Korean Reading Practice

“이재용 회장, 日 라멘집서 혼밥”… 온라인서 목격담 ‘화제’

📅 January 27, 2026

1Introduction

This reading explores a viral story about a prominent Korean business leader who was spotted dining alone at a Japanese ramen restaurant. The incident highlights how even powerful executives enjoy simple, everyday experiences during their travels, and shows how social media can turn ordinary moments into widespread topics of discussion.

2Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
혼밥 honbap eating alone 요즘 혼밥하는 사람들이 많아졌어요.These days, many people eat alone.
목격하다 mokgyeokhada to witness, spot 유명한 배우를 길에서 목격했어요.I spotted a famous actor on the street.
화제 hwaje hot topic, buzz 그 영화가 요즘 큰 화제예요.That movie is a big topic these days.
추정되다 chujeongdoeda to be presumed/estimated 그 사람이 범인으로 추정됩니다.That person is presumed to be the culprit.
확산되다 hwaksandoeda to spread, go viral 그 소식이 인터넷에서 빠르게 확산됐어요.That news spread quickly on the internet.
정황 jeonghwang circumstances, evidence 범죄의 정황이 명확해요.The circumstances of the crime are clear.
협력사 hyeomnyeoksa partner company 우리 회사의 주요 협력사입니다.It’s our company’s main partner.
출장 chuljang business trip 다음 주에 부산으로 출장 가요.I’m going on a business trip to Busan next week.
귀국하다 gwigukada to return to one’s country 유학을 마치고 한국으로 귀국했어요.I returned to Korea after finishing my studies abroad.
겹치다 gyeopchida to overlap, coincide 회의 시간이 겹쳐서 참석할 수 없어요.The meeting times overlap, so I can’t attend.
패딩 paeding padded jacket 추워서 패딩을 입었어요.I wore a padded jacket because it was cold.
뒤늦게 dwineutge belatedly, after some time 그 소식을 뒤늦게 들었어요.I heard that news belatedly.

3Reading Text

한 여행 유튜버가 일본 교토의 라멘집에서 촬영한 영상이 최근 온라인에서 큰 화제가 되고 있습니다.

A video filmed by a travel YouTuber at a ramen restaurant in Kyoto, Japan has recently become a hot topic online.

영상 속에는 한 중년 남성이 혼자 라멘을 먹는 모습이 담겨 있는데, 많은 사람들이 그를 유명한 기업 회장으로 추정하고 있습니다.

The video shows a middle-aged man eating ramen alone, and many people presume him to be a famous corporate chairman.

이 영상은 작년 9월에 촬영되었지만, 최근에야 뒤늦게 주목받기 시작했습니다.

This video was filmed in September last year, but only recently began receiving belated attention.

영상 속 인물은 평소와 달리 안경을 쓰지 않았고, 정장 대신 셔츠에 패딩 조끼를 입고 있었습니다.

The person in the video was not wearing glasses as usual and was dressed in a shirt and padded vest instead of a formal suit.

온라인 커뮤니티에서는 이 영상과 관련된 사진들이 빠르게 확산되면서 많은 관심을 받고 있습니다.

In online communities, photos related to this video are spreading rapidly and receiving much attention.

실제로 당시 그 회장이 일본에서 협력사 관계자들을 만나고 귀국한 시기와 영상 촬영 시점이 겹친다는 정황도 있습니다.

There are indeed circumstances suggesting that the timing of the video coincides with when the chairman met with partner company officials in Japan and returned home.

이 사건은 유명인들도 평범한 일상을 즐긴다는 것을 보여주며, 소셜 미디어의 영향력을 다시 한번 확인시켜 줍니다.

This incident shows that even celebrities enjoy ordinary daily life and once again confirms the influence of social media.

많은 사람들이 이런 자연스러운 모습에 더욱 친근감을 느끼고 있다고 말합니다.

Many people say they feel more familiarity with such natural appearances.

4Comprehension Questions

Q1
When was the video originally filmed and why did it become popular only recently?
Q2
How was the person in the video dressed differently from their usual public appearance?
Q3
What evidence suggests that the person might actually be the corporate chairman?
Q4
What does this incident reveal about how people perceive celebrities in everyday situations?
Q5
How does this story demonstrate the power of social media in modern society?

5Cultural Notes

The concept of “혼밥” (eating alone) has become increasingly accepted in Korean society, reflecting changing social attitudes toward individual activities. In Korean business culture, high-ranking executives are typically seen in formal settings, making casual sightings particularly noteworthy to the public. This incident also illustrates how Korean netizens actively engage with and spread content across online communities, often turning ordinary moments into viral phenomena.

Source: Naver News |
Original Article

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