“Police have already come by twice just today.”

On the night of the 16th, at a grilled gopchang restaurant in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, owned by Lee Ha-neul of DJ DOC, Lee was seen DJing live on a table in front of his customers. Inside, guests recorded videos on their phones, and several bystanders watched from outside.

According to MHN Sports’ investigation, police were dispatched twice to the location that evening following civilian complaints. Lee Ha-neul performed as a DJ in person for about 90 minutes from dinner time, even broadcasting live from the restaurant.

Online, the incident sparked debates, with people questioning, “Is this the standard for running a regular restaurant?”, “Isn’t it akin to an entertainment bar?” and “Will this cause another controversy?”

The venue came under similar scrutiny in February, when both Lee Ha-neul and Jung Jae-yong were shown singing together at an event held by actress Kim Gyu-ri’s fan club. At the time, rumors regarding potential violations of the Food Sanitation Act and business suspension warnings circulated online in relation to the restaurant’s operations.

MHN Sports visited the restaurant to observe the actual atmosphere first-hand.

The on-site mood differed from the ‘club-like’ image circulating online. While music played continuously, most guests were focused on their meals; some took photos with Lee Ha-neul or filmed his live broadcast. The volume of music heard from outside was in line with what could be expected from an ordinary eatery.

As seen in his live broadcasts, Lee Ha-neul moved from table to table, personally grilling meat, pouring drinks, and conversing with patrons.

Still, opinions remain divided about the appropriateness of hosting a DJ in a general restaurant. Some local residents have reportedly been uncomfortable with the frequent live music and crowds, prompting complaints.

Under current Korean Food Sanitation laws, general restaurants are classified as businesses that cook and sell food. While there is no explicit prohibition against simple music playback or the owner DJing, administrative action can be triggered if customers are encouraged to sing, dance, or the venue essentially operates as an entertainment bar.

In legal circles, providing music and permitting entertainment activities are typically viewed as separate issues. The decisive factors are whether the establishment is equipped for nightlife activities and whether customers are allowed to dance or sing on-site.

Regarding the police visit, Lee Ha-neul told MHN Sports, “When business is good, even minor issues can give rise to complaints. While police officers advised caution at the scene, I felt the term ‘caution’ wasn’t fitting since I hadn’t done anything wrong.”

He added, “Personally, I viewed this visit as a request for cooperation. The police officers checked the situation and then left.”

Since the previous controversy, Lee said he has been particularly attentive to his restaurant’s operations.

He noted, “Because there was also a hygiene-related report, I invested tens of millions of won to upgrade the facilities. As for DJing, I make sure it’s conducted in a way that doesn’t disturb the neighborhood.”

Lee further explained, “Both the city hall and district office have inspected the site several times, and I regularly consult with my lawyer regarding operations.”

He continued, “My understanding is that a restaurant owner playing music is not in itself illegal. However, we carefully manage the business, in consultation with a lawyer, to ensure that customers do not dance or cause disturbances.”

Regarding his motivations for DJing, he said, “This is not just a performance—it’s an extension of spending enjoyable time with guests.”

“The atmosphere of listening to music and having conversations together is the sense of romance I envision,” Lee said. “I just wanted to give my customers memories to cherish.”

However, he noted, “If this were ever shown to cause actual harm or legal issues, I know I should make improvements. That said, some of the current complaints do seem somewhat exaggerated.”

During MHN Sports’ visit, passersby greeted Lee Ha-neul or asked for photographs, reflecting his popularity.

Meanwhile, Lee Ha-neul is pursuing legal action against certain YouTube content creators who spread false rumors online regarding the alleged suspension of his business in the past.

He concluded, “I’m already pursuing legal action against specific YouTubers who spread misinformation. While everyone is entitled to their own perspective, I can’t just overlook malicious and false rumors.”

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=YouTube Channel “Jabgiwang Lee Ha-neul”

(MHN 관리자 )

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