• Korean restaurant refuses service to solo diners

• Online reactions ranged from criticism to support

A restaurant in South Korea sparked widespread controversy after refusing to serve customers dining alone, at a time when the country is seeing a rise in single-person households.

A photo of a notice outside a restaurant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, circulated on social media after being posted by a customer who visited the eatery on November 17, according to a local newspaper report.

The notice stated that the restaurant offers four “options” for solo diners: pay for two portions, eat two portions, call a friend, or return later with a spouse.

The restaurant added: “We don’t sell loneliness. Please do not come alone.”

The post, which has been viewed by over 30,000 people, sparked heated discussion, with most online users criticizing the restaurant’s stance.

One person commented, “The owner’s mindset seems outdated.”

Another asked, “Why equate eating alone with loneliness?”

Meanwhile, some people supported the restaurant’s policy, saying, “If the owner is willing to take the financial hit, that’s their choice and should be respected.”

This is not the first time restaurants in Korea have faced criticism for discriminating against solo diners, locally known as “honbap” customers.

In July, a solo diner at another restaurant in Yeosu received rude remarks from staff, who told her to “eat quickly” because “more people are coming,” even though she had ordered two portions.

Earlier this year, another eatery went viral for a sign prohibiting solo diners from using social media while eating.

Reports indicate that the number of single-person households in South Korea is rising, with the share in Seoul increasing from 29.5% in 2015 to 39.3% in 2023, and more than 42% of Koreans eat at least one meal alone daily.

Gi-Wook Shin, a sociology professor at Stanford University, says South Korea needs to systematically address bias against single people.