Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Actor Kim Soohyun is officially making his return to the entertainment industry after being out of the spotlight for about a year and four months.

On July 14, he is scheduled to film a commercial and participate in a promotional photo shoot in South Korea for the Philippine clothing brand BENCH. This campaign will air exclusively in the Philippines and won't be released in South Korea, marking his very first public activity since his hiatus. BENCH, which first signed Kim Soohyun as its model back in 2024, decided to stand by him and renew its partnership despite the past controversy, drawing significant attention.

To understand why his return is gaining a lot of attention, let's take a look back at the major controversy surrounding him from March last year. Kim Soohyun ended up pausing all of his public activities after allegations surfaced claiming he had dated the late actress Kim Saeron when she was still a minor. His agency, Gold Medalist, did confirm that the two had dated in the past, but they strongly maintained that the relationship only started after she became an adult.

This controversy ultimately affected his advertising deals. Because of his sudden hiatus, the outdoor clothing brand Eider filed a 2.5 billion KRW lawsuit against Kim Soohyun and his agency, claiming the scandal ruined their brand image. 

However, the Seoul Central District Court recently recommended a settlement. Following this suggestion, Eider lowered its damages claim from 2.5 billion KRW to 400 million KRW. The brand also withdrew its claim for damages regarding the public controversy itself, and is now only asking for the return of the remaining modeling fees left on the contract. 

Moving forward, Kim Soohyun will likely focus on a slow return to the industry, starting with overseas markets where he has a massive, loyal fanbase. 

The ultimate question now is what happens to the highly anticipated Disney+ original series 'Knock-Off.' Production was halted and its release was put on hold indefinitely due to the controversy, but word on the street is that Disney+ is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating its release schedule. Everyone in the industry is now watching to see if this overseas ad campaign with BENCH will help pave the way for a domestic comeback, or if public sentiment in South Korea will continue to impact his career.

Kim Soohyun officially returns to the entertainment industry after 16-month hiatus

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TWICE's Tzuyu is drawing attention as she enters official contract renewal discussions with JYP Entertainment. 

On July 14, JYP Entertainment released an official statement, confirming:

"TWICE is currently in the contract renewal discussion period. We will provide an update once any decisions have been finalized."

This news comes after all nine members renewed their contracts back in 2022. Now that they are entering another contract renewal period, everyone is watching closely to see what the members are going to do next. 

The attention on Tzuyu's future grew even more after recent reports that her fellow member Jeongyeon met with Varo Entertainment (which is the acting agency that represents her older sister, Gong Seungyeon), putting fans on high alert as they wait for the next updates. 

Meanwhile, Tzuyu debuted in 2015 with TWICE. Thanks to massive hits like 'Like Ooh Ahh,' 'Cheer Up,' 'TT,' and more, the group quickly cemented themselves as the blueprint for 3rd Gen K-pop. As a lead dancer and visual member, Tzuyu instantly won over hearts worldwide. 

In 2024, Tzuyu officially made her solo debut by releasing her first mini-album, 'AbouTZU.' She also showed off her songwriting skills by writing lyrics for both her solo music and TWICE's songs. 

Most recently, TWICE just wrapped up their sixth world tour, 'THIS IS FOR.' The group traveled for about a year, hitting 44 cities worldwide for a total of 81 shows, marking the largest tour they have ever pulled off in their entire history.

JYP Entertainment addresses rumors surrounding TWICE's Tzuyu contract renewal status

Monday, July 13, 2026

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Aespa's Karina recently opened up about an extreme weight loss method she used during her trainee days. 

On the episode of JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' that aired on the 12th, Karina made a guest appearance alongside fellow member Winter. When the show revealed her fridge, it was packed with various ingredients, leading her to confess her huge love for food. She shared, "I'm the type who gains weight quickly and loses it quickly," and added:

"I've gained 4kg in a day before and I've also lost 4kg in the same day."

That is when she shared the most intense story from her trainee days. She recalled, "I ate everything I could, and when I checked my weight, I had gained 4kg overnight." She revealed that she was scheduled to weigh herself the very next day, meaning she had to shed all of that weight as quickly as humanly possible.

"I turned on the heater in the practice room, put on leggings, a sweat suit, a zip-up hoodie, and even a padded jacket. Then I played the TOP 100 songs and ran nonstop for five to six hours. After I got home, I soaked in a half-body bath for an hour."

Hearing this, host Ahn Junghwan commented, "That's similar to how professional athletes dehydrate themselves before competitions." Karina agreed, saying, "I've heard UFC fighters do that too."

However, Karina was quick to clarify that she has completely abandoned the dangerous routine. She laughed it off, saying, "It completely drains you," and added, "Now that I'm older, I can't eat like that or exercise like that anymore. These days, even when it rains a lot, my body starts to ache."

Aespa's Karina shares shocking story of losing 4kg in one day

Actress Song Jihyo recently opened up about her thoughts on marriage. 

Song Jihyo recently sat down for a meal with her famous celebrity lookalike, Nucksal, on her Youtube channel in a video titled, 'You have no idea how funny Nucksal is.' 

When Song Jihyo asked, "How long have you been married?" Nucksal replied, "This is our fourth year." Song Jihyo then recalled attending his wedding, and Nucksal thanked her for coming along with Yang Sechan.

When Song Jihyo asked how married life has been treating him, Nucksal honestly replied:

"After our baby was born, we fought a lot. We didn't really get to enjoy our newlywed life because we were busy raising our child, and we both had different lifestyles we were used to."

Nucksal also explained that dating and marriage are completely two different things, because there is 'nowhere to run' when you share the same space. He shared, "You have to communicate well and be considerate of the other person," and added with a laugh, "After arguing, I eventually realized a lot of things. I've finally become a real human being. Before that, I wasn't."

Listening to Nucksal's honest reflection, Song Jihyo admitted: 

"Whenever I hear stories like this, I think I want to get married. But once I get back to my everyday life, the thought disappears. I guess that's why I'm still single."

Nucksal jokingly teased her, "Shouldn't you find someone to marry first?" Song Jihyo fired back with a laugh, "Wouldn't a man come into my life only if I actually wanted to get married?"

While Song Jihyo is currently enjoying her single life, she previously made headlines when she opened up about her past relationship on an episode of SBS' 'Running Man.' She revealed, "Around four or five years ago, I had a boyfriend I dated for eight years," and added that he was someone even the 'Running Man' members had no idea about.

Song Jihyo opens up about why she's still single and her thoughts on marriage

Friday, July 10, 2026

Singer Chuu has officially concluded her exclusive contract with ATRP. 

On the 10th, ATRP released an official statement, announcing, "Our exclusive contract with our artist Chuu officially ended on July 10, 2026."

According to the label, the decision came after deep discussions about her future plans. They added, "We mutually agreed to conclude our exclusive contract while sincerely wishing each other the best in our future endeavors."

Wrapping up their statement, ATRP expressed gratitude to the fans, stating, "We would like to thank all the fans who have given Chuu their unwavering love and support. We hope you continue to support and encourage her as she enters her next chapter."

Chuu first debuted with LOONA back in 2017. After Blockberry Creative removed her from the group in November 2022, she signed an exclusive contract with ATRP in 2023. Over the next three years, she established her own distinct musical identity, starting with her first-mini album 'Howl,' followed by 'Strawberry Rush' and 'Only Cry in the Rain,' while also thriving in variety shows, ads, and digital content. 

Now that her contract with ATRP has officially ended, everyone is watching to see which agency she joins next and where her career goes from here.

Chuu officially ends exclusive contract with ATRP

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IU and Lee Jongsuk have officially broken up after four years of dating, bringing an end to one of the entertainment industry's most beloved relationships.

Both of their agencies confirmed the news today, July 10. IU's label, EDAM Entertainment, stated, "It's true that they have broken up," and added that they've decided to remain good colleagues. Lee Jongsuk's agency, Ace Factory, also confirmed, "It is true that they have broken up. They have decided to remain good colleagues going forward."

IU and Lee Jongsuk first met all the way back in 2012 when they were co-MCs for SBS' Inkigayo. After remaining close colleagues for an entire decade, their long-term friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship in 2022. 

Because the two stars are at the absolute top of their respective fields, they made a conscious effort to date quietly. While breakup rumors popped up every now and then, fans easily brushed them off, especially after Lee Jongsuk was recently spotted in the crowd supporting IU at one of her concerts. 

However, their increasingly busy schedules ultimately got in the way of the romance. An insider close to the couple revealed:

"As their busy schedules led to fewer opportunities to meet, they decided to end the relationship."

 

Lee Jongsuk is currently getting ready for the release of his new Disney+ series 'The Remarried Empress.' On top of that, he is also set to star in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the hit web novel 'Iseop's Romance.'

Meanwhile, IU recently starred in the MBC drama 'Perfect Crown' and is currently busy working on her next album while preparing for her upcoming concert at the Goyang Sports Complex this September.


IU and Lee Jongsuk confirm breakup after four years of dating

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The late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu’s estate has recently been at the center of conflicting rumors. To clear up the confusion, her ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei, has released a detailed five-point statement through his lawyer to explain the situation.

Barbie Hsu tragically passed away in February last year at the age of 48 after developing acute pneumonia caused by influenza during a family trip to Japan. Looking back, she married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011, and they had a daughter and a son together before divorcing in 2021. Then in 2022, she remarried to Korean artist Goo Junyeop, whom she had dated way back in the late 1990s. 

Earlier this February, Taiwanese media reported that a magazine claimed Goo Junyeop and Barbie Hsu's mother were in a conflict over the inheritance and were both actively preparing to take legal action against each other. 

At the time, Barbie Hsu's family strongly denied all of those claims. Barbie Hsu's mother came forward, saying, "I hate lawsuits that only cause pain and waste money. I now call Goo Junyeop my son. He is my son. He loved Hsi-yuan so deeply, and he respects me. I love him as well."

Barbie Hsu's younger sister, Dee Hsu, also shut down the rumors by stating, "Goo Junyeop is the person who gave my sister the purest love. He is part of our family, and we will protect him forever." Goo Junyeop himself made it clear that he didn't want any of the money, saying:

"Hsi-yuan's estate is wealth she accumulated for the people she loved. I intend to hand over all of my authority regarding the inheritance to my mother-in-law."

However, on July 8, Taiwanese media outlets like ETtoday dropped a new report that brought attention back to the issue. This time, Barbie Hsu's mother shared that she did not inherit any portion of her daughter's estate, saying:

"I'm about to be forced out of the home I bought with the money I earned through hard work." 

 

As the statement quickly gained a lot of attention online, Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei, stepped in to address the matter by releasing a five-point statement through his attorney. 

According to his attorney, under the law, two-thirds of Barbie Hsu's estate belongs to Wang Xiaofei and her two minor children. Wang Xiaofei has already set up a dedicated trust account to manage their inheritance and asked the court to appoint a legal representative to protect their rights while a court attorney handles splitting up the assets. The remaining one-third was legally inherited by Goo Junyeop. Wang Xiaofei's attorney noted that this portion will be handled entirely according to Goo Junyeop's wishes, and Wang Xiaofei fully respects his decision.

Regarding Barbie Hsu's house in Taipei, Wang Xiaofei confirmed that he is still helping pay the mortgage so that their minor children will not have to deal with the bills, as the financial responsibility would otherwise fall on them. Meanwhile, reports note that Goo Junyeop has no intention of inheriting the property. Wang Xiaofei also firmly denied rumors that the house is at risk of being auctioned off, calling those reports completely false.

As for the claims that Barbie Hsu's mother might be forced to leave the house, Wang Xiaofei completely denied trying to kick her out. He stated, "I have never told her to move out." His legal team made it clear that both Wang Xiaofei and his two children fully support her staying in the house and have never once asked her to leave. 

Wang Xiaofei's legal team wrapped up the statement by asking people to stop spreading unverified rumors and inaccurate news, noting that these false stories are causing the family a lot of unnecessary stress and pain. They also emphasized that Wang Xiaofei's top priority is to protect his two children's interests, their financial assets, and their living arrangements.

Barbie Hsu’s ex-husband Wang Xiaofei addresses Inheritance amid ongoing rumors

Thursday, July 9, 2026

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Actor Kim Youngdae has officially been selected to join the Republic of Korea Army's military band.

If you missed the news, he enlisted as an active-duty soldier back on April 20 and completed his basic military training at the Korea Army Training Center. Right after finishing the training, he took the army band selection test at the end of June, and he successfully passed. Now, he has been assigned to his official post, serving as a member of the 12th Infantry Division's military band. 

What makes this news even more interesting is that the 12th Infantry Division is the exact same place where NCT's Doyoung is currently serving as a drill instructor. Since they are both '96-liners, fans are so excited to see them ending up in the same division together. 

Looking back at his career, he made his official debut in 2017 through a web drama 'Drama Special: The Expiration Date of You and Me' before shooting to fame and gaining massive recognition through hit dramas like 'Extraordinary You' and 'The Penthouse.' He stayed incredibly busy with back-to-back projects all through last year and early this year before finally heading to the army. For those who are counting down the days until his return, Kim Youngdae is scheduled to be discharged in October next year.

Kim Youngdae to join NCT's Doyoung in the 12th Infantry Division after passing army band audition