Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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Former CNBLUE member Lee Jonghyun returned online to share an update on his life and new job after eight years away from social media.

On August 10, Lee Jonghyun posted a few photos along with a long message on his account. He wrote, "This is Lee Jonghyun. I left this account empty for eight years. My account was hacked, and I'm still waiting for my username and bio to be changed back." He continued:

"For several years, I hid away from the world. After that, I learned how to work and try to live again."

Opening up about life away from the entertainment industry, he revealed, "It's just a small thing, but for the past eight years, I've been working professionally in beauty marketing. I've genuinely come to enjoy it." He shared, "This is what my days look like these days: I have meetings, examine products, and think about how I can do things better."

Talking about what it's like to work a normal job, he admitted, "I leave home in the morning and come back at night," and added:

"I've come to realize how difficult it is to simply live an ordinary life and go to work. I think everyone is truly amazing."

He ended his post by expressing his intention to stay in touch, stating, "From now on, I want to communicate with people as Lee Jonghyun, the person. I hope you have a nice day." Along with the message, he posted pictures of himself working on a laptop in an office and enjoying a nighttime view of the city.

For context, Lee Jonghyun initially debuted as a member of CNBLUE in 2010 and was active in music and TV. In 2018, he enlisted for his mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier. However, he faced intense public criticism while he was serving due to a series of controversies.

In March 2019, he came under fire after being identified as a participant in a group chat involving singers Seungri and Jung Joonyoung, who were embroiled in a scandal centered on the illicit filming and distribution of illegal sexual videos. In August of the same year, he faced even more backlash when it was revealed that he sent inappropriate direct messages to BJ Park Minjung including comments such as "Your belly fat is so cute."

These back-to-back controversies ultimately led to his departure from CNBLUE. At the time, he released a statement saying, "I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by my inappropriate words and actions, as well as those I disappointed. I feel ashamed and deeply sorry for letting down the fans who believed in me."

FNC Entertainment, his agency at the time, also apologized, stating, "We accept the public's criticism regarding his poor choices and values. He feels deep regret for his actions. As a public figure, he will be careful with all of his words and actions, and he will continue to reflect on his mistakes."

Former CNBLUE Member Lee Jonghyun Returns to Social Media After 8 Years

Monday, August 3, 2026

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Girls' Generation's Choi Sooyoung shocked fans by revealing that she once ended up in the emergency room from overeating.

On the episode of JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' that aired on the 2nd, Uhm Junghwa and Choi Sooyoung appeared as guest stars. 

During the broadcast, Sooyoung opened up about how far her love for food goes, saying, "Once I find something delicious, I just keep eating."

She shared, "At company dinners, I love having cold kimchi noodle soup with grilled meat. There was this one time where, when I was eating, I suddenly got a terrible headache. I was so full that it felt like the blood stopped flowing to my brain. I went to the emergency room, threw everything up, and only then did I finally felt better."

The studio panelists were completely shocked and asked, "You just kept eating even when you felt like that?" Sooyoung shocked them further by saying, "The thought that it tasted good is stronger than the feeling of being full." She added, "I really love eating. I just love delicious food so much."

Hearing her story, Chef Yoon Namno completely agreed with her experience, revealing, "I know exactly what that's like. I also throw up easily for that exact reason, and I've ended up in the emergency room once too. The food was just so incredibly delicious. I ate and drank about 1.1 kg of food and somaek (soju and beer). I was so full that I could barely breathe after that."

Girls' Generation Sooyoung Reveals How Her Love for Food Once Landed Her in the ER

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DAY6's Young K, who has long comforted listeners with songs of hope and healing, has taken off his mask to stand before the microphone simply as Kang Younghyun. As he described it himself, his second full-length solo album, 'YOUNGEST,' is 'the most Young K-like album' he has ever made. 

Talking about how the album started, Young K said, "I went to the company with nothing but the album title. I hadn't even decided how many songs to include. Over the past 10 years with DAY6, I have given everything I had, so I have no regrets. Now, I want to figure out who Kang Younghyun really is."

The title track, 'Shut The Door' delivers a direct warning over an upbeat synth-pop sound, capturing his raw feelings:

"Here we go again, you're dying to tear me down. You're so desperate, but why? The friends I trusted are talking behind my back again. They say sincerity gets through, but why?"

 

Young K admitted that the lyrics were inspired by his own painful experience. He shared, "I always knew being 'Young K' could become something that people I know would gossip about. Even so, finding out about it still hurt a lot. So I played this song and showed the lyrics to those friends. They broke down in tears and apologized to me. We have since made up, and we are back on good terms."

To the public, Young K is known for being cheerful, witty, and full of humor. However, Kang Younghyun opened up about being much more sensitive and emotionally delicate behind the scenes.

"I'm actually lonelier and more fragile than people think. I get hurt easily, but I spent a long time pretending those feelings weren't there. I also tried hard not to admit my shortcomings. After spending about 16 years, including my trainee days, focusing entirely on becoming 'Young K,' I realized that my true self is still young and inexperienced."

That period of deep self-reflection is expressed through the album's 15 tracks. Through the music and lyrics, Young K poured out everything he wanted to say without holding back. At the same time, just like DAY6's music, he made sure fans could relate.

"Even though this album is about my own life, I intentionally left room in the songs so that fans can fill them with their own stories."

 

Starting out as a student with nothing more than the simple dream of becoming a star, Kang Younghyun has grown over a decade later into one of K-pop's top singer-songwriters. In many ways, 'YOUNGEST' feels like an honest diary entry, one that offers comfort to the younger version of himself, whose emotional growth was still trying to catch up with Young K's remarkable success. 

Looking back on his journey, he shared, "There were times in this industry when I couldn't say what I really wanted to say, and times when I had to force myself to smile even though I didn't want to. But thah happens to everyone in life. You can't always say what's on your mind. While working on this album, opening up my inner self felt embarrassing and uncomfortable at first, but in the end, it ultimately helped me see who I really am."

DAY6's Young K Shares the True Story Behind 'YOUNGEST'

Friday, July 31, 2026

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Girls' Generation's Yuri is officially leaving SM Entertainment after 19 years together.

On July 31, SM Entertainment released an official statement confirming the news, saying, "After long discussions with Kwon Yuri, we have mutually agreed to conclude our 19-year partnership as of August 31."

Looking back on her time with the company, SM Entertainment continued, "Since Kwon Yuri debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007, she has helped lead the global K-pop wave. She grew into a member of one of the defining groups of an era, and shone as an actress. It has been a privilege for SM Entertainment to be part of every step of that journey. We sincerely thank Kwon Yuri for her remarkable achievements as an all-around artist."

To reassure fans about group activities, SM Entertainment clearly stated, "Although her exclusive contract with the company is coming to an end, she will continue promoting as a member of Girls' Generation. We fully support Kwon Yuri as she starts this new chapter in her career."

Yuri debuted with Girls' Generation back in 2007, quickly rising to the top of the K-pop industry with legendary hit songs like 'Into the New World' and 'Genie.'

On top of her music career, she has built a successful acting career, appearing in dramas including 'Fashion King,' 'Innocent Defendant,' 'Bossam: Steal the Fate,' 'Good Job,' 'Parole Examiner Lee,' as well as films such as 'No Breathing,' 'Dolphin,' and 'Somebody.' She even proved her talent live on stage in the play 'The Student and Mister Henri.'

Girls' Generation's Yuri to Leave SM Entertainment After 19 Years

Actress Kim Sein has finally opened up about the truth behind her sudden departure from the entertainment industry years ago.

On the episode of MBN's documentary show 'Exclusive World' that aired on July 30, Kim Sein appeared as a guest and looked back on her past career. 

She first became famous in 2011 after starring in the SBS sitcom 'Oh My God.' At the time, she was known as one of the most promising young actresses, landing big roles in movies and commercials. However, just as her career was taking off, she suddenly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving fans and people in the industry shocked. 

Looking back on those days, Kim Sein revealed, "The CEO of my agency kept taking me to places like hostess bars and made my life miserable. On top of that, my mother collapsed. Every single day felt like hell. I hated living."

Kim Sein opened up about the family struggles that led her into acting in the first place. Eventhough she grew up rich because of her businessman father, her family lost everything in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. They were forced to live in a cramped storage room with no bathroom. She entered the entertainment industry as soon as she turned 20 to support them financially.

She admitted she took on revealing roles to help her family survive, saying, "We urgently needed tens of millions of KRW back then. Things were so bad for my family that I felt I had to step up." 

She also shared that her father felt terrible about the sacrifices she made, saying, "My father was deeply upset. He kept saying, 'How could I spend the money my daughter worked so hard to earn?'" She recalled, "He blamed himself for his failed business. I felt so sorry for him. Still, no matter where he went, he proudly introduced me by saying, 'My daughter is an actress.'"

Sadly, her father passed away from a heart attack two years ago. On top of that, her mother has been in a coma for 15 years after suffering a severe brain hemorrhage, a condition that Kim Sein heartbreakingly described as "her soul being trapped inside her body."

After stepping away from entertainment, Kim Sein moved to Malaysia for a fresh start as a tour guide. However, when COVID-19 broke out, she was forced to return home to South Korea. 

Kim Sein revealed that she is preparing to make her comeback as an actress. She said, "I want to continue taking good care of my big family and remain responsible for them until the very end. With a stronger mindset and a healthier body, I hope to take on a variety of roles and meet viewers again."

Similarly, trot singer Jang Hyeri, who originally debuted with Girls' Day, also opened up about being pressured by agency executives. In a Youtube video that was released in March 2025, she recalled, "When I was a rookie, I reluctantly attended a drinking gathering where I met the CEO of a well-known entertainment agency." She continued, "He told me, 'I'll make you a star if you become my girlfriend.' When I refused, he later told me, 'The reason you never became famous is because you rejected my offer.'"

Kim Sein Breaks Silence on the Exploitation That Forced Her to Quit the Entertainment Industry


Former actor Jang Dongjoo, who retired from the entertainment industry after falling into tens of billions of KRW in debt from a hacking scheme, has started a new career as a live content creator.

According to a report from Xports News on the 31st, Jang Dongjoo recently signed an exclusive contract with Universe Label, a live-streaming company run by CEO Ryu Jaeyoung. The agency reportedly signed him after seeing his strong potential as a streamer.

Jang Dongjoo made his live-streaming debut on Sparta Label's broadcast and instantly drew a massive crowd, proving he is still popular. It was reported that he received approximately 20 million KRW (about $13,916) in viewer donations from that single stream alone.

His growth on Tiktok was just as fast. Only three weeks after starting, he reached the platform's highest rank, the A1 League. He even won back-to-back live-stream battles against famous stars, such as actor Park Sihoo and singer MC Mong. According to reports, he now earns an average of about 1 million KRW (about $695) a day, making around 30 to 40 million KRW (about $20,870 to $27,827) each month from his Tiktok lives.

Jang Dongjoo made his acting debut in the 2017 drama 'School 2017' and was set for a bright future with projects like 'No Tail to Tell' and several films on the way. However, earlier this year, his career came to a sudden stop after he became the victim of a severe hacking and extortion scheme. 

The hackers threatened to leak his private photos, personal messages, and friends' contact details if he didn't give them money. Despite changing his phone number three times, things only got worse. His family even went as far as selling their house to raise the money. In his desperate attempt to pay them off, Jang Dongjoo took on a massive debt that eventually grew into tens of billions of KRW, leaving him financially ruined.

In January, he apologized publicly, saying, "After becoming the victim of hacking and extortion, I tried everything I could to borrow money. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was affected because of me. I promise to get my life back on track and repay every single won without exception."

Then in May, he announced his retirement, saying, "As of today, I am laying down my life as actor Jang Dongjoo. Although I'm leaving the stage, I'll never forget the love and support you've given to me."

Meanwhile, an industry insider commented on his new path, noting, "Jang Dongjoo was originally an actor who could portray a wide variety of characters regardless of genre. That talent has carried over into live streaming. No matter what kind of content he does, he has an amazing ability to make it his own."

Despite doing well as a streamer, Jang Dongjoo made it clear that he hasn't given up on acting. In a direct phone interview with Xports News on the 31st, he shared, "Right now, my biggest goal is to do whatever I can and pay off all my remaining debt." He added:

"Once I've fulfilled all my responsibilities, if I'm given the opportunity, I'd like to return as actor Jang Dongjoo."

In the meantime, Jang Dongjoo is scheduled to go live again with Universe Label's Sparta Label at 6 PM (KST) on the 31st to connect with his audience.

Former Actor Jang Dongjoo Returns as Streamer After Falling Into Massive Debt

Monday, July 27, 2026

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It has been revealed that actor So Jisub gifted real gold to every single cast and crew member to celebrate the end of filming the popular drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated.'

On the 26th, photos of the custom gifts So Jisub gave to the cast and crew of the SBS drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated' spread quickly across online communities. The photos showed pieces of gold inside custom boxes, along with a handwritten thank-you note from the actor.

In the letter, So Jisub wrote, "Working on this project has brought me great joy and touched me deeply. Thank you to everyone who quietly gave their best in their respective roles to make 'Agent Kim Reactivated' shine."

It was reported that right after filming finished, So Jisub personally handed out these gifts to about 300 cast and crew members. Back in May, actor Lim Hyowoo shared photos of the gold and flowers on Instagram along with the caption, "Thank you to So Jisub Sunbaenim for the gift. Great job to all the staff who worked so hard until May 13." At the time So Jisub handed out the gifts, the price of gold in South Korea was roughly 220,000 KRW (~$150) per gram.

This is not the first time So Jisub has gifted gold to his team. Last year, after finishing the Netflix series 'Mercy for None,' he gave one don, which is a traditional Korean weight unit of gold equal to 3.75 grams, to all the actors, managers, and staff members, which grabbed a lot of attention.

So Jisub later appeared on the Youtube channel 'Channel Fullmoon' and explained the real reason behind his special gifts, saying, "I've always bought gifts with my own money after finishing a project, but people kept thinking they were sponsored. Gold can't be sponsored," and added:

"I wanted to give something that people could sell and use someday if times ever became difficult."

So Jisub's thoughtful gesture comes right after 'Agent Kim Reactivated' ended as a massive hit. The drama concluded its run with viewer ratings of 23.0% according to Nielsen Korea. It passed the 20% mark by just its fourth episode and peaked at 23.1% in Episode 8, becoming the second highest-rated SBS Friday-Saturday drama of all time.

As the drama wrapped up its successful run, So Jisub shared a message through his agency, 51K, saying, "We could only finish 'Agent Kim Reactivated' because of the hard work of the staff behind the scenes. I also want to sincerely thank all my fellow actors creating such great chemistry with me from start to finish."

So Jisub Gifts Real Gold to 300 Cast and Crew Members After 'Agent Kim Reactivated' Ends

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Seohyun opened up about her close relationship with Girls' Generation members. She revealed that because their bond is so strong, they don't need to keep in contact all the time to stay close.

Seohyun recently appeared on the Youtube channel 'Kang Hyungwook's Bodeum TV' with her 10-year-old dog, Bbobbo (NB: Kiss). Welcoming her to the show, famous dog trainer Kang Hyunwook brought up about how Girls' Generation members Taeyeon and Yuri had previously been on the show. He joked, "Do you members ever talk about our show with each other?"

Seohyun jokingly replied, "We don't really chat about small things like that." Kang Hyungwook playfully teased back, "So coming on our show is just a small thing?" making everyone on set laugh.

To avoid any misunderstanding, Seohyun quickly explained, "Actually, we're so close that we don't contact each other that often." Since they've grown up together since their teenage years, their relationship is more like family, meaning they don't have to keep in constant touch.

Kang Hyungwook nodded and said, "You're basically family, aren't you?" Seohyun replied, "That's right. But I still make sure to watch everything my older members appear in," proving her deep love for her fellow members.

Now in their 18th year since debut, the Girls' Generation members are all busy with their own careers as actresses, singers, and TV stars, but their strong bond remains unchanged. Seohyun's remarks highlighted the deep trust and special connection that comes from growing up together for nearly two decades.

During the episode, Seohyun also shared a quick update on her life, saying, "I'm doing well as Bbobbo's mom, and I'm currently preparing for my next project." She mentioned that she regularly plays the violin and piano as personal hobbies. 

Seohyun Explains Why Girls Generation Members Rarely Keep in Touch