South Korean broadcaster Ahn Jung-hwan has addressed the recent controversy surrounding his pizza shop venture, clarifying that it is not merely a personal business but a charity-focused project.
The production team of the YouTube channel 'Ahn Jung-hwan 19' recently stated, "We would like to correct any misunderstandings from the previous video," explaining, "Contrary to many concerns, 'Record Pizza' is a venture we are preparing with 'Ahn Jung-hwan 19' to jointly operate a directly managed store and donate a portion of the profits to good causes."
They added, "As this is a brand that collaborates with us, we hope you view it positively and visit the store often. We will return soon with news of our donations."
Previously, on the 26th of last month, Ahn Jung-hwan was seen scouting locations in Seoul's Yongsan and Yeouido areas for a new store. The video showed a property near Yongsan Station, measuring 25 pyeong, with a premium of 200 million won and a monthly rent of 8 million won. The Yeouido property was 23-24 pyeong, with a premium of 60 million won and a monthly rent of 15 million won.
After completing the site visits, Ahn Jung-hwan held discussions over a meal to determine the optimal location, deciding to gather viewers' opinions to make the final decision.
In response, the channel left a message in the video description, "Feel free to share your thoughts! Those who vote in the comments will receive a service after the official opening."
However, viewers' reactions were largely against the venture, with comments such as "Include an option for not doing it," "Please consider opposing opinions," "What does Ahn Jung-hwan have to do with pizza? The public is critical," and "Just don't do it."
Reported by Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr