Journalist

Lee Dong Geon
  • Banobagi Expands Offline Reach With Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu Debut
    Banobagi Expands Offline Reach With Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu Debut K-derma cosmetics brand Banobagi has entered Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu, expanding its offline distribution channels. Banobagi said it is showcasing key skincare products and its mask pack lineup at the Musinsa Beauty store on the second floor of Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu, which opened April 24 in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The move extends a brand experience built largely online into an in-person setting. Seongsu is a major retail area packed with fashion and beauty pop-ups and flagship stores, drawing both local shoppers and foreign tourists. Banobagi said it plans to strengthen consumer touchpoints through product trials. Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu is a large complex combining fashion, beauty and food and beverage. The Musinsa Beauty shop on the second floor is Musinsa’s first permanent offline beauty store, designed to let shoppers compare and try products from multiple brands in one place. Banobagi said it will highlight products organized around specific skin concerns, including its PDRN line for skin elasticity and anti-aging care, the Milk Thistle Repair line focused on soothing sensitive skin, and the Alpha Radiance line with enhanced brightening features. The brand is also offering its signature mask packs, including the “Vita Genic Jelly Mask” series, which it said has surpassed 100 million units in cumulative global sales. Banobagi said the in-store lineup is intended to help customers compare products and choose based on their skin condition and concerns. During the opening period, Banobagi said it will run discounts and on-site promotions. It will also take part in Musinsa-run beauty trial events with a “Vita Genic Jelly Ampoule Kit” and plans interactive content for visitors. Ban Jae-yong, Banobagi’s CEO, said the company has been expanding consumer contact through various offline channels and that the Musinsa store debut will be another step in broadening the brand experience. He said Banobagi plans to keep strengthening its product lineup and promotions to reach a wider customer base. Banobagi said it will use the Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu entry to further expand offline, experience-based retail channels and continue strengthening consumer engagement centered on functional skincare and mask packs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 09:48:46
  • Cleanzone’s Tissue Dori Builds on Online Sales in Korea, Prepares Expansion to Japan and U.S.
    Cleanzone’s Tissue Dori Builds on Online Sales in Korea, Prepares Expansion to Japan and U.S. Cleanzone Co. said its household hygiene brand Tissue Dori is accelerating business expansion by preparing to enter overseas markets, building on its performance in South Korea’s online market. Tissue Dori has grown on promotional and commercial wet wipes. The company said it differentiates itself by relying on in-house manufacturing rather than distribution alone. Drawing on 18 years of experience, it now operates more than 100 SKUs, with online sales accounting for about 85% of revenue. In the commercial wet-wipe segment, Tissue Dori runs 19 product lines, targeting self-employed customers such as restaurants and cafes. The company said it has established a stable supply system with production capacity of up to 1 million sheets a day, and has recently introduced value-focused new products after improving production-line efficiency to strengthen price competitiveness. The company also said it has reinforced quality control, operating manufacturing and quality management based on ISO 22716 certification to ensure product safety and consistent quality. Cleanzone said it is also preparing overseas expansion. For Japan, it said it has proceeded with export steps under cosmetics classification standards and has reached a stage where shipments are possible. In the United States, it said it has completed registration under MoCRA, the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act. The company said it plans to expand its footprint step by step with distribution strategies tailored to local market conditions. “Tissue Dori is a brand that has secured both quality and price competitiveness based on its manufacturing foundation,” a Cleanzone official said. “We will steadily expand the business overseas based on the production and sales experience we have built in Korea.” The company said Tissue Dori will continue to strengthen competitiveness in the domestic and overseas household hygiene markets by diversifying its product lineup and improving production efficiency.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 09:36:15
  • MBC’s “Straight” Obtains CCTV in Propofol Sedation Death, Raises Questions About Emergency Response
    MBC’s “Straight” Obtains CCTV in Propofol Sedation Death, Raises Questions About Emergency Response MBC’s investigative program ‘Straight’ is examining both the rapid spread of news outlets and problems in medical settings involving the sedative propofol. In an episode airing on the 26th, ‘Straight’ presents “Proliferating Media, Broken Trust,” focusing on the reality behind the surge in registered news organizations. Since the establishment of the South Korean government, about 64,000 news outlets have been launched. About 28,000 are currently active. With registration requirements eased and one-person media expanding on platforms such as YouTube, virtually anyone can claim to be engaged in journalism. ‘Straight’ tracked whether the growing number of outlets are performing journalism’s core role. The producers reported on practices such as using critical articles as leverage to demand advertising or sponsorship from companies; a journalists’ association that allegedly collected millions of won in training fees after promoting lectures by using celebrities’ names without authorization; and a news outlet accused of selling press credentials for money. The program also looks at how a single owner or a specific corporation can operate multiple outlets by splitting them into separate entities. It also examines some media-registered YouTubers who run channels after registering as online news outlets and spread false information, including claims of election fraud conspiracies. The broadcast also includes a segment titled “Propofol’s Two Faces.” ‘Straight’ said it obtained CCTV footage from an operating room at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul and traced a death that occurred during sedation anesthesia. A man in his 50s receiving a cosmetic procedure suffered severe brain damage during sedation and later died. The hospital said it took the best possible measures as physicians, but the CCTV reviewed by the producers shows medical staff not taking immediate emergency steps. The producers examine why deaths linked to sedation anesthesia keep recurring and what practical measures could better protect patients. The program also reports that propofol, a highly addictive controlled drug, is being sold at some plastic surgery and dermatology clinics as if it were an add-on product for cosmetic procedures. It also points to a system in which propofol oversight effectively depends heavily on the conscience and discretion of medical staff. ‘Straight’ airs at 8:30 p.m. on the 26th.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-26 20:03:16
  • How to File South Korea’s May Comprehensive Income Tax Return, and Who Must File
    How to File South Korea’s May Comprehensive Income Tax Return, and Who Must File May is South Korea’s annual filing and payment period for comprehensive income tax. Individuals with comprehensive income in 2025 must file and pay from May 1 to June 1, 2026. Comprehensive income tax combines interest, dividends, business income, wages, pensions and other income. Even salaried workers may need to file if they also earned side income such as freelance pay, financial income or rental income. Those who may need to file include workers who received wages from two or more employers last year but did not complete a combined year-end tax settlement, employees who left a job midyear and did not complete year-end settlement, and the self-employed and freelancers with business income. Other income such as one-time lecture fees or manuscript fees must be reported if the annual amount exceeds 3 million won. Financial income can also trigger a filing requirement. If annual financial income, including interest and dividends, exceeds 20 million won, a comprehensive income tax return is required. Private pension income may require a choice between comprehensive taxation and separate taxation depending on whether it exceeds 15 million won a year. In general, people with only wage income who completed year-end settlement through their employer do not have to file. Also excluded are insurance solicitors, door-to-door salespeople and contract delivery sellers whose prior-year revenue was under 75 million won and who have no other income, if their affiliated company completed year-end settlement. Taxpayers with only retirement income and business income subject to year-end settlement, only tax-exempt or separately taxed income, or other income of 3 million won or less who choose separate taxation also are not required to file a final return. Returns can be filed through the National Tax Service’s Hometax website or its mobile app, Sontax. During the May filing period, Hometax provides a dedicated filing screen and, after login, guides users to a tailored process based on their filing type. For taxpayers eligible for the agency’s pre-filled “Modu Chaeum” service, the process is simpler. They can review the pre-calculated tax due or refund based on income data held by the tax agency and submit the return. Eligible taxpayers can also file by phone through an automated response system, and the agency provides instructions for phone filing with its notices. If tax is due after filing, payment can be made through Hometax or Sontax by bank transfer, credit card or simple payment services. Taxpayers can also transfer to a designated virtual account or print a payment slip and pay at a financial institution. Failing to file or pay by the deadline may result in penalties, including for nonfiling and late payment. The National Tax Service said taxpayers must file on time if they have income subject to reporting, even if they did not receive a filing notice. The comprehensive income tax return is used to settle multiple types of income earned in the previous year. Taxpayers with income beyond wages — including midyear job changes, side work, financial income or rental income — should confirm whether they must file during the May period. 2026-04-26 15:36:47
  • SBS ‘Unanswered Questions’ Probes Tip Claiming Body Was Not Dumped at Dumulmeori
    SBS ‘Unanswered Questions’ Probes Tip Claiming Body Was Not Dumped at Dumulmeori SBS investigative program ‘Unanswered Questions’ is examining a case in which a body has not been found for 100 days after a reported dumping near Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong. The episode airing April 25 focuses on unanswered questions surrounding the killing and alleged disposal of the body of a delivery driver identified as Lee Jun-woo, a pseudonym. The case surfaced after a 112 emergency call on Jan. 21 reporting that Lee, 34, had been unreachable for several days. The caller, a fellow delivery driver, said he became concerned after recalling that Lee had appeared badly injured days before he vanished. “He had a broken tooth, his face was bruised beyond recognition, and his lip was split badly enough to need stitches,” the colleague told the program’s producers. Co-workers suspected a man surnamed Seong, Lee’s same-age roommate. Witnesses said Seong had been seen assaulting Lee, though Lee had brushed off questions about abuse by saying he was “just hurt.” Seong also claimed he did not know Lee’s whereabouts, saying he thought Lee had gone gambling. Police later reviewed apartment CCTV footage from the night of Jan. 14 that appeared to show Seong dragging Lee, who looked to be dead. Police then arrested Seong on an emergency basis, the program said. In questioning, Seong told police he killed Lee and put the body in a rental car, then drove to Yangpyeong and dumped it. He said the killing happened around 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14 during an argument over gas money, and that he disposed of the body later that night near Yongdam Bridge, close to Dumulmeori. Despite extensive searches by police and fire authorities, Lee’s body has not been found for 100 days, leaving the family unable to hold a funeral, the program said. Relatives suspect the location Seong provided may not be the real site because no body, shoes or clothing have been recovered. The time Seong gave for the killing and details of the disposal have also not been clearly verified, according to the broadcast. The producers said they received a new tip claiming, “It’s Yangpyeong, but not Dumulmeori — I heard it was buried somewhere else.” The tipster also alleged Seong gave a false statement out of fear that, if the body were found, it would reveal he used tools. The tipster said Seong also made remarks that seemed to hint at an accomplice. ‘Unanswered Questions’ airs at 11:10 p.m. on April 25.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-25 22:33:19
  • Michael Jackson Estate Rejects New Child Sex Abuse Claims as Money-Driven Lawsuit
    Michael Jackson Estate Rejects New Child Sex Abuse Claims as Money-Driven Lawsuit New allegations have surfaced that the late pop star Michael Jackson sexually abused minors during his lifetime, claims his estate has forcefully denied as a bid for money. People and other outlets reported on April 24 (local time) that four siblings from the Cascio family said in a recent interview with The New York Times that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children. The siblings filed a lawsuit on Feb. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Jackson’s estate and related parties. Court records list the plaintiffs as Edward Joseph Cascio, Dominic Sabini Cascio, Marie Nicole Forte and Aldo Cascio. Defendants include The Michael Jackson Company, John Branca, John McClain, MJJ Productions, MJJ Ventures, Herman Weisberg and others. The Cascio family was previously reported to have been close enough to Jackson to be described as his “second family.” They met him through their father, who worked at a Manhattan hotel in New York where Jackson often stayed in the 1980s. The siblings said they later visited Jackson’s Neverland home and spent time with him over the years. In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege Jackson abused them over an extended period in the United States and during overseas tours, at Neverland and at the Cascio family’s home in New Jersey. They also allege Jackson emotionally manipulated them from a young age and conditioned them to defend him against outside allegations of sexual abuse. The complaint also alleges Jackson provided them alcohol and drugs and exposed them to pornography. The plaintiffs say some of the alleged abuse began when they were about 7 or 8 and continued into their teens. The siblings had publicly defended Jackson when earlier abuse allegations emerged, and after his death they said in broadcast interviews that he had not behaved inappropriately toward them. They said they came to view their past experiences differently after watching the 2019 HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.” The lawsuit also involves a dispute over a 2020 settlement. The siblings are reported to have received a total of $16 million in an agreement with Jackson’s estate. The plaintiffs contend the settlement was coercive and unfair, while the estate argues the agreement includes an arbitration clause and should be handled through arbitration rather than a public trial. Jackson’s estate rejected the allegations. Estate attorney Martin Singer said in a statement to People that the lawsuit was a “desperate attempt” to get money. He said the Cascio family had defended Jackson and asserted his innocence for more than 25 years, and argued the suit is a strategy to extract a large payout from the estate and related companies. Jackson faced multiple child sexual abuse allegations during his life but was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial. He died in June 2009. The new claims have drawn renewed attention ahead of the May 13 South Korea release of the biographical film “Michael.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-25 20:36:24
  • Lottery Winner Says Set Purchase Led to Pension Lottery 720+ First Prize, Four Second Prizes
    Lottery Winner Says Set Purchase Led to Pension Lottery 720+ First Prize, Four Second Prizes "As soon as I saw the first ticket was a second prize, I figured the first prize must be in the set, so I checked the rest." With attention focused on Donghaeng Lottery’s Lotto draw No. 1221, a winner of Pension Lottery 720+ draw No. 302 — one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets — has shared a story that is drawing interest. In a post on Donghaeng Lottery’s winners’ board, the winner said they usually wait a week or two before checking results, but that day the pension lottery “kept catching my eye,” prompting an earlier check. "As soon as I saw the first ticket was a second prize, I figured the first prize must be in the set, so I checked the rest," the winner wrote. "At first I couldn’t believe it, so I scanned the QR code again and again. When I was sure, I felt a little scared more than happy. When I told close friends, they sincerely congratulated me." The winner added, "I’ve always thought I was unlucky, but this kind of good fortune finally brought me peace of mind. Life has been tough, so I want to put everything down for a while, rest and focus on self-improvement." The tickets were bought at a lottery retailer in Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Asked what they typically buy, the winner said they purchase small amounts of Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets each week. On plans for the winnings, the winner said they intend to repay loans. Winning numbers for Lotto draw No. 1221 can be checked after 8:35 p.m. on April 25.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-25 20:21:17
  • Singer Soyou’s Hannam-dong Villa Draws Attention for 13 Million Won Monthly Rent
    Singer Soyou’s Hannam-dong Villa Draws Attention for 13 Million Won Monthly Rent Singer Soyou’s upscale villa in Seoul’s Hannam-dong neighborhood has been shown publicly, drawing attention to the city’s ultra-high monthly rental market. A video titled “Soyou’s home revealed: 13 million won monthly rent” was posted Thursday afternoon on the YouTube channel “Lee Chang-sub&Jeo Chang-sub.” The video shows Lee Chang-sub visiting Soyou’s home. Soyou said she has lived there for six years and is preparing to move soon. The home is part of a cluster of luxury villas in Hannam-dong. Soyou said she pays rent in a lump sum once a year, a payment method known as “annual rent.” She said the going terms are a 100 million won deposit and about 13 million won in monthly rent, adding that her price is “a bit lower” because she moved in early. At 13 million won a month, the rent totals 156 million won a year. That is separate from the 100 million won deposit and amounts to an annual cash outlay comparable to the jeonse price of a mid-sized apartment. According to the Korea Real Estate Board, the average monthly rent for apartments in Seoul in January was 1.504 million won, and the average in Yongsan-gu was 2.681 million won. A 13 million won monthly rent is about 8.6 times the Seoul average and about 4.8 times the Yongsan-gu average. Hannam-dong is widely seen as one of Seoul’s premier residential areas, with high-end complexes such as Nine One Hannam, Hannam The Hill and Parc Hannam. The area also has many embassies and foreign institutions, alongside demand from high-income professionals, business executives and entertainers. A 244-square-meter unit at Nine One Hannam sold for 15.65 billion won in March, recorded as the highest-priced apartment sale in Seoul this year. Soyou said the area has many embassies and that the building previously drew mostly foreign residents. She also said tenants were screened carefully, adding that “even entertainers were selected” and that move-in conditions were strict. Soyou said she once thought she would live there until she got married, but she no longer plans to marry and does not feel she needs to stay. She also said she has had an experience with a sasaeng fan coming to her home. In the real estate market, some analysts say rents in Hannam-dong’s ultra-high-end housing go beyond basic housing costs and are closer to a “privacy fee.” They cite factors including Han River views, access to central Seoul, large floor plans, security systems and the makeup of residents as creating a pricing structure distinct from the broader rental market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-25 18:12:23
  • MBC’s “True Story Investigation” Probes Alleged Group Assault at Fitness Center
    MBC’s “True Story Investigation” Probes Alleged Group Assault at Fitness Center MBC’s “True Story Investigation” is examining an alleged indiscriminate assault at a gym. The program airing on the 23rd focuses on a group assault that occurred in March at a large fitness center in the greater Seoul area. The victim, Minjun (alias), suffered serious injuries and was taken to an emergency room that day. His family said his face was so swollen it was hard to recognize, and he was bleeding heavily. CCTV footage obtained by the production team shows the assault in a small break room. The conflict began over how sales were credited: team leader Han (alias) challenged the decision by a new trainer, Junseong (alias), to transfer membership sales credit to Minjun. As Minjun protested, the situation escalated quickly. Han demanded a written pledge stating they would fight one-on-one and not report it. The beating began shortly after Minjun signed, according to the broadcast. Han, identified as a fourth-degree judo black belt, was suspected of using judo techniques during the assault. Witnesses said blood pooled on the floor to the point it stuck to shoes, and bloodstains extended into the hallway. The response afterward also drew criticism. The broadcast cited claims that people involved drove witnesses out and told staff to wipe blood from the hallway, raising allegations of an attempt to destroy evidence. Police received a report at 10:23 p.m., about two hours after the assault, it said. The gym is also accused of issuing work instructions to block refunds for the victim’s clients while he was hospitalized, instead of offering an apology or visiting him. “True Story Investigation” said it will review what happened inside the gym and questions surrounding the handling of the case. The episode airs at 9 p.m. on the 23rd.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 20:33:43
  • Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 312 Numbers Draw Attention as Past Winner Shares Story
    Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 312 Numbers Draw Attention as Past Winner Shares Story "We married later in life and have a daughter born in 2019, and I think she has brought us good luck." With attention focused on the Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 312 winning numbers on the 23rd, a personal account from a Draw 294 winner has resurfaced online. The winner said they held one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets in Draw 294. In a post on Donghaeng Lottery’s winners’ bulletin board, the winner said they bought the Draw 294 ticket after feeling disappointed in the previous draw, when a similar number came up but they won only a seventh prize. The winner said they later checked the results at home using a QR code and first realized they had won second prize. "I was happy and grateful just for that," the winner wrote. Then, remembering that set purchases can result in simultaneous wins, they checked the remaining tickets and discovered they had won both first and second prizes. The winner said they shared the news with their spouse, and the couple comforted each other by saying, "You worked hard," adding they felt they could live more happily going forward. The winner also wrote that they married later in life and have a daughter born in 2019, saying they believe the child has brought them good fortune. The ticket was purchased at a lottery retailer in Yangpyeong-eup, Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province. Asked what they usually buy, the winner said they purchase small amounts of Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets. For the winnings, the winner said they plan to repay loans and set aside money for their child and for retirement. The Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 312 winning numbers will be available after 7:05 p.m. today (23rd).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 18:51:57