[Exclusive] “Please take care of the pig head payment”… Jang-woo Lee faces unpaid ‘Sundae Soup’ controversy
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[Dispatch=Yoo Haneul] Jang-woo Lee appeared on ‘Tzuyang’s’ Mukbang YouTube channel in December 2023.
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“I’ve boiled it for 16 hours. It’s a really delicious sundae soup.” (Jang-woo Lee)
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He emphasized that he ‘personally’ boiled it and that it’s ‘truly’ delicious.
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Jang-woo Lee also appeared on ‘Jun Hyun-moo’s Plan’ in January 2025.
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“I personally boiled 100 pig heads in an enormous pot…” (Jang-woo Lee)
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However, the payment for the pig heads he boiled has not yet been deposited. The overdue payments for pig heads, intestines, caul fat, lungs, and trotters amount to over 40 million won.
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Jang-woo Lee’s side put livestock farms at a disadvantage due to unpaid ingredient costs. His operating restaurant, ‘Hoseokchon,’ became a hit, but the payment for (pig) by-products has been overdue for 8 months.
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Mr. A, who runs a meat distribution company in Cheonan, complained to ‘Dispatch,’ “I trusted and waited because he’s a celebrity, but they’ve been delaying (the money) for over a year.”
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◆ “Jang-woo Lee’s Sundae Soup Restaurant Opens”
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Mr. A met Jang-woo Lee in person in November 2023. He came down to Cheonan ahead of the sundae soup restaurant opening. He was checking the quality and price of the meat.
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‘Dispatch’ verified the transaction ledger between A’s company and Hoseokchon. The transaction period was about 1 year and 6 months, from November 2023 to May 2025.
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Mr. A said, “Initially, the dues were paid normally” but added, “Then the cycle became longer, and there were months when no payments were made at all.”
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Jang-woo Lee was fervently promoting ‘Hoseokchon’ regardless of the unpaid dues. In May 2024, he appeared on Kian84’s YouTube ‘Life84’ to discuss the ‘happiness theory.’
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“I’m not making a fortune from this… I just want to bring joy to people enjoying a drink.” (Jang-woo Lee)
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However, Mr. A’s damage grew. By November 2024, the unpaid bill accumulated to 50 million won. In January 2025, it swelled up to 64 million won.
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◆ “Please settle the payment! It’s too hard”
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Mr. A has sent multiple payment reminder messages to ‘Hoseokchon.’ “The quantity being shipped every week is there, but the increasing unpaid balance makes it too hard,” he lamented.
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He explained the situation to ‘Dispatch’ saying, “They would pay back 2 million won and then order goods worth 5 million won, which would increase the unpaid balance by another 3 million won.”
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“The store has to do well for us to get paid; even if the unpaid amount keeps increasing, we have no choice but to send materials. In the end, we’re the ones worried sick.” (Mr. A)
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For example, here is a conversation from January 2025.
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A: If the payment is not made, it will be difficult to continue shipping.
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C: Understood. Is it possible to get three pig heads from Gangwon-do anyway? (January 2025)
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Mr. A added, “Jang-woo Lee himself came down and said this was his store. I never imagined such a situation with a famous celebrity,” and showed additional chat messages.
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Mr. A: Please make more payments by the end of the month. I’m losing sleep over this. (October 24)
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Mr. A: There’s about 50 million won left unpaid. Is there no way to reduce it? (November 24)
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Mr. A: With continually increasing shipments, the unpaid balance is becoming increasingly difficult for us. (December 24)
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Mr. A: Currently, the unpaid balance is 64 million won. Please settle as much as possible this week. (January 25)
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◆ “Mr. Jang-woo Lee! Please suggest a solution”
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In January of this year, Mr. A finally sent a direct message to Jang-woo Lee. He asked, “The supply payment of about 50 million won has been delayed for over a year. Please propose a solution.”
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Mr. A did not receive a response from Jang-woo Lee. Instead, a former associate of ‘Hoseokchon’ and a friend of Jang-woo Lee contacted him. The message suggested, “I will repay 200,000 won every month.”
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However, the promise was not properly kept. Mr. A stated, “I received 2 million won after sending the direct message. In February, no payment was made, and in March, 1 million won was deposited.”
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‘Dispatch’ contacted B, known as Jang-woo Lee’s friend of 20 years. They failed to connect over the phone, but managed to speak with another accomplice, C.
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C stated, “Jang-woo Lee is not related to the sundae soup restaurant. His friend B was the representative and drew a line. When asked, “Then what about what was said on broadcast?” he avoided answering.
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◆ “As soon as the unpaid amount surfaces, is a friend managing the operation?”
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While investigating the unpaid balance controversy involving Jang-woo Lee, ‘Dispatch’ confirmed that the owner of ‘Hoseokchon’ changed hands. It transferred from the corporation ‘Mujin’ to the corporation ‘Tiger.’
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‘Tiger’ is an F&B company where Jang-woo Lee is registered as a director. He is currently an ambassador for ‘Ubulsikdang,’ ‘Hoseokchon,’ ‘Buchang Bakery,’ ‘Matneunggabu,’ and ‘Matjangwoodosirak.’
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Nevertheless, a representative from ‘Tiger’ distanced themselves from the debt issue. They explained, “It’s the fault of the friend B who was running Hoseokchon,” adding, “It seems like B embezzled the ingredient cost at Hoseokchon.”
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They added, “Although there’s a misconception that Jang-woo Lee is a co-representative, he actually is not,” and “He only took some profit from the first two months after opening. Currently, we’re not even paying out due to losses.”
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They also limited Jang-woo Lee’s role by saying, “He only participated briefly to help a friend at the beginning” and “He has not been involved since then.”
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◆ “Is Jang-woo Lee the victim?”
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So, is Jang-woo Lee completely without responsibility?
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The explanation given by ‘Tiger’ doesn’t add up. Jang-woo Lee appeared on ‘Life84’ and ‘Jun Hyun-moo’s Plan’ in May 2024 and January 2025, respectively, promoting it as his own restaurant at these times.
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Additionally, Jang-woo Lee introduced his friend B, with whom he co-operated the sundae soup restaurant, in an episode of ‘I Live Alone’ in May 2025. At that time, ‘Hoseokchon’ had an outstanding balance of 53 million won.
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‘Tiger’ acknowledged the issue of outstanding debts during the acquisition of Hoseokchon. While aware of Mr. A’s situation, they appear fixated on protecting the celebrity with the statement, “Jang-woo Lee wasn’t aware…”
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Mr. A also hopes the responsibility is not continuously deferred.
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“Was it his restaurant when he boiled the pig heads on the broadcast, and suddenly his friend’s restaurant when the debts accumulated? I supplied to Hoseokchon because of Jang-woo Lee. I have no interest in internal affairs; I just want the overdue payment settled swiftly.” (Mr. A)
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<Image Credit=YouTube, DispatchDB, MBN, MBC>