A post uploaded by restaurant owner Mr. A on an online community, where he verified his short hair on Sunday in response to a refund request over a hair found in the food. Captured from online community

A restaurant owner in Seoul's Mapo District has become the center of attention after refusing a refund request from a customer who claimed to have found a 2-centimeter-long hair in the food they ordered. The owner supported his refusal by sharing a selfie that showed his hair is 3 millimeters long.

The incident began when the customer, who ordered food via a delivery app, requested a refund, alleging that a 2-centimeter-long hair was found in the meal.

The owner, who runs a tonkats, or Japanese pork cutlet, restaurant, shared the story on an online community website for small business owners on Sunday.

He wrote, "The customer claimed to have found a hair about 2 centimeters long and requested a refund, but I refused because my hair is only 3 millimeters long."

Along with the post, he shared a selfie showing his nearly bald head in a style commonly referred to as "bansak" (a buzz cut).

He added, "About three years ago, a similar incident happened, and I was caught off guard. Since then, I've kept my hair at 3 millimeters. When the delivery app contacted me again asking if a refund was really impossible, I said, 'If the hair is longer than mine, I'll refuse the refund. I can even send a picture of myself.'"

Although he said he was prepared to follow up with a review if contacted again, no further communication occurred by the next day.

In a comment, he said, "I took a photo to send to the delivery app, but there has been no response yet. I'll try calling tomorrow," while sharing his photo once more.

It is unclear whether the refund request was pursued further.

Among fellow small business owners, the restaurant owner's response was met with enthusiasm. Many expressed satisfaction, as some customers have been known to falsely claim foreign objects in their food to obtain refunds, a practice now referred to as "refund beggars."

Comments from other business owners included: "That's refreshing. I'm looking forward to the follow-up," "I respect the owner's mindset. Maybe I should go bald too," "Well done. If all owners were this firm, the 'refund beggars' would disappear."

However, some cautioned that the hair might not have come from the owner but could have been introduced during the ingredient supply process.

A few shared similar experiences, saying, "Our staff all have short hair, but we once got a review claiming a long hair was found, which turned out to be in the noodles" and "Hairs can sometimes come from ingredients during the supply process."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff at The Korea Times.