Lee Dong-gun Faces Backlash Over Abandoned Jeju Cafe and Unmanaged Pond
- Actor Lee Dong-gun’s former Jeju Island cafe, Oasis 80, has closed after roughly a year of operation, sparking local and online attention after unmanaged site conditions were captured...
- Oasis 80 opened in April 2025 in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, drawing immediate crowds and long waiting lines from its first day of business.
- Attention shifted back to the location following a video uploaded to the YouTube channel Ganghoui Balbadak TV, which documented changes along Jeju's Aewol cafe street and visited the...
Actor Lee Dong-gun’s former Jeju Island cafe, Oasis 80, has closed after roughly a year of operation, sparking local and online attention after unmanaged site conditions were captured in a recent online video, according to reports from outlets including Chosun Ilbo, Star News, Maeil Business Newspaper, and Sports Chosun.
Closure of Oasis 80 in Aewol-eup
Oasis 80 opened in April 2025 in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, drawing immediate crowds and long waiting lines from its first day of business. The venture drew substantial public interest because Lee openly documented the startup process on the SBS variety show My Little Old Boy. According to media reports citing the broadcast, Lee consulted with a bank for a loan of approximately 200 million won, equivalent to roughly $149,000, to transform an old house into a resort-styled cafe featuring a pink exterior, palm trees, and Turkish-style sand coffee brewed over hot sand. Broadcaster Lee Sang-min also appeared on the program as a one-day staff member. Operations did not last, however. The cafe entered temporary hiatus periods starting in June 2026, and on July 6, management announced via social media that the business would take time to reorganize beginning July 9. By September, a store from a different fashion brand had moved into the former Oasis 80 space, confirming that the cafe had ceased operations at its original Aewol location.
Pond Maintenance Controversy and On-Site Footage
Attention shifted back to the location following a video uploaded to the YouTube channel Ganghoui Balbadak TV, which documented changes along Jeju’s Aewol cafe street and visited the vacant property. The video highlighted the cafe’s former outdoor pond—once a signature element that provided an exotic atmosphere—left in an unmanaged state.
The water appears a deep green with fallen leaves and various floating debris, suggesting it has not been managed for a considerable period.
The video footage also showed dust and dry grass accumulated on the steps and ground surrounding the pond, while jars and sculptures once used for decoration remained on site. The filmmaker expressed concern that stagnant water could attract insects and produce odors that might affect nearby residents and merchants, a sentiment echoed by some online commenters who argued that original facilities should be cleared out before a departure.
Evaluating the On-Site Claims and Current Status
It has been noted that public reactions regarding potential insect breeding and neighborhood impact require cautious evaluation. The exact cause of the discolored water cannot be confirmed from video footage alone, and reports have not verified whether any actual pest outbreaks or neighborhood damages occurred. Furthermore, because the current management entity of the facility has not been clearly established following the arrival of the new brand, it has been pointed out that it is unreasonable to immediately attribute the condition of the pond solely to Lee or the former Oasis 80 operators. Lee currently serves as the host of the JTBC entertainment program Divorce Recovery Camp, continuing his broadcasting work while the status of the former Jeju property remains a topic of local discussion.
