A Papa John’s franchise owner who sued a part-time employee for allegedly stealing 37 photocards of K-pop group IVE has lost the case, with the court ruling that the items were taken with the manager’s consent.
According to legal reports released on November 11, the Seoul Northern District Court’s Civil Division 3-2 (Presiding Judge Heo Sun Ah) dismissed the franchise owner’s appeal, upholding the original decision that there was no proof of embezzlement.
Papa John’s Korea has previously collaborated with the popular K-pop girl group IVE, offering exclusive photocards with specific pizza orders. During the 2023 promotion, the Jungnang-gu, Seoul branch purchased 250 photocards from headquarters for approximately ₩270,000 KRW (about $185 USD).
The dispute arose when a part-time employee, referred to as “A,” took 37 photocards over four separate occasions. The franchise owner accused A of embezzlement, claiming that the missing photocards prevented the sale of promotional pizzas. The owner sought ₩1.47 million KRW (approximately $1,010 USD) in damages covering the cost of the photocards and pizzas priced at ₩35,000 KRW each.
The owner also filed a criminal complaint, but prosecutors dismissed the case due to a lack of evidence.
During the trial, the employee acknowledged taking the photocards but insisted it was done with the store manager’s permission. The manager later confirmed this in testimony.
After reviewing surveillance footage and other evidence, the court found no signs of theft or concealment. Judge Heo stated in the verdict:
“It is reasonable to conclude that the part-timer took the photocards with the manager’s consent.”
The court also referenced a recorded phone call between the store manager and the employee’s mother, during which the manager apologized for allowing the photocards to be taken.
Given that the manager was responsible for both staff supervision and event operations, the court recognized that the manager had the authority to permit the employee’s actions.
As a result, the judge ruled that there was no basis for an embezzlement claim, and the lawsuit was fully dismissed.
The case drew attention among both K-pop fans and franchise industry observers, as it involved official IVE promotional merchandise—a type of collectible that can carry significant resale value.
Legal experts noted that the court’s decision underscores the importance of managerial responsibility and communication in franchise operations, particularly when handling limited-edition promotional materials.
Neither Papa John’s Korea nor the involved branch has released an official statement following the ruling.
Sources: Koreaboo
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