Korean Restaurants Declare “No Youtuber” Zones Because Of Incessant Vloggers

All vloggers, including idols, will be affected.

Vlogging is a popular work choice for many Koreans today, including several K-Pop idols. They often film spontaneously in restaurants around Korea, bringing recording equipment with them and sometimes live streaming for their fans.

Girl’s Day’s Hyeri filming in a restaurant. 

Unfortunately for vloggers, many restaurants are declaring a “No Youtuber” policy.

A restaurant in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do reportedly suffered when a famous celebrity filmed a “mukbang” and tried to video the kitchen cooking meals without permission.

A “mukbang” is a show where people eat in front of the camera. 

Another restaurant owner “Gangmo” revealed that he used to accept vloggers to promote his business, but soon realized that he was losing regular customers. A suit-wearing young man reportedly fought another customer who did not want to appear in the shoot.

It is because of this increasing number of quarrels that restaurants are banning people from videoing themselves for Youtube purposes. They have interfered with people’s meals too often, thus losing them customers in the process.

A sign banning vloggers from entering restaurant premises.

Vloggers further have a bad reputation for asking for free meals or demanding to see the restaurant’s kitchen, leading to discomfort among owners.

Another sign disallowing “BJ’s” or video jockeys from filming.

Vloggers, on the other hand, are rebelling against the ban. Vlog company owner “Nam” stated that it was unfair.

It’s not right to prevent vloggers from taking photos and posting them on social media. The ‘no vlog’ zone is discriminatory.

– Vlog company owner Nam

Kim Chulhyun, director of the Korea Institute of Broadcast and Media Engineers, however, defended the move.

We made rules according to whether bloggers and restaurant owners had conflicts. There was a need to do so.

– Kim Chulhyun

Source: Nate