On July 9th, the 171st episode of Channel A’s variety show 'Trendy Men's Lifestyle' aired, revealing an unexpected twist in the long-standing friendship between singer Kim Jong Min of Koyote and MMA fighter-turned-TV personality Kim Dong Hyun.
The episode followed Kim Jong Min’s return from his honeymoon, during which he met with his married friends Kim Dong Hyun and Moon Se Yoon to seek advice about starting a family. While sharing a meal at a popular restaurant, the conversation turned to Dong Hyun’s 2018 wedding.
Moon Se Yoon asked whether Kim Jong Min had attended Dong Hyun’s wedding. Jong Min appeared momentarily confused, asking, “When did you get married?” to which Dong Hyun responded that the wedding took place in September 2018. Kim Jong Min was confirmed to have been present and even took photos with the groom at the time.
However, when the topic of wedding gifts came up, Dong Hyun admitted, “Honestly, I checked the guest list and the names of those who gave cash gifts, and your name wasn’t there. I didn’t want to be rude by giving more than someone who gave a lot, so I looked closely but I couldn’t find your name.”
Kim Jong Min was visibly taken aback and insisted, “I definitely did not forget to give a wedding gift. If I attended, I absolutely would have given something.” Dong Hyun, while understanding, admitted, “I’m human too. I felt a bit hurt for about three minutes.” Moon Se Yoon tried to mediate by suggesting, “Maybe he transferred it directly to your bank account,” to which Kim Jong Min added, “That’s usually how I do it.”
Back in the studio, Kim Jong Min revisited the situation, revealing that he had checked his bank records and found no trace of a transaction. “This isn’t an excuse,” he clarified. “At the time, I gave the gift to my manager to pass along. I went straight into the venue and asked him to deliver it. But he had a history of making mistakes with this kind of thing.”
Although he did not name the individual, many speculate the person in question was his former manager. This suspicion is reinforced by an earlier revelation from fellow Koyote member Bbaekga, who shared a similar experience on the 'Cultwo Show' in 2021. In 2023, Bbaekga confirmed, “Our manager was pocketing the congratulatory money.”
After hearing the full story, Moon Se Yoon remarked, “This is a well-known incident,” and singer Lee Seung Chul jokingly asked, “Then shouldn’t you pay him back now?” prompting laughter in the studio.
Kim Dong Hyun, unaware of the mishap until now, graciously said, “I must have missed it,” to which Kim Jong Min responded with sincere regret, “He even blamed himself. I felt so sorry.”
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