1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson explores a controversy surrounding a crab restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, where a customer claims to have been the victim of a “card overcharging” scam. The article discusses the incident and the public reaction to it.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 대게 | daege | snow crab | A씨는 대게를 주문했다. |
| 바가지 | bagaji | overcharging, price gouging | 이 사례는 바가지 상술에 대한 논란을 일으켰다. |
| 덤터기 | deomtegi | an additional, unexpected charge | A씨는 “카드 덤터기”를 당했다고 주장했다. |
| 발뺌하다 | balbbeomhada | to make an excuse, to evade responsibility | 가게 주인이 “잘못 계산한 것 같다”며 발뺌했다. |
| 공분 | gongbun | public indignation, outrage | 이 사례에 대한 공분이 소셜미디어에서 쏟아졌다. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
지난 7일 한 온라인 커뮤니티에는 주말이던 전날 속초 중앙시장의 한 대게·회 직판장을 방문했다가 ‘카드 덤터기’를 당했다고 주장하는 글이 올라왔다.
On the 7th, a post was uploaded to an online community claiming that the previous day, a visitor to a snow crab and sashimi stall in Sokcho Central Market had been the victim of a “card overcharging” scam.
작성자 A씨는 부모님과 함께 회를 먹으려고 했지만 “주말 저녁이라 대게만 주문 가능하다”는 안내에 따라 대게를 주문했다.
The author, A, had gone to the market with their parents intending to eat sashimi, but was told that only snow crab was available for ordering in the evening on the weekend.
이에 A씨 측이 항의하자, 가게 주인으로 보이는 여성이 계산서는 제대로 확인하지도 않고 “잘못 계산한 것 같다”며 “다시 결제해 주겠다”고 말한 것으로 전해졌다.
When A’s party protested, the woman who appeared to be the store owner did not properly check the bill and simply said, “It seems I miscalculated,” offering to have them re-pay.
A씨는 “카드를 몰래 더 긁어 놓고 발뺌하더라”며 “시장 살리기 하는 요즘, 이렇게 시장 안에서 사기 치는 상가들이 아직도 있다는 게 씁쓸하다. 모르고 당하는 분들 많으실 것 같아 공유한다”고 덧붙였다.
A said, “She swiped the card secretly and then made excuses. In these times when we’re trying to revive the market, it’s bittersweet that there are still businesses within the market committing fraud. I’m sharing this because I think many people are unknowingly falling victim to this.”
해당 사연은 소셜미디어(SNS)를 통해 확산됐고 “저울치기에 이어 이제는 계산서치기냐”, “저건 바가지를 넘어 사기다”, “이래서 국내 여행 안 간다” 등 공분이 쏟아졌다.
The story spread through social media, and comments expressing public outrage emerged, such as “After weight-fixing, now it’s bill-fixing?”, “That’s fraud, not just overcharging,” and “This is why I don’t go on domestic trips.”
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What was the main issue described in the article?
- What did the customer A claim happened at the crab restaurant?
- How did the restaurant owner respond to the customer’s complaint?
- What was the public reaction to this incident on social media?
- What does this incident suggest about the challenges facing small businesses and tourism in Korea?
5. Cultural and historical notes
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining trust and fairness in Korea’s small business and tourism sectors, especially in popular destinations like Sokcho. While many businesses are struggling, cases of alleged price gouging or fraud can undermine public confidence and deter domestic travel. Addressing these issues is important for supporting local economies and preserving Korea’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination.