美國一韓國拉麵店因「小費糾紛」登上熱搜：顧客付款20美元卻遭追趕，掀起爭議風波

近日，美國一間韓國人經營的拉麵餐廳因「顧客未付小費」引發爭議，事件在社群平台上迅速發酵，甚至登上美國熱搜，引發種族、文化與服務業習慣等多重討論。

據報導，一名非裔男性顧客在該店消費後，應付金額為19.89美元，他選擇付整數的20美元，並未留下額外小費。然而，該店韓籍店主對此不滿，疑似追趕顧客至店外，雙方發生口角與肢體衝突。事發地點為美國某大城市市中心商圈，該區向來人流密集，監視錄影與目擊者證言很快被傳上網，引爆輿論。

事件曝光後引起當地社群強烈反彈，數十名當地居民在餐廳門前舉行抗議行動，手持標語，要求市政府與警察介入處理此事，更有人呼籲市長出面懲處該店主。一些抗議者表示，「小費在美國不是法律義務，顧客有自由選擇是否給予」，批評店主行為侵犯顧客人身自由。目前該店主正面臨刑事指控，包含恐嚇與不當追擊。

事件初期，由於店面外觀採用亞洲風格，加上店名使用漢字，不少網友誤認為該店由日本人或中國人經營。日本與中國社群平台上出現大量網民澄清，強調該店為韓國人所有。許多日籍網友甚至留言：「別把這種行為歸咎於我們國家」，顯示東亞各族群在海外的微妙身份認同壓力。

面對輿論壓力與法律風險，該店店主隨後透過當地媒體發表公開道歉聲明，承認行為不當，表示願意為此負責，並承諾今後「所有顧客一律免費提供小菜」以表誠意。然而，外界對其是否真心悔過仍有質疑，部分網民批評該聲明「只是為了挽救生意」。該事件亦重新掀起美國社會對於「小費文化」的辯論。許多人指出，美國的餐飲業普遍仰賴顧客小費補足員工工資，但對來自非小費文化國家的移民或遊客而言，這一制度往往造成誤解甚至衝突。一些聲音認為，應該改革現行小費制度，由業者提高底薪以取代強制性小費。

目前事件仍持續發酵，警方與市政府表示正進行調查，尚未公佈後續懲處結果。餐廳營運亦受到波及，社群網站上出現大量一星負評，有人呼籲抵制該店，也有人為店主發聲，認為應該「理解文化差異」，但不得使用暴力或恐嚇手段。

Korean Ramen Restaurant in the U.S. Makes Headlines Over Tipping Dispute: Customer Pays $20, Gets Chased, Sparks Controversy

Recently, a Korean-run ramen restaurant in the United States ignited public uproar after a controversy over a customer allegedly not leaving a tip. The incident quickly spread across social media and became a trending topic in the U.S., sparking widespread discussion about race, culture, and service industry practices.

According to reports, an African American male customer dined at the restaurant and paid $20 for a bill totaling $19.89, leaving no additional tip. Dissatisfied, the Korean restaurant owner reportedly chased the customer outside, leading to a verbal and physical altercation. The incident occurred in a busy downtown commercial district of a major U.S. city, and footage from surveillance cameras and eyewitness accounts soon circulated online, fueling intense public debate.

The incident triggered a strong backlash from the local community. Dozens of residents staged a protest in front of the restaurant, holding signs and demanding that local authorities and police take action. Some protesters called on the mayor to personally intervene and punish the restaurant owner. Many pointed out that tipping is not legally mandatory in the U.S. and that customers have the right to choose whether or not to tip, condemning the owner's behavior as an infringement on personal freedom. The restaurant owner is now facing criminal charges, including intimidation and harassment.

Initially, due to the restaurant's Asian-themed decor and a name featuring Chinese characters, many netizens mistakenly believed it was run by Japanese or Chinese owners. This led to a wave of clarifications on Japanese and Chinese social media, where users emphasized that the restaurant is Korean-owned. Many Japanese users even commented, "Don't blame our country for this," highlighting the nuanced identity tensions among East Asian communities abroad.

In response to the growing backlash and potential legal consequences, the restaurant owner later issued a public apology through local media, admitting fault and expressing willingness to take responsibility. As a gesture of goodwill, he also promised to offer free side dishes to all customers in the future. However, the sincerity of the apology has been questioned by some netizens, who criticized it as merely a business-saving move.

The incident has reignited debates in the U.S. over the tipping culture. Many pointed out that the American restaurant industry relies heavily on customer tips to supplement workers' wages. However, for immigrants and tourists from countries without a tipping culture, this system often causes confusion and conflict. Some voices have called for a reform of the current tipping model, suggesting that businesses should raise base wages instead of relying on mandatory tipping.

As of now, the incident continues to unfold. Local police and city officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and no final decision on penalties has been announced. The restaurant’s business has also suffered, with a flood of one-star reviews appearing on social media. While some are calling for a boycott, others argue that cultural misunderstandings should be addressed with empathy—but without resorting to violence or intimidation.