‘Samsung Chairman Lee gave me pocket money’: Barista’s viral post brews a buzz
A barista shares a photo of herself handing a cup of coffee to Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong at an Ediya Coffee location during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Captured from Threads
A barista’s online post about giving a cup of coffee to Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and receiving 50,000 won ($36) in return has gone viral, drawing hundreds of thousands of views in less than a day.
The employee, who was working at an Ediya Coffee location inside Hanwha Resort during the summit, wrote on social media Saturday, “I’ve had many special experiences, but meeting Chairman Lee was the most memorable,” sharing photos of herself with Lee and the 50,000-won bill he handed her.
She recalled spotting Lee as he passed by and offering him a cup of coffee. After accepting the drink and thanking her, Lee began to walk away but soon turned back, pulled a 50,000-won bill from his pocket, and gave it to her. “He was so cool, handsome and gentle,” she said. “I’ll frame the money and keep it as a family treasure.”
The post quickly spread online, racking up over 340,000 views and 9,000 likes. When one user commented, “The Samsung CEO gave you money from his pocket, not his wallet?” The employee replied, “Yes, he seemed like an ordinary, down-to-earth uncle.”
She added that her hands were shaking as she made the drink. “He gave me such a wonderful memory.” Asked what phone she uses, she replied, “Samsung, of course.”
Lee attended the APEC CEO Summit’s opening ceremony on Wednesday and made headlines the following day for a casual “chimaek” — chicken and beer — meeting with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
This article is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.