From Korea’s most prestigious school to K-pop manager: why they’re switching pathsOnce dismissed as “3D jobs” — dirty, dangerous and difficult — behind-the-scenes roles in South Korea’s pop culture industry are now attracting a new generation of highly educated and multilingual young people. From road managers with degrees from Seoul National University to aspiring producers competing at odds of 500 to 1 for jobs at hit-making studios, the sector once deemed undesirable is becoming one of the hottest career destinations for 20- and 30-somethings. From ‘bag carriers’ to Seoul National University graduates Entertainment managers were once derided as gabang mochi — a slang term derived from Japanese for “bag carriers” — because they were seen as little more than personal assistants, following stars around and handling menial tasks. In the 2006 film “Radio Star,” the manager character endures humiliation and even serves as a punching bag to secure his client’s TV appearances, reflecting how the job was once viewed as low-status and unskilled. Today, that image is being overturned. The manager of actress Yoon Eun-hye, Yoo In-bi, graduated fromOct 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
Why Kim Soo-hyun revealed 150 love letters to deny rumors about late Kim Sae-ronActor Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has released a series of letters he wrote during his military service in an effort to counter allegations that he was romantically involved with the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage. The defense says the evidence proves that Kim’s attention was entirely focused on his then-girlfriend and that his interactions with Kim Sae-ron were “ordinary and professional.” Letters reveal ‘exclusive devotion’ to then-girlfriend On Sept. 30, attorney Ko Sang-rok, representing Kim, shared one of the letters the actor sent to his girlfriend while serving in the military. The move came amid renewed allegations that Kim had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time. Ko said the controversy began after a YouTube channel aired a video on March 10, 2025, citing a KakaoTalk message Kim Sae-ron allegedly sent a friend a year earlier, on March 25, 2024. “Even after the agency and actor immediately refuted the claims, the channel continued spreading manipulated messages and distorted interpretations, portraying him as a perverted pedopOct 4, 2025By Xportsnews
From Stray Kids to BLACKPINK’s Rosé: Inside the racism K-pop stars still faceA growing number of K-pop stars are speaking out — or being spoken for — after a string of incidents abroad sparked renewed outrage over racial discrimination in the Western entertainment world. The latest controversy centers on BLACKPINK’s Rosé, who was cropped out of a group photo by a major fashion magazine despite being one of Saint Laurent’s most prominent ambassadors. Rosé attended the Saint Laurent 2026 Spring/Summer womenswear show in Paris on Sept. 29 (local time) as the luxury brand’s global ambassador, a role she has held since 2020. On Oct. 1, she shared photos and videos from the event, thanking creative director Anthony Vaccarello: “Thank you for inviting me to another incredible show. Your work is so beautiful. Love you.” The controversy erupted when Elle UK posted a group photo of Rosé with Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Charli XCX — but cropped Rosé out entirely. Other fashion magazines, including Vogue, uploaded the full image, leading many fans to accuse Elle UK of racial discrimination. The situation escalated when Charli XCX shared a version ofOct 3, 2025By Xportsnews
BTS’ V reacts to Park Bo-gum’s photoshoot, reminding fans of their 10-year bondBTS member V and actor Park Bo-gum continue to show the world that their friendship — now over a decade old — remains as strong as ever. On Oct. 2, Park uploaded several striking photos to his Instagram account. The shoot features the actor lying beside dark waters adorned with lotus blossoms, blending traditional Korean aesthetics with a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere. The post quickly caught fans’ attention when V — one of Korea’s most globally recognized celebrities — left a heart emoji in the comments and “liked” the post, a small but meaningful gesture that highlighted their enduring bond. V and Park Bo-gum first became close in 2015 when Park was the host of KBS2’s music show “Music Bank.” Since then, the two have been known as one of the entertainment industry’s closest celebrity duos, consistently supporting each other’s projects both publicly and privately. Their friendship once again drew attention in August when V sent a heartfelt video message to Park during the final episode of his music talk show “The Seasons – Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile,” undeOct 3, 2025By Xportsnews
Kim Soo-hyun’s military letters surface amid allegations over late Kim Sae-ronA handwritten letter Kim Soo-hyun wrote to a girlfriend during his mandatory military service has been made public, offering what his lawyer says is clear evidence that the top actor did not date the late Kim Sae-ron while she was underage — a claim that has fueled months of online controversy. Kim’s legal representative, attorney Ko Sang-rok, released excerpts of the letter on Sept. 30, saying it was shared “to restore the actor’s damaged reputation and correct distorted claims” after a wave of rumors accused the 36-year-old star of having an inappropriate relationship with Kim, who died earlier this year. Letters show Kim was dating another woman during service According to Ko, Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron began dating in the summer of 2019 — after Kim had become an adult — and their relationship continued into the following year. All photos released by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Hoverlab), which led to the accusations, were taken between December 2019 and spring 2020, he said. Ko further revealed that from 2016 until spring 2019 — including the entire perSep 30, 2025By Xportsnews
SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups sparks speculation over family rift in post about his brother’s cafeSEVENTEEN's leader, S.Coups, has set off a wave of speculation about a possible rift with his older brother after asking fans not to visit the cafe his brother runs. On Sept. 27, the idol wrote a candid message on fan platform Weverse saying, “I’ve been holding back from talking about unpleasant things because there’s a lot of good news lately and we have a new unit coming up, but there are many issues between me and my brother. I can’t stop Carats (fans) from visiting the cafe if they like it, but I don’t want people to spend money there because of me.” He continued, “If there are Carats around you, please help spread the word.” It was a rare and direct request from the idol, who seemed intent on discouraging fans from connecting his name to his brother’s business. This was not the first time S.Coups had made such a statement. On Sept. 17, he wrote, “I often see videos of the cafe, but it’s unrelated to me. Please let other Carats know. I’m aware that many follow and visit it.” The remarks quickly stirred debate among fans online. Some interpreted them as S.CouSep 29, 2025By Xportsnews
‘Idol life or horror movie?’ Super Junior’s Kim Hee-chul exposes disturbing behavior by obsessive K-pop fansSuper Junior member Kim Hee-chul has lifted the lid on years of harassment by so-called “sasaengs,” a kind of obsessive fan, revealing that some incidents went far beyond stalking into deeply disturbing territory. The K-pop star spoke candidly about his experiences in an episode of Yoon Il-sang’s YouTube show “iLSang TV” released on Wednesday, titled "If you could be reborn: Super Junior vs. 100 billion-won retiree.” ‘They chased my car and banged on the door’ “I don’t even call them ‘sasaeng fans.’ I just say ‘sasaeng,’” Kim said. “They were really extreme. When I left in my car, they would quickly get into taxis and chase after me. So I would stop in an alley, get out and start banging on their car doors and yelling at them.” He recalled that one of the most infuriating parts of the situation involved taxi drivers who exploited foreign teenage fans. “They would charge them insanely expensive fares to follow us around,” he said. “When I confronted them, they’d just laugh and say, ‘Why are you being like this, Hee-chul?’ That made me furious.Sep 27, 2025By Xportsnews
K-pop star Kang Daniel’s US tour hit by theft: 'They took all my luggage'Singer Kang Daniel fell victim to theft during his U.S. tour when stage outfits and equipment were stolen from his team. According to his agency, ARA, while traveling to San Jose, California, for a concert, thieves broke into a staff vehicle and stole a suitcase containing stage costumes, hair and makeup tools and other items on Saturday (local time). Kang’s team immediately purchased replacement items at a nearby shopping mall, allowing the concert to proceed as planned, the agency said. The singer also confirmed the incident on his social media. “All my luggage was stolen — costumes, hair and makeup tools, even merchandise goods,” he wrote, before reassuring fans by adding, “But let’s still make it a fun show.” Kang recently released a new single, “No Day,” on Sept. 3 and is currently touring 12 U.S. cities including Washington, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Following the U.S. leg, he will continue with concerts in South America, including Argentina and Brazil. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generaSep 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
Who is taking care of late Korean star Sulli’s cat Goblin?Actress Kim Sun-a drew attention by sharing an update on the cat of late star Sulli. On Monday, Kim posted a video on her personal social media account with the caption, “Goodbye summer, it was a loving and happy summer! #trip.” The video included clips of Kim enjoying the summer with captions such as “laughing at videos” and “eating tteokbokki.” Toward the end, she added the phrase “looking at Blin” and revealed a selfie with Sulli’s cat Goblin, giving fans a glimpse of its current life. Kim first revealed in March 2020 that she had adopted Goblin. At the time, she explained that Super Junior’s Kim Hee-chul had temporarily taken care of the cat. “I carefully asked busy Hee-chul oppa (older brother) to look after Blin, and without hesitation he did. He even took the baby to health checkups. I was so grateful and really touched. He is truly a wonderful person,” she said then. Kim also admitted she felt unprepared to take responsibility immediately, saying, “I didn’t have the confidence to care for Blin right away, and seeing the baby broke my heart.” Sulli dieSep 23, 2025By Xportsnews
Former BIGBANG member Seungri spotted with business figuresFormer BigBang member Seungri has once again drawn attention after new photos of him surfaced online, showing him with business associates both in Korea and abroad. Public interest focused on his changing appearance. While earlier sightings highlighted his slimmed-down look compared to the past, the latest photos revealed a bulkier frame, with weight visibly gained in his face and body. Seungri’s post-prison appearances have consistently sparked controversy rather than curiosity. Rumors have also circulated that he is seeking to expand into overseas ventures, further fueled by the profiles of the people he has been seen with. The former idol has remained a divisive figure since the 2019 “Burning Sun” scandal, which forced him to leave BigBang and terminate his contract with YG Entertainment. He was indicted on nine charges, including habitual gambling and arranging prostitution. He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. Since completing his sentence and being released in February 2023, Seungri has gained attention through various sightings — from attending a restauraSep 22, 2025By Xportsnews
