Delivery request for cigarettes instead of food draws criticism

A recent incident involving a delivery order in South Korea has ignited public discussion and criticism regarding the increasingly unreasonable demands placed upon delivery workers. The controversy centers around a customer who, when ordering kimchi stew, added a peculiar request to the order notes: "Could you buy me four packs of cigarettes instead of the kimchi stew? If not, I guess I'll just cancel the order."

This request, shared on the online community platform Bobaedream, immediately drew ire from netizens. The implication that a restaurant should act as a personal errand service for items typically purchased at convenience stores, coupled with the threat of cancellation, was widely condemned. Some speculated that the request might have come from a minor attempting to purchase cigarettes, highlighting concerns about underage access to tobacco.

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Could you buy me four packs of cigarettes instead of the kimchi stew? If not, I guess I'll just cancel the order.

Adding to the public's frustration, this incident is not isolated. It follows closely on the heels of another widely reported case where a customer ordered jjajangmyeon, jjampong, and tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) from a Chinese restaurant. In that instance, the customer requested that the restaurant provide cream shrimp as a free service, even suggesting they could reduce the portion of the ordered items to accommodate this demand. This was met with sharp criticism, with one netizen comparing it to ordering a specific fish and asking for an expensive alternative to be included for free.

These episodes underscore a growing problem of customers exploiting delivery platforms to make demands that go far beyond the scope of food service. The Dong-A Ilbo reports on these cases, reflecting a societal concern about the erosion of basic courtesy and the exploitation of service workers. The sentiment is clear: such behavior is not only unreasonable but also disrespectful to the businesses and individuals working hard to provide their services. The expectation is that customers should treat delivery personnel with respect and make requests that are within the bounds of normal service.

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It's like ordering raw fish and asking for abalone to be included, even if it's a smaller portion. Do they have any conscience?