Wednesday, September 2, 2026

,

Gugudan's Haebin has shared an update on her life after stepping away from the entertainment industry.

On September 1, Haebin posted a video to her personal social media account titled, 'What do girl group members do for a living after retiring?.' In the video, she shared her journey of transitioning from a former idol to a full-time content creator.

Haebin shared, "Spending five years as a trainee and five years as an idol, I won a rookie award just two years after debuting with Gugudan." She remembered being busy with solo concerts and overseas shows before everything suddenly changed, saying:

"At some point, my job was just gone."

 

However, Haebin didn't completely walk away from music. She explained, "Singing was all I knew, so I began working on drama OSTs and creating music that I truly enjoyed." She added:

"Rather than caring about rankings, I started pursuing things that I genuinely loved doing."

Haebin admitted that finding a new path wasn't something that happened overnight. She confessed, "To find something I could do long-term while actually enjoying it instead of just trying to please others, I had to learn everything again from scratch."

Wrapping up the video, she added, "From now on, I want to share my life as Han Yeseo, not Gugudan's Haebin. Please show me lots of support."

Haebin debuted as Gugudan's main vocalist in 2016 before the group disbanded in 2020. She now works as a content creator with around 49,000 followers, sharing personal experiences and daily updates. 

Haebin isn't the only former member sharing updates about life after the group. Fellow member Hana recently revealed that after pursuing an acting career, she is now working overseas as a flight attendant.

Gugudan's Haebin Opens Up About Life After Her Idol Career Ended

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Youtuber Park Wi is facing new backlash as details about his lecture fees and public contracts surfaced online following the controversy over the release of CCTV footage from his KTX accident.

The situation began after an accident on August 14, where Park Wi fell while getting off a KTX train because the wheel of his wheelchair caught on the foot of a social service worker who was helping him.

On August 21, Park Wi posted CCTV footage of the accident on his Youtube channel to raise concerns about the need for safer train boarding for people with disabilities.

At the time, netizens criticized him for sharing the footage, especially since the worker had already apologized at the scene. Many argued that sharing the footage went too far because it could expose the worker's identity.


Park Wi eventually took down the footage from his channel and issued an apology, saying:
"I failed to fully consider the perspective of the staff member who did their best to help me at the scene and apologized."
Alongside the backlash, there were also suspicions that Park Wi may have received special treatment to obtain the CCTV footage. However, KORAIL clarified that their guidelines allow anyone involved in an incident to request and receive copies of their own footage.


As the controversy grew, public attention shifted to online posts sharing contract details between public institutions and Park Wi's affiliated companies, leading many to question whether his appearance fee were reasonable.

According to the publicly available contract records, Geumsan County invited Park Wi for a special lecture for teenagers at the Geumsan County Public Library in 2023 through Saramson Contents & Works for 5 million KRW (around 3,600 USD).

A special lecture service organized by Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, for Children's Day Festival 2026 has also resurfaced. The contract was signed with the company represented by Park Wi, Wiracle Factory Inc., for 4.462 million KRW (around $3,200 USD).

Public records further revealed a 9.35 million KRW (aroud 6,750 USD) contract signed with Inside Out Core Inc. for 'Wiracle Park Wi's Talk Concert.' Set for August 28, the 60-minute event, which included sign language, wheelchair seating, Braille leaflets, and subtitles, was abruptly canceled due to 'unavoidable circumstances' as the backlash grew.


However, observers note that total contract amount do not represent the amount Park Wi personally receives. Besides his appearance fee, the total amount also covers event costs like planning, staff, equipment, and accessibility support.

Still, because these contracts are worth several million KRW, many people online are showing fairly cold response. Some commented, "That's way more money for a single lecture than I expected," and "The humble, positive image he emphasized in his lectures doesn't match the way he handled the recent situation."

On the other hand, others defended him, saying, "That could simply be the normal booking rates for a well-known speaked," and "The fees stated in the contract also includes the event setup costs, not just his appearance fee."

Park Wi Faces Another Backlash as His Lecture Fees Surface Online Amid KTX Controversy

Monday, August 24, 2026

, ,

NCT member Taeyong has shared a message of support for Mark following his departure from NCT 127, while reflecting on the group’s difficult lineup changes and their upcoming 10th anniversary.

On August 24, NCT 127 held a press conference at SKY31 Convention in Lotte World Tower, Jamsil, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their seventh full-length album 'BLINGY.' The album marks the group’s first comeback in about two years and their first release following changes to the lineup.

NCT 127 has now been reorganized as a seven-member group following Mark's official departure from the group and SM Entertainment on April 8 after nearly a decade with the team. This comes after former member Taeil left in June 2025 following allegations of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman alongside two acquaintance. He was charged of aggravated rape under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Meanwhile, all seven remaining members (Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan) have officially renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment.

During the press conference, leader Taeyong shared his thoughts on the group's 10th anniversary. He confessed, "When we debuted, the image we had of ourselves 10 years later was all of us would still be together," and added:

"Our team has gone through several member changes, and going through those periods was always painful. There were times when it was difficult to adjust."

He continued, "Even so, the remaining seven of us want to repay our fans for the memories and trust we've built over the past 10 years." He added, "Since we're being back together after so long, we've come to trust, lean on, and rely on one another even more," and explained, "This album was made so that we can show an even better side of ourselves as NCT."

Taeyong also took a moment to speak about Mark, saying, "Speaking of him as a fellow member who walked this path with us for 10 years, I personally have a deep respect for Mark." He added:

"I know how hard he worked while going back and forth between the two teams. Now that our paths are taking different directions, I want to respect and support the path he has chosen."

Taeyong also spoke about the contract renewal, stating, "It's definitely something to celebrate. Every members renewed the contracts with the commitment to trust the company with our future direction, both as NCT 127 and NCT as a whole." He promised, "We will continue working hard to deliver great music and performances, and we will show an even stronger version of ourselves as NCT 127."

Meanwhile, 'BLINGY' is NCT 127's seventh full-length album that reflects on their decade-long journey while showcasing their pride, strong unity, and determination to carve out their own path together.

'BLINGY' features nine tracks, led by the title track of the same name, and drops today at 6 PM (KST).

NCT 127's Taeyong Shares His Thought on Mark's Departure and the Group's Lineup Changes

Saturday, August 22, 2026

,

BIGBANG's G-Dragon recently revealed that he doesn't know how to use mobile banking.

On August 22, G-Dragon made an appearance on an episode of Youtube channel Tteuntteun titled 'Anniversaries Are Just an Excuse' alongside fellow BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung.

The discussion started when Yoo Jaesuk mentioned, "Haha used to be one of the original hipsters who embraced new technology than anyone else, but now he can't even kiosks." Haha then asked Yoo Jaesuk if he uses mobile banking. While Yoo Jaesuk confirmed he does, G-Dragon confessed, "I can't (use mobile banking.)"


Surprised by the confession, Yoo Jaesuk asked, "What do you do if you can't use mobile banking? What about all that wealth?" G-Dragon explained:

"I have someone who manages it for me."


Hearing this, Yoo Jaesuk advised, "Even if you have someone managing it for you, you should still check it yourself."

The conversation then turned to how the other BIGBANG members handle their finances. Daesung said, "I've managed my finances myself since I was young." Taeyang explained, "Daesung has handled everything himself almost since the beginning of our debut. For me, about two or three years after debut, I realized, 'I need to know how to manage my own finances,' so I started managing things myself." G-Dragon added:

"I can go to the bank, speak directly with a teller, and take care of things that way, but I don't know how to use mobile banking at all."

Daesung agreed, saying, "When it comes to convenience, nothing beats speaking to an actual person. Even when calling customer service, I deliberately wait to be connected to a representative instead of dealing with an automated system," to which Haha and Taeyang agreed to.

G-Dragon's recent remarks made waves online given previous headlines surrounding his wealth. He was previously speculated to have around 100 billion KRW (around $72 million USD) in net worth, especially after purchasing a luxury apartment at Nine One Hannam in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul for 16.4 billion KRW (around $11.8 million USD).

G-Dragon Reveals He Doesn't Know How to Use Mobile Banking

, ,

Actress Go Younjung has been revealed to have sent housewarming gifts to RESCENE member Zena, who has consistently named the actress as her role model.

On August 22, Zena shared an unexpected story on a fan communication platform. She revealed that Go Younjung had surprised her and her group members by personally preparing housewarming gifts for their new dorm.

Zena recalled, "I came back to Korea after finishing a performance in LA, and when I arrived at the dorm, there was a huge full-length mirror and chair waiting for me." At first, the members were puzzled to find the unidentified package waiting in front of their dorm. They later found out that it had been sent by Go Younjung.

Zena noted, "It was even pink, which is my favorite color." Go Younjung had also sent a stool chair for Zena. The fact that Go Younjung remembered Zena's favorite color made the thoughtful gesture mean even more to Zena.

Expressing her deep gratitude and affection, Zena added, "I guess beautiful people really do have beautiful hearts."

Zena has openly expressed her admiration for Go Younjung for a long time, frequently naming the actress as her role model across various broadcasts and other content. Fans have also pointed out the striking resemblance between the two, making this wholesome interaction a hot topic among netizens.

Recently on August 21, a video titled 'Do You Like Go Younjung?" was posted on RESCENE member Woni's Youtube channel, 'Hello, I'm Woni. Nice to Meet You.' The video showed Zena meeting Go Younjung in person, greeting her, and exchanging contact information. It appears that after this meeting, Go Younjung sent gifts for Zena and the other RESCENE members. 

With Go Younjung personally sending a gift to someone who has long looked up to her, fans are now celebrating the heartwarming relationship between the two.

RESCENE’s Zena Reveals Heartwarming Gesture From Her Role Model Go Younjung

Singer Bibi, who recently faced controversy over the provocative nature of her performance at Waterbomb, has opened up about her personal philosophy when it comes to performing.

On August 21, SBS released a teaser for its new variety show 'My Genie Secretary' on its Youtube channel. The teaser showed Lee Seojin and Kim Kwanggyu visiting the Waterbomb venue for the season's first featured star, Bibi, and managing her schedule throughout the entire day, from pre-show preparations to the end of her performance.

Discussing her mindset, Bibi revealed, "I started preparing three months before going on stage. I prepared for three months as if this were my last performance." She also highlighted her commitment to the audience, stating:

"I have a philosophy when it comes to performing. I absolutely have to entertain the people who paid their money to come see me."

Her comments come amid ongoing debate over her performance at Waterbomb Seoul 2026, which was held on July 25 at the outdoor Global Stage at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

That day, Bibi wore a form-fitting white jumpsuit, performing several of her hit songs including 'Bam Yang Gang' and 'BIBI Vengeance.' Her bold performance drew considerable attention from the audience.

The controversy centered on a moment midway through her performance. Bibi knelt among male dancers and unzipped her wet jumpsuit to reveal the bikini top she was wearing underneath. Surrounded by shirtless male dancers, she remained on her knees while taking a microphone. Some netizens criticized the scene, arguing the choreography was overly suggestive.

BIBI Speaks Up Amid Controversy Over Her Provocative Waterbomb Performance

Singer Song Jieun’s husband and YouTuber Park Wi issued an apology following backlash over a recent video about an accident that happened while he was getting off a KTX train.

On August 22, Park Wi addressed the situation through his YouTube channel 'WERACLE,' expressing regret over how he handled the situation: 

“I’m sorry for disappointing so many people with the video I uploaded today. I failed to fully consider the perspective of the staff member who did their best to help me at the scene and politely apologized."

Park Wi explained, "I only viewed the mistake made in the process of trying to help me in a negative light. The way I communicated the situation was immature, and my thinking was short-sighted."

He also apologized both to the staff members at the scene and to his viewers, adding, "I'll take this incident as an opportunity to act more carefully and responsibly in everything I do."

The controversy began after Park Wi posted CCTV footage on August 21 showing an accident that occurred while he was getting off a KTX train. 

The video showed Park Wi falling forward while traveling down a ramp. According to him, the wheels of his wheelchair caught on the foot of a staff member helping at the scene, causing him to fall. Fortunately, a hospital examination reportedly found no major fractures.

While expressing his frustration over the incident, Park Wi raised concerns about improving accessibility and implementing safety training for individuals with disabilities. He asked viewers not to direct backlash toward the staff member involved, emphasizing that even a single oversight on a ramp can lead to severe injuries.

However, many netizens felt his response went too far. They pointed out that the staff member had not acted maliciously and had apologized politely immediately at the scene. Some netizens also criticized his decision to publicly release the CCTV footage on a channel with over one million subscribers, commenting, "It's excessive to publicly expose a mistake that happened while someone was just trying to help."

At the same time, others defended his position, urging empathy for his perspective as a wheelchair user living with quadriplegia. They argued that even a minor mistake could lead to serious injuries, maintaining that raising concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities remains necessary.

Song Jieun’s Husband Park Wi Apologizes Following Backlash Over KTX Accident Video

Friday, August 21, 2026

,

A Japanese Youtuber is facing intense public backlash after posting a video imitating ATEEZ member Choi San while making a gesture widely associated with racism against Asians.

On August 21, footage of Gamix imitating Choi San began spreading across online communities and social media. The controversy started after Gamix uploaded a dance challenge for ATEEZ's hit track 'BAD' while mimicking Choi San's facial expressions and movements. 

Gamix was specifically referencing Choi San's appearance at the 2026 Coupang Play Series match between Manchester City and Atlético Madrid on August 9. Choi San had been invited to perform the ceremonial kickoff and also performed part of ATEEZ's 'BAD' on the pitch.

At one point, Gamix pulled the outer corners of his eyes sideways with his fingers. The problem is that this is widely recognized as a racist gesture historically used to mock the appearance of Asians. 

As criticism grew, Gamix deleted the video. However, his subsequent actions only fueled the controversy further. Rather than issuing an apology, he uploaded another video in English saying:

“Everyone, these are Asian eyes. When you wake up in the morning, they usually open like this."

Gamix later held a livestream lasting around 50 minutes. Instead of addressing the issue or apologizing to Choi San, he apologized for previous controversial behavior involving soccer player Lionel Messi and YouTuber MrBeast.

The public expressed anger and confusion over his behavior, with comments calling him out, including, "I can't understand why someone who is Asian himself would do something like that," "It’s clearly a racist gesture, not something that can simply be dismissed as a joke,” and “Isn’t he basically insulting his own Asian appearance?”

Born in 2007, Gamix is a Japanese influencer with approximately 1.12 million YouTube subscribers and 2.16 million Instagram followers.

Meanwhile, ATEEZ recently released their 14th mini album 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5' in June. Its title track 'BAD' peaked at No. 8 on Melon’s Top 100 and No. 10 on the weekly chart, while the album topped the U.S. Billboard 200.

Japanese YouTuber Gamix Faces Backlash for Allegedly Mocking ATEEZ’s Choi San With Racist Gesture