Shin Dong-yup's casual speech to restaurant worker wins over employee

Singer Sung Si-kyung revealed on his YouTube channel on the 19th that broadcaster Shin Dong-yup's use of casual speech toward a gray-haired restaurant worker was actually a compliment regarding the employee's youthful appearance.

An anecdote has been revealed regarding broadcaster Shin Dong-yup, who once used casual speech with a gray-haired restaurant worker, causing singer Sung Si-kyung to misunderstand his intentions. What initially appeared to be rude behavior was actually Shin's unique communication style designed to make the other person feel good. The twist behind the scene, which even Sung Si-kyung initially found puzzling, provided a moment of laughter.

In a video titled "Sung Si-kyung's Muk-eul Ten-de Namdaemun Yangmiok" released on his YouTube channel on the 19th, Sung Si-kyung shared a past anecdote involving his close friend Shin Dong-yup. Sung, who considers himself well-acquainted with Shin's personality due to their close relationship, confessed that he could not easily understand his older friend's actions at the time.

According to Sung Si-kyung's memory, Shin Dong-yup once saw a worker wearing a name tag at a meat restaurant and naturally spoke to them by calling their name. The worker was of an age group with graying hair. Shin called out the name on the tag and said, "Bring some soju," a moment that left Sung Si-kyung feeling flustered.

Recalling the situation, Sung Si-kyung questioned, "Wouldn't the server be very offended?" Because the behavior appeared to be a lack of politeness toward an older employee, Sung worried the person would take offense and thought Shin's actions were somewhat rude.

However, the reality revealed later was different from Sung Si-kyung's expectations. Shin Dong-yup had asked the employee, "How old are you?" and followed up by saying, "I thought you were younger than me." His explanation was that he had not perceived the person as being older than himself. The casual speech, which initially seemed rude, could instead be interpreted by the recipient as a compliment to their youthful appearance.

Sung Si-kyung also shared the employee's reaction. The worker was reportedly pleased by Shin's words and continued to provide service items afterward. It was a moment where Sung Si-kyung's prediction that the employee would be offended was completely proven wrong. It is an interesting anecdote in that the same words and actions can be received with entirely different meanings depending on the situation and the reaction of the other person.

Sung Si-kyung evaluated that Shin Dong-yup has a special ability to make people feel comfortable. He marveled, "Dong-yup hyung is really good at that. He does it on purpose for the twist." He pointed out Shin's seasoned skill in reading the other person's reaction to naturally lighten the atmosphere.

Of course, this anecdote alone does not mean that casual speech can always be an expression of friendliness. Casual speech that does not consider the relationship or the situation with the other person can be perceived as rudeness. However, in Shin Dong-yup's case, the key is that the conversation continued and the other person accepted it pleasantly. There was a discrepancy between the discomfort Sung Si-kyung initially felt and the actual reaction of the person involved.

Shin Dong-yup's strength, developed through long-standing activity in variety programs, lies not only in his witty remarks but also in his ability to quickly close the distance with others. The restaurant anecdote that caused Sung Si-kyung's misunderstanding shows how he utilizes his own way of changing the atmosphere even in everyday conversations. Attention is being drawn to this story where an action that could have been misunderstood as rudeness led to an unexpected laugh.

Read the original (Korean)