CHON to roll out free digital membership and event pass services

CHON Inc. will begin wide distribution of two free services at its Investor Day in Seoul on Sept. 16: a small-business membership tool and MOIM PASS, a digital event pass. The launch is designed to help merchants and organizers own verified customer and attendee relationships without relying on central platforms.

Why it matters: - CHON is targeting two common pain points at once: small businesses that cannot easily reach their regular customers and event organizers that struggle to verify attendance. - The services are built to keep verified relationships on users' own devices, which CHON says reduces dependence on platforms that control customer lists, messaging and event data. - The rollout could matter most for invitation-only gatherings and neighborhood merchants that want direct contact with customers without ad spend or commissions.

What happened: - CHON Inc. said it will begin large-scale distribution of two free services after its Investor Day at COEX in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. - The two services are a customer membership solution for small businesses and MOIM PASS, a digital event pass. - Both services use CHON's mutual authentication technology, which lets two parties confirm a relationship from their own devices. - CHON said the resulting connection is stored on the devices rather than on a central server.

The details: - For merchants, a customer scans a QR code at the table, confirms the connection in a few taps and receives a digital membership card and points. - CHON said the owner's customer list then accumulates on the owner's smartphone, allowing direct messages about promotions, menu changes or return visits. - CHON said the merchant service has been piloted at retail locations in Seoul and is provided free of charge. - For event organizers, an invitation link sent through the CHON app lets recipients confirm in a few taps and receive a one-time digital pass. - CHON said RSVPs are tallied in real time, and a single QR scan at the door admits the guest. - Re-entry after stepping out is automatic, and the system delivers a spreadsheet after the event that separates registrants, no-shows and actual attendees. - CHON said a screenshot of someone else's QR code does not work because each pass is tied to a verified identity. - CHON said the pass expires and is deleted after the event under its