The Namdaemun scarf seller whose "don't buy" pitch went viral has opened his own online shop. Judging by the early traffic, shoppers are still ignoring his advice.
According to local media, by 9:41 a.m. Thursday, the Naver Smart Store had logged 157,497 visits, including 85,782 that day. All its scarf sets were sold out.
The offer is six scarves for 10,000 won, plus 3,000 won for shipping. Unlike shoppers at his market stall, online customers cannot choose their designs: The seller picks all six himself. The product listing includes a warning that matches his public persona: "Absolutely no overspending."
The seller said he opened the store after receiving many requests to sell online, as his offline business grew increasingly crowded.
Known affectionately online as the "Namdaemun scarf ajeossi," he began gaining traction in late October, when videos of his sassy banter with customers started circulating on social media.
His puzzled reactions to the growing attention became part of the running joke, drawing even more fans to his stall.
His store has since closed several times temporarily as crowds grew, with police dispersing visitors outside on Tuesday. It closed again around 11:30 a.m. the next day and remained shut that afternoon.
tammy@heraldcorp.com
