Cha Eun-woo to hold Japan exhibition amid tax evasion allegationsSinger-actor Cha Eun-woo is pushing ahead with a photo exhibition in Japan while facing tax evasion allegations involving roughly 20 billion won ($13.4 million) in South Korea. Fantagio, Cha's agency, said Monday that the exhibition will run from April 28 to May 12 in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo. Cha will not attend the event in person. "The exhibition was contracted in August 2024 and is proceeding as scheduled," a Fantagio official said. The Japanese exhibition marks Cha's first official commercial event since the controversy began. The exhibition will feature a photobook released last year and photographs of his daily life. The National Tax Service assessed an estimated 20 billion won tax penalty against Cha in January. If confirmed, it would be the largest tax penalty ever levied on a Korean celebrity. Tax authorities determined that Cha established a shell company to receive his earnings from Fantagio. Authorities said the arrangement allowed Cha to pay a corporate tax rate rather than paying income tax on his earnings directly. Cha enlisted in the Army in July last year and is cuMar 17, 2026By Hankookilbo
Does your boyfriend’s phone matter? 'Single’s Inferno' star Freezia’s Galaxy comment sparks debateKorean content creator Freezia, also known as Song Ji-a, is facing online backlash after casually saying she would dislike dating a man who uses a Samsung Galaxy phone — a remark that quickly went viral and reignited debate about tech preferences, image culture and dating standards among young Koreans. The controversy grew further as past comments from actress Joo Hyun-young resurfaced online, highlighting a starkly opposite view: she once said her ideal type is a man who uses a Galaxy phone. The debate began after Freezia uploaded a vlog Sunday to her YouTube channel. In the video, filmed at a nail salon, Freezia chats with a friend about smartphone brands. After hearing that her friend’s boyfriend uses a Galaxy Fold, she said, “Honestly, if my boyfriend used a Galaxy, I think I’d kind of hate it.” When her friend asked why, Freezia said, “My mom and dad both use Galaxy phones. But parents and a boyfriend are different, right?” She added, “Just imagining him taking pictures of me with that phone annoys me so much.” The comments quickly spread across Korean online communMar 12, 2026By Xportsnews
Cha Eun-woo videos removed amid tax evasion allegations, Rowoon steps inActor Rowoon, currently serving in the South Korean military, will appear as the new storyteller for the Defense Ministry’s content series “These Days in the Military,” following the removal of videos featuring singer-actor Cha Eun-woo after tax evasion allegations. The Hankook Ilbo learned on Wednesday that Rowoon has confirmed his appearance as a storyteller for the series on the Defense Media Agency’s channel, KFN Plus, and is preparing for filming. “These Days in the Military” is a content series in which celebrities serving in the military appear as storytellers, introducing historical events and figures related to the armed forces. The series previously drew attention with appearances by actor Song Kang and NCT member Taeyong. Cha Eun-woo joined the program as a storyteller last year and appeared in four episodes. However, after allegations of tax evasion surfaced, all videos featuring him were removed from public view. Currently, the episodes in which Cha appeared have been set to private, with the message “This video is unavailable” appearing in the program’s plMar 5, 2026By Hankookilbo
Why one selfie of retired star Shim Eun-ha at 54 is suddenly trending onlineA single selfie of retired Korean actor Shim Eun-ha — once dubbed the country’s “icon of innocence” — has reignited online fascination, proving that even after more than two decades away from the spotlight, the former star can still dominate social media conversations. Photos of the 54-year-old actor recently spread rapidly across Korean online communities and social media platforms on March 4, drawing renewed attention to the long-retired celebrity. The images were shared under the title “Legendary beauty Shim Eun-ha’s latest update at 54.” In the photo, Shim sits next to her husband, former lawmaker Ji Sang-wook, inside an airplane cabin while taking a selfie together. Shim appears with light makeup, a relaxed expression and casual clothing, giving fans a rare glimpse of her everyday life. Because Shim has rarely appeared in public since leaving the entertainment industry, the photo quickly became a hot topic online. Reactions across Korean social media were sharply divided. Many users welcomed the rare update. Comments included, “She’s still beautiful,” “She lookMar 5, 2026By Xportsnews
Mukbang queen Tzuyang’s 30,000-calorie diet clashes with 45kg realityShe can consume enough food for more than a dozen adults in a single day — but her latest health check left fans stunned. South Korean mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang, famous for devouring up to 30,000 calories in a day while maintaining a petite frame, revealed that she weighs just 45 kilograms (about 99 pounds) and has muscle mass comparable to that of a teenage high school student. On March 1, Tzuyang uploaded a video titled “What is the weight and fitness level of someone who eats 30,000 calories a day? I got an X grade” on her YouTube channel V-log Tzuyang. In the video, she underwent a comprehensive physical fitness test at a certified fitness evaluation center, including treadmill endurance, grip strength and sit-up measurements. Tzuyang said she had previously maintained a weight between 46 and 48 kilograms before bulking up to 58 kilograms through exercise. However, after she stopped working out entirely, she said she lost 14 kilograms rapidly. “I thought I would get Grade 2,” she said confidently before the test results were revealed. Instead, she received Grade 3. An officialMar 3, 2026By Xportsnews
Late Sulli’s brother shares unseen video, fans call it a ‘gift’The older brother of late f(x) member and actress Sulli has released a previously unseen video of the star, following earlier posts of childhood photos that moved fans. On Feb. 28, Choi Geon-hee uploaded a clip to his personal channel with the caption “gift.” The video shows Sulli outdoors on a sidewalk, wearing a pale pink silk top, black pants and flip-flops, with her long hair down. She performs a playful stretch-like pose, lifting one leg to touch her arm. Days earlier, he had posted a childhood photo of Sulli with the caption, “Why do you cry so sadly with a smiling face,” drawing emotional responses from fans who said they missed her and thanked him for sharing memories. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, died on Oct. 14, 2019, at age 25. She started her career as a child actor in the 2005 SBS drama “Ballad of Seodong” and debuted in f(x) in 2009, later pursuing both music and acting. Her brother drew attention last year with claims related to her appearance in the film “Real,” keeping public discussion around her career and legacy active among fans. This article from XportsneMar 2, 2026By Xportsnews
Tiffany–Byun Yo-han wedding photos go viral, then exposed as AI fakeImages claiming to show Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany Young and actor Byun Yo-han’s wedding shoot spread rapidly online — before being confirmed as artificial intelligence (AI)-generated fakes. The couple recently registered their marriage, making them legally married, when alleged wedding photos began circulating across social media and online communities under the title “Tiffany–Byun Yo-han wedding photos.” The images depicted Tiffany in a pink-toned wedding dress and Byun in a pink suit, posing with Girls’ Generation members as if in an official wedding shoot. Some viewers said the photos looked like “movie stills,” while others questioned whether they were AI composites. Xportsnews reporting confirmed the images were created using artificial intelligence and were not based on any real photo shoot. No official wedding pictorial involving the couple and other Girls’ Generation members has taken place. The case highlights growing concern over hyperrealistic AI imagery spreading online, particularly around high-interest topics such as celebrity relationships and marriMar 2, 2026By Xportsnews
The man beside Min Hee-jin: NewJeans choreographer Black Q draws attentionThe identity of the man who stood beside former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin at her recent press conference has sparked online interest — and fans quickly identified him as Black Q, the choreographer widely known as a key creative force behind K-pop group NewJeans. Min, now head of the newly launched label Ooak Records, held a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday to announce her legal victory in a stock payment lawsuit and outline future plans. During the brief appearance, she read a prepared statement proposing that she would forgo the 25.6 billion won ($19.2 million) awarded in the ruling if HYBE agreed to halt all ongoing legal disputes with her. She entered, read the statement in under 10 minutes without taking questions and exited — but attention shifted to the man who escorted and assisted her offstage. He was later identified as choreographer Black Q (Kim Young-hoo). ‘Father of NewJeans’ choreography Black Q gained public recognition in 2022 through Mnet’s dance competition show “Street Man Fighter” as part of the crew Eoddae. He later worked as a performance director at AdFeb 26, 2026By Xportsnews
What Jung Kook's intensive training signals for March BTS concertClick here for more articles by Kormedi.com. BTS member Jung Kook has sparked buzz after sharing proof of intense treadmill training roughly a month before a planned concert in Gwanghwamun on March 21. Jung Kook recently posted a treadmill workout record on social media with the short caption “A-ja-ja.” The data showed he ran 8.02 kilometers over 1 hour and 19 minutes, highlighting notable endurance. His average pace of 9 minutes 50 seconds per kilometer suggested sustained aerobic effort, underscoring how seriously the “performance-type artist” is managing his fitness ahead of the March concert. Average heart rate 168 BPM indicates high-intensity training Born in 1997, Jung Kook is 28 years old. The estimated maximum heart rate for men in their late 20s is about 190-195 beats per minute. His average heart rate of 168 BPM corresponds to roughly 85-90 percent of that maximum, indicating he was exercising not at a light jogging level but within a high-intensity aerobic zone (Zone 4). High-intensity aerobic exercise rapidly improves cardiorespiratory endurance. In practical terms, itFeb 26, 2026By Kormedi.com
‘Real chaebol kids have less cash’ — Shinsegae heiress idol Annie’s frugal school story resurfacesAn old anecdote about Annie — the Shinsegae retail heiress-turned-idol — is resurfacing online after a Korean YouTuber claimed she once hesitated over buying new AirPods as a U.S. high school student, quipping that “kids from truly rich families can be even more careful with money.” Song Ja-ho, CEO of art firm Pica Project and himself a third-generation business heir, shared the story in a video uploaded last month titled “Gathering of Korean chaebol third-generation heirs (real review)” on his YouTube channel. A clip from the video has recently spread across Korean online communities and social media as Annie continues to draw attention following her debut in the group All Day Project. In the video, Song said he met Annie during his high school years in the United States through a social circle of Korean international students. “Even if you’re not at the same school, Korean students abroad often know each other. We had a close group that included Annie, and we’d eat together,” he said. Song said there was no talk at the time of Annie preparing for an idol career, buFeb 25, 2026By Xportsnews
