"Mint Chocolate Sorrow Surges"... 'Moon Criticism' Gwangju Cafe Receives Support from Citizens

Criticized Moon Administration at Manmin Debate on 12th
Later Received Insults and Threats from Some Hardline Supporters
"Citizens and Small Business Owners Came to Me"
"The Pain of the Times Attacked Me"

President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the morning of the 8th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The owner of a cafe in Gwangju Metropolitan City, who faced threats and insults from some hardcore supporters online after criticizing the Moon Jae-in administration's policies, has shared that he is receiving encouragement from local citizens. It was explained that local residents and self-employed business owners who sympathize with his criticism have been visiting the cafe to show their support.

Bae Hooncheon, owner of 'Coffee Ludens,' wrote on his Facebook on the 21st, "The store has already become a battlefield. After shutting off the phone and smartphone to avoid the harsh words and threats pouring in from (supporters of the Moon Jae-in administration), strangely, the scene of a Joseon Dynasty marketplace is revived," adding, "As soon as I put on my apron, customers who have finished their meals get up all at once."

He continued, "Suddenly, a woman behind me hugged me and cried out, 'Boss!' She said she runs a restaurant in the Advanced Industrial Complex," and explained, "A hunched man cautiously entered, looking around; he runs three fried chicken shops in Bongseon-dong. He said he secretly came to see me after watching the Manmin Debate video with a friend because it made him feel so relieved."

He added, "A boss from Hanam Industrial Complex, a taxi company owner who takes out loans to pay salaries, a former nurse, and a peer head of household who thanked me for speaking so frankly (all came to see me)," emphasizing, "The pain of the times and the sorrow of the common people are rushing toward me."

Bae previously drew attention by sharply criticizing the government's economic policies at the 'Manmin Debate' held at the Gwangju 419 Revolution Memorial Hall on the 12th.

At the debate held under the theme "Economic Policies of the Moon Jae-in Administration and the Reality of Honam," Bae said, "For us self-employed people, the Moon Jae-in administration is truly a disaster, a great disaster," and criticized, "What helped us survive last year's COVID-19 disaster was not the government's disaster relief funds but 'Baedal Minjok' (a food delivery service application)."

A post written by Bae Hooncheon, CEO of the cafe 'Coffee Ludens' in Gwangju Metropolitan City, on his Facebook account. / Photo by Facebook capture

However, some raised suspicions about Bae, questioning whether his remarks were politically motivated. On some pro-government online communities, posts criticizing Bae appeared, saying things like "Is he really a pure self-employed person?" and "He seems to be a far-right figure."

One YouTuber claimed on a radio broadcast on the 15th, "Bae is not just a simple self-employed person but a co-representative of an alt-right group." This claim was also shared by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk on social media platforms such as Twitter.

Bae actively refuted the criticisms aimed at him by writing on Facebook. He said, "Because of tweets implying that the identity of the Gwangju cafe owner is linked to the Taegeukgi Army or Ilbe (Ilgan Best), I had to change the store phone to an answering machine," and criticized, "To relieve the voyeurism that only looks at the finger and not the moon, I have revealed all my fingers, so please check carefully and stop that bizarre curiosity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.