First Look: Yeodongsik’s Hangover Soups and Perilla Noodles Arrive in Eastwood. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Sensationalism

Use of dramatic or exaggerated language to make the subject seem more exciting or extreme than the facts alone would support.

Examples include: - "the queue can cross rows of shopfronts and stretch to two-and-a-half hours long (you could rewatch Parasite and still be waiting)." - "Yeodongsik’s queue became a background character in the restaurant’s story" - "Even at 12.23pm on a Tuesday, which is when I turn up with a friend. Ahead of me, someone scrolls Instagram and watches an influencer declare their qualification for admittance to Yeodongsik’s fan club: they went twice in a week and believed it worthy of the hype." These phrases heighten drama and hype around the queue and popularity, going beyond neutral description.

3 suggestions

Replace metaphorical or cinematic comparisons with straightforward time estimates, e.g. change "you could rewatch Parasite and still be waiting" to "wait times can reach around two and a half hours at peak times."

Change "Yeodongsik’s queue became a background character in the restaurant’s story" to a more neutral description such as "Long queues have become a regular feature outside the restaurant."

Rephrase "qualification for admittance to Yeodongsik’s fan club" and "worthy of the hype" to something like "an influencer posted that they visited twice in a week and felt the food justified the long waits."

Appeal to emotion

Using emotionally charged framing to create a positive feeling about the subject rather than relying solely on neutral description.

The article uses warm, narrative language that subtly encourages admiration: - "Yeodongsik’s queue became a background character in the restaurant’s story, and owner Justin Shin would regularly appear with soothing barley tea – serving cups to customers to ease the shuffle towards the front." - "These objects are important, because Yeodongsik isn’t just about feeding diners. ‘We want to show them some Korean culture as well,’ Shin says." This frames the owner as especially caring and culturally minded, which is positive but somewhat promotional in tone.

3 suggestions

Present the barley tea detail more neutrally, e.g. "Staff sometimes offer barley tea to people waiting in line" instead of emphasizing "soothing" and the narrative of "easing the shuffle towards the front."

Describe the cultural objects factually, e.g. "The space includes a moon jar and duru-duru jumeoni, with explanatory plaques about their cultural significance" without asserting "These objects are important" as an evaluative statement.

Add small balancing details (e.g., mention that long waits may be inconvenient for some diners) to temper the purely positive emotional framing.

Social proof / Bandwagon effect

Implying that something is good or desirable because many people like it or because influencers endorse it.

The article leans on popularity and influencer approval as implicit evidence of quality: - "the queue can cross rows of shopfronts and stretch to two-and-a-half hours long" - "someone scrolls Instagram and watches an influencer declare their qualification for admittance to Yeodongsik’s fan club: they went twice in a week and believed it worthy of the hype." These details suggest that the restaurant’s value is validated by crowds and influencers.

3 suggestions

Clarify that queues and influencer praise are indicators of popularity, not objective proof of quality, e.g. "Long queues and social media posts suggest the restaurant has become very popular."

Avoid phrases like "fan club" and "worthy of the hype" and instead state, "Some influencers have posted positive reviews after multiple visits."

If aiming for more objectivity, balance social proof with any available neutral or critical perspectives (e.g., mention that some diners may find the wait times off-putting).

Unbalanced reporting

Presenting only one side of a subject, especially in a consistently positive or promotional way, without acknowledging potential downsides or alternative views.

The article is entirely positive about Yeodongsik: long queues are framed as a sign of success, the owner is portrayed as considerate and culturally minded, and new dishes are described with enthusiasm ("wonderfully crisp and light jeon", "ace version"). There is no mention of any drawbacks (e.g., long waits as a negative, price, noise, or any mixed customer experiences).

3 suggestions

Include at least one neutral or mildly critical aspect, such as noting that the long waits may deter some diners or that the limited seating can make spontaneous visits difficult.

Replace subjective adjectives like "wonderfully crisp and light" and "ace version" with more neutral sensory descriptions (e.g., "a thin, crisp jeon" or "a version that staff have refined over time").

Explicitly distinguish between the author’s personal impressions and general facts, e.g. "I found the jeon crisp and light" instead of stating it as an objective property.

Biased language

Use of positive, value-laden adjectives and metaphors that implicitly endorse the subject.

Examples include: - "wonderfully crisp and light jeon" - "ace version for staff lunches" - "Yeodongsik 2.0’s addition of dry bibimbap fascinates me." - "We don’t want to do something … that you can get at every Korean restaurant." (quoted, but unchallenged, implying superiority/uniqueness) These choices subtly promote the restaurant rather than maintaining a neutral tone.

4 suggestions

Change "wonderfully crisp and light jeon" to a neutral description such as "a crisp, light jeon" or "a thin, crisp pancake flavored with kimchi."

Replace "ace version" with "a version the staff often make for their own lunches."

Clarify that "fascinates me" is a subjective reaction, or remove it if aiming for a more reportorial tone: e.g., "The addition of dry bibimbap is relatively uncommon on local menus."

When quoting claims of uniqueness ("We don’t want to do something … that you can get at every Korean restaurant"), add context such as "While some other restaurants may offer similar dishes, Shin aims to differentiate Yeodongsik’s menu."