Actress Jeon Won-ju, despite being a 400 million won asset holder, has sparked a heated debate among netizens due to her extreme frugality habits. In particular, the sight of several people sharing one drink at a cafe has raised concerns about being a 'nuisance to small business owners'.
On the 24th, a video was posted on the YouTube channel 'Jeon Won-ju's Main Character', showing Jeon Won-ju visiting Namdaemun Market in Seoul with her daughter-in-law. After finishing their meal, the three of them went to a cafe but only ordered one drink, drawing attention.
Her daughter-in-law remarked, "My mother always says to order just one even if three of us come," and expressed her frustration, saying, "These days, it's standard to have one menu item per person, so even if I suggest ordering two drinks, it’s no use." She then took out a paper cup she had brought from her bag and showed how they divided the ordered coffee into it. When the production team expressed surprise, Jeon Won-ju responded, "It's even worse than me," while showing a pleased expression.
As this scene was revealed, criticism arose online. Netizens reacted with comments like, "No matter how frugal you are, ordering one drink at a cafe and sharing it in a paper cup is a level of business disruption," and "How can a wealthy person disregard the survival rights of small business owners?" The criticism intensified as the cafe industry is currently struggling with issues like 'cafe-goers' and under-ordered drinks.
In the video, Jeon Won-ju also showcased her unique frugality by revealing a winter gas bill of only 1,370 won. She emphasized that her habit of recycling scripts and tissues is the secret to accumulating her current wealth.
In fact, Jeon Won-ju is known as a representative financial expert in the entertainment industry, having built an asset of about 400 million won through stock investments and frugality. The story of her buying Hynix stocks at a low point and achieving over 600% returns is well-known.
This controversy is being noted as a clash between individual frugality values and modern consumer etiquette. There are also voices of self-reflection suggesting that true virtue lies in saving without causing harm to others.
