Broadcaster Ji Yeon-su quits gomtang restaurant job after arm muscle tear
In short
Ji Yeon-su, a South Korean broadcaster, said she has quit her part-time job at a gomtang restaurant because of an injury to her right arm that she said left the muscle torn. She said she had worked through the pain with only physical therapy, and that she is already looking for work within about a 10-minute walk of her home. She also said online reaction to her has shifted from hostile to supportive.
Read the full story 2 min read
Ji Yeon-su, a South Korean broadcaster, said she has quit her part-time job at a gomtang restaurant because of an injury to her right arm. Chosun Ilbo, Newsis and Maeil Business all reported the departure. She announced it on her YouTube channel “지연수의 연수롭다” on 5 October, according to Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business, and said she is on leave for the time being. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Maeil Business reported that she had continued working through pain and receiving only physical therapy, and that a proper examination found the muscle was torn and that she was in a state in which she should not work. She said the damage appeared to have accumulated from repeatedly pulling on dresses during her time working at a wedding shop. [ 3 ]
She said she does not intend to stop working altogether. According to Maeil Business, she is browsing for jobs within roughly a 10-minute walk of her home and submitting applications, and said, “전 놀지 않을 거다.” The outlet reported she had earlier drawn attention for working at the gomtang restaurant without revealing that she was a broadcaster, to cover living costs and her son's upbringing. [ 3 ]
She said the online response to her has changed. She told Maeil Business she once had trouble sleeping and needed sedatives before reading comments because of malicious ones, but that she now finds herself waiting for them, adding that she finds it hard to believe she has days like this. The outlet said public reaction included concern and support, with people urging her to take care of her health and recover fully before working again. [ 3 ]
Maeil Business reported that she married Eli, formerly of the group U-KISS, in 2014, had a son, and divorced in 2020, since when she has raised the child alone. It added that Eli recently announced a remarriage. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
This is a personal story about a South Korean entertainer's health and working life rather than a public policy or business development, so its wider significance is limited. Its coverage reflects continued public interest in Ji Yeon-su's circumstances after she drew attention for taking a restaurant job, with reports noting public calls for her to recover before returning to work.
Key facts
- Ji Yeon-su, a South Korean broadcaster, said she quit her job at a gomtang restaurant because of an injury to her right arm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said she is on leave from work for the time being. [ 1 , 3 ]
- She said the muscle in her arm was torn and that she had worked through pain while receiving only physical therapy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said the injury appeared to have accumulated from years of pulling on dresses while working at a wedding shop. [ 3 ]
- She said she is already searching for part-time work within about a 10-minute walk of her home and submitting applications. [ 3 ]
- She said she once needed sedatives before reading online comments because of malicious ones, but now looks forward to them. [ 3 ]
- Maeil Business reported she married Eli, formerly of the group U-KISS, in 2014, divorced in 2020 and has raised their son alone; Eli recently announced a remarriage. [ 3 ]
- She had previously drawn attention for working at the gomtang restaurant without revealing that she was a broadcaster. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How severe the arm injury is and what treatment she will receive Only Maeil Business describes the diagnosis and the suspected cause in detail; the other outlets carry the headline claim that the muscle was torn without further specifics.
- Whether she has secured a new job She said she is searching and submitting applications, but the documents do not say she has been hired.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Ji Yeon-su announces on her YouTube channel that she has left the gomtang restaurant job (local date 5 October; no time given). [ 1 , 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on her departure from the restaurant job. [ 1 ]
- Newsis publishes a headline reporting the same departure and injury. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes a detailed account of the injury, her job search and her comments about online reaction. [ 3 ]