‘A star with much to lose’: Kim Soo-hyun draws intensified global backlash after press conferenceActor Kim Soo-hyun’s attempt to address mounting personal allegations has sparked an even greater international firestorm, with media outlets and fans across Asia and beyond closely following the fallout. Following the success of hit dramas like “My Love from the Star” and “Queen of Tears,” Kim has long enjoyed massive popularity across Asia. But his recently held press conference — meant to clarify allegations involving the late actor Kim Sae-ron — has only amplified controversy both at home and abroad. On March 31, Kim held an emergency press conference at Stanford Hotel in Mapo District, Seoul. He appeared alongside his attorney, Kim Jong-bok of LKB & Partners, and Ahn Sung-soo, CEO of his agency Gold Medalist. Kim broke his silence nearly three weeks after rumors about his alleged personal relationship with Kim Sae-ron emerged. The major points of contention include allegations that he dated Kim beginning in 2015, when she was 15 years old, for six years; claims that after her drunk driving accident in 2022 and contract expiration with Gold Medalist, a notarized letterApr 8, 2025By KTimes
BoA apologizes for careless comments about Park Na-rae during livestreamSinger BoA has issued an apology after drawing attention to comments she made during a surprise livestream with popular TV personality Jun Hyun-moo, which was broadcast while both appeared to be under the influence. BoA and Jun went live via Jun’s social media account. The two, who were drinking and dining at Jun’s home, explained that they spontaneously decided to start the livestream. Throughout the broadcast, they displayed a close friendship, surprising fans with their unexpected camaraderie. However, controversy arose over BoA’s remarks regarding rumors of a romantic relationship between Jun Hyun-moo and comedian Park Na-rae. When a viewer asked about the dating rumors, BoA responded on Jun’s behalf, saying, “I don’t think they’ll date.” She added, “They can’t date,” and when Jun asked, “Why? Because Park Na-rae is too good for me?," BoA replied, “No. You're too good for her,” in a firm tone. The livestream has since been deleted from Jun’s account, but clips and recordings have spread on social media. Some viewers criticized BoA’s comments as inapproApr 8, 2025By KTimes
Seo Yea-ji, Park Han-byul return through entertainment TV — can they win back public support?Actors Seo Yea-ji and Park Han-byul are returning to the entertainment scene, not through dramas, but via entertainment shows. Once embroiled in major controversies, the two are cautiously stepping back into the spotlight. Seo has chosen "SNL Korea" for her comeback, while Park is appearing on "Daddy and Me," a family-centered reality show. Seo Yea-ji’s reputation took a serious hit in 2021 following a string of scandals, including a personal controversy involving actor Kim Jung-hyun, allegations of school bullying and falsifying academic credentials. These incidents severely damaged her image. The drama "Eve," released the following year, performed poorly, and her contract with her agency Gold Medalist came to an end. Since last year, Seo has slowly worked to rebuild her image. She signed with Sublime in June and launched social media accounts to reconnect with fans. Given the success of "It’s Okay to Not Be Okay" both domestically and internationally, Seo continued to receive supportive comments from overseas fans. In 2024, the legal process targeting malicious commenters concludeApr 7, 2025By KTimes
Hyeri breaks free from ‘Deok-sun’ image with breakout overseas success of 'Friendly Rivalry'Actor Hyeri is shedding her long-standing image as Deok-sun from "Reply 1988," rising in popularity overseas. Her lead role in "Friendly Rivalry" has captivated international audiences, particularly in China, marking a turning point in her career and signaling the start of a new chapter. The role of Deok-sun in the hit series "Reply 1988" brought Hyeri critical acclaim but also cast a lasting shadow, as her subsequent roles often faced comparisons and expectations rooted in that beloved character. However, "Friendly Rivalry," with its distinctive tone and fresh portrayal, has proven a bold departure — and one that is resonating more abroad than at home. The original series "Friendly Rivalry," released in February on U+tv and U+ Mobile TV, is a mystery thriller set at Chaehwa Girls’ High School, an elite institution representing South Korea’s top one percent. It follows Seul-gi, a transfer student navigating the fierce academic rivalry and the suspicious death of her father, a former national exam question writer. The series was released over four weeks on U+ platforms and later exApr 6, 2025By KTimes
IU on ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: 'I wanted to do it all, and then came this role'IU returned to the screen in Netflix’s "When Life Gives You Tangerines," a moving drama that has brought viewers around the world to tears. Set in Jeju, the series follows the life of Ae-sun — a fierce, rebellious girl. IU shares the role with veteran actress Moon So-ri and also plays Ae-sun’s daughter, Geum-myeong. It’s a rare case of one actor taking on the challenge of both a dual role and a shared role. “When I crave acting, it’s like the right project always finds me. Three years ago, I just wanted to do it all — honestly. And then the character Ae-sun came along, and I thought, ‘This is fate.’ I felt it in my bones and said 'yes.'” When IU was offered the script, she said her passion for acting was at an all-time high. “I really wanted to try everything,” she said with a laugh. So when the drama, with its rich and unique script, landed in her hands, she knew she couldn’t pass it up. Meeting IU recently at a hotel in central Seoul, she welcomed reporters with her signature warm smile. Both her modest yet determined demeanor and her intelligence echo througApr 6, 2025By KTimes
Comedian Kim Byung-man to remarry in SeptemberComedian Kim Byung-man will remarry this September to a non-celebrity, his agency Sky Turtle said Thursday. “The wedding is scheduled for September, and it will be a small ceremony with only family in attendance,” the agency said. Kim was previously married to a woman seven years his senior in 2011. The couple legally divorced in 2020, though the news was only made public in 2023. On a Channel A program, Kim revealed that he and his former wife had lived separately for nearly a decade, from 2012 to 2020. Explaining why he delayed announcing the divorce, he said, “I was scared. I couldn’t let go because I was afraid everything I had built since my days as an unknown comedian would collapse.” Kim debuted in 2002 through KBS’s comedian class and is best known for such shows as “Law of the Jungle,” and "King of Survival." This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.Apr 4, 2025By KTimes
Prison term sought again for ‘Squid Game’ actor Oh Young-soo in appealProsecutors requested a one-year prison sentence for actor Oh Young-soo, 81, during the appeal trial of his indecent assault case on Thursday, repeating the sentence they sought in the first trial. Oh, widely known as the “Gganbu grandpa” from the Netflix drama “Squid Game,” was sentenced in the first trial to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, for forcibly groping a younger actress from a theater troupe. At the final hearing held at the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Appeals Division 6, prosecutors said, “The defendant has not been forgiven by the victim and instead claims the victim gave false testimony,” adding, “As a veteran actor with 50 years in theater, he sexually assaulted a powerless junior during rehearsal.” Oh has consistently denied the allegations. His defense argued that the victim’s testimony, the sole piece of evidence, lacked consistency, specificity and credibility. The lawyer addressed a key point in the lower court’s ruling. “We believe the first court ruled guilty largely because of a message of apology Oh sent to the victim. BApr 4, 2025By KTimes
'Crushology 101' cast promises laughs, romance in MBC’s new dramaThe cast of "Crushology 101," MBC's new romantic comedy series, promised to deliver lighthearted escape from stress. "We guarantee that viewers will laugh and smile a lot while watching the romantic story unfold around Bunny," actor Roh Jeong-eui, who plays the main female protagonist Ban Hui-jin, also known as Bunny, said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. The plot follows college student Bunny who vows to stop dating after a painful breakup — her first lover left such a deep emotional scar that she even considers taking a break from school. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when four men enter the picture — Hwang Jae-yeol (Lee Chae-min), who becomes her enemy due to a debt-related entanglement; Cha Ji-won (Cho Jun-young), who expresses his love gently; Cho Ah-rang (Kim Hyun-jin), who is an idol figure for her; and Jin Hyun-oh (Hong Min-ki) her first lover who makes a comeback into her life. Hwang, who attends the same university as Bunny, slowly breaks down her defenses with his caring nature, while Cha softens her heart with his gentle charisma. Meanwhile, ChoApr 3, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil cut from ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ — was it due to political stance?Popular Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil was initially included in Netflix’s hit series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," but all of his scenes were ultimately cut from the final version, sparking speculation that his outspoken political activity played a role in the decision. According to multiple online communities on Thursday, Jeon was supposed to have a cameo in the drama and had confirmed his participation two years ago on a Korean history exam forum he operates. However, he is nowhere to be seen in the released episodes, prompting viewers to question what happened. Fans of the drama speculated that Jeon would appear in Act 4 of the series, particularly during scenes involving the online lecture company founded by the character Geum-myung, played by IU. Instead, another actor appears in that segment. It remains unclear when Netflix reshot the scenes or discarded Jeon’s original footage. Some online users believe that Jeon’s increasingly political image might have made his appearance problematic for the production team. After President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law onApr 3, 2025By KTimes
Hoverlab challenges Kim Soo-hyun again with new KakaoTalk messagesActor Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference and his legal team’s detailed rebuttal have failed to quell the controversy over his dating rumors with the late actor Kim Sae-ron. YouTube channel Hoverlab continues to release new material challenging his denial and fueling ongoing mudslinging over his alleged relationship with Kim Sae-ron. As Kim Soo-hyun's team dismissed the evidence presented by the family of Kim Sae-ron as “fabricated” on Wednesday, Hoverlab pushed back by revealing what it says are original KakaoTalk messages between Kim and Kim Sae-ron. Hoverlab streamed live what it said were original KakaoTalk messages from Kim Sae-ron, refuting Kim’s denial. The video showed a phone screen being scrolled through, allegedly displaying the unedited messages. According to Hoverlab, the messages were exchanged between Kim Sae-ron and her cousin after dating rumors resurfaced when she posted a selfie with Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram last year. Hoverlab said Kim Sae-ron sent a message to Kim Soo-hyun in April 2018 that read, “You’re always available when you need me, but never when IApr 3, 2025By KTimes
