본사는 웃고 가맹점은 허덕…믿었던 프랜차이즈의 배신 / SBS 특집 8뉴스

Overview

The video is a special SBS News segment examining how many Korean franchise owners—small, self-employed business operators—are falling into financial trouble due to franchisor pricing and fee practices. The problem is especially severe when novice entrepreneurs enter franchises without enough capital or industry experience.

Key Findings

Broken profit expectations for new franchisees

A featured case involves shabu-shabu franchise owners who were promised high profits (around 30–35%) and headquarters support. Instead, they reportedly faced losses far worse than expected—losses were later described as being under 10% of sales.

Supplier pricing tied to “essential items”

Owners discovered that a meat supplier designated by headquarters as an “essential” supplier charged up to ~20% above market price. Because the restaurant operates as an all-you-can-eat model, higher unit costs magnified the monthly impact.

Kickbacks and legal action

After a lawsuit was filed, trial evidence reportedly indicated that the franchisor CEO received 740 million won in kickbacks from meat and sauce suppliers.

A “uniquely Korean” franchise revenue structure

The segment argues that Korean franchises rely heavily on earnings from:

• Selling ingredients and equipment
• Charging various fees, including fees for items such as carry-out bags or cola bags

In contrast, the segment describes overseas models (as discussed in the video), where headquarters typically earn money through royalties calculated as a percentage of franchisee sales, which is more directly tied to franchise performance.

Transparency disputes and repeat lawsuits

Following a court ruling favorable to Korean pizza store owners—requiring the return of unpaid franchise fees—the video reports that similar lawsuits are now occurring in over a dozen franchises.

Growing disparity between headquarters and franchisees

The video highlights an analysis claiming that from around 2020:

• Headquarters revenue increased 32% over four years
• Store owners’ revenue increased only 7.5%

It also notes that more franchise owners are being subjected to headquarters control over operating hours and days off, further straining business operations.

Summary of Contributors / Presenters

• Reporter Lee Tae-gon (이태곤 기자)
• (Referenced case/location label: SBS Itaewon Entrance Branch / SBS 이태원입구 branch)