Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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Aespa's Winter just shared the real story behind her newly adopted puppy, completely shutting down all the random online speculation that she got the dog from a pet shop.

During a voice live broadcast she held on a fan communication platform on the 23rd, Winter spent some time talking about the puppy that recently became part of her family. When fans asked where she actually got the dog, Winter clarified:

"It came from a shelter. I heard the puppy had been at an auction, but no one took it, and it was at risk of being sent to a breeding facility. The shelter rescued it from there and that's why I adopted it."

 

The whole issue started back on the 18th when Winter first posted a few photos of a young puppy on her personal social media account to announce the adoption. She was being a totally relatable, stressed-out first-time dog owner, asking fans questions like, "If a puppy sleeps with its eyes rolled black, should I close them?" and "How do you train a puppy to stop nipping?"

Even though it was a wholesome moment, as soon as those photos were posted on the internet, speculation about how she got a puppy that young started spreading like a wildfire across online communities and social media. People started leaving completely unverified claims, saying things like, "It looks like a purebred dog. Did she get it from a pet shop?" and "Did she pay to get the puppy?"

Fortunately, Winter didn't let the rumors linger and used her live broadcast to explain that she adopted a rescue dog from a shelter, clearing the air immediately.

Recently, public interest in pet adoption culture has risen significantly, so everyone is paying extra attention to where pets actually come from. Because issues like illegal breeding facilities and animal auctions are becoming major social issues, shelter adoption is getting a lot of support lately. This is why more celebrities are starting to openly explain their pets' background to get ahead of any potential misunderstandings. 

By giving the backstory of how she saved her puppy, Winter was able to share this new chapter with her fans in a completely transparent way.

Aespa's Winter shuts down rumors that she got her puppy from a pet shop

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TWICE is officially entering another contract renewal season and word just got out that Jeongyeon recently had a meeting with VARO Entertainment.

A representative from JYP Entertainment stated to Xports News on the 24th:

"TWICE is currently in the process of discussing contract renewals. The company and the members are continuing careful discussions while respecting each other's wishes. We will provide an update once things are finalized."

Earlier that day, reports revealed Jeongyeon had a meeting with VARO Entertainment. If that agency sounds familiar, it's because they manage some huge names, including actor Byun Wooseok and Jeongyeon's older sister, actress Gong Seungyeon.

Regarding this matter, VARO Entertainment quickly clarified things, saying:

"It's true that we had a meeting with Jeongyeon, but nothing has been finalized regarding an exclusive contract."

If we look back, TWICE debuted in 2015, and all the members successfully renewed their contracts together in July 2022. Now that they're entering another contract renewal season, public interest is growing over whether the members will re-sign and keep promoting together as a full group.

SOURCE: (1)

TWICE's Jeongyeon reportedly meets VARO Entertainment amid contract renewal discussions

Former NCT member Mark Lee has recently come under fire and issued an apology after being spotted in a T-shirt featuring a symbol tied to far-right ideology.

The backlash prompted a response from his independent agency, Upper Room, which posted a lengthy apoloy statement on their social meddia accounts on the 23rd. The agency stated:

"We sincerely apologize for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt seen in recently shared photos."

The agency explained that once they realized the historical background and sensitivity of the symbol displayed on the shirt, they tried to make sure it wouldn't be visible in official content. They admitted, "Despite these efforts, the image was still shared and has sparked concern." The agency continued:

"Regardless of our intentions, we recognize that we should have handled this with much greater caution. Overlooking this was entirely our responsibility." 

They also further added, "We understand the seriousness of the concerns that have been raised and deeply apologize for the pain caused by this incident."

Wrapping up the statement, the company noted, "We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended, or disappointed by this matter. We promise to act with a greater sense of responsibility, awareness, and attention in the future."

To break down why everyone is so upset, the T-shirt Mark wore featured the Confederate flag. This was the official flag of the Confederate states that supported slavery during the American Civil War. Over the course of the 20th century, the flag became widely recognized as a symbol of racism and far-right movements. In fact, displaying or selling merchandise with the Confederate flag is actually restricted or banned in certain parts of the United States.

The situation is getting extra attention given that Mark is a Canadian citizen and literally just left SM Entertainment to establish his own independent label, Upper Room, making this a pretty rocky start for his solo chapter.

Former NCT's Mark Lee issues an apology after wearing Confederate flag T-Shirt

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IOI's Choi Yoojung opened up about how profit distribution works in idol groups and shared the harsh reality of idol earnings after nearly 10 years in the industry.

Recently, Kian84 visited Choi Yoojung's home in a new video titled 'With Choi Yoojung,' which just dropped on the Youtube channel 'Life84' on the 23rd. Since Choi Yoojung is currently preparing for a solo album release, the two had plenty to talk about.

When Kian84 asked if she gives her mom allowance money, Choi Yoojung replied, "Not very often, but I do whenever I can." She added, "Once I receive my settlement payment, I'll be able to give her some soon," and then laughed about how she told her mom just yesterday, "I think this album is going to do well," to which her mom jokingly replied, "Let's stay close."

Since Choi Yoojung is now hitting her 10th year since debut, Kian84 naturally brought up the income situation. He asked, "Hasn't it been 10 years since your debut? Shouldn't your earnings be pretty good by now?"

But Choi Yoojung completely shattered the illusion and honestly replied:

"Unless you become extremely successful, it's actually not easy to make a profit."

Kian84 was totally shocked by her answer and countered, "But weren't you successful? You placed 3rd on 'Produce 101,' released a solo album, and even did musicals. 'Produce 101' wasn't just watched by idol stans, it was a national phenomenon." Choi Yoojung replied, "We didn't realize it at the time. We only understood how big it was after it ended."

If you haven't been keeping up, IOI recently reunited for the first time in 10 years, and they've been generating massive buzz after their new song 'Suddenly' sweep the #1 spot on music charts.

Then, Kian84 went for the ultimate question: "If you make 100 million KRW in profit, how much would you actually get?"

Choi Yoojung broke down the reality of the corporate structure, explaining:

"Inevitably, they cut a huge chunk out. Everyone has their own agencies, and then there are the members too. I just get whatever is left over."

Hearing how crazy the split is, Kian84 noted, "There has to be something left for you too. Otherwise, how can you stay motivated?" But Choi Yoojung made it clear that the reunion was purely about the bond, not the paycheck. She said, "If everyone only thought that way, we wouldn't be able to reunite," and revealed, "Our reunion actually fell through twice before."

SOURCE: (1), (2)

Choi Yoojung reveals the harsh reality of idol earnings