instant fame through a unique way of speaking that stimulates customers' desire to purchase. Unlike typical merchants who emphasize the merits of their products to induce sales, he bluntly lists the disadvantages of the items and tells customers not to spend their money.

His banter is extraordinary. He pours out remarks that would be difficult for any seller to say, such as, "It's just what's left over, don't spend your money," "It looks prettiest when it's packaged. It's not pretty when you wrap it around you," and "You'll think they're all mediocre when you get home. Just use them as mats for your dog." Paradoxically, this honest and sly way of speaking makes customers laugh and stimulates their desire to buy. The method of dissuading people from buying rather than persuading them to buy has functioned as a powerful sales strategy.

As videos and word-of-mouth spread through social media, unusual crowds have gathered around the stall. The influx of customers has been so large that it has been described as the largest crowd since the opening of Namdaemun Market, leading to situations where the master had to abruptly declare the end of business and leave the area due to safety concerns. He has gained particularly high popularity among female customers, even earning the nickname "Namdaemun Lim Young-woong." An ordinary scarf stall in the market has become the center of online attention.

Price competitiveness is another factor drawing in customers. The scarves sold by the master are priced at 10,000 won for as many as six items. Although the packaging is labeled "Made in China," the combination of the low price and the master's witty responses causes the items on the stand to sell out quickly. Sales continue to the point where he must constantly bring out new scarves, creating a spectacle where customers hold 10,000 won bills high above their heads, shouting for him to take the money.

The master's influence extends beyond mere sales volume. When he shouts, "Shh!", the surrounding customers fall silent all at once, and when the crowd becomes difficult to manage, he is captured personally stepping in to assist with sales and payments. It is unusual in that his command over the scene is significant enough for one person's banter and actions to dictate the movements of numerous customers.

Of course, his business skill was not created overnight. The master has accumulated the sense and know-how for dealing with customers by doing business in Namdaemun Market with his mother for decades. It is explained that his unique way of speaking and his ability to read customer reactions, stemming from long field experience, have led to his current unique sales method.

This broadcast will also reveal the actual business techniques hidden behind the famous banter. The program will cover not only the sales strategies that move customers' hearts but also his response methods to prevent safety accidents when crowds suddenly gather, and his attitude of showing consideration for the surrounding merchants who have guarded the market together for a long time. Interest is also focused on how the business expertise accumulated in Namdaemun Market for decades is exercised beyond a simple online trend.

The Scarf Man, who has become a star of Namdaemun Market with a strange sales method where more customers flock as he shouts not to buy, will have his identity and the famous sales scene revealed on SBS 'Masters of Living' airing at 9 p.m. on the 9th.

Read the original (Korean)