When the sister steals the spotlight: K-star siblings trend again onlineWhen Korean stars talk about childhood popularity, the punchline is rarely that someone else was more famous. But actress Han Ji-min recently did exactly that — saying her older sister, not she, was the one classmates adored — sparking renewed online fascination with celebrity siblings whose looks rival the idols themselves. Han said on a recent YouTube variety show appearance that she “wasn’t popular” in school and that “my sister was more famous than me,” adding she had been known as her sister’s “picky little sibling” who would sometimes hang up calls meant for her. The candid anecdote resurfaced past photos of the sisters that had already drawn attention for their shared features and elegant image. The moment quickly folded into a broader Korean internet trope: the “celebrity sister” phenomenon. In Korea’s image-focused pop culture — where image is central to idol branding — family members of stars often go viral when their resemblance becomes known. One of the most cited examples is Jang Da-ah, older sister of IVE’s Jang Won-young. Even before her acFeb 24, 2026By Xportsnews
Bandages, swelling and millions of views: Korea’s new cosmetic surgery content boomBy turning plastic surgery into sharable content — from bandaged faces to post-op swelling — a growing number of South Korean celebrities are drawing massive online attention, reflecting a broader cultural shift in how cosmetic procedures are discussed and consumed. Broadcaster RalRal recently revealed that she is documenting her cosmetic procedures. On Feb. 22, she uploaded a photo to social media showing her face six days after nose surgery and under-eye fat repositioning. “I’ll tell you where I did it once the swelling goes down,” she said. “I think I look a bit kinder.” She also explained her decision to undergo surgery in detail. “The under-eye fat kept protruding and couldn’t be covered with makeup, so I decided to fix it. During consultation, they said my nose was too upturned and short, so I redid it,” she said. The candid updates quickly went viral, with many followers requesting clinic information. RalRal said she would reply “randomly” to inquiries and added, “I paid for everything myself. I’m overwhelmed because I didn’t expect so many messages,Feb 23, 2026By Xportsnews
Even after a year, Kim Sae-ron controversy with Kim Soo-hyun shows no endOne year after the death of South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron, the controversy surrounding her alleged past relationship with top star Kim Soo-hyun remains unresolved — with lawsuits, counterclaims and online accusations still dividing public opinion. Kim, who rose to fame as a child actor and later faced intense scrutiny after a drunk-driving incident in 2022, was found dead at her home on Feb. 16 last year at age 25. A friend who had planned to meet her discovered her and reported it to police. Authorities later said there was no evidence of foul play. Allegations, lawsuits and a battle over the past The dispute that continues to shadow her legacy erupted after her death, when her bereaved family, via the controversial YouTube channel HoverLab (known in Korean as “Garo Sero Institute”), claimed Kim had dated Kim Soo-hyun while she was still a minor. They released photos and letters and filed a complaint accusing the actor of violating child welfare laws. The family also said Kim had been under severe psychological pressure after receiving a legal notice from her former agency Gold MFeb 17, 2026By Xportsnews
Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’It marks her fifth acting project. Jisoo of K-pop group BLACKPINK, who enjoys global popularity, is drawing attention over whether she can overcome lingering doubts about her acting and prove her capabilities as an actress through the upcoming series “Boyfriend on Demand.” Set to premiere March 6, the Netflix original series “Boyfriend on Demand” is a romantic comedy about Mi-rae, a webtoon producer exhausted by reality, who subscribes to and experiences romance through a virtual dating simulation. Combining the relatable daily life of office workers with the novel premise of “subscription-based dating” in a virtual world, the series promises both empathy and fresh entertainment. Jisoo stars opposite actor Seo In-guk, with director Kim Jung-sik — known for “Work Later, Drink Now” and “No Gain No Love” — at the helm. Jisoo plays Seo Mi-rae, a busy and weary webtoon producer accustomed to life without romance. After obtaining a mysterious Boyfriend on Demand device, she enters a virtual world where she experiences diverse romances with unrealistically perfect men,Feb 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’It marks her fifth acting project. Jisoo of K-pop group BLACKPINK, who enjoys global popularity, is drawing attention over whether she can overcome lingering doubts about her acting and prove her capabilities as an actress through the upcoming series “Boyfriend on Demand.” Set to premiere March 6, the Netflix original series “Boyfriend on Demand” is a romantic comedy about Mi-rae, a webtoon producer exhausted by reality, who subscribes to and experiences romance through a virtual dating simulation. Combining the relatable daily life of office workers with the novel premise of “subscription-based dating” in a virtual world, the series promises both empathy and fresh entertainment. Jisoo stars opposite actor Seo In-guk, with director Kim Jung-sik — known for “Work Later, Drink Now” and “No Gain No Love” — at the helm. Jisoo plays Seo Mi-rae, a busy and weary webtoon producer accustomed to life without romance. After obtaining a mysterious Boyfriend on Demand device, she enters a virtual world where she experiences diverse romances with unrealistically perfect men,Feb 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Sold out despite controversy: Kim Seon-ho’s smile returns on stage in ‘Secret passage’Just weeks after addressing tax evasion allegations, South Korean actor Kim Seon-ho is back in the spotlight — and this time, it is a smiling stage photo that is going viral. Photos from the first performance of the play “Secret Passage” were recently shared on the production company’s official account with the caption, “‘Secret Passage’ first show pair photo revealed. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’” The images show Kim posing brightly alongside co-star Lee Si-hyung following their opening performance. For many fans, the smile carried extra meaning. “Secret Passage” marks Kim’s first official schedule following recent controversy surrounding his use of a one-person family corporation. The actor had faced allegations that he used the corporation to evade taxes — a sensitive issue in South Korea, where celebrity tax scandals often trigger intense public scrutiny. His agency, Fantagio, said in an official statement that Kim established the corporation in January 2024 for acting activities and theater production. The company said that until his new contract with FFeb 15, 2026By Xportsnews
Ghanaian TV personality Sam Okyere says racism controversy was painfully difficultGhanaian television personality Sam Okyere was on a successful streak before being embroiled in a racism controversy that led to him suspending his entertainment career. Now, he is opening up to share his life after the controversy. "I suffered a lot. I suffered more than I thought I would and endured better than I thought I could," Okyere said during a recent YouTube appearance alongside former South Korean lawmaker Jasmine Lee. "I did not get through it alone. Thankfully, there were many people who cared about me, and with their comfort and support I was able to pull through." In 2020, Okyere publicly criticized a photo of South Korean high school students recreating the "dancing coffin" meme, a viral internet trend featuring Ghanaian pallbearers that spread worldwide across social media and short-form video platforms. "It is very offensive to Black people," he wrote on social media. "This has to stop in Korea." He faced backlash from online users who argued the students had no intention of creating a racist parody. Okyere later issued an apology, saying he was not trying to attack theFeb 13, 2026By Hankookilbo
Barbie Hsu’s family shuts down $32 million inheritance feud rumors involving DJ KooThe family of late Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu has publicly rejected reports suggesting a dispute with her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo (Koo Jun-yup), over her inheritance, calling the the claims harmful speculation. Nearly a year after her death, the Taiwanese media reported Tuesday that Koo was preparing legal action against Hsu’s mother over the division of the late actor’s estate, describing alleged tensions behind the family’s appearance at a recent memorial statue, unveiled to mark the first anniversary of her death. Further reports claimed Hsu’s mother had appointed a lawyer in response. Hsu’s mother, however, rejected the claims outright, emphasizing her relationship with Koo. “I detest lawsuits. They waste people and money,” she said. “I now call Koo my son. He deeply loved my daughter and respects me. He is part of our family.” Hsu’s younger sister, Dee Hsu, also addressed the reports. “Whoever creates this sort of rumor is malicious and has ill intent. Koo gave my sister pure love and real happiness. Our family is grateful to him,” she said. “He iFeb 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Civic group files complaint over leaked Cha Eun-woo tax investigationA South Korean civic group has filed criminal complaints over the alleged leak of tax investigation details involving celebrity Cha Eun-woo, warning that unchecked disclosures risk repeating the kind of reputational damage seen in the case of late actor Lee Sun-kyun. The Korea Taxpayers Federation said on Tuesday it had reported a tax official accused of leaking confidential information and the journalist who first reported it to police. The federation said the complaint cites violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and criminal law provisions on disclosure of official secrets. The group said the leak concerned details of a tax investigation into Cha, a member of K-pop boy band ASTRO who is also active as an actor. It said the information could only have been known to tax investigators or officials in the approval chain, raising strong suspicions of an internal leak. “The accused parties unlawfully disclosed specific details related to Cha Eun-woo’s tax investigation, infringing on confidentiality principles guaranteed by the Framework Act on National Taxes and the rigFeb 10, 2026By Xportsnews
In beauty-driven Korea, stars are naming their cosmetic procedures — and costsIn South Korea, where the beauty industry plays a major cultural role, celebrities across generations — from actors in their 80s to reality television personalities in their 30s — are becoming increasingly open about their cosmetic procedures. Their candid disclosures are now emerging as a trend in entertainment and online content. On Tuesday, veteran actress Jeon Won-joo, 83, uploaded a video on her YouTube channel titled “Jeon Won-joo receives skin lifting procedure said to turn back the clock by two decades in Cheongdam — but how much does it cost?” “Everyone wants to age gracefully,” Jeon said, pointing to wrinkles and dark spots as reasons she felt reluctant to face herself in the mirror and why she decided to visit a dermatology clinic. Doctors recommended lifting and pigmentation treatments. She opted for a range of procedures, including Ultherapy, titanium lifting, ONDA lifting, dark spot removal and Botox, totaling about 3 million won ($2,250) for a single session. The cost can rise to as much as 5 million won with additional procedures, a sum that drew attention oFeb 7, 2026By Xportsnews
