EMart employee pockets gift vouchers from NCT Jaemin ... Shinsegae Group: "We apologize. Internal investigation is underway"

SOURCE: [단독] 이마트 직원, NCT 재민 상품권 꿀꺽…신세계그룹 “죄송, 내부 조사중”

Shinsegae Group has apologized after an EMart employee caused a controversy for allegedly stealing gift vouchers that NCT's Jaemin had sent to fans. The group stated that they will strengthen management standards for issuing and redeeming gift vouchers to prevent such thing from happening again.

According to reports by Busan Ilbo on the 16th, Shinsegae Group is currently conducting an internal investigation at the EMart branch in Gumi. Previously on the 15th, a large number of Shinsegae gift vouchers worth 100,000 KRW each were redeemed by an internal employee before the store's opening hours. The total value of the redeemed vouchers is reported to be 3 million KRW. These were the gift vouchers that NCT's Jaemin had sent to his fans for White Day.

On the 14th, Jaemin sent 30 Shinsegae gift vouchers worth 100,000 KRW each to fans through the fan communication platform, Bubble. Fans lined up at EMart branched to redeem them for physical gift vouchers, but at the Gumi branch, all the vouchers had already been redeemed before the store even opened. This led fans to raise suspicions that an employee at the Gumi branch had redeemed the vouchers before the store opened and took them for themselves.

One user on X wrote, "If an employee redeemed the gift vouchers before business hours and kept them to themselves, isn't that clearly theft?"

There were also claims circulating that the employee in question had already resigned, but these were confirmed not to be true.

Shinsegae Group, which operates EMart, stated that they will take action based on the results of the internal investigation and take measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.

A representative from Shinsegae Group stated, "We sincerely apologizing for causing inconvenience to EMart customers. We are currently conducting an internal investigations. We will take follow up measures depending on the results and strengthen our management standards to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future." 

Continue reading EMart employee pockets gift vouchers from NCT Jaemin ... Shinsegae Group: "We apologize. Internal investigation is underway"

Kim Jongkook shares sad news just six months after marriage ... "A disease I've never even heard of in my life"

SOURCE: 김종국, 결혼 반년 만에 안타까운 소식…"생전 못 들어본 병" (런닝맨)

'Running Man' Kim Jongkook shared an update regarding his health issue.

On the episode of 'Running Man' that aired on the 15th, five members of South Korea's national short track team who participated in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics (Choi Minjeong, Noh Dohee, Lee Junseo, Lee Jungmin, and Shin Dongmin) appeared as guests.

During the opening, Kim Jongkook was seen entering while being supported by Haha. Ji Sukjin mentioned, "Jongkook isn't feeling very well."

Kim Jongkook said, "I caught a strange disease that I've never even heard of in my life." While he didn't mention the exact diagnosis, he explained that there was an issue with his cochlea. Ji Sukjin added, "It causes him to have a bit an issue with his sense of balance."

Yoo Jaeseok noted, "Jongkook isn't feeling well, but even if we tell him to go home, he won't." Kim Jongkook explained why he still showed up despite his poor condition, "I called my mother and she said, 'But shouldn't you still go?' Even when I was a kid, she used to tell me that if I'm going to be sick, I should be sick at school."

Ji Sukjin then joked, "Today is my chance," showing confidence, to which Haha responded, "Even if today is your chance, once he catches you, you're dead."

Continue reading Kim Jongkook shares sad news just six months after marriage ... "A disease I've never even heard of in my life"

4Minute Jeon Jiyoon secretly debuts as a web novel author: "I'm cautious about revealing my identity"

SOURCE: 포미닛 전지윤, 비밀리에 웹소설 작가 데뷔 “정체 공개 조심스러워” (찐들의 페이지)

4Minute's Jeon Jiyoon revealed that she has recently debuted as a web novel author.

Jeon Jiyoon caught everyone's attention when she introduced herself as a web novel author, saying, "I used to promote as a singer, but now I'm working as a web novel author." She added, "I've been keeping my activities as web novel author a secret, so many people don't know about it, but (the show) contacted me. This is my first time appearing on a broadcast as a web novel author."

Jeon Jiyoon shared, "This is my first time appearing as an author, so I'm very excited. I'm such a big fan. I can't believe I'm meeting the people I've only seen in the media," adding, "I want to have a fun chat today."

She revealed that the work that first got her into web novels was 'Solo Leveling.' Talking about being a 'web novel fan,' she shared, "There was this one time I went on a trip. I was so curious about the next chapter that I wanted to go back to the hotel early. I actually left in the middle of sightseeing to go read it. The friend I traveled with said, 'You're a real fan.'"

She added, "Web novels give you the fun of experiencing something. Short-form content gives strong stimulation quickly, but when you read a web novel, even the same sentence can be interpreted differently by each person."

Regarding how she decided to be a web novel author, Jeon Jiyoon explained, "I really enjoy reading them, but then I thought, 'What if I tried writing one?' Around that time, the government was offering a free academy program, so I applied. I passed the interview and became one of the top students. From there, I signed a writer's contract and made my debut."

Currently active in secret under a pen name, Jeon Jiyoon added, "When I thought about whether revealing my identity would be good for me, I felt it probably wouldn't be. That is why I haven't been able to disclose my identity."

COMMENTS:

-Please never reveal your identityㅋㅋ

-I'm really curious, but I hope she doesn't reveal her identity. I really want to know, but at the same time, I don'tㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-That's really coolㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I agree... I think she shouldn't reveal her identityㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I'm rooting for her!!

-I really want to know, but I hope she keeps it a secretㅋㅋㅋㅋ Please just DM me privatelyㅋㅋ

-That is amazing. As expected, she's really talentedㅋㅋ Please don't reveal your identity, just keep making our hearts race with your great works.

-She's really experiencing so many different things in her life. Good for her.

-That is so fascinating. Her life itself is like a web novel. Congratulations.

-Whoa... I would have never imagined thatㅋㅋㅋㅋ She must be really talented.

-Whoaㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Please don't ever reveal your identity. I hope nobody finds out eitherㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is so impressive. Fighting.

-She is such a cool Unnie on stage, so I'm sure she will do great as an author tooㅜㅜ

-She was always smart, so I'm sure she's a great author.

-I don't think she has any intention of revealing her identity eitherㅋㅋ It's so cool seeing her keep taking on new challenges.

-Don't ever reveal your identity. Just keep on writing and maybe reveal it later on.

Continue reading 4Minute Jeon Jiyoon secretly debuts as a web novel author: "I'm cautious about revealing my identity"

Lee Donghwi says he didn't invite Song Mino, who is accused of violating the Military Service Act, to his movie VIP screening: "I found out at the venue too"

SOURCE: 이동휘 ‘병역법 위반’ 송민호 시사회 초대 안 했다 “나도 현장에서 알아”[EN:인터뷰①]

While Song Mino, who has been sent to trial on allegations of negligent military service, attended the VIP screening of movie 'Method Acting,' Lee Donghwi clarified his position saying, "I did not invite him."

Lee Donghwi, who stars in the movie 'Method Acting,' shared his thoughts ahead of the movie's release during an interview held on March 16 in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Set to be released on the 18th, 'Method Acting' tells the story of a 'funny actor' named Lee Donghwi who became famous through comedy but actually hated it. The movie follows the events that unfold as he becomes overly immersed in a role in an attempt to gain recognition for his sincere acting.

Reports surfaced online claiming that Song Mino attended the VIP screening of 'Method Acting' held at Megabox COEX. In the photos shared by netizens, he was seen covering his face with a hat and a mask.

Song Mino and Lee Donghwi are well known to be close friends. This has led some to speculate that Lee Donghwi had invited Song Mino to the screening despite the fact that he is currently awaiting trial for allegedly violating the Military Service Act.

During the interview, Lee Donghwo addressed the matter directly, saying, "I didn't invite him. I also found out (that Song Mino came) at the venue that day."

He also added that the situation was 'unexpected.'

Meanwhile, Song Mino is accused of violating the Military Service Act by failing to properly show up for work since March 2023 while serving as a public service worker. As a result, he was sent to the prosecution in May last year and the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office indicted him without detention on December 30 of the same year. It is reported that during the police investigation, Song Mino mostly admitted to the charges of leaving workplace uring working hours.

Continue reading Lee Donghwi says he didn't invite Song Mino, who is accused of violating the Military Service Act, to his movie VIP screening: "I found out at the venue too"