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

Friday, July 24, 2026

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Fromis_9's Lee Chaeyoung has finally addressed misunderstandings that led some people to believe she was a smoker.

On July 23, fromis_9's Lee Chaeyoung and Lee Nakyung appeared on 'The Truman Show,' a segment on the Youtube channel 'oOo_blahblah,' where guests take a lie detector test while answering questions.

During the episode, Lee Chaeyoung brought up the smoking rumors herself. When host Lee Yongjin asked if there was anything she wanted to clear up using the lie detector, she immediately answered, "I'm not a smoker," making everyone laugh.

Explaining how the rumor started, Lee Chaeyoung said, "If you search my name, 'cigarettes' pops up as a related search term. I wasn't a smoker back then, and I'm still not one now. I have never smoked in my life." She added:

"I once uploaded a photo, and an e-cigarette happened to appear in the picture. It was actually far away from me. Since I don't smoke, I didn't even realize it was an e-cigarette."

The smoking rumors first started in 2023, when people online noticed what looked like an e-cigarette in a photo Lee Chaeyoung posted and quickly deleted. While many fans defended her, saying, "She's an adult, so what's the problem?", it was still a sensitive matter for an idol. Since then, 'cigarettes' has remained tied to her search results.

Talking about how people reacted, she added, "Nobody even doubted for a second that I was a smoker. Some people even said, 'I'd be disappointed if you didn't actually smoke.'"

When Lee Yongjin jokingly asked, "Don't people ask you to recommend good e-cigarette flavors?" Lee Chaeyoung replied:

"No. But an e-cigarette company actually reached out to me and offered to sponsor me for life."

To clear up the rumor for good, when asked, "Are you a non-smoker?" Lee Chaeyoung answered, "Yes," and the lie detector proved she was telling the truth. She then pleaded, "Please remove those related search terms now. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life."

Lee Yongjin then joked, "It's funny that so many people think, 'Yeah, you definitely look like you'd smoke.' Maybe you just have the look of a smoker." Lee Chaeyoung laughed and shared her frustration, saying, "I think that's what bothered me the most. You'd think people would at least question it a little, but maybe because my voice is a bit husky, everyone just assumed I smoked."

Fellow member Lee Nakyung backed her up, saying, "Chaeyoung always felt so unfairly accused. But she never really had a chance to explain herself." Feeling thankful, Lee Chaeyoung replied, "I feel so relieved now. Thank you so much."

Meanwhile, Fromis_9 recently made a comeback on July 21 with their second full album, 'Glow ME,' marking their first album release in nearly three years. They are currently promoting the title track, 'Vitamin ME.' What makes this album special is that every member participated in writing and producing the songs, showing off their own style while keeping the group's signature bright energy.

fromis_9’s Lee Chaeyoung Addresses Smoking Controversy From 2023

Kim Soohyun's international fans partnered with a big fashion brand to donate clothes to children in need across South Korea in celebration of his 19th debut anniversary.

On the 24th, the child welfare organization ChildFund Korea announced that 'BENCH x Kim Soo Hyun Korea & Global Fan Union' donated a total of 3,800 clothing items under the actor's name. The donation consisted of 1,900 matching sets, each containing a children's T-shirt and a hat.

Kim Soohyun's fan union originally prepared 1,000 clothing sets to celebrate his 19th debut anniversary. Then, BENCH, the fashion brand that recently renewed its deal with Kim Soohyun, joined in by donating 900 more sets to support the fans' project.

ChildFund Korea confirmed that the clothing items will be sent to children from low-income families across South Korea, so they have them ready to wear in the coming season.

Representatives from the 'BENCH x Kim Soohyun Korea & Global Fan Union' stated, "It's meaningful to be able to provide practical support to children in need while celebrating Kim Soohyun's 19th debut anniversary. We hope this donation will help them grow up warm and healthy."

In response, ChildFund Korea expressed their gratitude to the fans for sharing kindness and promised to keep helping children in need. An official stated, "We sincerely appreciate the fans for practicing such heartfelt generosity on the meaningful occasion of Kim Soohyun's 19th debut anniversary. ChildFund Korea will continue to stand by children and support them so they can grow up smiling and happy."

BENCH x Kim Soohyun's Global Fan Union Donate 3,800 Clothing Items to Children for His 19th Debut Anniversary

Thursday, July 23, 2026

An influencer with 140,000 followers is shocking social media after being accused of causing 10 billion KRW (~6.8 million USD) in damages through a 'half-price luxury' scheme.

Set to air on August 23 at 9:00 PM (KST), MBC's 'True Story Investigation' will expose the full details of the luxury scam involving the influencer 'Shuni.'

Shuni first became popular on social media by showing off a flashy lifestyle filled with supercars and high-end designer brands. Once followers started to trust her, Shuni allegedly began offering selected followers the exclusive opportunity to buy authentic luxury items at about 50% off retail prices. To make the offer look real, Shuni even ran an online group full of fake positive reviews from 'buyers.' Tricked by these reviews, victims sent over large amounts of money. However, after waiting several months, many reported that their luxury items never came. 

According to the 'True Story Investigation' team, over 100 victims have been identified so far, with total losses reaching nearly 10 billion KRW (~6.8 million USD).

To keep the scam going and build trust, Shuni allegedly used several clever tactics. She pushed a 'combined shipping' rule, claiming that buyers who placed additional orders would get their previous orders delivered faster. If anyone became suspicious, Shuni would either give them an immediate refund or invite them into private group chats to reassure them. On top of that, Shunialso frequently donated part of the profits to charity, creating a kind, trustworthy image that kept buyers from suspecting a thing. 

The entire scheme fell apart in March when Shuni suddenly vanished with all the money. However, during their investigation, the production team received a shocking tip that Shuni, whom everyone believed to be a woman, is actually a man. 

In the upcoming episode, the investigative team plans to reveal Shuni's real identity, track down where the money went, and explain how some real luxury items were actually delivered early on to trick buyers. 

Influencer with 140K Followers Accused of Scamming 10 Billion KRW with Fake Luxury Deals