by STEVE HAN
A bar in the Itaewon district of Seoul sparked public outrage after one of the workers, citing Ebola fears, posted signs saying the establishment was banning African customers.
JR Pub in Itaewon, considered one of the most racially diverse region in the country, posted two signs on Aug. 16 which read, “We apologize, but due to Ebola virus we are not accepting Africans at the moment.”
Following a series of scathing responses on social media, the pub replaced the signs with an apology from the owner, Troy Armado, who said he was oblivious to the original signs that went up allegedly during his absence. But the damage had already been done. Online discussions of boycotting the bar is ongoing among expats.
“I told them I was South African and after some deliberation they told me I could go in,” someone wrote on the Facebook page, HBC/Itaewon Information Board. “Apparently white Africans are okay. Total bollocks.”
Armado said that the sign was put up by a worker without his knowledge.
“I didn’t even know about this,” Armado told Asia news blog Asiapundits. “I just hosted the Gabon ambassador last night [at my other business] … 50 people from Gabon reserved the roof yesterday. I will talk to whoever put up this sign. I will clear everything up.”
An apology posted outside the pub is below. (Image via Asiapundits)
