By Kim Rahn
A restaurant employee’s alleged assault on a pregnant customer caused indignation in cyberspace over the weekend, forcing the franchise operator to close the regional outlet.
The woman told online communities that she went to shabu-shabu restaurant Chaesundang in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on Friday afternoon with her 10-year-old niece.
Wanting more sauce and beef, she called a waitress in her 40s instead of pressing a call bell installed on the other side of the table because it was difficult to reach.
She kept calling the waitress who didn’t respond. The worker finally brought them beef and sauce, but said not to call her but press the bell, in a loud voice using abusive language. As the quarrel continued, the customer decided to leave.
While leaving, the woman muttered some swear words about the restaurant. The waitress followed them outside and pulled the pregnant woman’s hair.
“I told her not to touch me because I’m six months pregnant. Then the waitress kicked my belly and I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, she kicked my belly several times more,” she claimed.
The customer called the police and went to hospital by ambulance. After an examination, her doctor said she and her baby were fine but the final test results would take a week to come through.
She claimed the male owner of the restaurant came outside together with the waitress, but didn’t stop his employee from attacking her but just watched.
Her story spread quickly online, drawing public anger, especially from pregnant women.
Following the incident, Chaesundang said on its website that its officials went to the Cheonan branch and suspended its operations Saturday, adding it will shut down the branch if necessary.
“The CEO visited the customer in hospital and apologized to her and her family. Following the police’s investigation, we’ll compensate her in all ways, including paying her hospital bills,” the company said.
Police in Cheonan are looking into the incident. “There is some conflicting testimony between the two sides. We will thoroughly investigate to find out what actually happened,” a police officer said.