Some cafes and restaurants in South Korea have sparked controversy and discussion online by demanding 'tips' (service gratuity) like in the United States.

A bakery cafe that placed a 'tip jar' with the message "Please tip if you liked (blurred cafe name)" at a counter faced much backlash. In response, the cafe explained that they placed the tip jar as part of their interior design concept and that it's okay not to give money as a tip. Currently, a photo circulating online shows that the tip jar in front of the cashier has allegedly been removed.

Not only that, there have been claims that other establishments are also demanding tips, not just the cafe in question. On August 18, a post on an online community stated, "A cafe in Yeonnam-dong is now demanding tips." 

The poster claimed that the person taking orders at the counter asked, "How about tipping the hardworking staff?" and showed a tablet PC with options of 5%, 7%, and 10%. However, the writer added, "This cafe was temporarily open, and its name cannot be found on web searches," so the claim's authenticity is unverified.

Strictly speaking, under current Korean law, if a restaurant or cafe separately demands tips, it could violate the Food Sanitation Act. 

According to the Food Sanitation Act, as part of the requirements for food service operators, it stipulates that they must "attach or display a price list outside or inside the establishment and charge according to the listed prices."

In this case, the 'price list' refers to the final price that includes value-added tax and service charges. Therefore, asking customers for a separate service charge is illegal. However, experts interpret that, in principle, it is not illegal as long as there is no compulsion or obligation.

Regardless of its legality, consumers' reactions are not favorable.

Korean netizens were baffled by the cafe's explanation for placing the tip jar and commented, "Interior? Just as expected, giving trash excuses," "If they want to openly ask for tips like that, they need to go to America and run their business there," "If that tip jar was for interior design purposes, they should have the lid closed," "People are going mad with westernization," "Where is that cafe? I'm never going there," "The cafe owner calls that an excuse?" "Please stop speaking nonsense," "I guess the cafe owner's head is for decoration too," "If they like the tipping culture so much, go to the U.S.," "The surtax is already included in the price and it should include service fees too," "They're trying to get more money since there are a lot of foreigners in that area," and "I hope they run out of business."