Rumors of Jeon Hyun-moo and Hong Joo-yeon’s Relationship Resurface

The dating rumors between Jeon Hyun-moo and announcer Hong Joo-yeon have reignited. On the January 19 episode of KBS2's 'Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears', announcer Eom Ji-in made a reappearance and shared insights about the two's secret meetings.

During the episode, Lee Soon-sil prepared a cooking show featuring North Korean cuisine to celebrate the successful sale of a new dumpling product. After overcoming various challenges, the cooking show concluded successfully, and the dumplings sold out. To celebrate, Lee held a staff dinner, but the menu consisted only of leftover dumplings and a side of squid sausage, which drew some jeers from the staff.

Lee shared her experiences as a defector, saying, "We come here without parents or siblings, living alone until we find a partner. But I have in-laws. I once brought cold noodles to my father-in-law, and he asked how to eat them properly. I told him to dip them in soy sauce and sprinkle some chili powder. But how can I tell my father-in-law to eat like that?" She reflected on the cultural differences, explaining that in North Korea, respect is only given to leaders, not to elders or family members.

Na Min-hee, another guest, expressed her curiosity about having in-laws, noting that her husband is from Pyongyang and that she has nowhere to go during holidays. Lee invited her to her home, creating a warm atmosphere. Min-hee also shared her experience of defecting in just ten hours, highlighting the fierce competition she faced to become a foreign currency worker abroad.

She recounted, "I made an excuse to leave for a restaurant job and first went to Germany. I wanted to come to Korea, but North Korea could make anyone disappear in Europe, while they could use family as leverage in Korea or the U.S. to punish or deport you. I avoided that by going to Germany, but the North Korean embassy was still pursuing me. I thought no one would protect me if they caught me, so I decided to go to the safest place, which was Korea. I called the consulate, and they flew me out in just ten hours. It was shocking when I arrived, and they greeted me with, 'Ms. Na Min-hee, you’ve worked hard.' I realized the class of South Korea is no joke. I felt I had come here so easily."

Lee Soon-sil remarked on the hardships faced by defectors, noting her own ten-year journey to reach South Korea, starting her attempts in 1997. She mentioned that in South Korea, events are held where North and South Koreans meet, often resulting in many couples forming.

As the conversation shifted, Jeon Hyun-moo humorously commented on the dating rumors surrounding him, saying, "There are already so many dating articles out there. If I participate, it might even include North Korean women!" This prompted laughter from the group.

Later, when Eom Ji-in entered the studio, Jeon congratulated her on her recent award from the Announcer Association for her work in the entertainment sector. Eom expressed her joy, stating she received two awards this year.

However, Kim Sook raised suspicions about Jeon’s sudden interest in the show's outfits, leading to a video reveal. In the clip, Eom presented a cake to Hong Joo-yeon on Christmas Eve, saying it was from Jeon Hyun-moo. This revelation caused a stir in the studio, with Park Myung-soo jokingly calling it trash.

Eom explained that she had been contacted by the production team to deliver the cake, knowing Hong was on duty that night. Jeon Hyun-moo cheekily suggested that Hong must have informed her about it. Lee Soon-sil added that in North Korea, giving food like cake to a woman signifies a marriage proposal, to which Jeon humorously replied, "This is the South."

The cake also came with a handwritten note from Jeon, which surprised everyone. The note read, "Working late on Christmas Eve? Enjoy this cake to lighten the mood." Eom was astonished that Jeon had written a letter by hand, while Lee expressed her disappointment at not receiving similar gestures during their long shoots.

When asked if he and Hong had been dating, Jeon clarified that he had also worked late on Christmas Eve and wanted to cheer her up, recalling how lonely it felt to be on duty without any messages from friends.

Hong Joo-yeon later sent a video message thanking Jeon for the sweet cake, wishing him a warm end to the year. Kim Sook jokingly asked if there was a ring involved, while announcer Heo Yoo-won expressed his surprise at the note, leading Jeon to worry about potential controversies arising from the situation.

Eom Ji-in thanked everyone for the cake, and Kim Sook remarked on Jeon’s warm side, while Park Myung-soo teased him about being seen on TV. Jeon dismissed the dating rumors, stating that he had been checking in on Hong to see if the rumors were stressing her out, but she assured him it was not a concern.