Ballerino Jeon Min-chul wins top prize at ‘Youth America Grand Prix’Ballerino Jeon Min-chul won the top prize at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) on Sunday. Competing in the senior men's division during the finals held from April 21 to 27, Jeon performed Albrecht’s variation from "Giselle" and received the grand prize, awarded to the most outstanding performer across all divisions and age groups in Tampa, Florida. He is the fifth Korean dancer in history to win the grand prize. Previous Korean winners include Seo Hee, principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre in 2003; Kim Ki-min, principal dancer at the Mariinsky Ballet in 2012; Jun Joon-hyuk, soloist at the Royal Ballet in 2016; and Park Geon-hee from the Korea National University of Arts last year. Jeon, 20, currently enrolled in the practical dance program at the Korea National University of Arts, is preparing to join the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia. His classmates Seong Jae-seung and So Ha-eun also won first place in the pas de deux category at this year's competition, while Seong placed second in the senior men's solo division. Jeon, known for his elegant lines and long limbs, is set to maApr 29, 2025By KTimes
Actor Go Joon-hee breaks down during egg freezing procedure, says ‘dieting ruined my body’Actor Go Joon-hee has revealed that she is undergoing egg freezing procedures, sharing her emotional struggles during the process. She confessed that during her first procedure, she broke down in tears after learning that only a few eggs could be retrieved due to the toll dieting had taken on her body. In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, the actor, born in 1985, shared that she began freezing her eggs two years ago. In the video, she had a candid conversation with her mother, who expressed concern, saying, "It must be hard. You need to take supplements and get your body into its best condition. Your age is not considered young anymore." Recalling Go’s first attempt at egg freezing, her mother said, "Even then, I thought it was getting late for marriage. Now that you are doing it again, I think it would be better to find a husband quickly." She added, "I always imagined that Joon-hee would marry before turning 30, start a family before her mid-30s and I would help raise the child." In response, Go joked, "It would be nice if a child just appeared out of nowhere and calleApr 28, 2025By KTimes
Kim Soo-hyun reportedly dated another actress during military serviceA new claim has surfaced regarding actor Kim Soo-hyun, who was previously embroiled in allegations of dating a minor. Money Today reported Saturday that Kim dated an actress, who was an idol group member, for about three years from around 2016 to 2019. According to the outlet, Kim and the actress were labelmates at the same agency. It added that the two broke up in 2019 shortly before Kim was discharged from the military. An industry insider told the outlet, "The relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the actress was an open secret in the entertainment industry," adding, "I heard that Kim often sent letters to her during his military service." Another insider said, "The exact starting point of their relationship is unclear, but it is certain that they dated between 2017 and 2019, when Kim was serving in the military." Kim’s agency, Gold Medalist, has not issued a statement regarding the dating rumor with the actress. Kim enlisted in October 2017 and was discharged in July 2019. Previously, the bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron claimed via the YouTube channel Hoverlab that Kim Soo-Apr 26, 2025By KTimes
Model and actress Jung Ho-yeon appears at Louis Vuitton fine jewelry pop-up eventA pop-up event celebrating the opening of the Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry store was held at Lotte World Mall in Sincheon-dong, Seoul, on the morning of April 25. Model and actress Jung Ho-yeon is seen posing for photos at the event. This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Apr 26, 2025By KTimes
Actress Go Hyun-jung, 54, stuns with youthful looks in new photosActress Go Hyun-jung showcased her age-defying beauty in a recent social media post that had fans doing double takes. On Friday, Go uploaded several photos to her personal account with the caption “Ralph Lauren Collection.” In the images, she is seen holding a smartphone while wearing a beige jacket over a white button-up shirt, exuding elegance and sophistication. Without striking any elaborate poses, she still managed to evoke the feeling of a scene from a drama. Another photo captured her smiling while gazing off into the distance. Her long, wavy hair cascades down and her effortlessly natural beauty — free from heavy styling — highlights her radiant and youthful appearance, drawing admiration from fans. Social media users reacted with praise, leaving comments like, “You sold out Ralph Lauren when you wore it for your comeback interview for ‘Spring Day’ — you’re a perfect match for the brand!” and “She’s just glowing.” Go attended the “2025 Fall Women’s Collection” show hosted by Ralph Lauren in the United States, April 15. This article from Xportsnews iApr 19, 2025By KTimes
Wet hair and vintage vibes: Byeon Woo-seok crowned the ultimate ‘boyfriend pic’ kingActor Byeon Woo-seok captivated fans with behind-the-scenes photos from a luxury brand photoshoot, revealing his signature charm and expressive style. On Thursday afternoon, Byeon shared several behind-the-scenes shots, showcasing his natural yet chic appeal as he pulled off a variety of looks with ease. In one standout photo, he pairs a red striped T-shirt with ripped denim jeans, exuding a free-spirited youthfulness. Another photo, where he lies on a bed gazing off into the distance, conveys a dreamy mood with a touch of deep emotion. In other shots, Byeon combines wet hair with a black shirt and leather pants, giving off an intense and stylish aura. Leaning against a wall with one hand on his head, he resembles a character straight out of a film. Wearing a luxury brand’s apparel and flashing a gentle smile, Byeon stuns with his slender frame and delicate expressions, drawing admiration from viewers. Byeon is currently preparing for his next project, tentatively titled “The 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife,” following his breakout success in tvN’s “Lovely Runner” last yearApr 18, 2025By KTimes
Actor Nam Yoon-su apologizes for sharing explicit postActor Nam Yoon-su issued a public apology after an adult-themed post was shared from his social media account without his knowledge, drawing attention and criticism. “I realized too late that an unpleasant post had been reposted from my account without my awareness," Nam wrote Sunday on his official social media. "I’m very upset that it caused discomfort to so many people, and I sincerely apologize. I’ll be more careful going forward.” The controversy erupted earlier that day when an explicit post appeared on Nam’s account and quickly spread across various online communities. The post reportedly promoted an adult product featuring a balloon-shaped object symbolizing female genitalia. Upon being informed by fans, Nam quickly responded through a fan communication platform. “I was driving and suddenly saw a repost — thought maybe I’d been hacked. Something weird had been posted, and fans let me know,” he said. Nam also shared a screenshot of his algorithm feed, writing, “This is all that shows up in my algorithm. I should check if it’s a hack. I didn’t even know it wApr 14, 2025By KTimes
Actor Han So-hee reflects on life in blog postActor Han So-hee shared a message on her blog Friday reflecting on recent challenges in her personal life. “Looking back, there were moments that were quite unimpressive. Since the past shapes the present, I tend to reflect often. And when I do, I realize there were times that lacked luster, and most of the things I was so sure were right turned out not to be. I try not to get too caught up in them," Han wrote in a post quoted by several Korean-language news outlets. Han, who debuted in 2017, is best known for her roles in the TV series "The World of the Married" (2020) and the Netflix series "Gyeongseong Creature" (2024). She continued, “These days, I try to live each day at my own pace and within my own abilities — because we can't always demand the best from ourselves or give our all. I’ve dressed it up in fancy words, but what I’ve really been trying to say is: Even if it’s not all that impressive, let’s live our lives anyway.” Han confirmed in March 2024 she was in a relationship with actor Ryu Jun-yeol, but the couple broke up just two weeks later after she became eApr 13, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Park Na-rae theft case under investigation, insider involvement suspectedComedian Park Na-rae has filed a police report after falling victim to a theft, prompting an investigation amid growing concerns it may be an inside job. Park’s agency confirmed Wednesday that she reported a theft involving personal belongings to the police, and that an investigation is ongoing. The agency declined to comment on whether the case may have involved someone close to Park. Park reportedly became aware of the theft at her residence on Monday, after discovering that valuable items were missing. Police are now working to determine the exact amount of damages. According to a report by SPOTV News, authorities found no signs of forced entry into the home and are treating the incident as a possible inside job. The missing items are said to include jewelry, and the total loss is estimated in the tens of millions of won (tens of thousands of dollars). As a result of the incident, Park did not appear on MBC Standard FM’s “Son Tae-jin’s Trot Radio,” citing health concerns. However, her agency said that her future engagements will proceed as planned. Concerns have grown among fApr 9, 2025By KTimes
PHOTO 5 models to represent Malaysia at 2021 Face of Asia competition Participants pose during the 2021 FACE of Malaysia modeling competition at the Manhattan Ballroom of Berjaya Time Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, April 3. Courtesy of AMFOGBy Lee Min-youngFive Malaysian models were chosen at the “2021 FACE of Malaysia” modeling competition held at the Manhattan Ballroom of Berjaya Time Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, April 3.The competition was held jointly by the Asia Model Festival Organizing Committee and Malaysia's leading modeling school, Amber Chia Academy. Sponsors include EDGC, the Uzbekistan Exchange and The Korea Times.The top 5 winners ― Khloe Hoe, Allysha Tan, Tiara Tai, Aaric Lai, Chun Hoe ― will represent Malaysia in the finals in Seoul, where models from 25 Asian countries will compete for the 2021 Face of Asia title later this year.The Face of Malaysia 2021 female winner, Allysha Tan, is a 29-year-old psychiatrist who has also pursued a career in modeling. She beat 10 other models that day to win the title.First runner-up, Khloe Hoe, 24, also represented Malaysia at the Miss Harmony World 2019 contest. She won the EDCG SubsidiJun 2, 2021By Lee Min-young
