BTS' Jung Kook proves unmatched star power as cooking livestream hits 6.4 mil. viewersBTS member Jung Kook once again sparked global buzz with a surprise live broadcast. His spontaneous cooking livestream on fan platform Weverse drew more than 6.4 million real-time viewers, reaffirming his “world-class” influence. Jung Kook went live on Weverse on Nov. 24, unveiling a new pasta recipe that instantly captivated fans around the world. What could have been a simple cooking stream felt closer to a complete performance. His smooth and precise movements, detailed explanations of flavors and ingredients, and natural smiles and facial expressions combined to create a broadcast that kept viewers fully engaged from start to finish. Jung Kook has already shown his culinary creativity through creations such as “bulguri” (a combination of Buldak and Neoguri brand spicy instant noodles), sesame oil buckwheat noodles with spicy mayo, “rajuk” (a combination of instant noodles and rice porridge) and truffle cream pasta, all of which he crafted himself. Each time he does a cooking livestream, major fan communities and online platforms light up with real-time reactions, reflecNov 26, 2025By Xportsnews
‘Even if I were born again, I would be an actor’: Lee Soon-jae’s life reflects dignity of an artistLee Soon-jae lived as a working actor until his final days. At 91, an age when many retire into quiet rest, he moved between theater stages and filming sets, fueled by an undying passion for performance. His life itself was a work of art, shaped by discipline, humility and craftsmanship. News of Lee’s passing on Nov. 25 prompted an outpouring of grief across the entertainment industry. Actors, directors and colleagues shared their condolences and recalled memories of the veteran performer with deep sorrow. Lee had an exclusive YouTube interview with the Hankook Ilbo a few years ago, ahead of the release of the film “Good Morning.” “I didn’t get paid much for this one. It’s a low-budget film. But the script was good. I joined the project happily, with a bit of ambition, regardless of the money,” he said with a cheerful laugh. For Lee, an actor’s greatest fortune was meeting good scripts and good directors. “That’s how you can fully show your capabilities. That’s real luck for an actor,” he said. In “Good Morning,” he played an elderly man in a hospice ward. “Nov 26, 2025By Hankookilbo
Kim Woo-bin, Shin Min-a join ranks of long-term celebrity couples finally getting marriedThe Korean entertainment world is buzzing this month, and not only because top actors Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a are getting married after a decade of dating. Their wedding has unexpectedly revived global interest in a uniquely Korean trend: celebrity couples who date quietly — often for seven to 10 years — before finally tying the knot. Kim and Shin will hold a private ceremony on Dec. 20 in Seoul with family and close friends. Their agency, AM Entertainment, said, “Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a promised to become lifelong partners based on the deep trust they have built over many years.” Kim, born in 1989, and Shin, born in 1984, went public with their relationship in 2015. Over the past decade, they have earned praise in Korea for keeping their romance low-drama and for their steady philanthropy, leading fans to call them a “model couple.” Their wedding has now sparked broader public attention toward other long-term celebrity relationships — many of which lasted nearly a decade before marriage, a pattern that differs from the often shorter span of high-profile Hollywood roNov 22, 2025By Xportsnews
K-drama power couple Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin to marry after 10-year romanceIn a real-life K-drama twist that has sent Korean social media buzzing, actors Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin will tie the knot on Dec. 20, 10 years after publicly confirming their relationship. Their agencies say the longtime couple, beloved for both their on-screen presence and their steadfast off-screen partnership, made the decision based on “deep trust” built over the past decade. Private December ceremony AM Entertainment said on Nov. 20 that the pair have “promised to become life partners after years of a strong and faithful relationship.” The wedding will take place privately in Seoul with only family members, relatives and close friends in attendance. “We ask for your warm support and blessings for their future together,” the agency said, adding that both actors will continue working actively and “do their best to repay the love they have received.” A relationship followed closely by fans Shin and Kim have been one of Korea’s most stable celebrity couples since going public in 2015. Their relationship drew widespread admiration during Kim’s battle with nasopharyngNov 20, 2025By Xportsnews
'Stop altering your face': Veteran Korean actor criticizes entrenched cosmetic cultureActor Yun Mi-ra is going viral after openly urging younger actors to avoid cosmetic procedures, delivering an unusually direct critique of Korea’s beauty-focused entertainment culture. The discussion appeared in a video uploaded Thursday on her personal YouTube channel, titled “Date with my son Part 2: Youth star Park Hyung-joon.” In the clip, Yun meets her longtime junior colleague Park Hyung-joon for a casual outing. Seeing him, she immediately says his face looks healthier, prompting Park to respond that her appearance has “not changed at all.” Yun then shifts the conversation, saying, “Your face looks natural because you never get work done. These days so many male actors are doing procedures.” She adds, “It is not about reversing aging. You simply should not touch your face in that way.” When Park jokes that he “might need a little work,” Yun firmly shuts it down. “Never do it. You look good right now. Once people start getting procedures, they end up ruining themselves.” The two even hook fingers as she makes him promise not to undergo any cosmetic enhancNov 15, 2025By Xportsnews
Former EXO member Kris Wu hit by prison death rumors as Chinese police call reports 'fake'Rumors claiming that former EXO member Kris Wu has died in prison are spreading across Chinese social media, prompting police to issue an unusual public denial and warn users against circulating unverified claims. On Thursday, Taiwanese media reported that speculation about Wu’s alleged death was gaining traction among Chinese netizens. The claims began after a user on Weibo — China’s largest social media platform — posted that he was Wu’s “fellow inmate” and alleged that the singer had recently died under suspicious circumstances. The user wrote that prison guards were “whispering strangely a few days ago” and claimed that Wu had “been killed after failing to meet the demands” by gang members inside the facility. The posts rapidly spread online despite the lack of evidence. As speculation intensified, Jiangsu Provincial Police posted an official statement on their Weibo account, drawing a clear line under the rumors. Police labeled the posts as fake news and urged users not to spread “unverified information,” adding that those who continue to distribute falseNov 15, 2025By Xportsnews
Adorable kid from ‘Reply 1988’ now a 14-year-old student prodigyThe children once beloved by Korean audiences — from star offspring to scene-stealing child actors — are now all grown up, leaving fans amazed by their striking visuals and life updates. On Monday, a new photo of Kim Seol, the child actress who played Jin-ju in tvN’s 2015 hit “Reply 1988,” went viral after her mother shared it on social media. The post, captioned “2025 Nov. 4 Gifted education program completion ceremony,” showed Kim smiling brightly while holding her certificate. Only 4 years old when she appeared in “Reply 1988,” Kim, now 14, has grown into a poised young teen — surprising fans who remember her as the show’s adorable toddler. The sons of actor Lee Jong-hyuk — Joon-soo and Tak-soo — also captured attention recently with their own updates. Joon-soo, now a high school senior, announced his preliminary acceptance to Chung-Ang University’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts and Sejong University’s Department of Film Arts. He later shared that he had officially been admitted to Seoul Institute of the Arts, where his father is an alumnusNov 12, 2025By Xportsnews
Kim Soo-hyun threatens legal action over 'manipulated' materials from Kim Sae-ron’s familyActor Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has suggested that new materials provided by the late actress Kim Sae-ron’s family may have been fabricated — warning that any renewed spread of manipulated evidence would be treated as a grave legal matter. Attorney Kho Sang-rok, Kim’s legal representative, said in a post on his YouTube channel Monday that “attorney Bu Ji-seok, who represents Kim Sae-ron’s family, has reportedly accepted an interview request from a major network’s investigative news program that began production last week.” Kho added, “We welcome Bu’s decision to give media interviews.” However, Kho said the situation had taken a concerning turn. “Right after news of the interview broke, several individuals believed to be in contact with an acquaintance of the late Kim Sae-ron began spreading claims on social media that ‘the family has provided previously unreleased materials to their attorney,’” he said. “We view this as a serious warning sign suggesting a potential recurrence of the same fabrication that once caused severe harm to actor Kim Soo-hyun.”Nov 12, 2025By Xportsnews
Korean actor Cha Eun-woo’s brother goes viral after giving AI lectureThe younger brother of Korean actor and singer Cha Eun-woo has become an online sensation after giving a public lecture on artificial intelligence — and for looking almost identical to his celebrity sibling. On Monday, Lee Dong-hwi, who has been identified as Cha Eun-woo’s younger brother, appeared as an artificial intelligence (AI) researcher and speaker at the “AI Summit Seoul & Expo 2025” held at Coex in Seoul. His session, titled “AI recipe: The AI I built for my brother, now evolved into a brand-verification tool,” explored his work in developing AI data-crawling models designed for celebrity management. According to the event’s description, Lee created an AI platform to assist entertainers like his brother Cha Eun-woo with brand credibility tracking — effectively blending entertainment and tech innovation. His face and professional profile were also featured on the official expo website, adding to the buzz. Video footage from the conference showed a man with strikingly similar features to the ASTRO member — sharp eyebrows, sculpted jawline and composed demeanorNov 11, 2025By Xportsnews
Actor Song Kang’s post-military fan meeting sells out instantly, proving his enduring popularityActor Song Kang made a highly anticipated return to the spotlight with his first fan meeting since completing his military service — an event that sold out within minutes. On Nov. 8, Song met his fans at Yonsei University’s Centennial Hall in Seoul for “2025 SONG KANG FANMEETING ROUND 2 IN SEOUL,” an emotional event marking his domestic comeback. The gathering sold out all seats as soon as tickets opened, underscoring his unwavering popularity despite a two-year hiatus. Opening with a striking video that highlighted his trademark visuals, Song performed Delispice’s “Confession,” kicking off the show on an emotional note. “I missed you all so much,” he told fans. “I thought a lot about how to prepare for this moment after two years away. I told myself, ‘At least, bring your sincere wish to see them again.’ But now that I’m here, I’m so nervous and so happy.” Hosted by veteran MC Park Kyung-lim, the event featured a series of interactive segments that kept fans laughing and tearing up in turn. Under the theme of “racing,” the program included a “Start LNov 10, 2025By Xportsnews
