Korea’s legendary trio Kim Tae-hee, Jun Ji-hyun, and Song Hye-kyo open up about aging and beautyThe three leading actresses who defined Korean beauty standards in the 2000s are now in their 40s and opening up about their changing looks, shifting priorities, and evolving self-image. Kim Tae-hee returns to TV and Hollywood Kim Tae-hee, 45, is set to make her small-screen comeback after two years with the tvN drama “Butterfly,” which premiered Aug. 22, while also debuting in an American drama. At a recent press conference, Kim said her role in “Butterfly” is her “most ordinary” yet, revealing she kept her makeup light and styling simple. “I appeared on camera looking the most like myself, which was surprisingly comfortable,” she said. “It felt new to stand in front of the camera without much setting or styling, but I’m not sure how viewers will perceive it.” Kim also discussed aging and beauty during her appearance on tvN’s talk show “You Quiz on the Block,” Aug. 20 — her first talk show appearance in 15 years. Reflecting on her iconic role in the 2009 drama “Iris,” she said, “That was probably my favorite look. As we age, there are more things we maAug 23, 2025By Xportsnews
From TV fame to spiritual paths: Korean stars embrace life as shamansA growing number of former celebrities are turning to life as shamans, drawing significant public interest over their unexpected career transitions. On Aug. 21, comedian Kim Ju-yeon appeared on JTBC’s variety show “Don’t be the First One!” and revealed that she has been working as a shaman. Kim debuted in 2006 as part of MBC’s 15th open recruitment for comedians and rose to fame through the sketch “Ju-yeon-ah” on MBC’s “It’s A Gag.” That same year, she won the Best New Actress Award in the comedy/sitcom category at the MBC Entertainment Awards. After “It’s A Gag” was canceled in 2009, Kim shifted her focus to other programs such as “Laugh and Laugh,” “Fall in Comedy,” and “Comedy Road.” However, her TV appearances gradually decreased, and she eventually disappeared from the entertainment scene. Making a rare appearance on the JTBC show, Kim told hosts Choi Yang-rak and Paeng Hyun-sook, “I’ve been a shaman for a while now,” surprising many viewers. Kim shared, “I suffered from a spiritual illness. I had heavy bleeding for two years, and I suAug 23, 2025By Xportsnews
Chef Edward Lee joins ARMY after cooking for Jin of BTSCelebrity chef Edward Lee revealed that he has become a member of BTS global fandom, known as ARMY, after cooking for Jin and sharing a memorable moment together. On Wednesday, Lee posted a screenshot from the 31st episode of JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator 2” on social media, recalling the time he prepared a special mulhoe, a kind of chilled raw fish soup, for Jin. “Cooking my version of mulhoe with watermelon for Jin,” Lee wrote. “Thank you to the BTS ARMY for all your kind messages. I am officially a member!” The accompanying photos showed Lee proudly wearing a T-shirt printed with Jin’s face and posing for a cheerful selfie alongside the BTS member. Fans were quick to respond with excitement, leaving comments such as, “From ‘Culinary Class Wars’ to ‘Worldwide Handsome,’ what a journey!” and “You’re the best!” The 53-year-old chef gained recognition last year after finishing as the runner-up on the Netflix original cooking competition “Culinary Class Wars.” He later appeared on “You Quiz on the Block” and “Please Take Care of MyAug 20, 2025By Xportsnews
Seoul Metropolitan Ballet to stage contemporary piecesThe Seoul Metropolitan Ballet (SMB) will stage the contemporary tango ballet "5 Tango's" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul this weekend. Choreographed by Dutch master Hans van Manen, the piece was inspired by a piece by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), “Tango Nuevo.” Choi Young-gyu, a Korean principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet, will participate in the performance as a guest artist. “This work was solely inspired by music,” Choi said during a press conference at SMB's rehearsal studio in Seoul on Monday. “The performance is both passionate and sentimental. I enjoy dancing this work and hope the audience will enjoy it too.” Van Manen was said to be so moved by Piazzolla’s music that he completed the choreography for "5 Tango's" in just two weeks. The work premiered in 1977. The program is a fitting choice for SMB, which was founded only last year with the aim of introducing contemporary ballet to Korean audiences. In its inaugural season, the troupe presented nine contemporary works across 27 performances, drawing a total auAug 20, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Cha Eun-woo becomes dishwashing star as soldiers line up just to see himCha Eun-woo’s military service has become a hot topic after new accounts and official photos revealed his life in uniform. On Tuesday, stories about the ASTRO member circulated on online communities. One netizen wrote, “My boss’s son enlisted in the same batch as Cha Eun-woo. His squad was in charge of washing dishes, but all the soldiers lined up to hand theirs only to Cha Eun-woo so they can see his face.” Another claimed, “I saw on a military café that all the trainees kept staring at him, and the drill sergeant had to tell them, ‘Stop staring. He’s human too.’” Cha entered the Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on July 28 to begin basic training. He is expected to serve in the Army band after completion, with his discharge date set for Jan. 27, 2027. On Aug. 13, the Army training center released photos of recruits, showing Cha wearing the squad leader trainee armband. The role is reserved for those evaluated highly in lifestyle, sincerity and responsibility, drawing further praise from fans. ASTRO bandmate Yoon San-ha also shared updates durAug 19, 2025By Xportsnews
Speculation swirls around Kim Jong-kook’s fiancée, said to be LA-based cosmetics CEOSinger Kim Jong-kook’s surprise marriage announcement has fueled intense speculation about his bride-to-be, with rumors spreading online that she is a 38-year-old Los Angeles–based cosmetics company CEO. Kim's agency declined to confirm the reports, saying only that details beyond his personal letter cannot be disclosed. Kim shared the news through a handwritten letter posted on his official fan cafe. “I always thought there would come a day when I would write such a letter, but now that I am preparing it, I feel more nervous and shaken than I imagined,” he said. “I am getting married. I know this may feel sudden for many of you. This year marks my 30th debut anniversary, and instead of releasing an album, I found my other half. Please congratulate me. It may be late, but I am grateful to take this step. I will do my best to live well.” He added that the wedding will be held quietly. “We plan to have a small ceremony soon with family, relatives and a few close friends. Thanks to the support of fans who have always given me strength, I can now begin this new challenge in liAug 19, 2025By Xportsnews
BTS’ V to revisit athletic side with ceremonial pitch at Dodger StadiumBTS member V will take the mound for his debut ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball (MLB) game in Los Angeles next week. On Aug. 18, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced on their official social media, “ARMY, you ready?” while confirming that V will throw the first pitch on Aug. 25 (local time) at Dodger Stadium. The announcement caused such a surge of fan interest that MLB’s official website temporarily went down. The Dodgers also revealed earlier that Son Heung-min, who recently joined Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, will throw the first pitch on Aug. 27. With just a two-day gap, both a K-pop superstar and a Korean sports star are set to appear on the Dodger Stadium mound, drawing global attention. This marks V’s first participation in a ceremonial pitch, raising curiosity about any hidden baseball skills. Ahead of the event, clips of V playing baseball have resurfaced online. He demonstrated smooth batting skills during JTBC’s “BTS In the Soop.” Beyond baseball, V is known as a fitness enthusiast. He has explored a wide range of sports including golf andAug 19, 2025By Xportsnews
First-generation K-pop boy band H.O.T. reunites as full group for first time in 6 yearsH.O.T. has reunited as a complete group for the first time in six years, delighting fans with a newly released group photo. On Aug. 15, member Tony An posted a picture on social media with the caption, “It’s been such a long time, everyone ~ I’ve been fretting because I didn’t have any photos or videos to share, but I took this one during practice. The outfits are a bit casual, but since it’s been so long since the five of us took a picture together, I really wanted to share it.” The photo shows all five members — An, Moon Hee-jun, Jang Woo-hyuk, Kangta, and Lee Jae-won — posing for the camera while making cheek heart gestures, radiating a playful charm. Their youthful visuals, reminiscent of their 1996 debut days, quickly caught fans’ attention. The group’s enduring chemistry was also on display, prompting comments such as, “Why are you all so cute?” “I’ve missed hearing the phrase ‘Five Brothers,’” “So happy to see the full group,” and “I’ve waited so long for this.” H.O.T. will take the stage as a complete lineup at the Hanteo Music FestivalAug 16, 2025By Xportsnews
From Belgium to India: ‘Non-Summit’ alumni marrying Korean womenFormer foreign panelists from JTBC’s talk show “Non-Summit,” also known as “Abnormal Summit,” are making headlines this year with back-to-back marriage announcements to Korean women. In June, Julian Quintart told Xportsnews that he will hold his wedding this October. Xportsnews had exclusively reported in February that the Belgian television personality was set to marry a Korean woman five years younger than him. At the time, Quintart said in an interview, “The wedding will be held in Korea, and our newlywed home is in Yongsan District, Seoul. My fiancée is not a celebrity. She is Korean and five years younger than me. Like my parents, I want to build a warm and happy family.” Quintart, who became known to the public for his fluent Korean when he appeared as Belgium’s representative on “Non-Summit” in 2014, plans to continue living in Korea and working in broadcasting after the marriage. Following Quintart, Lucky — who appeared as India’s representative on “Non-Summit 2” — also shared wedding news. Lucky will marry a noncelebrity Korean woman on Sept. 28 atAug 16, 2025By Xportsnews
From Korea to Latin America, HYBE launches back-to-back boy band projectsHYBE is rolling out two new boy band projects aimed at both domestic and international audiences, raising expectations for their global performance. First up is BigHit Music’s new boy group, CORTIS, the label’s first such act in six years. The group will officially debut Monday at 6 p.m. with the title track “What You Want,” followed by the release of their debut album “Color Outside the Lines” on Sept. 8. The group’s name, a scrambled combination of six letters from “Color Outside the Lines,” reflects their aim to “think freely outside the rules and standards set by the world.” Comprising all teenage members, CORTIS brands itself as a “young creator crew” built around collaboratively produced work that showcases different perspectives and fresh ideas. Even before their debut, interest has been strong. CORTIS surpassed 1 million followers on its official social media channels within six days, with accumulated likes exceeding 12.4 million as of noon on Thursday. Their intro track “Go!” released Monday also drew notable attention, ranking in the top 30 trendiAug 16, 2025By Xportsnews
