Namdaemun Market scarf vendor suspends business due to safety concerns

A scarf vendor at Namdaemun Market has temporarily suspended business following a surge of visitors that required police intervention and bodyguards. The vendor, who gained online fame for telling customers "Don't buy it," closed his shop on the 5th for safety inspections after crowds became uncontrollable.

A scarf vendor at Namdaemun Market has become an online star through a reverse-psychology sales tactic, telling customers "Don't buy it" or "You won't use it when you get home" instead of trying to sell his goods. His fame has grown to the point where bodyguards and police have appeared, and his character is being highlighted after a high school classmate stepped forward to offer support.

The story of the Namdaemun Market scarf vendor, who garnered nationwide attention through social media, was featured on the YouTube channel 'Midnight Documentary' on the 8th. He has drawn public interest not just as a merchant selling affordable goods, but as a figure with a unique way of speaking and interacting with customers.

A comment from a high school classmate caught attention in a video related to the broadcast. The classmate wrote that the vendor is a friend with such good character that all their former classmates support him. As the vendor became suddenly famous online, interest in his true personality grew through this public support from a long-time friend.

The background of the scarf vendor's explosive online popularity lies in his unique way of speaking, which is the exact opposite of traditional commercial sales methods. Rather than actively encouraging purchases, he tells customers blunt jokes such as, "You are overspending right now. Even if you buy it, you won't use it when you get home," or "It doesn't suit you. Don't buy it." The sight of a merchant discouraging consumption instead of promoting it triggered laughter and caused the videos to spread rapidly through social media.

Interest grew even further as it was revealed that he offers a striking price of 6 scarves for 10,000 won. The combination of competitive pricing and his unique character has established him as a rare online sensation within Namdaemun Market. His witty remarks, which seem to protect the consumer's wallet rather than encourage spending, ended up creating a powerful promotional effect.

However, the rapid surge in popularity has brought unexpected side effects. Visitors have flocked to his shop to see him in person or to film him, and the crowds have grown to uncontrollable levels, necessitating the presence of bodyguards. As the scene became so crowded that police had to be dispatched, safety management emerged as a practical challenge beyond mere fame.

This eventually led to a suspension of business. On the 5th, a notice was posted on the YouTube channel 'Namdaemun Dadaguri' stating that business would be closed for the day due to safety inspections. Having previously announced a temporary closure on the 31st of last month, he resumed business on the 4th, only to close again just one day later.

In the notice, the vendor explained, "Yesterday, so many people gathered that the police had to be dispatched, so I was very worried about safety. Today, we are taking a break from business for the purpose of on-site safety inspection and management." He revealed the realistic difficulties of the increased visitors that come with fame.

He also expressed the burden of the surging crowds, stating, "I want to make money too, but this isn't right," and "I can't handle this much. It's uncontrollable." While it is natural for a merchant to welcome customers to generate profit, he has found himself in a paradoxical situation where excessive interest makes normal business operations difficult.

Measures have been prepared to prevent safety accidents and minimize damage to surrounding merchants. The vendor announced a policy to not disclose the start and end times of business for the time being, operating instead based on the situation on the ground. As the small online trend has led to actual congestion in the market, the situation requires visitors to maintain order and show consideration voluntarily.

The Namdaemun scarf vendor, who brought laughter with his unique sales method, has now become the protagonist of an unusual level of fame involving high school classmate support, bodyguards, police intervention, and temporary closures. While his reverse-psychology sales of shouting "Don't buy it" have drawn unexpected public attention, the situation demonstrates the impact that online popularity can have on real-life business and daily life.

Read the original (Korean)