Lee Jang Woo accused of unpaid restaurant bills worth millions of Won

Lee Jang Woo accused of unpaid restaurant bills

• Lee Jang Woo faces controversy over alleged unpaid supplier bills
• Restaurant denies Lee Jang Woo's business involvement
• Supplier demands overdue payments, situation remains unresolved

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South Korean actor Lee Jang Woo has been drawn into a financial controversy following allegations of unpaid supplier bills tied to a sundae soup restaurant reportedly associated with him.

According to a report by Dispatch on March 17, a meat distribution business owner, identified as A, claimed that payments for ingredients supplied to the restaurant have been overdue for several months. The initial unpaid amount was said to be approximately ₩40 million KRW (around $26,800 USD), but the total allegedly grew over time due to continued deliveries and partial repayments.

A stated that he first met Lee Jang Woo in Cheonan ahead of the restaurant’s opening in November 2023, adding that payments were made regularly in the early stages of the business. However, he claimed that delays began to occur over time, with some months passing without any payment at all.

Detailing the situation, A was quoted saying, “I trusted him because he is a celebrity and waited, but payments have been delayed for over a year. He would repay ₩2.00 million KRW (about $1,340 USD) while ordering ingredients worth ₩5.00 million KRW (about $3,350 USD), so the debt kept piling up.”

By November 2024, the outstanding amount had reportedly reached ₩50 million KRW, eventually rising to ₩64 million KRW (approximately $42,900 USD) by January 2025.

Frustrated by the delays, A claimed he directly contacted the actor earlier this year, stating, “About ₩50.0 million KRW (about $33,500 USD) in supply payments have been overdue for over a year.” He added that a former staff member, reportedly a close friend of Lee Jang Woo, responded with a promise to repay ₩2 million KRW per month, though A alleges that the commitment was not consistently fulfilled.

However, individuals connected to the restaurant have disputed Lee Jang Woo’s involvement. While Dispatch reportedly could not reach a longtime acquaintance referred to as B, another source claimed, “Lee Jang Woo is not related to the sundae soup restaurant. Friend B was the CEO.”

An official from the restaurant’s food and beverage company also downplayed the actor’s role, stating, “It’s believed that Lee Jang Woo is co-CEO, but that’s not true. He only took some of the profits for about two months after the opening. Now it’s operating at a loss, so he doesn’t take any share. He only participated briefly at the start to help a friend and has had no involvement since.”

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Despite these claims, A maintains that his dealings were based on the actor’s perceived association with the business. “When the pig’s head was boiled on broadcast, it was his store. When the debts piled up, it was run by a friend? I delivered goods based on Lee Jang Woo. I don’t want to know the internal situation of the store. I just want the overdue money paid quickly,” he said.

The situation remains unresolved, with conflicting accounts over responsibility for the unpaid dues, as the controversy continues to attract public attention.