A young street vendor in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, dubbed the "bungeoppang Cha Eun-woo" for his striking resemblance to the actor and Astro member. [YouTube channel Matjip Chonggak]
A young street vendor in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, dubbed the "bungeoppang Cha Eun-woo" for his striking resemblance to the actor and Astro member. [YouTube channel Matjip Chonggak]

A young street vendor in Cheolsan-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has gone viral for his striking resemblance to Cha Eun-woo, the actor and member of K-pop group Astro.

The vendor, identified only as A and nicknamed the "bungeoppang ('fish-shaped pastry') Cha Eun-woo," announced Monday on social media that he was resuming business. "I'm the man who bakes bungeoppang," he wrote. "I'm going to start selling again today."

He had suspended weekend operations after his sudden fame drew such large crowds that he said he was worn out.

Announcing his return, A said red bean and cream fillings were available but that sweet potato and cheese varieties could not be purchased that day. "I think sales will be possible around Wednesday," he wrote, adding that he had placed a bulk order and expected no more sellouts after that.

A had recently attracted attention online for his good looks and friendly manner. Word of mouth spread quickly under the nickname "the Cha Eun-woo who sells bungeoppang," and customers reportedly lined up for one to two hours just to see him in person.

He ultimately posted a notice on social media suspending operations over the weekend. "Those who were there at opening will know, but a district office employee visited Sunday and we had a chat," he wrote, adding that he had been juggling another job alongside the stall even before it became popular. "The physical toll is just too great," he said.

"I never imagined this many people would show up over the past two days," he added. "For these reasons I'm temporarily suspending operations, and I'm afraid weekends will have to be days off for now."

A did not disclose what he and the district office employee discussed, but observers speculated the visit concerned pedestrian safety, as long queues had formed on a narrow sidewalk.

Online commenters reacted with enthusiasm, with some writing that he must be a rookie celebrity, others predicting an entertainment agency would soon come calling, and still others joking they would pay 10,000 won for a single bungeoppang.


jshan@heraldcorp.com