Bonchon controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Thai mandatory service-charge controversy
Bonchon’s Thai operation faced consumer complaints about a mandatory 10 percent service charge and subsequently removed the charge. The issue formed part of wider criticism concerning restaurant pricing and transparency.
2019
Minneapolis wage and tip dispute
Former employees at a Bonchon restaurant near the University of Minnesota alleged that tips were improperly redirected to kitchen workers and that wage rules had been violated. The dispute involved the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Labor Standards Enforcement Division. In October 2019, the matter ended in a settlement involving more than $10,000 in back wages, tips and damages for former workers.
Pricing and portion-size criticism
Bonchon and the wider South Korean fried-chicken industry have faced criticism over premium prices, perceived portion sizes and allegations of shrinkflation. These criticisms contributed to broader public and regulatory pressure for restaurants in South Korea to disclose the pre-cooking weight of chicken.