Is Your Favorite Restaurant Abandoning Pets? Shocking Claims Against Seoul’s Popular Eatery!

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The owner of a sashimi restaurant in Seoul’s Yongsan District — a venue that singer Sung Si-kyung showcased on his YouTube channel — issued a public statement after allegations emerged that a pet dog had been left at the establishment.

On May 2, the restaurant owner identified only as A posted on the business’s official Instagram that she never intended to abandon or dump the dog.

The allegations began after a May 1 post on an online community claimed a dog had been left inside what appeared to be a closed restaurant.

The poster wrote, \”They closed up shop early last month and left the dog behind. At least nearby residents have been giving it water. It was shaking, so I found an apron and some clothes inside the shop and laid them on the floor.\”

The post added that flies and mosquitoes were everywhere, there was no ventilation and a foul odor, and that the power had reportedly been cut for some time.

As criticism grew, A said the situation stemmed from a misunderstanding during a temporary suspension of operations. \”We paused operations due to internal circumstances, which created a situation that could be misinterpreted,\” she said. \”We couldn’t find a suitable place for the dog, so we left it in what we judged to be the safest spot.\”

A also said the family had been caring for the dog together. \”My husband normally stays there with the dog, but for several days he had urgent restaurant matters to handle and couldn’t stay with it,\” A explained.

Addressing hygiene concerns, she said, \”We recently bathed and groomed the dog, but it climbed into a plant inside the shop and dug up soil. We clean regularly, but you may have seen it before we had a chance to tidy it up.\”

On accusations of abandonment, A emphasized that the dog has been treated as family. \”We’ve cherished this dog since it was a puppy; it’s family for life,\” she said.

She outlined next steps, adding, \”We plan to place the dog in temporary foster care if necessary. I apologize for causing unintended concern. We’ll resolve this as quickly as possible.\”

Later that afternoon, A reportedly moved the dog to another location.

When it became known that the restaurant had been featured on Sung Si-kyung’s YouTube channel, viewers criticized the video in the comments, with some calling for it to be removed and condemning the establishment.

Another commenter who said they inspected the site also questioned the restaurant’s upkeep.

The commenter claimed, \”She says she maintained it regularly—are you kidding? At the end of last month I personally cleaned filth from the floor in multiple spots, and during the day the shop became unbearably hot like a steam box, so it wasn’t a safe space.\”