'Plastic surgery allegations' Hong Jinkyung's daughter, Rael, finally can be reached ... "Mom's post is worse than the articles"

SOURCE: '성형 의혹' 홍진경 딸 라엘, 연락 닿았다…"기사보다 엄마 게시물이 더 심각" [엑's 이슈]

Hong Jinkyung shared an update on her daughter, Rael, after rumors surfaced abut her allegedly having plastic surgery.

On the 8th, Hong Jinkyung posted a message and photo on her personal account, saying, "I finally got in touch with Rael... I'm sorry for causing concerns. From Hong Jinkyung and her daughter."

The photo showed text messages exchanged between Hong Jinkyung and her daughter. Hong Jinkyung asked, "Rael-ah, where are you? It's not time for dinner right now. Why couldn't you be reached the whole day? Since yesterday! South Korea has been in an uproar since yesterday because of your photos!" It also showed that Hong Jinkyung tried to call Rael, but the call did not go through.

Hong Jinkyung then asked, "You saw the articles about you, right? There were so many articles!" Rael replied, "I saw them... I'm sorry..." before adding, "But Mom, your post is a more serious problem for me right now," drawing laughter.

Hong Jinkyung scolded her, "Hey!!! Your whole life is fake right now!!" Rael responded humorously, saying, "Mom, let's just go on that show together. 'Fake Life.' Tell them to make a special episode for Hong Jinkyung and her daughter," and then added, "I have to protect my mental health like this. As a human victory," showing her witty side sho got from her mother.

Regarding this, Hong Jinkyung replied, "Don't ever do that again, seriously. Everyone was shocked. A student wearing such sexy makeup... They thought you got plastic surgery! Don't ever do that again. Seriously. Just accept your bare face. You have to live as yourself!" Rael quickly apologized, saying, "Yes. I'm sorry."

However, Hong Jinkyung's scolding still continued, "So what if you have a slightly square jaw? So what if you have chubby cheeks? That's what makes you Kim Rael." Rael joked again, "Still, please show a little respect to the many Meitu users in this world. Meitu is really that good. It even removed your blemishes last time, Mom," drawing laughter.

Along with this, Hong Jinkyung emphasized, "I'm posting this with Rael's permission... And for the record, this is not Meitu ads," clarifying that it was not a paid promotion for the editing app.

Previously, Rael had drawn attention with a noticeably different visual, sparking rumors of plastic surgery. In response, Hong Jinkyung clarified by revealing unedited recent photos of Rael, explaining that the misunderstanding was caused by too much editing.

TOP COMMENTS:

1. [+517][-7] Rael-ah, but seriously, you look way prettier in the photos that your mom posted!!!!

2. [+397][-1] ㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ After reading the clarification post, I thought a war was about to break out between them

3. [+320][-3] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

4. [+79][-0] Rael is so kindㅋㅋㅋ She’s so cheerful, just like her mom.

5. [+50][-0] This sounds like a sitcomㅋㅋㅋ

Continue reading 'Plastic surgery allegations' Hong Jinkyung's daughter, Rael, finally can be reached ... "Mom's post is worse than the articles"

Paid money and was even sexually harassed ... "The rice of dreaming to be a K-pop idol was high"

SOURCE: 돈 내고 성추행까지…"K팝 아이돌을 꿈 꾼 대가는 컸다"

A report by the UK's BBC has revealed that foreign trainees who came to South Korea with dreams of becoming K-pop idols are facing high costs, unclear management, and even allegations of sexual harassment. As K-pop has grown into a global cultural industry, there are concerns about lack of laws and responsibility behind the scenes.

On the 7th (local time), BBC highlighted the stories of foreign trainees, including a teenage girl from Japan named Miyu (not her real name).

Miyu came to South Korea in 2024 with a dream of becoming a K-pop idol and signed up for a 6-month course at a K-pop training academy in Seoul. She revealed that she paid 3 million JPY (about 27 million KRW) in exchange for professional dance and vocal lessons, as well as opportunities to audition for major entertainment agencies. However, Miyu claims that the actual program was different from what was promised in the contract.

In her interview with the BBC, Miyu said, "They told me the auditions would be held every week, but not a single one ever happened." She added, "Both the number of classes and the level of training were lower than expected, given the price."

Miyu also claimed that she felt severe anxiety and fear due to the behavior of a senior staff member during training. She said, "He took me to a convenience store, saying that he would buy me an ice cream. But then he put his hand on my waist and told me, 'You have a nice body.'" She added that he once called her to his office to discuss outfits for a photo shoot and told her to 'sit on his lap.'

Miyu said, "I came here because I wanted to be an idol, but I felt like I was scammed." She added, "This was the place where I chased my dreams, but it also became a place that traumatized me."

The BBC also shared testimonies from two other foreign trainees who attended the same academy. One of them, Ellin (not her real name), claimed she was touched inappropriately by the same staff member. Another trainee said she was not directly harmed, but witnessed inappropriate behavior toward other trainees. The two of them also stated that audition opportunities were not provided as promised.

Ellin reported the staff member to the police for sexual harassment and trespassing, but the case was closed due to a lack of evidence. She also filed a separate lawsuit against the company. Both the staff member and the company denied all allegations. Legal representative of the company told BBC, "The company's rule strictly forbids male staff from entering female trainee's dorms without a female staff member present." They also argued that the CCTV in the dorms was installed for protection purposes and the trainees were already told about it beforehand.

BBC pointed out that these problems didn't happen just because of an individual's misconduct, but from a lack of legal protection. K-pop training institutions are usually classified as academies under the Ministry of Education or as entertainment agencies. The academy Miyu attended was registered as an entertainment agency, which means it's not subject to education law. While it falls under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the training programs themselves are not subject to regular inspections or rules. An official from the Ministry of Education told BBC, "Under the current system, it's difficult to regulate 'academy-style agencies' for foreigners."

The competition for foreign trainees is also very tough. According to an industry report cited by BBC, there were 963 trainees in Korean agencies back in 2024, which is half of the number in 2020. While the number of foreign trainees has increased in recent years, their overall percentage is still low. Event after training for an average of 2 years, only about 60% of them successfully make their debuts. For foreigners, the barrier is even higher due to language, visa, and lack of connections.

Nevertheless, the success stories of global stars continue to bring young people to South Korea. Miyu said she dreamed of being a K-pop idol after seeing BLACKPINK's Thai member, Lisa. These days, K-pop features idols from various countries like Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

BBC concluded, "Behind the global success, there are cases of failure where people were not protected." They noted that the K-pop industry needs responsibility and legal systems hat match its fame. I her interview, Ellin saiid, "K-pop has gained worldwide fame, and responsibility comes with that fame. I hope children who are chasing this dream can live in a safer environment."

Continue reading Paid money and was even sexually harassed ... "The rice of dreaming to be a K-pop idol was high"

Kang Seungyoon makes hundreds of millions KRW in a month ... "My royalties are in the hundred-million-KRW range"

SOURCE: 강승윤, 한달에 수억 벌었다…"저작권료가 억 단위, 효자곡 있다"

WINNER's Kang Seungyoon revealed that the copyright royalties from the song 'Really Really' are in the hundreds of millions KRW range.

On the 6th, the episode 17 of MBN and Channel S' 'Jeon Hyunmoo's Plan 3' showed Jeon Hyunmoo, Kwaktube (Kwak Junbin), Kim Jinwoo, and Kang Seungyoon visiting a Western-style restaurant loved by citizens of Anyang city.

In this episode, Jeon Hyunmoo asked, "Is it true that you have a song that became the first song by a Korean male idol to surpass 100 million streams?" Kang Seungyoon replied, "That's right. Usually, popular male idol songs only reach ten of millions of steams per year, but 'Really Really' hit 100 millions streams in South Korea just 39 weeks after its release."

Surprised, Kwaktube asked, "Who wrote and composed the song?" to which Kang Seungyoon replied, "I did." When Jeon Hyunmoo said, "If it has 100 million streams, the royalties must be huge," Kang Seungyoon honestly revealed, "I have received hundreds of millions of KRW in a single month from the royalties."

Jeon Hyunmoo reacted with his mouth wide open, saying, "That song must be like a filial son to you!" showing his envy. Kwaktube joked, "So that's why he wears so many accessories."

Continue reading Kang Seungyoon makes hundreds of millions KRW in a month ... "My royalties are in the hundred-million-KRW range"

Ailee♥Choi Sihoon furious over 'Single's Inferno 5' villain Choi Mina Sue's rudeness ... "If that was me, I wouldn't even look at her"

SOURCE: 에일리♥최시훈, '솔지5' 빌런 최미나수 무례함에 분노.."나같으면 쳐다도 안 봐"[스타이슈]

On the 7th, a video titled '(ENG) Thanks to Ms. Choi Mina Sue, it's very entertaining,' was posted on the Youtube channel 'Ailee's Newlywed Diary.'

In the video, Ailee watched episode 4 of the popular Netflix dating show 'Single's Inferno 5' while eating Chicken Knife-cut Noodle Soup that Choi Sihoon had cooked himself.

The couple couldn't hide their surprise when Choi Mina Sue showed interest in multiple men at the same time. Choi Sihoon cheered, "Thanks to Choi Mina Sue-ssi, this is really entertaining," while Ailee commented, "Some people's hearts just change quickly. Like the MCs said, she's very honest. I think she might have taken the questions very literally, with a Western mindset."

Later, when Choi Mina Sue was on her way to talk with Lim Subeen, but Song Seungil suddenly spoke to her, she drew a line with Lmim Subeen and said, "Let's talk later." The couple was left speechless by this rude behavior.

Ailee said, "I think Subeen must've felt very offended. This makes no sense. He probably felt disrespected," clicking her tongue in disapproval.

Choi Sihoon also reacted angrily, saying, "If it were me, I wouldn't even look at her there." Ailee added with a mix of disbelief and anger, saying, "I would've been very offended too. It's not just being offended, but deeply disappointed by her basic attitude and how she treats people."

Meanwhile, Choi Mina Sue has been drawing attention on 'Single's Inferno 5' for showing interest in four men at the same time and for acting in a way that crosses the line between honesty and rudeness. She was the runner-up for Miss Korea in 2021 and became the first Korean to win Miss Earth the following year in Manila, Philippines.

Continue reading Ailee♥Choi Sihoon furious over 'Single's Inferno 5' villain Choi Mina Sue's rudeness ... "If that was me, I wouldn't even look at her"

Is that Tablo's daughter, Haru? Comments explode over her fluent English and pronunciation at the age of 16 ... An update on her 'rapid growth'

SOURCE: 타블로 딸 하루라고? '16세' 유창한 영어+발음에 댓글 폭발…'폭풍성장' 근황

Recently, a video titled 'Tukutz shares the story of how a stalker broke into his house' was posted on Epik High's Youtube channel.

In the video, Tablo told Tukutz, "You look cool. You had real 'pose'," then asked, "Do people still use that expression?" Tukutz replied, "That's something people in their 40s would use. We stopped using that expression after 2010, didn't we?"

Tablo continued, "By the time BIGBANG debuted, didn't people stop using the word 'pose'? Was it 'cap,' 'jjang,' 'ganzi,' and then 'pose'?" As they talked about old slang, Tukutz added, "Before that, there was 'Ttabong,'" drawing laughter.

Tablo said, "No one really uses the English word 'swag' anymore now. It's basically the same as us saying 'Ttabong,'" to which Tukutz replied, "Don't people say 'lit' these days?"

When the staff started murmuring, Tablo laughed and said, "That's such an Ahjussi thing to say. I was so shocked the moment you said 'lit.' I'll ask Haru. For kids her age, slang changes almost every one or two weeks," then tried to call his daughter, Haru. Mithra joked, "At this point, aren't they just making things up as they go?" Tukutz added, "If it changes every one or two weeks, it's not even a language."

Tablo asked Haru,"How do you say things like 'This is jjang,' or 'This is cool'?" Haru naturally spoke in English, saying, "Something like 'That's awesome.' People don't use the word 'swag' anymore."

Tablo then said, "Uncle Tukutz asked if people still use 'lit'," and Haru replied, "Some people use it sometimes, but I personally don't really say 'Oh, that's lit.'"

Tablo then asked, "Is it uncool for Uncle Tukutz to say that?" Haru answered, "Not exactly. These days, one specific word doesn't stay trendy for long. People mostly say 'That's awesome' or 'Great.'"

Haru, who was born in 2010 and is now 16 years old, caught attention not only for her fluent English but also for her noticeably more mature voice, even heard only over the phone.

Tablo married actress Kang Hyejung in 2009 and has a daughter, Haru. Tablo and Hau received a lot love from viewers when they appeared on KBS2's 'The Return of Superman' back in 2013.

TOP COMMENTS:

1. [+359][-18] She looks just like Tablo with long hairㅋㅋㅋ They look exactly the same.

2. [+249][-16] They look exactly the sameㅋㅋㅋㅋ They look exactly the same.

3. [+247][-56] She’s pretty. She looks exactly like her mom before plastic surgery.

4. [+35][-7] Her dad has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in English Literature from Stanford University. That explains everything.

5. [+31][-0] Did Kang Hyejung retire from acting??? Such a waste of talent.

Continue reading Is that Tablo's daughter, Haru? Comments explode over her fluent English and pronunciation at the age of 16 ... An update on her 'rapid growth'

Hong Jinkyung explains her daughter Rael's changed appearance: "It's all edited ... I've became a mom who shaved off her daughter's jaw"

SOURCE: 홍진경, 딸 라엘 달라진 외모 해명 "다 보정…턱 깎아준 엄마 돼"[스타이슈]

Hong Jinkyung addressed the buzz surrounding her daughter Rael's changed appearance.

On the 8th, Hong Jinkyung posted a photo on her Instagram along with hashtags like "Kim Rael in real life, before editing, after editing, a fake life."

She added, "Rael-ah, isn't this basically a scam at this point? You should come on the show 'Fake Life' too. I will post my conversation with Rael later after getting her permission," and shared screenshots of her conversations with acquaintances.

Recently, updates on Hong Jinkyung's daughter, Rael, were shared on social media. She drew a lot of attention after showing off K-pop idol-like visuals and a noticeably different vibes.

Hong Jinkyung told an acquaintance, "She's driving me crazy. It's all editing. I think there's some app for that, where you can make yourself look like some Chinese beauty or something." She added, "Her photos are all over the internet, but I can't even reach her."

Hong Jinkyung then personally revealed Rael's photos before and after editing. Regarding this, Lee Jihye commented, "Why are you going out of your way to reveal this?" and Gwedo commented, "Noona, did you post this after getting Rael's permission?" Hong Jinkyung replied, "No, I didn't. The situation is so serious that I just posted it. I've become a mom who shaved her underage daughter's jaw. She's driving me insane."

Meanwhile, Hong Jinkyung marries a non-celebrity businessman in 2013 and has one daughter, Rael. Last year, she announced that she and her husband divorced after 22 years of marriage and are now going their separate ways. 

TOP COMMENTS: 

1. [+385][-13] ㅋㅋ As expected, Hong Jinkyung is so funnyㅋㅋㅋ She’s doing a great job as an MC on 'Single’s Inferno' tooㅋㅋㅋ

2. [+227][-4] Who even believes photos these days? Everyone knows they’re edited.

3. [+194][-9] A 'fake life' passed down through generationsㅋㅋㅋ

4. [+25][-0] Rael is already so pretty and cute. I hope she doesn’t get hurt and grows up well.

5. [+19][-2] I really hope Rael doesn’t get hurt by this.

Continue reading Hong Jinkyung explains her daughter Rael's changed appearance: "It's all edited ... I've became a mom who shaved off her daughter's jaw"

'He looks like K-pop idol' Figure skater Cha Junhwan draws attention with his looks .. Huge reactions from Japan and Italy: 'He's so cute'

SOURCE: "K-POP 아이돌 같아" 피겨 간판 차준환 외모 인기 폭발…일본+이탈리아 반응 초대박 "최고로 귀엽다"

The looks of South Korea's leading figure skater Cha Junhwan win hearts even in Japan.

On the 7th, the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics was held at the San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, Italy. It marked the first-ever Winter Olympics to be hosted by two cities. South Korea entered the stadium 22nd.

At the ceremony, the South Korean team was divided by venue: 21 participants in Milan (6 officials, 15 athletes), 14 in Cortina d'Ampezzo (4 officials, 10 athletes), 12 in Livigno (3 officials, 9 athletes), and 3 in Predazzo (2 officials, 1 athlete). In Milan, men's figure skating star Cha Junhwan and veteran speed skater Park Jiwoo served as flag bearers. the two athletes entered the stadium while waving the South Korean flag.

Regarding his role as the flag bearer, Cha Junhwan said, "Since it's a role that represent the whole team, I felt great honor and gratitude. It is truly an honor. The flag bearer stands at the very front of the delegation. I hope the positive energy I gain from this role reaches all South Korean athletes," sharing that he wanted to share his energy with the other athletes.

Cha Junhwan's appearance as flag bearer has become a major topic in Japan as well. After the opening ceremony, Japanese media 'The Answer' reported, "The figure skater who served as the South Korean flag bearer is drawing attention with reactions like 'He looks like a K-pop idol,' and 'This is where cuteness is defined.'"

The media explained, "The athlete who served as the South Korean flag bearer was figure skater Cha Junhwan. He marched cheerfully with a smile on his face while waving the flag alongside a female athlete. This is is 3rd Olympics and he placed 5th at the Beijing Games. Even though he is 24 years old, he gives off a boyish charm that make you forget his age," expressing strong admiration for his looks.

Cha Junhwan is already a star in the figure skating world. The Answer added, "He is already well-known among figure skating fans. On social media, there were many supportive comments like, 'Flag bearer Cha Junhwan is unbelievably cute,' 'It was worth staying awake just to see Cha Junhwan,' and 'He looked dazzling because of his sparkling charm.' Meanwhile, there were also fresh reactions like, 'The flag bearer looks like a K-pop idol.'"

Cha Junhwan's popularity continues in Milan as well. On the 5th, he arrived at Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, with his teammates. Dozens of local fans gathered at the airport. Cha Junhwan said, "I'm very grateful that so many fans welcomed and supported me. I will do my best to show a great performance in return for the support."

Cha Junhwan placed 15th at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and 5th at the 2022 Beijing Games. Since he won a silver medal at the ISU Four Continents Championships ahead of this Olympics, expectations for him are very high.

TOP COMMENTS: 

1. [+528][-19] He is indeed very handsome. He has the face of an actor.

2. [+467][-14] He actually was a child actor when he was little... If he continued up to be an actor, he probably would’ve been super popular too~

3. [+322][-14] Because of contracts with TV networks and Naver, the opening ceremony and even competition highlights aren’t being uploaded to YouTube.

4. [+34][-1] He has looks that wouldn’t fall short anywhere, honestlyㅎ

5. [+26][-1] I heard the Canadian broadcast went insanse when Cha Junhwan came out… They totally went wild over him thereㅋㅋㅋ

Continue reading 'He looks like K-pop idol' Figure skater Cha Junhwan draws attention with his looks .. Huge reactions from Japan and Italy: 'He's so cute'