"No More Eating Now"... 5-Hour Wait After News of Closure of 'Nationwide Top 3 Gimbap' Businesses

Jeonju 'Oseonmo Yetnal Gimbap'
Attracts Crowds Nationwide Following Business Closure News

Jeonju's 'Oseonmo Old-fashioned Gimbap,' known as one of the 'Nationwide Top 3 Gimbap,' is closing down, and news of this has sparked a nationwide rush of customers eager to try the last gimbap, with some waiting in line for up to 5 hours, making headlines.

On the 29th, Yonhap News reported that Jeonju's famous 'Oseonmo Old-fashioned Gimbap' is set to close on June 30, and an endless stream of customers from all over the country has been lining up to eat the gimbap.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, the owner Oseonmo's child posted a notice at the store stating, "We will close on June 30, 2023," explaining that "due to mom's health issues, including lumbar spinal stenosis and joint pain, continuing operations is no longer possible."

As this news spread online, the alley where the gimbap shop is located was packed with customers from across the country even before the store opened at 5 a.m.

Although the shop usually had waiting lines of about 2 hours, after being featured as a 'master' on a broadcast, it often took at least 3 to 4 hours just to buy gimbap.

According to Yonhap News, even on the 28th, three days before closing, dozens of customers were waiting over 4 hours for gimbap. One customer reportedly left Suwon around 3 a.m. and arrived at 6:30 a.m. to wait in line.

On the 29th, a day before closing, a social media post mentioned someone arriving at midnight and securing a spot but still being third in line.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

With waiting times stretching for hours, posts appeared on secondhand apps offering to buy "two rolls of gimbap for 30,000 won," prompting Wansan District Office to post warnings throughout the store stating, "Reselling gimbap is illegal."

About 40 years ago, Oseonmo began selling gimbap while moving around saunas and other places. In 2015, the shop gained fame after being featured on a TV program as a 'gimbap shop without a signboard in a residential area.' As customers increased, Oseonmo opened 'Oseonmo Old-fashioned Gimbap' in Samcheon-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, and continued operating with their children.

Unlike typical gimbap, Oseonmo's gimbap, known as 'Carrot Gimbap,' was flavored only with three ingredients: carrot, egg, and pickled radish. Although this was an unfamiliar menu at the time, it became a local specialty after the broadcast. Some people even traveled to Jeonju just to taste this gimbap, and many gimbap shops using carrot as the main ingredient sprang up like mushrooms.

Oseonmo received countless offers to sell the trademark or open franchises but said, "More than 100 people asked about that," adding, "I am too exhausted; I am so tired from making gimbap today that I cannot answer anymore."

Instead, a handwritten note was posted on one side of the store saying, "Thank you very much for traveling from all over the country and giving us so much love. We sincerely apologize as it is no longer possible to continue operations."

Netizens who heard the news left comments such as, "I thought it wouldn't be good because it's called carrot gimbap, but it was really delicious," "The owner was kind, so it left a lasting impression," "It's such a shame," and "Wishing you a speedy recovery."

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