Cha Eun-woo Lookalike 'Bung-eun-woo' Draws Hours-Long Lines for Fish-Shaped Pastries in Korea

Some people get compared to their favorite idol once in a while. One street vendor in Korea got compared to Cha Eun-woo so often that the internet gave him a nickname, and fans reportedly waited one to two hours for his snacks.

A bungeoppang stand in Gwangmyeong, just outside Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, has become a must-visit after its owner went viral for resembling the actor and ASTRO member, according to Maeil Business Newspaper and YTN. (Bungeoppang are the fish-shaped pastries, usually filled with sweet red bean, sold at Korean street stalls.)

To be clear for every Aroha wondering: this is not Cha Eun-woo. The vendor is a private person who happens to share a resemblance, and neither outlet links the star to the stand in any way. We are not naming or picturing the vendor here.

How "Bung-eun-woo" was born

Maeil Business Newspaper reported that the seller drew attention online for his Cha Eun-woo-like looks and his friendly service. Netizens nicknamed him "Bung-eun-woo," a mash-up meaning roughly "the Cha Eun-woo who sells bungeoppang."

The result was a rush of customers. According to Maeil Business Newspaper, people reportedly waited one to two hours just to buy his pastries. YTN said reviews and photos from visitors flooded online communities and social media.

The comments were pure fun. YTN quoted netizens joking that "looks really do matter" and that they would "buy it even if a bungeoppang cost 10,000 won."

Too popular for one stand

The attention turned out to be a lot for one person. YTN reported that the vendor, who described himself online as "a young man who bakes bungeoppang," announced he would pause business, explaining that he runs the stand while also doing other work and that the huge crowds had been physically draining.

"I never imagined so many people would come over the past two days," he wrote, according to Maeil Business Newspaper. The outlet added that he mentioned a visit from district office staff but did not share what was discussed.

Back in business

The good news for pastry fans: the break was short. Maeil Business Newspaper reported that the vendor returned on October 19 after taking the weekend off, posting on social media that he was "going to start selling again from today."

For now, the menu is limited to the classic red bean and custard cream fillings, the outlet said. Sweet potato and cheese versions are not available for same-day purchase, but he said they will probably be back on Wednesday, and that he had placed a large order so they could be sold "without sellouts" from then on.

The real Cha Eun-woo effect

If anything, the whole story is a sweet reminder of just how famous Cha Eun-woo's face is. A resemblance alone was enough to get people standing in line for hours, and fans online clearly had fun with it.

If you are planning a visit, maybe bring patience along with your appetite. And if you are an Aroha, you already know the real thing is one of a kind.

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