Saturday, May 23, 2026

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Dayoung opens up about her family history: “My father left my mother with 1.3 billion KRW in debt after the divorce, our house was even flooded during a typhoon"

SOURCE: 다영 가정사 고백 “父 이혼하며 母에 빚 13억 남겨, 태풍에 집 잠기기도”(전참시)

WJSN's Dayoung shared personal details about her family background.

On the episode of MBC's 'Omniscient Interfering View' that aired on the 23th, Dayoung’s family story was revealed.

In this episode, Kim Sungeun, who appeared as Dayoung's manager, expressed sympathy over the fact that Dayoung, who is originally from Jeju Island, had lived alone in a goshiwon room at just 13 years old while competing on 'K-Pop Star.'

Previously, Dayoung had revealed on another variety show that her parents divorced when she was eight years old, and that her father left debts ranging from 1.2 to 1.3 billion KRW under her mother's name, leading the family into severe financial hardship.

During that difficult time, Dayoung also suffered damages caused by a typhoon. Recalling how she thought, 'At least I should scoop the water out myself,' and used a water dipper to remove floodwater, Song Eunyi reacted in shock, saying, "How could a child who had barely turned 10 think about scooping water out all by herself?"

Dayoung recalled, "I think it was Typhoon Nari. It was an huge typhoon. The water inside our family restaurant rose to waist level. It was almost a situation where we had to swim. I told my mom, 'Mom, we’re at a water park right now,' but my mom was crying beside me. That was the very first time I had ever seen my mom cry."

She continued, "Honestly, ever since I was little, my mom always seemed like such a strong woman to me. She always worked two or three jobs. She ran a hagfish restaurant and worked in insurance whenever she had spare time, and did all sorts of work. Since she did everything, I wondered whether if she was exhausted, but she never once complained about things being hard. She always told me, 'Women from Jeju are this strong. You must always be brave, too.' That was the moment I realized how serious our situation really was. For some reason, I suddenly felt like I needed to protect my mom. It was just the two of us living together. I used to be an immature brat, but from that point on, I grew up all at once."

Continue reading Dayoung opens up about her family history: “My father left my mother with 1.3 billion KRW in debt after the divorce, our house was even flooded during a typhoon"
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Former Wonder Girls member Woo Hyerim honestly opened up about the pressure she experienced due to her looks during her idol career

SOURCE: 원더걸스 출신 혜림, 아이돌 시절 겪은 외모 스트레스 솔직 고백 (부모의 첫 성교육)

The upcoming episode of EBS' 'Parents’ First Sex Education' titled "Am I only loved only if I'm pretty?" is scheduled to air on EBS on the 25th.

This episode focuses on how children are becoming concerned about their appearance at increasingly younger ages. It explores how distorted beauty standards, including terms such as 'stick skinny,' 'pro-ana,' 'meokto (NB: vomiting after eating)', and beauty filter apps, affect children's self-esteem and body perception. The show also discusses the parents' roles and how they can communicate with children so they can accept themselves as they are in a society where judging appearances has become normalized. Wonder Girls' ex-member Woo Hyerim will also join the episode to discuss the appearance evaluations and public scrutiny she faced during her time as an idol.

During the broadcast, elementary school students openly share their honest thoughts. Although they initially express themselves confidently through dance and acting, the atmosphere shifts once the discussion turns to appearance. The children bring out items reflecting their insecurities, including weight scales, makeup products, and height supplements, while talking about trying to achieve standards like 'skinnier body,' 'perfect face,' and 'taller height.' In repsonse, experns warn that appearance-related stress can lead to self-hatred and low self-esteem. They further explain that peer culture and media environments heavily influence the formation of children's beauty standards.

The cast members are shocked to discover that terms like 'stick skinny,' 'pro-ana,' 'meokto (NB: vomiting after eating)' are already casually used among elementary school students. An expert explains that repeated exposure to certain beauty standards through social media algorithms can create a distorted body image. In particular, they warn that excessive obsession with appearance can lead to anorexia, eating disorders, depression, and social withdrawal, stressing the importance of parents carefully observing and communicating with their children.

The episode also includes an experiment where beauty filters are applied to the cast members' faces. While enhancing one's appearance by using beauty filters has become common even among adults, experts explain that it can create an entirely different problem for children who are still developing emotionally and mentally. They note that growing accustomed to filtered appearances may cause children to feel disconnected from their real faces and, in severe cases, contribute to depression or body dysmorphic disorder.

Children also openly reveal their worries regarding appearance and self-esteem struggles. The cast members express surprise at how early appearance anxiety begins. One expert explains that when children ask, "Am I pretty?", it's often not just a simple confirmation regarding their looks, but rather deeper fears about self-worth, essentially asking, "Can I be loved as I am?" The expert adds that parents’ words and attitudes strongly influence their childs' body image, noting that praises centered on effort, growth, and achievement rather than physical appearance is especially important.

Through this episode, the show emphasizes that accepting 'yourself as you are' matters more than achieving a perfect appearance. Sharing the appearance evaluations and comparison culture she experienced as an idol, Woo Hyerim stated, "What matters more than appearance is the mindset of accepting yourself for who you are."

Continue reading Former Wonder Girls member Woo Hyerim honestly opened up about the pressure she experienced due to her looks during her idol career
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Lee Changsub expressed anger toward his academy's acting director: “He embezzled money, even signed a debt acknowledgement form, and then ghosted me”

SOURCE: 이창섭, 학원 대리대표에 분노…“횡령 후 차용증까지 썼는데 연락 끊겼다”

Lee Changsub opened up being a victim of embezzlement at the academy he currently operates.

On the 22nd, a video titled "How to never become a victim of jeonse fraud" was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'thischangsub.'

On this day, while experiencing working at a law firm for his content series, Lee Changsub suddenly remarked, "There's actually something I want to consult about too. There's this scammer," drawing curiosity.

When the producer asked, "Have you ever been scammed before?" Lee Changsub answered, "I got scammed in relation to the academy." Lee Changsub, who is currently running an applied music academy in Suwon, vented his frustration by saying, "He manipulated the law in a very deceptive way."

While speaking with a lawyer, he explained, "When I first started operating the academy, I kept putting in operating expenses every month, but the acting director in charge didn't even pay the staff salaries and spent the money however he wanted." He added, "In the end, I had to personally pay off all the overdue costs, which ended up costing me hundreds of millions KRW more."

He continued, "The amount that person used was around 110 million KRW. He promised he would repay it, so I even received a debt acknowledgement form and his fingerprint seal. He sent 1 million KRW during the first month, but after that I completely lost contact with him."

In response, the lawyer explained, "There is a high probability that this qualifies as embezzlement rather than a simple fraud," adding, "The act of unreasonably using money that was entrusted to him already qualifies as embezzlement.”

Hearing this, Lee Changsub asked, “Even if he returns the money later, it's still counted as embezzlement?” The lawyer replied, "That’s correct." Lee Changsub responded, "So it’s basically like stabbing someone with a knife and then stitching them back up afterward. The stabbing still happened."

Finally, when the lawyer advised him, "I think you should take legal action immediately," to which Lee Changsub jokingly answered, "I'll be right back," making everyone laugh.

Continue reading Lee Changsub expressed anger toward his academy's acting director: “He embezzled money, even signed a debt acknowledgement form, and then ghosted me”
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Sulli’s older brother warned Kim Soohyun:“I have a recorded phone call that contains details about my sister’s private life.”

SOURCE: '김수현에 경고' 설리 친오빠 "통화 녹취 있음, 동생 사생활 담겨 있어" 주장 [스타이슈]

The brother of the late Sulli has once again posted a cryptic message online. 

On the 22nd, Sulli’s brother wrote on his personal account, "I have a 37-minute recorded phone call with my sister's former manager. The recording includes mentions of IU, Lee Robe (NB: also known as Lee Jaehyun or Lee Sarang), Kim Soohyun, a psychiatric hospital, SM Entertainment, and even parts of my sister’s painful private life at the time."

He continued, "There are many things I want to ask, but I'm holding myself back because of my mother."

He also stated, "Last year, I only lightly touched on the issue surrounding the movie. I do not want to use this in the future either," adding, "I want to make it clear beforehand that none of this is fabricated."

Earlier, on the 21st, he had written on his personal account, "The moment you crawl back out, it's round two. The choice is yours."

When an acquaintance asked, "Who?" he responded, "That one bastard who came from the stars," which many interpreted as a reference to 'My Love from the Stars,' the drama that Kim Soohyun starred.

It is being speculated that Sullis older brother made the remarks with Kim Soohyun's potential return to the entertainment industry in mind.

Recently, attention is focused on Kim Soohyun's potential comeback after police concluded that the controversy surrounding his alleged relationship with late Kim Saeron while she was a minor were completely false.

According to an arrest warrant request submitted to prosecutors regarding Garo Sero Research Institute CEO Kim Se-ui, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station reportedly stated, "The suspect intentionally spread false information to defame actor Kim Soohyun despite fully knowing that he had not dated the deceased while she was a minor and that he was not responsible for the circumstances surrounding her death."

Furthermore, the police also concluded that the KakaoTalk conversation logs between the two and voice recordings of Kim Saeron released by Kim Se-ui had been manipulated.

Meanwhile, in March of last year, Sulli's older brother raised allegations that she may have been pressured into filming bed scenes and nude scenes for the the movie she starred in, 'Real,' which was released back in 2017. Lee Sarang, who is known as Kim Soohyun's cousin, served as both the representative of the investment and production company and director of the movie, while Kim Soohyun starred as the lead actor.

In response, Kim Soohyun's agency, Gold Medalist, released an official statement saying, "Regarding the late Sulli's bed scene, the actress proceed with the filming after prior discussion and awareness beforehand." Addressing claims that the bed scene was forced despite the existence of a body double, the agency added, "There was a 'standing actor' who replaces the actor's blocking during filming preparations, but there was no stunt double who acts in place of the actor."

Continue reading Sulli’s older brother warned Kim Soohyun:“I have a recorded phone call that contains details about my sister’s private life.”

Friday, May 22, 2026

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Forced to weigh 42kg at 170cm ... Former idol Doi confesses to her hell-like trainee days

SOURCE: 170cm에 42kg 강요…지옥 같았던 연습생 시절 고백한 '前 아이돌' 도이

A former member of a girl group has gained attention after speaking out about the brutal realities she faced as an idol trainee in Korea.

On the 17th, Doi, formerly a member of FANATICS who is now active as a Youtuber, opened up about the experiences she went through during her trainee days through a video. 

Yoon Doi shared that she spent around nine to ten years training under four to five different agencies. She confessed, "At the time, I was told by the company, 'You are not human beings, you are products,'" adding, "I was deeply hurt by those remarks. It suggested that all that mattered was whether we sold well."

She shared that she endured extreme competition and pressure during her trainee years. In particular, she mentioned about the 'monthly evaluations,' saying, "It was a place where dozens of staff members would watch and point out your flaws," adding, "Every single day felt like hell."

She also revealed her weight was managed at an extreme level. She shocked viewers by revealing that she was ordered by the company to drop her weight to 42kg despite standing at 170cm tall. She was even pressured to lose weight to under 40kg right before her debut

Yoon Doi confessed, "At the time, I endured by making myself throw up or by spitting out food isntead of swallowing it. I even deliberately ate spoiled food and ended up being rushed to the hospital," adding, "My health completely ruined after my weight fell to 38kg."

Furthermore, she alleged that trainees experienced not only verbal abuse but physical punishment as well. She added, "Even when I was struggling, I wasn’t allowed to cry. After debuting, I also had to hide my emotions because of my image."

Currently active mainly in Taiwan, Yoon Doi's video has since been covered by numerous Taiwanese media outlests. The video leads criticism over structural issues within the Korean idol industry and calls for improvements to the trainee system to emerge.

Meanwhile, FANATICS was an eight-member multinational girl group under FENT that debuted on August 6, 2019. Due to setbacks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the group effectively disbanded around October 2022

Continue reading Forced to weigh 42kg at 170cm ... Former idol Doi confesses to her hell-like trainee days
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Hyunjin leaves LATENCY just two months after debut due to health issues… “My heart feels heavy”

SOURCE: 현진, 건강 문제로 데뷔 2개월 만에 레이턴시 탈퇴 "마음 무거워"

LATENCY's Hyunjin is leaving the group only two months after debut due to health reasons. Along with this, her exclusive contract with the agency will also come to an end.

On the 22nd, LATENCY's agency, Oddinary Records, announced through the group’s official fan community, "Hyunjin recently held in-depth discussions regarding her future activities due to health reasons. Respecting her wishes, we agreed to terminate her exclusive contract."

The agency continued, "As this decision was made carefully after sufficient mutual discussion between both parties, we ask that people refrain from spreading unconfirmed speculation or misunderstandings," adding, "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to fans with this sudden news, and we will do our best so that LATENCY can continue to repay fans with good performances and music in the future."

Hyunjin also shared a handwritten letter on the fan community platform to express her feelings about leaving the group. She said, "I always wanted to show only the best sides of myself on stage, so my heart feels very heavy having to greet you through a letter like this," adding, "After thinking deeply for a long time recently, I decided to conclude my activities with LATENCY and also terminate my exclusive contract."

She continued, "While continuing activities, I became physically exhausted and struggled a lot health-wise, and I came to the conclusion that right now, I need some time to take care of myself," adding, "Because this was not an easy decision to make, I feel even more cautious and deeply sorry toward those who supported me."

Hyunjin also said, "Even so, I am sincerely grateful to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and stayed with me through every moment until now. Thanks to the fans, I was able to make many happy memories. Please continue to give lots of support to the members of LATENCY in the future. I will also work hard to stay healthy and live well.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin originally debuted in 2018 as a member of LOONA. After the group began heading toward disbandment following an exclusive contract dispute in 2023, she redebuted in 2024 as part of LOOSSEMBLE. However, after her contract with the agency ended in 2024, she made her third debut with LATENCY. Due to health issues, she is once again leaving a team just over two months after officially debuting. 

Continue reading Hyunjin leaves LATENCY just two months after debut due to health issues… “My heart feels heavy”