Korean female stars face absurd pregnancy rumorsSeveral Korean celebrities have recently been forced to deny pregnancy rumors that surfaced online after fans misinterpreted their natural body shapes. On Oct. 23, actor Gong Hyo-jin’s agency Management SOOP told Xportsnews that “the rumors are completely untrue,” after speculation spread that she was expecting a child. The rumor started when Gong posted casual photos of her trip to Japan with her husband, singer Kevin Oh, on Oct. 22. Some online users noticed what they thought was a slightly protruding belly or her hand resting near her abdomen, sparking unfounded pregnancy claims. The speculation was debunked within a day. Gong is far from the only celebrity to face such baseless gossip. Singer HyunA, who recently traveled to Singapore with her husband Yong Jun-hyung, was also targeted after photos at Incheon International Airport showed her looking slightly fuller. HyunA had previously dealt with similar rumors — including claims of a premarital pregnancy. Her label At Area clarified that “it is not true.” Singer Hong Jin-young, who is unmarried, faced her own “pregnancyOct 25, 2025By Xportsnews
Dual citizen son of singer Kim Jung-min to play under Japanese flag at U-17 World CupSinger Kim Jung-min expressed support for his son, Kim Do-yoon — also known by his Japanese name, Tani Daichi — who has been newly added to Japan’s U-17 national football team roster for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. “Mom and Dad are always cheering for you. Show the world everything you’ve got. We love you,” Kim posted on social media Wednesday, sharing a news link about his son’s selection. According to the Japan Football Association (JFA), Tani was called up to replace injured player Ryohta Seo ahead of the tournament, which will be held from Nov. 3-27. Do-yoon, the second son of Kim Jung-min and Japanese singer Rumiko, holds dual citizenship in Korea and Japan. He first joined Japan’s U-17 team in 2024, gaining recognition through his participation in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers and finals. Although he was initially left out of the final squad due to lingering injuries, the latest roster change has earned him a spot in the World Cup lineup. He played for FC Seoul’s youth team at Osan Middle School before moving to Japan for high school, where he now plOct 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
MAMAMOO’s Hwasa reveals reason behind dramatic weight lossMAMAMOO’s Hwasa has opened up about her recent dramatic weight loss, explaining the reason behind her shift to a slimmer physique. In a YouTube video released Oct. 22 on the channel “gwang series,” titled “After the threatening flirting (Hwasa’s new song choreography by Kany),” the singer appeared as a guest and discussed her physical transformation. Hwasa said she had been on a strict diet for the past month. “It’s only been about a month since I started seriously dieting,” she said. “But on stage, I usually dance with a lot of power, so it’s hard to perform properly when I’m too thin. I feel like I can’t get my strength out the same way.” She explained that she normally tries to maintain muscle mass. “I always try to increase my muscle as much as I can,” she said. “And I think a bit of fat actually helps make the dance look more powerful and elastic.” However, she said, this time she wanted to try something different. “This comeback is for a ballad — a breakup song — so I wanted to create a body type I’ve never had before, something more deliOct 23, 2025By Xportsnews
2NE1’s Park Bom sparks concern after claiming to sue YG’s Yang Hyun-suk for massive unpaid sum2NE1’s Park Bom has released what she claimed to be a lawsuit against YG Entertainment’s executive producer Yang Hyun-suk. However, her claims — including an incomprehensible sum allegedly owed to her — have drawn confusion and growing concern about her health. On Wednesday, Park uploaded a post titled “From Park Bom” on her social media, attaching a photo of what appeared to be a self-written complaint. The document stated that she was suing Yang for fraud and embezzlement. Park alleged that Yang had failed to pay her rightful earnings for a prolonged period. “The defendant (Yang Hyun-suk) did not properly pay the plaintiff (Park Bom) for profits generated from all her activities, including music releases, concerts, broadcasts, advertisements, events, lyric writing and composition,” she wrote, adding that she had not received any financial statements or a single payment. The puzzling part came from the alleged amount of damages she cited in the document — approximately 4.5 quadrillion won. Park also exposed her personal phone number in the same post. Her unexpected claOct 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Yi-kyung’s reputation suffers over false rumors later called ‘a joke’The person who spread rumors about Korean actor Lee Yi-kyung’s private life has admitted that the posts were fake — claiming they were “just a joke” — but the damage to the actor’s image remains. On Wednesday, the individual, identified as A, posted two long apology messages on a personal account, confessing that the viral allegations had no basis. “Hello, everyone in Korea. As some of you may know, I recently uploaded several photos and posts about actor Lee Yi-kyung,” A wrote. “It all started as a joke, and I didn’t realize the posts would gain that much attention. As I kept writing and using AI-generated images, I began to believe it myself. I sincerely apologize for spreading malicious rumors about him.” A added, “It started from admiration as a fan but turned into emotional over-identification. What began as fun became too real, and I now feel guilty. If there’s anything I need to take responsibility for, I will. Please understand if my Korean is awkward — I’m German.” Despite A’s apology, observers note that the incident is a reminder that onlineOct 22, 2025By Xportsnews
K-pop idols speak out as racist incidents abroad spark outrageDespite K-pop’s global influence and its role in spreading Korean culture worldwide, several idols continue to experience racial discrimination overseas — reigniting anger among fans and prompting calls for change. Recent victims include BLACKPINK’s Rosé, SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan, Hyeri and Soyou, all of whom reported or were involved in incidents that many say reflect lingering prejudice against Asian celebrities. Singer Soyou revealed on Sunday that she was treated “like a problem passenger” on a long-haul flight after merely requesting a Korean-speaking attendant to check the meal schedule. She claimed the purser reacted negatively to her request, summoned security and left her feeling humiliated — spending the entire 15-hour journey without food. “The experience left me deeply hurt by [the] racial bias,” she said. “No one should ever be doubted or insulted because of their race.” A passenger claiming to have been on the same flight alleged online that Soyou had been drunk and disruptive, but the commenter later deleted both the post and their account after SoyouOct 22, 2025By Xportsnews
Actor Lee Yi-kyung accused of sexual misconduct, leaked video taken down after 9 hours amid rights violation claimA controversial social media post targeting actor Lee Yi-kyung was taken down nine hours after it went viral, following a removal request citing a “rights violation,” according to Korean online portal Naver. The post, uploaded by an anonymous blogger, accused Lee of sexual misconduct and included what was claimed to be a screen recording of direct messages allegedly exchanged with the actor’s account. “Everyone asked me to show it, so here’s the screen recording. It’s the real account,” the anonymous post said. On Monday, an individual uploaded a blog post titled “Exposing the real Lee Yi-kyung,” sharing screenshots of alleged conversations with the actor. The messages appeared to show a man making sexually suggestive remarks and requests for explicit photos, shocking readers. As of noon on Tuesday, the video was no longer available. The page now displays a message reading, “This post has been temporarily suspended at the request of another user,” adding that the action complies with Article 44-2 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network UtiOct 21, 2025By Xportsnews
Casual royalty: Yoona of ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’ defines true ‘airport chic’Girls’ Generation member and actress Yoona has once again proven her reputation as a fashion icon, showcasing a clean yet effortlessly stylish “airport look” that struck the perfect balance between casual and chic. On Oct. 17, Yoona departed for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, via Incheon International Airport to attend the “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty YOONA DRAMA FANMEETING,” an event celebrating her hit drama “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.” Dressed in a layered outfit combining a striped shirt and a white sweatshirt, Yoona created a relaxed silhouette that emphasized her natural grace. She paired the look with brown shorts that added a soft contrast to the white tones, completing the outfit with black long boots and a leather bag accented with brown details. A metallic cap added a lighthearted, sporty touch to her “minimal yet sophisticated” ensemble. Though simple in composition, the outfit’s refined play of texture and tone drew praise from fans and fashion watchers online, with many calling it a “textbook example” of the effortlessly stylish look — a favorite amongOct 18, 2025By Xportsnews
Actor Clara announces divorce after six years of marriageActor Clara has announced that she has divorced her husband after six years of marriage. Her agency, KHS Agency, said in an official statement on Friday, “Clara completed her divorce proceedings in August after careful and lengthy discussions with her spouse.” The agency added, “Although the process was finalized in August, we delayed the announcement out of respect for both families and to ensure mutual understanding.” The agency continued, “We ask for your kind understanding and continued support for Clara as she continues her career as an actress.” Clara also shared her thoughts through her agency, saying, “I feel deeply sorry to deliver such unfortunate news to everyone who has supported me.” Clara married a Korean-American businessman two years her senior in February 2019. At the time, their newlywed home — reportedly worth around 9 billion won (approximately $6.5 million) — became a major topic in entertainment news. The actor began her acting career in 2006 and later gained popularity across Asia, particularly through her work in Chinese-speaking markets. This arOct 17, 2025By Xportsnews
T-ara’s Ham Eun-jung to marry Kim Byung-woo, joining list of actor-director couplesSinger and actress Ham Eun-jung, best known as a member of T-ara, is getting married to film director Kim Byung-woo, joining the ranks of Korea’s notable actor-director couples. Ham’s agency, Mark Studio, confirmed to Xportsnews Thursday that “Ham Eun-jung will marry director Kim Byung-woo on Nov. 30.” The agency added, “After a long relationship, the two decided to tie the knot. The wedding will be held privately.” The couple, who have an eight-year age difference, reportedly met not through a film project — as is common among industry couples — but through acquaintances in a movie circle, before their friendship blossomed into romance. A long line of director-actor couples in Korean entertainment Ham and Kim’s marriage adds to a list of notable director-actor relationships that have long fascinated the public. Among the most well-known are director Jang Joon-hwan and actress Moon So-ri, who married in December 2006. The two first met while filming the music video for the 2003 song “Tear Flower.” Over their 18-year marriage, they’ve shown creative chemistry on-scrOct 17, 2025By Xportsnews
