When a Missed Dinner Becomes a Costly Habit: Korea’s Crackdown on No-Shows (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – In South Korea, the seemingly harmless act of skipping a restaurant reservation may soon come with a much steeper price.
The Fair Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it plans to raise cancellation fees for diners who fail to show up without notice—a move aimed at curbing what officials describe as an entrenched culture of “no-shows” that has long frustrated restaurant owners.
Under the proposed revision, the penalty for missing a reservation without prior cancellation could rise from the current 10 percent of the total bill to as much as 20 percent.
For restaurants that rely heavily on advance reservations—such as omakase sushi bars and fine-dining venues that purchase costly, perishable ingredients in preparation for each guest—the allowable fee could climb to 40 percent.
The same rule would extend to non-reservation restaurants handling large orders, provided the terms are clearly disclosed in advance.
“The current 10 percent cap on cancellation fees is too low,” an FTC official said, noting that some customers have repeatedly booked and abandoned tables, leaving restaurateurs with wasted food and lost income.
The new policy, now under administrative notice, is expected to take effect by the end of the year.
For a country that prides itself on meticulous hospitality, the change reflects a subtle cultural shift: dining etiquette is no longer just about manners—it’s about accountability in an age where a digital click can undo a promise made to another person’s livelihood.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
