Controversy is growing over allegations that an Emart employee intercepted gift certificates NCT member Jaemin intended for fans.
The incident began on the 14th, when Jaemin marked White Day by sending 30 Shinsegae gift certificates worth 100,000 won each to fans via a fan communication platform. Jaemin said, "Since it was White Day, I wanted to treat you myself," sharing his heartfelt message with fans.
However, the problem surfaced the next day when some fans visited stores to exchange the mobile vouchers for physical gift certificates. At the Emart Gumi branch in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, it was confirmed that a significant number had already been exchanged before the store’s 10 a.m. opening time. Once this became known, fans suspected a store employee might have pre-exchanged and taken the certificates.
Backlash also erupted across online communities and social media. Some users reacted, saying, "If an employee exchanged them before business hours, isn’t that clearly a problem?" Rumors even spread that the employee had been fired. However, reports indicate the rumor that the employee resigned is not true.
Meanwhile, Shinsegae Group, which operates Emart, is conducting an internal investigation. According to Busan Ilbo on the 16th, a Shinsegae Group representative stated, "We apologize for the inconvenience caused to Emart customers," adding, "We are conducting a fact-finding investigation, and depending on the results, we will take follow-up measures and strengthen standards for issuing and exchanging gift certificates to prevent a recurrence."