At the center of the controversy surrounding the distortion of the ‘Yeondonbulkatsu’ issue, celebrity chef and TV personality Baek Jong-won (57) exploded in anger, calling it “corporate murder,” while waves of public support are rising.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Baek Jong-won broke his silence on the recent uproar over the ‘Yeondonbulkatsu’ issue through his official YouTube channel.
Previously, eight franchisees of ‘Yeondonbulkatsu’ and the National Franchisee Council (NFC) threatened to report the Fair Trade Commission, accusing Baek Jong-won’s headquarters, The Born Korea, of recruiting franchisees with false and exaggerated sales figures and profit margins. They claimed that despite the headquarters guaranteeing a monthly sales of around 30 million won and a profit margin of 20-25% during operations, actual sales only reached half and the profit margin was only 7-8%.
Baek Jong-won decided to produce a clarification video in response to the biased reports flooding the situation, not only to address The Born Korea but also to prevent the spread of damage to the franchisees. He stated, “I want to correct the errors in the false articles and directly present the correct facts.”
In the video, Baek Jong-won revealed his frustration, urging viewers to watch until the end and see how unjust and angry he feels about the situation. He explained that the origin of the incident began when eight ‘Yeondonbulkatsu’ franchisees took collective action in June last year, which led to widespread reproduction of related reports, unfairly tarnishing The Born Korea’s reputation.
Furthermore, Baek Jong-won expressed his bewilderment over certain articles, such as one that claimed ‘Yeondonbulkatsu’ franchise lifespan barely reaches three years. He emphasized the importance of accurately clarifying terms like ‘operational period’ and ‘survival period.’
After the release of the video, Baek Jong-won’s channel gained over 10,000 new subscribers in just 11 hours, reaching a total of 6.28 million subscribers. Additionally, the video’s views approached 3 million, with over 20,000 comments showing explosive support and solidarity from the public towards Baek Jong-won.
Many comments expressed outrage towards the journalists who wrote the articles, questioning their ethics and motives. Some praised Baek Jong-won for his efforts and commitment, while others empathized with the franchisees impacted by the situation, emphasizing the need for responsible reporting and fair treatment for all parties involved.
In conclusion, the public response reflects widespread appreciation for Baek Jong-won’s transparency and efforts to address the situation, as well as a call for more responsible and ethical journalism in handling sensitive matters involving businesses and individuals.