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Gay celeb forced to close ALL his restaurants - thanks to COVID-19
By Ko Dong-hwan
Hong Suk-chun. Korea Times file
By Ko Dong-hwan
Funny TV celebrity and restaurateur Hong Suk-chun is closing the last of his surviving eateries in Seoul's Itaewon district due to COVID-19's economic blow,
Saturday.
The seasoned star, 49, said on Saturday the last day to open for business for Italian bistro My Chelsea was Aug. 30.
Hong, who says has spent the last 18 years at the popular night-out district running seven restaurants of diverse tastes and trendy outfits, said he could not withstand financial hardships caused by the coronavirus.
“After I had come out as gay in 2000 and been castrated from the show business industry, Itaewon had accepted me as who I was,” said Hong on the social network. “Starting with a small rooftop restaurant, I kept my restaurants alive even against the global financial crisis (of 2007-08) and the MERS pandemic.”
“I had dreamt of turning the back alleys of Itaewon into New York's SOHO or Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong.”
He said he was frustrated to close all his restaurants but, to think back, he felt lighthearted. He said, “Restaurant owner is a tough job. There are no ways to escape when you get cornered.”
Due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic situation in Korea, the country on Sunday began to restrict operations of restaurants, bakeries and franchise coffee chains in the greater Seoul area to contain the fast spread of the new coronavirus.
Under the plan that lasts until next Sunday, restaurants and bakeries can operate until 9 p.m., and only takeaways and delivery will be permitted from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Hong said that after the government's new restriction ends, My Chelsea would remain empty until Oct. 13. He asked anyone interested in using the space to contact him.