YouTuber Pungja opens up about side effects of weight loss drug WegovyYouTuber and TV personality Pungja revealed her experience with the anti-obesity drug Wegovy after recently announcing she had lost 14 kilograms. In a video posted on Tuesday, Pungja said she had used both Saxenda and Wegovy — injectable medications approved for weight management — but highlighted the unexpected side effects she experienced with the latter. Wegovy, an injectable medication developed specifically for obesity treatment, is prescribed only to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes. "I don’t usually talk much about dieting, but yes, I’ve taken Saxenda and Wegovy," she said. “With Wegovy, I didn’t feel nauseous, and my appetite was still there — I just couldn’t eat much. I’d take a few bites and feel full.” However, she said the drug caused sudden vomiting without any warning signs. “At first, I thought my stomach was just upset. But there were no signs like nausea — I just threw up out of nowhere.” Despite enduring a week of side effects after a sMay 28, 2025By Hankookilbo
'The Devil’s Plan' producer, Season 2 champion respond to criticismNetflix’s high-stakes survival game show "The Devil’s Plan" recently wrapped up its second season amid a flurry of controversy, prompting both the show’s producer and its final winner, Jeong Hyun-gyu of "EXchange 2" fame, to respond to the backlash. In "The Devil’s Plan: Death Room," players from various professions live together for seven days to determine the ultimate mastermind. It drew attention with its stellar cast of 14 participants, including former professional Go player Lee Se-dol, best known for his historic five-game match against artificial intelligence AlphaGo in 2016, Hollywood actor Justin H. Min, K-pop idol Kyuhyun, TV presenter Kang Ji-young, actor Yoon So-hui and poker player 7high. However, the show drew criticism from viewers over Jeong's gameplay and questionable decisions. In the finale, Kyuhyun sacrificed himself to save Jeong, while the final opponent Yoon gave up betting in the final game, leaving viewers puzzled. Jeong, a Seoul National University student who appeared on the dating reality show “EXchange 2,” was blamed for making viewers uncomfortaMay 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai
'World of Street Woman Fighter' brings global dance crews to Mnet’s stageMnet's hit survival reality show "Street Woman Fighter" (SWF) is back for its third season — and this time, it’s going global. Titled "World of Street Woman Fighter" (WSWF), the new season expands the show’s original format into a full-fledged international contest. Six dance crews from Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are set to face off as national representatives, with communication transcending language as dancers rely on movement to connect, compete and captivate. At a press conference Tuesday in southern Seoul, the show's chief producer Choi Jeong-nam said the decision to turn the show into a global showdown came after seeing the impact of overseas participation in Season 2. "When international crews joined in the second season of 'SWF,' we realized how much more we could introduce global dancers to our fans," Choi said. "That's why we brought in crews from around the world for this season." Choi said the shift did bring its share of challenges, especially in communication and cultural differences. "We had translators for English and Japanese. There arMay 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Veteran actor Choi Jung-woo dead at 68Veteran actor Choi Jung-woo, known for his roles in dramas such as “The Tale of Lady Ok” and films including “Miss Granny," died Tuesday at the age of 68. Choi died in the early hours of the morning, his agency said. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though it was reported that he had been battling a chronic illness. Born in 1957, Choi made his debut in 1975 with the play “The Life of an Actor” and later worked as a voice actor for TBC (Tongyang Broadcasting Company) beginning in 1980. While he built much of his career on the stage, he transitioned into film and television in the 2000s, appearing in dozens of acclaimed works. His film credits include “Two Cops,” “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance,” “The Chaser,” “The Witch,” “Smugglers,” “The Moon” and the “Project Silence.” On the small screen, he appeared in popular dramas such as “The Painter of the Wind,” “Prosecutor Princess,” “Tree with Deep Roots” and “My Daughter Seo-young.” Earlier this year, he played Park Joon-ki in “The Tale of Lady Ok,” a character suspiciousMay 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
The rise of ‘one actor, two roles’ in K-dramas: IU, Park Bo-young and Yook Sung-jae showcase versatilityActors who have successfully taken on the challenge of playing two roles in a single production are captivating viewers across Korea. On Saturday, the tvN weekend drama “Our Unwritten Seoul” kicked off its run, recording a solid 5 percent viewership rating by its second episode, signaling strong momentum. Park Bo-young, in her first-ever dual-role performance, portrays twin sisters Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae. Her bold transformation with platinum blonde hair has also garnered attention. Park’s nuanced acting seamlessly switches between the two characters, showcasing her veteran skills. By embodying sisters living starkly different lives, she enhances the drama’s emotional depth. Meanwhile, IU impressed audiences in Netflix’s hit drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines." In the show, she plays both the younger version of Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong, delivering a versatile performance. The show sparked widespread buzz both in Korea and abroad, inspiring numerous parodies. As Ae-sun, IU shared on-screen chemistry with Park Bo-gum as her husband, while her portrayal of GeumMay 27, 2025By Xportsnews
Park Min-young to lead Amazon’s first Korean original series ‘The Confidence Man KR’Actor Park Min-young has been cast as the lead in “The Confidence Man KR” (working title), the first Korean original series produced by global streaming platform Amazon Prime Video. According to production company Higround on Monday, the series marks Amazon Prime Video’s first fully produced Korean drama, set to stream in 198 countries worldwide. Until now, the platform had only distributed Korean dramas through a designated K-drama section, but soaring global demand and interest in Korean content prompted Amazon to greenlight its first original production from Korea. Park, who recently starred in “Marry My Husband,” garnered international success with the series ranking No. 1 in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America during its run on Amazon Prime Video. The show has also maintained a position in the platform’s Top 10 charts more than a year after its finale. “The Confidence Man KR” follows three highly skilled con artists who pull off elaborate schemes against corrupt individuals across different sectors. The drama promises a fast-paced narrative that exposes cracks in sociMay 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
Hwang Jung-eum finalizes divorce, asset seizure to be liftedActor Hwang Jung-eum has officially finalized her divorce, with her agency confirming that the legal proceedings have concluded amicably. As a result, the provisional seizure of her assets, which had been imposed during the divorce process, is expected to be lifted. “Hwang Jung-eum’s divorce has been finalized with the family court’s mediation decision. The divorce is now legally effective," her agency Y.ONE Entertainment said in a statement Monday. The agency also addressed recent reports regarding the provisional seizure of real estate assets, explaining that both parties had taken legal steps to preserve their respective interests in shared property. The agency said such measures are common in divorce proceedings and were part of the standard process. Now that the case is closed, all asset seizure measures will be lifted, it said. “We sincerely apologize for the concern caused by various issues during the actress’s personal divorce proceedings,” the agency said. “We are also doing our best to bring a swift resolution to the ongoing legal matters involving her personal coMay 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Lim Sung-eon’s husband accused of $15 million fraud, third marriageActor Lim Sung-eon, 41, tied the knot on May 17, but controversy has emerged as her husband, a 55-year-old businessman identified as A, faces allegations of being involved in a large-scale apartment development fraud. Online media outlet Dispatch reported on Monday that her husband has three prior fraud convictions and is now suspected of running a large-scale apartment development scam, with estimated damages reaching 20 billion won ($15 million). The report claimed that he is currently under investigation for fraud, embezzlement and breach of trust, and has been banned from leaving the country. It also alleged that the couple’s honeymoon in Jeju Island was affected by this travel restriction, and that the marriage is his third. In response, Lim's husband denied allegations that he was involved in a fraud case, calling most of the claims in the recent media report untrue. “We filed a criminal complaint on May 19 against both the creditor and the journalist who wrote the article, and an investigation is underway," a legal representative for Lim’s husband said. The legal representatiMay 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
Go Min-si's agency denies school bullying allegationsActor Go Min-si’s agency has denied allegations that she was involved in school bullying, calling the claims "groundless." Her agency Mystic Story issued a statement on Monday, saying that the allegations were “clearly false and groundless,” adding, “We have appointed legal counsel today and have begun reviewing and pursuing both civil and criminal legal action.” Earlier that day, an anonymous post titled “We are the victims of actor A’s school violence” was uploaded to an online community. The author of the post, claiming to be a middle school classmate of the actor, claimed that the actor in question had extorted money, verbally abused classmates and bullied students with disabilities during their school years. Although the author did not explicitly name the actor, the post included Go Min-si’s former name and age, leading netizens to identify her as the subject. “I don’t want any apology or compensation,” the author wrote, adding, “What I want is for this actor to end her public activities permanently so no further victims are created.” The writer continued,May 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewComedian Lee Su-ji talks character comedy, further acting aspirationsComedian Lee Su-ji, praised by many as "a comedian with a thousand faces," acts out a variety of original characters through streaming platforms and her own YouTube channel, bringing laughter to audiences. Her numerous characters on her YouTube channel Hot Issue Ji — from the Korean tiger mom nicknamed "Jamie Mom," an education-obsessed mother in Seoul’s affluent Daechi-dong neighborhood, to "Shuuvely Mom," a social media live commerce influencer with exaggerated sales pitches — have taken the internet by storm. Her success led to winning this year's Best Female Entertainer at the Baeksang Arts Awards on May 5. Since her debut in 2008, whenever she creates a new character, Lee says her "starting point always lies in the various people from everyday life with whom others can relate to." “When I go to the supermarket, a restaurant or a cafe, I try not to wear earphones as much as possible. I jot down speech patterns or relatable points in my notes app to catch them. For me, it feels like a hobby. I mimic the way other people talk or their habits," the 40-year-old comedian said durMay 26, 2025By Park Jin-hai
