Sunday, July 5, 2026

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Aespa's Winter and Karina just had the most wholesome interaction during their guest appearance on the episode of JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' that aired on the 5th.

In this episode, when the host brought up the 'SM look,' the two immediately pointed each other, insisting the other person was the perfect example of it. This quickly turned into a moment where they couldn't stop aggressively complimenting each other's visuals.

Karina started by saying, "Winter has the SM look," and added that Winter perfectly carries on the legendary visual lineage of older SM stars like Seo Hyunjin and Taeyeon.

Winter didn't agree at all, though. She quickly fired back, "No, I actually failed SM's auditions three times. Karina was cast through a DM." She added, "I was the one who chose SM, while Karina was chosen by SM."

This playful interaction left the hosts laughing and completely melted the hearts of fans. Whether they got into the company through a tough audition or a DM, they went on to become the perfect duo. Since making their debut with 'Black Mamba' in 2020, Aespa has completely taken over the music charts with hit after hit with songs like 'Next Level,' 'Drama,' 'Whiplash,' and more. 

Aespa's Winter and Karina debate who has the ultimate 'SM looks'

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Dowoon directly addressed the recent rumors surrounding his personal life during DAY6’s 10th-anniversary concert at the KSPO Dome.

During the first day of the concert, Dowoon took the chance to speak openly to the crowd for the first time since the rumors surfaced online. He bowed his head and said:

“When I became a celebrity, I promised to only show you my best side, but I don’t think I’ve been able to keep that promise. I’m sorry.”

He continued, “My heart has never changed even once over the past 10 years. The reason I exist is because I want to be a source of help and strength to each and every one of you in any way I can. I truly love you all so much,” and added:

“I will be with DAY6 for the rest of my life. I will do my best not to cause trouble for the people around me, so please continue to watch over me. I will make sure to keep my promises.”

Even though Dowoon was making it completely clear that he is staying with DAY6 forever, he didn’t actually address whether the dating and marriage rumors were true. He also left out any mention of the allegations that his rumored girlfriend supposedly received special treatment at fan events.

For context, Dowoon became embroiled in a dating rumors back in May. The woman in question is Youtuber Yoo Jiyoo, who is famous for being the younger sister of Yoo Hyejoo, the massive influencer with 1.1 million subscribers who rose to fame on the reality show ‘Ulzzang Shidae.’

The dating rumors first sparked when fans noticed several matching items and posts, beginning with netizens pointing out that they owned identical keyrings. The speculation grew even faster after photos surfaced showing what appeared to be Yoo Jiyoo’s dog inside Dowoon’s car.

The situation got even bigger when Yoo Jiyoo was spotted at a luxury hotel’s Chinese restaurant, which netizens quickly connected to Dowoon, as DAY6 had collaborated with that exact same hotel for their anniversary. The rumors then reached a peak when claims spread online that the two had allegedly met with a wedding planner and were already preparing for marriage.

When media outlets reached out to JYP Entertainment at the time, the agency kept things completely brief, stating that they had ‘no comment.’

Right after the whole mess blew up, Dowoon actually tried to calm fans down on a fan communication platform. He wrote a message, saying:

“Our team is never going to disappear. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t look at the negative posts. For the time being, even if you see posts about me, just ignore them. I’m sorry for causing you pain.”

By bringing it up during the band’s anniversary concert, Dowoon took the opportunity to express his apologies and show his deep affection for the fans, making it clear that he intends to continue promoting with DAY6. However, he did not issue a separate statement to clarify the rumors.

Dowoon addresses recent dating rumors at DAY6's 10th-anniversary concert

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I.O.I's Choi Yoojung recently shared how hard it was dealing with the intense pressure to lose weight in a new video posted to 'Hello Hasemi' Youtube channel on the 4th.

When host Park Semi asked if she gains weight easily, Yoojung replied, "My weight gain isn't super obvious. Since I have a naturally round face, people would always say, 'You were always kinda chubby anyway,' whenever I gained weight. On the other hand, when I lost weight, they would say, 'Weren't you never really the type to gain much weight?'" She added, "That's why I didn't really manage my weight before, but I recently lost some weight and realized I should've done it sooner."

Hearing that, Park Semi immediately responded, "You look so slim to me!" When asked about her lowest weight, Yoojung replied:

"My lowest weight was 40kg. During 'Produce 101,' I weighed around 40 to 41kg. The heaviest I've ever been was 50kg."

Yoojung also confessed that she actually is a major sweet tooth, saying, "I'm the type of person who eats late-night snacks every night and never skips dessert."

The conversation took a serious turn when Park Semi shared her experience with weight loss. She admitted, "In my early 20s, I took diet pills. I don't recommend them to anyone. These days, people know they're bad for you, but back then we we weren't really aware of the risks. I even thought it was a good thing because they suppressed my appetite."

She continued, "One day I was staying at a hotel with a friend and was taking a shower when I felt like someone was staring at me from the doorway. It turned out to be a side effect of the pills. Thankfully, I only took it for a short time."

She also mentioned, "Since I've always had a larger build, I tried both prescription medicine and herbal remedies, but the most important thing is losing weight through exercise and healthy eating habits.""

Choi Yoojung also shared her own experience, saying:

"When I was a trainee, my company told me to lose weight. I was at a healthy weight, but they still wanted me to lose weight. I was still growing at the time, but I felt like I had no choice but to lose weight. I was so desperate (to debut), so I took the diet pills and kept it a secret from the company."

Looking back, Yoojung recalled dealing with terrible side effects from the diet pills, including dry mouth, bad breath, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, and even vomiting. 

Choi Yoojung reveals she took diet pills in secret after agency pressure to lose weight

Saturday, July 4, 2026

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SNSD's Yuri is reportedly approaching the end of her current contract with SM Entertainment.

According to a report by TenAsia on the 4th, her exclusive contract with SM Entertainment is set to expire next month. This marks a notable moment, as SM is the only agency she has ever signed with since her debut.

According to the same report, Yuri is looking closely at companies that focus mainly on managing actors to help grow her acting career. Even so, she fully plans to keep promoting with the SNSD's unit Hyorisoo alongside Hyoyeon and Sooyoung, regardless of which agency she chooses. She is currently reviewing her future from multiple angles before making her final decision on the contract.

Yuri has a remarkably long history with SM Entertainment. Yuri first joined SM Entertainment all the way back in 2001 as a trainee, right after winning 'Best Dancer' at a youth talent competition. She trained for six long years before officially debuting with SNSD in 2007. This means she has been under SM Entertainment's roof for 25 years.

As a key member of SNSD, Yuri helped lead K-pop during it's golden era. The group released legendary hit songs like 'Into the New World,' 'Gee,' 'Genie,' 'Oh!', 'The Boys,' 'I Got a Boy,' and their recent comeback track, 'Forever 1.'

In 2016, she started expanding her acting career and has built a solid filmography since then, starring in hit dramas like 'Innocent Defendant,' 'Good Job,' 'Parole Examiner Lee,' 'Bossam: Steal the Fate,' and more.

SNSD Yuri's contract with SM Entertainment reportedly expires next month

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2AM's Jokwon just confirmed that he and Brown Eyed Girl's Gain (the iconic 'Adam Couple') are still as close as ever.

On the 3rd, Jokwon appeared as a guest in a video uploaded to Cao Lu's Youtube channel, where he got super honest about his time on MBC's 'We Got Married' and where he and Gain stand today. 

During the episode, Cao Lu pointed out how rare it is for couples from the show to actually stay in touch after it ends. Jokwon totally agreed, saying:

"We kept in contact even after the show ended. We don't meet very often, but we check in on each other. If our schedules line up, we'll have a meal or grab a drink together."

 

Jokwon also cleared up the most common misconception about how 'We Got Married' actually worked. He said, "It wasn't scripted like a drama," and explained that only the filming schedules and missions were planned in advance, while most of the dialogue and actions just happened naturally. He recalled:

"When I rewatched the old footage, I realized we actually kissed a lot more than I remembered."

 

He specifically reminisced about their very first kiss on the lips, which happened while they were skating at the Grand Hyatt Hotel ice rink. Naturally, Cao Lu asked the ultimate question: "Do you still kiss when you meet now?" Jokwon actually hesitated for a second, before giving the most honest answer:

"To be honest, if we've been drinking, sometimes we'll give each other a kiss on the cheek."

 

Jokwon also shared that they actually reunited last year, saying, "Our schedules didn't match for a while, but last year we finally met up. We had a meal, grabbed a drink, and even took some photobooth pictures together."

He added, "When I posted them on social media, the reaction was so much bigger than I expected. There were so many articles and comments that I joked to Gain Noona, 'Shouldn't we do something together?'"

For those who didn't know, Jokwon and Gain earned massive popularity for starring in 'We Got Married' back in 2009 to 2010. They even took home the Best Newcomer awards at the 2010 MBC Entertainment Awards. Their fictional marriage has turned into a real-life genuine friendship where they still support each other more than a decade later.

Jokwon shares surprising update on his relationship with Gain

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BIGBANG's Daesung and 2NE1's Sandara Park just exposed the hilariously tragic dating culture at YG Entertainment compared to SM Entertainment, and it's pure gold. 

On the 3rd, a new video titled 'Digging through YG's vault: The endless blessing of behind-the-scenes stories' dropped on Daesung's Youtube channel, ZIP Daesung. This episode was a special treat for long-time fans as former YG Family labelmates Se7en, Sandara Park, and Gong Minzy all came together to chat and look back on their old days at the agency.

While they were reminiscing, Daesung mentioned how close everyone used to be, saying, "Back then, we were all constantly together, bickering and having fun. There was great chemistry between everyone."

That's when Se7en decided to playfully tease them and asked, "Did anyone have a 'Some' with someone back then?" For those who are unfamiliar with the term, 'Some' is the popular Korean slang for that heart-fluttering, flirty stage right before two people officially start dating.

Daesung immediately put Dara on the spot, asking, "Noona, was there anyone? Be honest." Sandara denied it right away with a firm "No." She then pointed at an old photo of the YG Family lineup and joked, "Who was even there? Here?" which made everyone in the room burst out laughing. 

But the conversation got even more interesting right after that. Sandara pointed over to a group photo of SM Entertainment artists and said, "But if you look over there..." 

Daesung didn't even hesitate and jumped right in, saying, "There were a lot over there. It was paradise," and Se7en backed him up, adding, "From what I could tell, that place was heaven for people having 'Some.'"

Daesung then brought up an interesting rumor he had heard, "From what I've heard, they even encouraged people to date within the company if they were going to date anyone, because then they could manage it."

Meanwhile, Dara kept it real, replying, "Well, for us... There had to be someone to date in the first place." Even Minzy chimed in, stating, "There were none. Absolutely none."

Wrapping up the hilariously dry dating era, Daesung joked, "That's probably why people had no choice but to call us talented. We couldn't afford to get distracted."


Daesung, Sandara Park, Minzy, and Se7en compare the dating culture between YG and SM Entertainment

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Actor Lee Junyoung is opening up about the worst parts of his early career.

At the end of the broadcast of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' that aired on the 1st, they dropped the preview for the next episode featuring him. In the clip, he gets super honest about the cold treatment and hurtful stereotypes he encountered while transitioning from an idol to an actor. 

When host Yoo Jaesuk asked him, "What was the most hurtful thing anyone has ever said to you?" Lee Junyoung revealed that someone actually told him:

"'Don't cause trouble for the actors.'"

 

He opened up about how people questioned his acting skills and even assumed he'd be a burden to the production and his co-stars simply because he was an idol. 

He also recalled the hardships he went through in his unknown years, sharing a story he's rarely ever spoken about:

"I was working part-time at a convenience store, and my manager came in to buy cigarettes. I was so embarrassed that I cried a lot."

As soon as that emotional preview aired, the internet went into full detective mode trying to figure out who said that to him. Speculations immediately pointed toward novelist So Jaewon, but he quickly refuted the rumors. 

On the 2nd, So Jaewon took to his social media to clarify everything, saying:

"I'm not the person who said that to actor Lee Junyoung."

He also explained, "It's true that Lee Junyoung appeared in one of my works. It was in 2018, when he was just beginning his acting career. I think that's why people misunderstood." In fact, the two actually worked together on the 2019 OCN drama 'Class of Lies,' which was adapted from So Jaewon's novel of the same name.

He added, "I have never said anything that degrading to any actor," and strongly criticized the people flooding his DMs with abusive messages based on speculations, calling their behavior 'extremely reckless.' He concluded:

"If what I'm saying isn't true, then Lee Junyoung or his agency is free to take action against me."

For a quick recap, Lee Junyoung first entered the entertainment industry in 2014 as a member of U-KISS, and later promoted with the group UNB. 

He started his acting career in the 2017 drama 'Avengers Social Club' and has since built up his filmography by starring in dramas like 'Class of Lies,' 'Good Casting,' 'Please Don't Date Him,' 'Imitation,' 'D.P.',  'Let Me Be Your Knight,' and more.

Right now, he is starring as the lead in JTBC's weekend drama 'Reborn Rookie,' where he plays two roles at once: a wealthy company chairman who gets into an accident and wakes up in the body of a young soccer player, forced to return to his own company as a rookie employee.

Lee Junyoung shares the most hurtful comment he received as an actor

Friday, July 3, 2026

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Super Junior's Choi Siwon has taken a legal action against malicious commenters online.

On the 3rd, it was confirmed that Siwon has filed lawsuits against individuals targeting him with malicious comments. He actually managed to unmask these anonymous users by getitng their private personal information directly through a U.S. court.

According to an exclusive report by Sisa Journal, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California officially granted Siwon's application for pretrial discovery on the 2nd. This legal approval targets 10 specific anonymous users across overseas platforms like X and Youtube.

If you aren't familiar with the term, discovery is a legal proedure that allows someone to gather evidence they need from the opposing side or third parties before the actual trial starts. 

Since these platfoms are based in the U.S., Siwon's legal side petitioned the U.S. court to order them to hand over the users' real names, dates of birth, and addresses. His lawyers sargued that because the comments were written in Korean and the account data pointed overseas, there was no reason to believe any of these anonymous users were American citizens or living in the U.S.

The U.S. court completely agreed and granted his request. The judge explained that the First Amendment's free speech protections do not apply to foreign citizens living outside the U.S. Since the malicious comments targeted a South Korean resident and there was no proof the accounts belonged to Americans, the court ruled that ordering the companies to share the user data would not violate anyone's constitutional rights. Now that Siwon has obtained this private information, he can easily move forward with his lawsuits and claim damages in South Korea.

So, how did this whole mess even start? According to court records, Siwon had been dealing with a constant wave of malicious comments ever since former President Yoon Sukyeol declared martial law back on December 3.

The online attacks got much worse in February after Yoon Sukyeol was sentenced to life in prison during his first trial on insurrection charges. Right around that time, Siwon posted a Bible verse on his social media alongside a Chinese idiom that means, 'The unjust will inevitably perish, collapsingcompletely like crumbling earth and shattered roof tiles.'

The public viewed this as a political statement. While it sparked a lot of controversy, it also led conservative Youtuber Jeon Han-gil to pulicly speak up and express support for Siwon.

After that post, X and Youtube were flooded with thousands of hateful comments attacking Siwon's political views, religion, appearance, and career. Some netizens left comments like 'Leave Super Junior,' 'If you want to do politics, become a politician,' and 'Are you clinging to the idol title just for the money?', while others took low blows by attacking his religious beliefs.

Siwon was clearly not having it. By May, he filed a civil lawsuit against 10 of these individuals at the Seoul Central District Court, seeking major damages for defamation and insult.

His agency, SM Entertainment, is fully supporting him. In February, SM Entertainment released a statement, saying:

"We have recently confirmed the continued and repeated posting of malicious content, including personal attacks and insults, targeting our artists. We take these matters very seriously."

The agency also added that they will continue to collect evidence of the creation and distribution of false information, as well as posts that mock their artists across online communities and social platforms. After reviewing everything, they plan to gradually expand their criminal complaints and legal actions against anyone targeting their artists. 

Super Junior's Choi Siwon wins U.S. court approval to unmask malicious commenters