Former 'Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant' Participant Opens Up About Struggles with Online Harassment

A former participant of SBS's 'Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant' has come forward with a story of closing their restaurant due to online harassment.

On the October 23rd episode of MBN's 'Oh Eun-young Stay', eight guests, including those with nicknames like '30s Trainee', 'Absent Man', 'One Table', 'Forty-Year Curfew', 'Mask Girl', 'Germ-Free Man', 'Nail', and 'Yes Man', met with Dr. Oh Eun-young.

The show, which premiered that day, focuses on individuals who have endured unexpected hardships without having the opportunity to fully recover. Participants spend two days at a temple stay, seeking comfort, empathy, and various solutions.

The 'One Table' participant appeared on the 2018 'Alley Restaurant - Haebangchon Shinhung Market' episode, where they operated a one-table restaurant. Baek Jong-won criticized the food, saying it was like "food made for guests at home" and suggested considering closure. The participant was labeled a 'villain' of the episode.

Following the broadcast, the participant faced severe online harassment, stating, "I was portrayed as a playful character on the show, which led to a flood of malicious comments. I received daily messages calling me 'clueless' and 'stupid'."

They continued, "People said things like 'I would want to die if I were you' and 'You must not want to live', which made me wonder if they truly wished for my death."

The restaurant eventually closed. The participant shared, "I wanted to speak out, but feared it would cause more controversy. I felt suffocated and isolated."

During this time, they also ended a four-year relationship. The participant revealed that their ex-boyfriend married someone else shortly after their breakup, leading them to rely on alcohol and live in isolation for a year.

Dr. Oh Eun-young diagnosed, "A large, unspecified group attacked you. This leads to distrust in the world and oneself."

She added, "Experiencing significant losses in a short period can lead to depression, anger, and reliance on alcohol or self-harm."

Dr. Oh advised, "Avoid reading malicious comments. Let go of negative connections and focus on finding your true self."

Reported by Tae Yuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr