RIIZE’s Shotaro recalls being cursed at while working part-time before debut

RIIZE member Shotaro shared a surprising story from his pre-debut days, revealing that he was once insulted by a customer while working part-time.

On the June 16 (KST) episode of the web variety show 'Salon Drip,' Shotaro appeared alongside fellow RIIZE member Anton and reflected on his experiences before becoming an idol.

When asked about part-time jobs, Shotaro revealed that he had worked at both a gyudon restaurant and a lemonade shop in Japan.

“I worked at a gyudon restaurant and also made lemonade,” he said. “During training, we were told to keep our energy as high as possible while serving customers.”

Recalling a memorable incident, Shotaro shared that he was once working during a particularly busy rush hour at a restaurant located inside a train station.

“I was taking orders, serving customers, and handling payments all at once,” he explained. “I didn’t notice a customer waiting behind me. When I finally looked up, the customer stared at me and made an offensive gesture.”

Shotaro admitted he was so shocked by the encounter that he froze for several seconds.

“I was stunned for about 10 seconds,” he said. “The customer took the receipt, made the gesture, and then left.”

Despite the unpleasant experience, Shotaro looked back on the situation with remarkable maturity.

“Now I can laugh about it,” he said. “When I think about it, maybe that person was having a difficult day or had something stressful happen at work.”

His thoughtful response impressed host Jang Do Yeon, who praised him for his understanding attitude, calling him “a true adult.”

Fans also applauded Shotaro for maintaining a positive outlook while reflecting on a challenging memory from his days in the service industry.