HEARTS2HEARTS becomes #2 girl group with the highest first-day debut album sales

 First Day Sales

1. NewJeans New Jeans — 262,815
2. HEARTS2HEARTS The Chase — 231,648
3. LE SSERAFIM FEARLESS — 176,861
4. Kep1er FIRST IMPACT — 150,153
5. Aespa Savage — 147,195
6. ILLIT SUPER REAL ME ㅡ 142,307
7. IZNA N/a — 109,411
8. NiziU Press Play — 84,658
9. Baby Monster BABYMONS7ER — 70,888
10. IVE ELEVEN — 56,209 

Highest 1st Day Debut/First Album by Girl Groups (no sub-units/re-debuts)

1. #NewJeans New Jeans — 262,815 copies
2. #Hearts2Hearts The Chase — 231,648 copies 🆕️
3. #LE_SSERAFIM FEARLESS — 176,861 copies
4. #Kep1er FIRST IMPACT — 150,153 copies
5. #aespa Savage — 147,195… pic.twitter.com/eQJyGDnvGe

— KOREAN SALES (@koreansales_twt) February 24, 2025

++ Edit:

First-day sales > First-week sales > Total sales have a big fluctuation. Use the first-day sales as a reference. 

First-week sales

1. Baby Monster BABYMONS7ER — 401,287
2. ILLIT SUPER REAL ME — 380,056
3. NewJeans New Jeans — 311,271
4. LE SSERAFIM FEARLESS — 307,450
5. Aespa Savage — 276,877
6. IZNA N/a ㅡ 250,379
7. NMIXX AD MARE — 227,399
8. Kep1er FIRST IMPACT — 206,569
9. IVE ELEVEN — 152,229
10. NiziU Press Play — 119,069

Total Sales

1. NewJeans New Jeans — 1,760,000
2. Aespa Savage — 820,000
3. Baby Monster BABYMONS7ER — 770,000
4. ILLIT SUPER REAL ME — 690,000
5. LE SSERAFIM FEARLESS — 580,000
6. IVE ELEVEN — 580,000
7. BLACKPINK SQUARE UP — 560,000
8. NMIXX AD MARE — 500,000
9. Kep1er FIRST IMPACT — 400,000
10. IZONE COLOR*IZ — 280,000

theqoo

-Oh, congratulations!

-There's also a ranking for first-week sales...?

-People are ranking everything these days.

-Who even looks at this kind of thing?

-Wow, I'm surprised that NewJeans ranked #1 here. I thought it would be an SM group.

-Wow, it sold really well.

-Wow, they sold incredibly well. Is it because they have a lot of international fans? Or only domestic sales are counted in these rankings?

-I wonder if they had a bit of a boost from international fans since they have one Indonesian member in this group...

-I'm jealous.

-I also bought one to celebrate SMNGG's debut. It's selling well.

-? That's fascinating

Continue reading HEARTS2HEARTS becomes #2 girl group with the highest first-day debut album sales

HEARTS2HEARTS reveal their fandom name

 

[INFO] Nama Fandom Hearts2Hearts "S2U" 하츄#Hearts2Hearts #하츠투하츠 #H2H#TheChase #Hearts2Hearts_TheChase

— Hearts2Hearts Indonesia (@H2H_INA) February 24, 2025

S2U - Hachu 

theqoo 

-Ah... S2 resembles the shape of a heartㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That's cute.

-Whoa... That's actually a great fandom nameㅋㅋ

-Oh... I'm not a fan. I didn't know they revealed their fandom name right away... That's a really cute name!

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Cute as f*ck.

-Looks like idols these days reveal their fandom names right away after their debut...

-That's a great choice. It's such a cute name.

-Hachu is really cute... It's kinda surprising that no other idol groups used that name all this time.

-It's going to be hard to search that name on the internet...
ㄴWho even worries about searching for a fandom name on the internet?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I'm a MY and trust me, you’ll never need to search your own fandom name, so don’t worryㅋㅋ Hachu is a really cute name.

-What does S2U mean?
ㄴS2 looks like a heart shape. So S2 (Heart) + U (You) = S2U (HeartU/Hachu)

-Ah... So, they reveal their fandom name right after their debut? (I'm a SONE)

-Seems easier to search than MY.

-Hello. I'm Hachu🩵🤍

Continue reading HEARTS2HEARTS reveal their fandom name

KiiiKiii 'I DO ME' & HEARTS2HEARTS 'The Chase' Melon HOT 100 entry rankings

 

Neither song made it into the TOP 100

theqoo

-I think KiiiKiii's going to climb higher.

-KiiiKiii's song is more public-friendly... I hope it climbs even higher.

-HEARTS2HEARTS' song is really good.

-I think KiiiKiii is going to enter the TOP 100 today.

-Huh...? The rankings are quite similar?? I thought one of them generated way more buzz??

-It's really nice seeing both groups rise together. Go girls!!

-I hope HEARTS2HEARTS does better in the future.. They've attracted too much unnecessary controversy alreadyㅜㅜ

-I think both songs are going to climb higher since not a lot of people know the songs are already out yet. Especially since both groups are going to perform on music shows soonㅎ I really like KiiiKiii's song.

-I can't wait to see their performances on music shows.

-HEARTS2HEARTS' song actually sounds better than I expected.

-I really like KiiiKiii's songㅋㅋㅋ I'm currently listening to it on Youtube Music right nowㅋㅋ

-I don't know much about this... But how do songs enter Melon TOP 100?? Do they need a higher ranking?? #1?

-I don't know about other things, but KiiiiKiii's vocals are beyond my expectations. They seem to be really talented.

-KiiiKiii's song is a masterpiece........

-I'm putting HEARTS2HEARTS' song on repeat.. I love it♡

Continue reading KiiiKiii 'I DO ME' & HEARTS2HEARTS 'The Chase' Melon HOT 100 entry rankings

SMNGG HEARTS2HEARTS 'The Chase' + 'Butterflies' stage first reveal

 

250224 Hearts2Hearts performing 'The Chase' at their Debut Fan Showcase ❤️#Hearts2Hearts #하츠투하츠 @Hearts2Hearts pic.twitter.com/XGMF0dr7hx

— VB (@H2HVibe) February 24, 2025

250224 하츠투하츠 쇼케이스
[Butterflies]#Hearts2Hearts #하츠투하츠 #H2H pic.twitter.com/xGYwE9UakB

— IN (@Heart2allin) February 24, 2025

theqoo 

-The debut showcase stage makes the song sound better than in the MV. They should've emphasized more on the conceptual and dreamy vibes.

-Wait... One member is completely covered by other members in the ending post. Is that okay??

-They really need to change the ending pose; One member is completely covered in the back.

-The song is really good. It's their debut stage and yet they already perform so well.

-I'm really curious about their performances in music shows.

-SM groups usually gain popularity on their second or third release rather than their debut... I'm sure they'll probably find a way somehow.

-The song is giving Red Velvet vibes.

-What's the name of the member with the sky blue crop top??

-Why do they keep using a 7-member formation when there are 8 members...?

-Carmen has the best facial expressions on stage.

-The song is actually good. It sounds even better when you listen to it while watching the performance.

-Yuha's voice in 'Butterflies' is really good... Carmen looks like she has a lot of charms.

-Carmen is so pretty. She also seems to sing well too. Carmen really stands out.

-This doesn't sound like SM at all... Where did their unique style go?

-This completely sounds like SM, though...? I'm so confused looking at the comments...

Continue reading SMNGG HEARTS2HEARTS 'The Chase' + 'Butterflies' stage first reveal

The video that is currently trending #1 in real-time (Good Day '88 Nation)

 

theqoo

-You can tell that GD is really kindㅋㅋㅋ Kim Soohyun has a great variety show skills.

-This lineup is really fresh and fun to watch.

-It was actually really entertaining.

-'Good Day' is truly the best when it comes to generating buzz. GD always trends no matter what he does, but I can't deny that '88 Nation is really fun too.

I watched this because of Kim Soohyun. But the 88-liners are so wholesome and heartwarming that they got me hooked on this show.

-This is very entertaining. This is such a unique lineup that I haven't seen on other variety shows before, so it feels fresh.

-'88 Nation was really entertaining. The slight awkwardness made it even more amusing. Kim Soohyun worked so hard here.

-I finally have a variety show that I'm watching live again.

-Didn't 'Good Day' also trend last week?? Well, this show is really getting a lot of buzz. Congratulations.

-I love '88 Nation. They're really entertainingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ They're all very likable. I want to watch the longer version.

-I wish '88 Nation was longer... I hope they do a spin-off or something like that. I really like Kim Soohyun.

-Everything GD is in becomes trending.

-I've watched this show for two weeks in a row now, it's really fun.

-Anything GD appears in just goes straight to trendingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-There's no way this video wouldn't trend. It's not easy to see this lineupㅋㅋㅋ Kim Soohyun becomes even more likableㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Taeho PD-nim, please make a travel show with the '88-liners.

Continue reading The video that is currently trending #1 in real-time (Good Day '88 Nation)

HEARTS2HEARTS' stage ending draws attention on Theqoo for being 'too cruel'

 

There’s one more member behind the member in the center.

theqoo

-I mean... You can't even see the member in the back.

-Agree. I think they're going to fix this.

-I hope SM Ent. fixes this before they go on music shows. They could've made everyone visible in the endingㅜㅜ

-Are they doing this on purpose?? What even is that??

-There are too many members.

-They should've made that one member sit in the front. Anyway, I'm sure they're going to adjust this.

-SM Ent. always prioritizes the center member, so this is not surprising at all.

-This looks like a solo artist's stageㅋㅋ They're really mean.

-It's not like that one member is a backup dancer, what is that?ㅜㅜ Well... EXO also had Kai get solo endings in their early debut days....

-Huh?? They should make every member visible in the endingㅜㅜ

-Hu... This is so cruel. This is their debut song.

-They could just have two members in the center since they have an even number of members... Why are they doing this??

-SM Ent, if you're seeing the public's reaction, fix it.

-The member in the back must be so upset.

-Whoa... This is their debut title track, though... Or is this just some noise marketing?ㅋㅋㅋ

Continue reading HEARTS2HEARTS' stage ending draws attention on Theqoo for being 'too cruel'

Starship new girl group, KiiiKiii, real-life visuals revealed

 

250219 ElleKorea 인스타그램 릴스 #kiiikiii #키키 pic.twitter.com/ZluN6a1jZn

— ❥･• (@kiiikiiiarchive) February 19, 2025

theqoo 

-The girls are so cute... The company just needs to do its job well.

-I really like the short-haired member...

-They're so adorableㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-KiiiKiii looks way much cuter in person than in pictures... It's strange, but they somehow remind me of H1-KEY.

-Whoa... Haum is taller than I thought. Leesol looks just as pretty as I thought.

-I think Jiyu looks better in person(?) than in the concept photosㅋㅋㅋ I thought she had a unique and distinct look, but she's just beautiful...

-Oh... They're all more energetic and lively than I expected!!!

-They're all so pretty, but I can't take my eyes off their heelsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-The short-haired member stands out the most.

-The short-haired member looks so charming.

-Wait... What? Are they all still in their 10s? They all look so young and fresh.

-Haum?? She looks really charming.

-They really are babies...

-Seems like they're wearing shoes with incredibly thick platforms to match the tallest member's height. They need to be careful with their ankles.

-I've already memorized Jiyu for now. 

Continue reading Starship new girl group, KiiiKiii, real-life visuals revealed

Park Bogum created a free Bubble chat to communicate with fans

 

Hello, Bogumbokjibu!
Are you all having a peaceful Lunar New Year holiday??
To my lifelong friends who have time, let's share some wishes together:)

One day, he posted this out of nowhere on his official fan cafe.

Fans were wondering how to join... So he personally took screenshots and even posted the instructions on how to join the group chat.

When fans joined the group chat...

@BOGUMMY: Oh, everyone's joining!

Fan: What did you eat today?
ㄴ@BOGUMMY: I ate Chinese food!

@BOGUMMY: I'm in the middle of filming, I'm here to stop by for a moment>.< Thank you to the lifelong friends of Bogumbokjibu for your support today!

🎀 250130 오픈카톡 #박보검 @BOGUMMY pic.twitter.com/vgNDCqsLkA

— 뽀❣️ (@BBOGUM_) January 30, 2025

He really started chatting with fans in real time...

Everyone thought it was just a one-day event, but Park Bogum didn't leave the chat room(?)

Even after that, he kept coming by whenever he had time 

@BOGUMMY: So much love. Fifty thousand tons of it!!

@BBOGUMMY: Today's filming is finished!!

@BBOGUMMY: I see everyone’s still awake!

@BBOGUMMY: It seems like I texted you all too late. Have a good night, everyone!

Fan: Bogum-nim, did you have tteokguk yesterday?
ㄴ@BBOGUMMY: No🥺

@BBOGUMMY: I have work tomorrow too~

He also kept sharing TMI in real time....

And he also posted selfies in real timeㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The chatroom had too many people and the notifications didn't stop since everyone wanted to say something. So fans started to discuss. about having some rules.

@BOGUMMY: Bogumbokjibu chatroom guidelines

Then, out of nowhere, he showed up with guidelines that he personally wroteㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

@BOGUMMY: Park Bogum's Kung Chi Tta Chi

@BOGUMMY: #NowPlaying: IVE's FLU

@BOGUMMY: It's very exciting to listen to when you go on a simple walk or brisk walk.

@BOGUMMY: My dynamic vision is no joke~

@BOGUMMY: I’m Yoon Dongju.

@BOGUMMY: I can see everything.

@BOGUMMY: I’m reading everything.

@BOGUMMY: Hoot.

And it's still ongoing...

theqoo

-He's seriously the best...

-Hul... He even listens to IVE's side tracks. He has a good taste in music.

-Considering that Park Bogum initially dreamed of being a singer, judging by how he consistently shows interest in music and how he interacts with fans, I think he would've been an amazing idol.

-Whoa... He's recommending IVE's FLUㅋㅋㅋ It is indeed a good song..

-Whoa... His fans must be really happy.

-He's so sweet.. I'm jealous.

-I'm so jealous...ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Imagine how happy his fans are...

-Whoa... This is like the free version of Bubble.

-Whoa... I think his fans must really love this...

-I'm jealous of the way he interacts with his fans like thatㅠㅠ

-He's so sweet... It must be a hassle, but he still does it.

-That's very kind of him.

-This is very Bogum-like of him. I love it.

-Free version of Bubbleㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-He's so sweetㅜㅜ

Continue reading Park Bogum created a free Bubble chat to communicate with fans

BTOB confirms Fan Concert in March ... Yook Sungjae and Lee Changsub excluded

https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/009/0005446293

BTOB members Seo Eunkwang, Lee Minhyuk, Lim Hyungsik, and Peniel will meet fans in order to celebrate their 13th debut anniversary.

On the 19th, BTOB Company announced the fan concert through their official SNS by revealing the official poster for '2025 BTOB FAN-CON '3, 2, 1 GO! MELympic'.

In the poster, BTOB members are shown running forward on an athletic track. The blue color schemes and the four members' bright smiles hint at the refreshing and bright charm they will showcase through the fan concert in March, raising fans' expectations.

The four members under BTOB Company: Seo Eunkwang, Lee Minhyuk, Lim Hyunsik, and Peniel have been releasing new music through 'BECOMING PROJECT.' They dropped three new songs: 'Please Stay' in October, 'Be Alright' in November, and 'Hi Beautiful' in December, bringing warmth to global listeners throughout the end of the year.

This will be the group's first solo concert in about three months since their 'Be Alrighth' concert held last December. As the title of this fan concert is '3,2,1 GO! MELympic,' BTOB is expected to team up with MELODY for a fun and competitive event, once again proving that they're the 'master of performances' that you can trust.

The '2025 BTOB FAN-CON '3, 2, 1 GO! MELympic' will be held for three days from March 21st to 23rd at the Olympic Hall in Seoul Olympic Park. Fan club pre-sale will open on February 4 at 7 PM KST via Interpark Ticket, followed by general ticket sales on February 27 at 7 PM KST.

theqoo

-The poster came out really well.

-Even if the two members are not participating in this fan-concert, they're still part of BTOB. Why aren't they included in the poster?!

-Why aren't they participating this time?

-Why are they missing out again this time? Do their schedules overlap??

-It's not like BTOB doesn't have sub-units.. Why aren't they using sub-unit name this time?

-I give up. Just do whatever they want. Let's all go our separate ways.

-Why don't they use sub-unit name? I don't get it. Don't groups usually use sub-unit names if it's not a full-group activity?

-I'll just think that BTOB only has 4 members now...

-If someone who doesn't know about the situation sees this, they might think the other 2 members withdrew from the group...

-Changsub and Sungjae should just form a new group. They're the real BTOB.

-?????? Didn't those 4 members recently hold a concert?? They're doing another concert now??????

-They already said they’d be performing as four members this year. Let's just stop saying who's missing and let them do their own thing.

-Only two members are missing, so why would they use a sub-unit name?ㅋㅋㅋ That's too much of a reach.

-Fans should just accept the fact that BTOB is now a 4-member group.

-Why do they have to use a sub-unit name though..?

Continue reading BTOB confirms Fan Concert in March ... Yook Sungjae and Lee Changsub excluded

TOP 20 most viewed 'Killing Voice' performances that everyone has probably seen on YouTube

 

20th: DAY6

📅 Posted on: 2024.03.19
👁️View counts: 14,430,000

19th: Lee Hi

📅 Posted on: 2021.09.14
👁️View counts: 14,640,000

18th: Punch

📅 Posted on: 2021.03.24
👁️View counts: 15,660,000

17th: KARA

📅 Posted on: 2022.11.29
👁️View counts: 16,780,000

16th: Red Velvet

📅 Posted on: 2023.11.14
👁️View counts: 17,300,000

15th: Big Mama

📅 Posted on: 2021.06.22
👁️View counts: 18,580,000

14th: Jannabi

📅 Posted on: 2021.07.13
👁️View counts: 19,100,000

13th: BTOB

📅 Posted on: 2023.05.02
👁️View counts: 21,010,000

12th: Ailee

📅 Posted on: 2021.05.11
👁️View counts: 21,500,000

11th: (G)I-DLE

📅 Posted on: 2023.05.16
👁️View counts: 22,980,000

10th: NCT 127

📅 Posted on: 2022.09.20
👁️View counts: 25,250,000

9th: BOL4

📅 Posted on: 2022.04.26
👁️View counts: 25,410,000

8th: AKMU

📅 Posted on: 2023.08.29
👁️View counts: 25,610,000

7th: EXO

📅 Posted on: 2023.07.11
👁️View counts: 32,860,000

6th: TWICE

📅 Posted on: 2024.03.11
👁️View counts: 35,180,000

5th: Taeyeon

📅 Posted on: 2022.02.22
👁️View counts: 47,250,000

4th: MAMAMOO

📅 Posted on: 2020.11.13
👁️View counts: 51,280,000

3rd: SEVENTEEN

📅 Posted on: 2022.05.31
👁️View counts: 59,920,000

2nd: Sung Si Kyung

📅 Posted on: 2021.05.25
👁️View counts: 65,940,000

1st: IU

📅 Posted on: 2021.03.31
👁️View counts: 67,670,000

theqoo

-Oh... IU is #1. I still listen to it often even these days.

-There was a time when I listened to IU and AKMU's on repeat endlessly.

-I listened to Sung Si Kyung's a lotㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-DAY6, please come out on 'Killing Voice' again... There are so many songs they have to sing thereㅜ

-Big Mama and NCT 127's are my go-to playlist when I get ready in the morningㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh... DAY6's views have gone up to the TOP 20ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I listen to IU and SEVENTEEN's really oftenㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's been a few years since they came out, so honestly, they need to come out on 'Killing Voice' again.

-I listened to SEVENTEEN and DAY6's a lotㅋㅋㅋ

-Recently, I've been listening to DAY6's the most. I was so surprised to see it ranked at the topㅋㅋㅋ

-I think I've listened to all of the TOP 10ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I still go back and watch DAY6's performance on 'Killing Voice' whenever I think of themㅋㅋ Please give us another oneㅠㅠ

-These are all the episodes that I often watchㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ AMong them, I watch Taeyeon and AKMU's the most.

-I hope 127 can come back on 'Killing Voice' again with all 8 members net time.

-I've watched DAY6's more than 30 times now. I can even copy their comments. Time to watch it again.

-It hasn't even been that long since DAY6's was posted and the view counts are already insaneㄷㄷ

Continue reading TOP 20 most viewed 'Killing Voice' performances that everyone has probably seen on YouTube

NJZ (NewJeans) parents' Instagram update (Bang Sihyuk pressured to cancel NJZ's performance)

7. Not long ago, we received news from a ComplexCon representative who is assisting with the concert preparations that HYBE's chairman, Bang Sihyuk, personally called the U.S. officials and pressured them to cancel NJZ's performance. Is it too much to assume that the statement that was released today might somehow be related to this? We were extremely displeased and outraged. This made us realize that HYBE sees the members as tools for making money. They don't support their artists, but they're obstructing and ruining them instead. Following this, we also heard reports that ADOR has attempted to interfere in multiple ways.

Chairman, when we sent a protest email in April 2024, we specifically requested a response from you. However, you haven't given us any reply to this day. If you have so much to say, please call us directly, not others. I also don't understand why you, as the chairman of HYBE, are personally intervening in the dispute with ADOR. Do you still think you can argue that ADOR and HYBE are not in 'one body'?

NJZ's members will perform at the ComplexCon in Hong Kong. The members are happy and excited to show a new side of themselves to the world for the first time after escaping the terrible HYBE and ADOR, they are working hard to prepare for the performance. Despite the interference, the Hong Kong ComplexCon will proceed as planned. Therefore, we ask for your support and enthusiasm.

Thank you for reading this long post and as always, we sincerely apologize for causing a disturbance. I hope you all have a warm day. 

theqoo

-That f*cking. pig is acting up. So disgusting.

-Sihyuk-ah, move on from NewJeans alreadyㅋㅋ

-II was wondering what Bang Sihyuk was up to in the U.S. It turns out that he was busy making sneaky calls?? That is so pathetic. He's proving that HYBE and ADOR are the same.

-So he was making calls behind the scenes?? That is so pathetic and cheap of him. This is how scary his insecurities can be.

-So that was what Sihyuk-ie was up to in the U.S.? Just come back to South Korea and have a hearing. Is he out of his mind?

-Is Bang-ssi still in the U.S.? I guess he's afraid of having to face the audit if he returns to South Korea.

-He's truly disgusting...

-Wow... This is insane. Is that really how he wants to live his life?

-Use that time to lose some weight instead...

-That is so pathetic of him. He's not responding to the parents'. email, but is secretly making sneaky phone calls?? HYBE and ADOR are obviously the sameㅡㅡ

-Why is he harassing NewJeans so much...??

-Bang Sihyuk, stop hiding and come back to South Koreaㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is so pathetic, I'm speechless.

-Sigh... When will Haboong-ie flop?

-Resign. Take responsibility and step down from your position.

-How can someone be this pathetic? 

Continue reading NJZ (NewJeans) parents' Instagram update (Bang Sihyuk pressured to cancel NJZ's performance)

'Slowly, Intensely' Song Hyekyo to Lee Honey cast in a 70 billion KRW blockbuster

 

https://www.bntnews.co.kr/article/view/bnt202502100069#google_vignette

Netflix has confirmed the production of 'Slowly, Intensely' and announced the star-studded cast lineup. Song Hyekyo and Gong Yoo are confirmed to join the cast as the lead roles, along with Seolhyun, Cha Seungwon, and Honey Lee.

'Slowly, Intensely' began filming in January, and follows the intense stories of those who threw themselves into the fiercely competitive Korean entertainment industry during the brutal and violent 1960s-1980s, while dreaming of success.

'Slowly, Intensely' is a collaboration between the star writer Noh Heekyung and director Lee Yoonjung. This marks the third collaboration between Noh Heekyung and Song Hyekyo, following 'Worlds Within' and 'That Winter, the Wind Blows.' Meanwhile, Gong Yoo reunites with director Lee Yoonjung, whom he previously worked with on 'Coffee Prince.'

Previously, it was reported that the production company Studio Dragon had signed a contract with Netflix for the production of an original drama with a budget exceeding 75 billion KRW.

theqoo

-Song Hyekyo and Honey Leeㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I literally burst out laughing as soon as I read the title.

-Out of all people, Song Hyekyo and Honey Lee are cast in the same drama;;;

-Whoa... I can only think about the 60 billion KRW... That's almost 1/10 of the production cost, just on personal taxesㄷㄷㄷ

-Look at the lineupㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Is this a tax evasion drama?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-The National Tax Service's picksㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Tax evasion, wow... I bet most of that production budget must be appearance fees.

-ㅋㅋㅋ This is so funny. It really is intense.

-If the drama hits big, none of this would matter anymore. The public will suck up on them on their own.

-I'm more surprised by the fact that Honey Lee's name is listed after Seolhyun.

-Who did the casting?ㅋ

-This is going to be fun.

-The timing is insane.

-Tax-evading actresses.

Continue reading 'Slowly, Intensely' Song Hyekyo to Lee Honey cast in a 70 billion KRW blockbuster

Psychiatrist from 'You Quiz on the Block' on Kim Saeron's passing: "Our society is like Squid Game"

Amidst the news of Kim Saeron's passing at the age of 25, Dr. Na Jongho, a professor of Yale University's Department of Psychiatry, who gained recognition through his appearance on 'You Quiz on the Block,' expressed his condolences and pointed out, "Our society is like a giant 'Squid Game'"

 

On the 17th, Professor Na shared on his Facebook page, "While drunk driving is a very serious offense. A society that ostracizes someone because of a mistake without giving them a chance for redemption is definitely not a healthy society. The way our society abandons those who have made mistakes and moves on as if nothing happened is like a giant 'Squid Game'"

He continued, "I have a strong feeling that Kim Saeron's death was a death driven to the edge of a cliff. The last news I saw about her was an article about her working part-time jobs due to financial difficulties. I remember seeing her being tormented by all kinds of malicious comments, not only on the Internet but also at the café where she worked." He expressed his sadness by saying, "How many more lives must be lost before we stop creating an environment that imposes destructive shame without even giving people a chance to breathe? This is a time for social dialogue and reflection."

Professor Na first gained recognition through his appearance on tvN's variety show 'You Quiz on the Block' in 2023.

theqoo

-I agree. If you don't like a celebrity, you can just not watch or listen to them. I don't understand why people think they have the right to tell celebrities whether or not they should be on TV.

-This is really heartbreaking.

-Recently, there were also people who got caught drunk driving. Yet, they still got to return to the industry just fine, or being defended by their fans, and acted like nothing happened......

-People always point out the dangerof malicious comments only after someone dies.

-Even now, if you look at the trending posts here on Theqoo, there are thousands of comments attacking a radio DJ. It's really scary how they don't seem to know when to stop...

-If you don't like a celebrity, just ignore them. I don't understand why they hate and even witch-hunt them. I feel like society is filled with distorted anger.

-I remember someone on Theqoo said her cafe part-time job was some kind of cosplay;;

-They bully one person until they die, and once that person dies, they move on to bully the next one.

-That's exactly what Theqoo does all the time.

-I really hope no more people have to lose their lives like this in the future...

-That's right. Our society is definitely sick.

-It feels like people these days are becoming numb even when they hear people dying, just like in 'Squid Game.' It's so cruel.

-Yes, that was too much. It's not like she was the only one who got caught drunk driving. Besides, there are people who continue their careers just fine even after they got caught using drugs.

-Seriously, leave celebrities alone. Stop leaving malicious comments.

-Seriously... Just ignore these celebrities instead of harassing them. 

Continue reading Psychiatrist from 'You Quiz on the Block' on Kim Saeron's passing: "Our society is like Squid Game"

Kim Soohyun endlessly shouting 'Haein-ah!!!' and Jung Haein watching him doing that

 

정해인이랑 김수현이 대화를 주고받고 있다고……미친거라고이건 pic.twitter.com/EV1ONiggGY

— 온누 (@ksheat__) February 16, 2025

I never thought I'd see them in one frame like thisㅋㅋㅋ

And this clip already existed before that happenedㅋㅋ 

theqoo

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I never thought I'd see thisㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I want to see them working in the same project...

-They should film a comedy movie together.

-'Haein-ah'ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ And Haein telling him to stop calling himㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-So... This was the Haein he was calling for?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I can't stop laughing because of Kim Soohyun.

-I can't believe I'm seeing Kim Soohyun and Jung Haein together on a variety show...

-'Haein-ah!!!'ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Did they get closer because of this?ㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋ By the way, Kim Soohyun's voice projection is really goodㅋㅋㅋ This is really heart-warmingㅋㅋ

-Kim Soohyun is seriously so funnyㅋㅋ

-Has he always been this funny? Kim Soohyun?ㅋㅋㅋ The '88-liners are so funㅋㅋ

-Why is he doing that over there?ㅋㅋㅋ Kim Soohyun, seriously...

-Are they close?ㅋㅋ

-Did they originally know each other before this?

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I wish they'd film a movie togetherㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 

Continue reading Kim Soohyun endlessly shouting 'Haein-ah!!!' and Jung Haein watching him doing that

The member who's getting massive positive reactions following the release of Starship's rookie girl group's MV

Jiyu.

She's Korean.

People are saying that she's eye-catching, fresh, and suits the concept really well.

theqoo

-She looks like she really lives there...

-She looks really unique. She definitely stands out.

-She has such a beautiful smile.

-She's really charmingㅋㅋ

-She has this magnetic charm... My eyes keep drawn to her.

-She kinda resembles Leeseo if you take a closer look... She has a really unique styling.

-That hairstyle makes her really stand out... If she had straight hair, she probably wouldn't be as noticeable.

-I was wondering why I felt something was missing from SMNGG. I think it's because they don't have a member who grabs your attention like this. She leaves a strong impression even if you only see her briefly.

-She's not just pretty, she really stands out.

-She suits the MV vibes really wellㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-She suits the group name, KiiiKiii, perfectly.

-She's really unique. This concept seems to suit her really well.

-She's not really my style, but I think she's perfect for this concept.

-Whoa... I wonder where did Starship find her...

-She has the kind of face that has never been seen in the K-pop industry, I guess...?

Continue reading The member who's getting massive positive reactions following the release of Starship's rookie girl group's MV

Han Jimin x Lee Joonhyuk's photo booth pictures

 

theqoo

-Whoa... They look so good together.

-Please reunite again in another projectㅠㅠㅠ

-Whoa... Look at Lee Joonhyuk's face.

-They radiate similar vibes and suit each other really well... So this is what good chemistry looks like... They look even more handsome and beautiful when they're together.

-Han Jimin is so freaking cuteㅜㅜ She's the real-life version of Judy.

-They are both so f*cking handsome and gorgeous individually, but they don't outshine each other when they're together... Anyway, they have such an amazing chemistryㅠㅠ

-Why is it so funny that Lee Joonhyuk is wearing the headband in front of his ears?? Their visual combo is seriously the best.

-Whoa.. I haven't even watched their drama, but this is seriously amazing... It's just.. crazy. They should date.

-Ah...ㅠㅠㅠ My gums are dried from too much smiling.

-This is such a visually pleasing comboㅋㅋㅋㅋ They're just like Nick and Judy.

-Hul... Are they trying to copy Nick and Judy's pictures here?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ That's so witty.

-I f*cking love thisㅠㅠㅠㅠ They should dateㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-I won't say much... Please date.

-Unnie, please... This guy is the one. I'll wait for you to make the right choice.

-Instead of Nick and Judy, they're like two Judys.. Two bunniesㅋㅋㅋ So cute.

Continue reading Han Jimin x Lee Joonhyuk's photo booth pictures

Former agency's penalty, prejudice, and depression: The things that bound the late Kim Saeron

Actress Kim Saeron passed away on the 16th, at the age of 25.

The late Kim Saeron was found dead at her residence near Seongdong-gu, Seoul, around 4:50 PM KST on the 16th. A friend visited her home that day and found her collapsed. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A memorial has been set up at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Her parents and two younger sisters are listed as the chief mourners. Stars who had a connection with her during her lifetime have visited to pay their respects, including Wonbin, Han Sohee, Kim Bora, and more.

(Cont'd)

The turning point for Kim Saeron, who was naturally progressing into a grown-up actress, was when she was caught driving under the influence near Gangnam, Seoul, in May 2022. At the time, she accidentally crashed into an electrical transformer while driving under the alcohol influence, causing a power outage in the nearby buildings and impacting local businesses.

At the time of the incident, her former agency, Gold Medalist, paid the settlement money and penalty fees on her behalf, leaving her with significant debt. It's estimated that the penalty that Gold Medalist charged her was around 700 million KRW. When she parted ways with Gold Medalist, she promised to repay the debt.

Gold Medalist is a management company established in 2020 by actor Kim Soohyun and his cousin, Lee Robe (Lee Sarang). The two are effectively the heads of the company. Kim Saeron and Seo Yaeji were the first two actors recruited by Gold Medalist.

However, Kim Saeron struggled to find opportunities to repay the penalties due to the overwhelmingly negative public sentiment. She was not healthy, both physically and mentally. She made a living through working part-time jobs, including as café employee and also manager, acting coach for aspiring actors, and more, but it was not enough to repay the debt.

According to our investigation, Gold Medalist sent a certified letter to Kim Saeron, demanding repayment. She appealed to them about her difficult financial situation and asked for more time to repay the debt, expressing her intention to repay it. 

(Cont'd)

https://www.tvdaily.co.kr/read.php3?aid=17397738211742532002

theqoo

-It's difficult to repay the debt of 700 million KRW as a regular person with an ordinary job...

-From the agency's perspective, they did everything they could by paying 700 million KRW on her behalf. It was practically impossible for her to repay all those debts through entertainment activities due to the public's negative sentiment toward her.

-Paying off a 700 million KRW penalty must've been difficult... Well, the agency has no other options besides demanding repayment...

-The agency has a separate CEO. I think the reporter made a mistake on that part.

-I heard that Kim Saeron worked hard as an actress for 16 years and used all the money she earned on her family because she's the head of the household... I guess it was true... This is so heartbreaking.

-I thought she would've saved up some money since she had started acting since she was a child, but I guess that wasn't the case...

-This is so heartbreaking.. She was so young...

-That is the amount of settlement money + penalty fees...

-So, what is this article trying to say?? The agency did nothing wrong.

-How is a 25-year-old supposed to repay the debt of 700 million KRW if she can't work as a celebrity...

-This is so heartbreaking.

-700 million KRW is indeed a lot, but she did a lot of. lead roles... Was she really unable to pay it off? It's not like she was a nugu actress eitherㅜ

-It somehow feels like this article is subtly trying to blame the agency...

Continue reading Former agency's penalty, prejudice, and depression: The things that bound the late Kim Saeron

Lee Joonhyuk transforming from a cold handsome guy to a warm handsome guy

 

넋놓고 미남을 보고있었는데 눈마주쳐서 내가 훔쳐본것 마냥 놀랬네;;ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/XzfdFxXbsu

— 1105% (@HanJimin_) February 16, 2025

I was staring blankly because I was mesmerized by his handsomeness, and when our eyes suddenly met, I got startled as if I'd been caught secretly watching him;;ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

theqoo 

-Kya~ Give us more..

-I unconsciously smiled until my gums were dried.

-My gums are all dried out... The video won't endㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Is it really something to be this startled about?

-He's charming.

-When I tell you I'm smiling so f*cking widely right now...

-Honey...

-I'm going crazy..

-He goes from handsome to cute, I like it...

-Ah... He makes me happy again.

-The cold handsome guy suddenly turns into Milky Vanilla Angel... Oh my goodness.

-I was in a really bad mood, but I ended up smiling along with himㅋ

-I can't help but smile along...

-It's Monday morning, but I'm smiling... It's all because of him.

-I was replaying the clip non-stop and then suddenly snapped out of it...

Continue reading Lee Joonhyuk transforming from a cold handsome guy to a warm handsome guy

"I'm getting a reality check" ... Kim Shinyoung under fire for belittling virtual idol group

 

Comedian Kim Shinyoung is facing backlash for allegedly mocking the virtual idol group 'PLAVE.'

On the February 16th broadcast of MBC FM4U's 'Song of Hope with Kim Shinyoung,' she commented on PLAVE's song 'Dash,' saying, "Hasn't it been two years since PLAVE debuted? I still can't get used to it." She added, "What made me really upset was that Go Youngbae took a picture with a PLAVE member. I was really surprised. I wondered, 'How did he record with (PLAVE)? How did he do a show with them?'"

Rapper Hangzoo explained, "You can't meet them. I’m close to virtual idols. Basically, they live in a different world, so we can't meet them. We can only communicate through social media. Kim Shinyoung responded, "I'm going crazy. Then does that mean Go Youngbae took a picture by himself?" Hangzoo clarified, "It was edited. These characters can come to specific places, so Go Youngbae went there and took the photo himself."

Kim Shinyoung said, "To be completely honest, (PLAVE) can't appear on our show. I think I'd get a sense of disillusionment with reality if they ever did. Where am I supposed to look when the members are not actually there? I know we should accept this kind of culture, but I just can't yet."

PLAVE fans expressed their displeasure. The radio show's viewer message board was flooded with demands for an apology and for Kim Shinyoung to step down from her position as host. Comments included, "I didn't expect her to be so rude. I'm disappointed," "PLAVE didn't do anything wrong. She's the one who needs a reality check," and "She should apologize for her careless remarks."

theqoo

-I'm rooting for Kim Shinyoungㅠㅠ

-Hul... It even made the news. It's understandable for someone in her 40s to not understand virtual idols. Are their fans seriously telling her to step down?? Go criticize your own idolsㅜ

-Conversations are meant to be face-to-face with interaction. But with virtual idols, she has to pretend there's someone in front of her when actually, there's nothing there. It's understandable for her to say she can't do that.

-It's fine to like virtual idols. But shouldn't you also understand that there are people out there who feel disillusioned to talk to an empty space while pretending there's someone??

-The other party can see me, but I have to pretend to see them when in reality, I'm talking to thin air. Isn't that extremely difficult?

-I do think she was rude, but the fans, or at least some of them, are overreacting, which seems to be backfiring...

-To muggles, this is just... completely absurd.

-Although it was unfortunate she mentioned it on the show, I completely agree with Kim Shinyoung's thoughts.

-Regular people might feel uncomfortable or not understand it. It's a transitional period. Why are they attacking her for it?

-I wish they wouldn’t show up on music shows. It looks so bizarre every time I see it.

-Honestly, having to talk to thin air could definitely be disillusioning.

-I read the full context, and she wasn’t rude or anything. It's just a normal reaction from someone who's not familiar with the concept of virtual idols.

-Just accept the fact that anyone who’s not a fan would think this way;;

-It seems like something that could be resolved with just an apology, but demanding her resignation is over the top...

-Should she apologize to thin air too then?

Continue reading "I'm getting a reality check" ... Kim Shinyoung under fire for belittling virtual idol group

As the pressure to keep per-episode production costs within the 700-800 million KRW range intensifies, actors' fees are capped at 100 million KRW, while actresses' fees are capped at 30 million KRW

https://www.munhwa.com/news/view.html?no=2025021701032112069001

This isn't a famous line from the Netflix original series 'Squid Game.' It's a cry from K-Content industry insiders who are struggling with the skyrocketing production costs. Ironically, the popularity of K-Content, which peaked during the contactless era during the pandemic, has waned after it shifted to an endemic. However, production cost inflation remains. Production companies, warning that "We'll only lose money at this rate," are increasingly adopting a 'production cost diet' to overcome the crisis. The general consensus is that films should cost around 10 billion KRW per project, while dramas should be produced within 700-800 million KRW per episode.

Of the Korean films released last year, only seven attracted more than 2 million viewers. Among these, all movies but 'Harbin' were profitable, including 'Pilot' (9.8 billion KRW), 'Firefighters' (9.6 billion KRW), 'Escape' (8.5 billion KRW) were all produced for under 10 billion KRW. On the other hand, aside from the 'BIG 3' - 'Exhuma' (11.91 million KRW), 'The Roundup: Punishment' (11.5 million viewers), and 'Veteran 2' (7.52 million viewers), other so-called blockbusters failed to make a profit. With the overall theater market shrinking, reducing production costs has become necessary.

The situation is even worse for dramas. In the case of films, the recession began when theater attendance plummeted during the pandemic, leading to budget cuts. However, in the case of dramas, demand for K-Content increased following the 'Squid Game' syndrome on Netflix in 2021, causing the fees of top stars and creators to skyrocket. Industry insiders also noted, "The staff labor costs have nearly doubled since the implementation of 52-hour workweek." For instance, tvN's 'Queen of Tears,' which aired last year, cost about 56 billion KRW for 16 episodes, which comes to 3.5 billion KRW per episode. Netflix's 'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 1 and 2 cost about 70 billion KRW to produce a total of 17 episodes.

This has caused production costs for most dramas to soar even higher, leading to deficits. Even SBS 'Good Partner,' which was considered the most successful drama last year with a 17.7% viewer rating, suffered losses. Similarly, tvN's 'Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born,' despite its high viewer ratings of 16.5% and Kim Taeri's outstanding performance, also reportedly suffered losses.

Since last year, each production company and broadcaster has officially begun efforts to improve their financial structure. Meanwhile, the appearance fees for top-tier A-list actors, whose international sales are guaranteed, are set at 300-500 million KRW per episode. Meanwhile, those rated below them are struggling to find work. This is because the number of drama productions has significantly decreased, combined with the sentiment 'Let's just hire fresh, new faces and lower the production costs.' The pressure to keep per-episode production costs within the 700-800 million KRW range intensifies, leading to attempts to lower actors' fees to 100 million KRW and actresses' fees to 30 million KRW.

tvN's 'Lovely Runner,' which aired last year, was a game-changer. This drama initially didn't receive much attention, but then gained popularity through word of mouth and even expanded into international markets, turning the lead actor Byun Wooseok into a global star. Since then, rather than relying on the star's name value to increase the size of productions, the industry has been focusing more on solid content.

theqoo

-It's not even about experience, just a gender differenceㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Does it mean a BL drama costs 200 million KRW, while a GL drama costs 60 million KRW?

-Are they out of their minds?ㅋㅋ

-Make it 30 million KRW for actors tooㅋㅋㅋ Why do they get 100 million KRW?

-Make it 100 million KRW for both actors and actresses. Don't discriminate by gender, you wretched things. Why do actresses only get 30%?ㅋㅋㅋ The gap is crazy.

-I'm so pissed off.

-I watch movies and dramas for the actressesㅋㅋ Who are even the popular male actors these days anyway?

-Wow... The difference is huge. What's the reason?

-Honestly speaking, I will only watch a drama or movie if I like the actresses.

-ㅋㅋ Honestly, 30 million KRW is a lot too. Why are they getting 30 million KRW or 100 million KRW for filming one drama? That's what people with regular job make in a yearㅋㅋㅋ

-Just pay both 50 million KRW.

-Why is there a difference between men and women? If it was a difference in age, I'd understand. But is there a need for a difference between men and women?

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I'm speechless

-Honestly, it's the staff who do all the hard work. Celebrities get too much money.

-Must be nice to be a man. 

Continue reading As the pressure to keep per-episode production costs within the 700-800 million KRW range intensifies, actors' fees are capped at 100 million KRW, while actresses' fees are capped at 30 million KRW

G-Dragon x Kim Taeho PD 'Good Day' explodes in popularity from the first broadcast, ranks #1 in viewer ratings among 2049 demographic

 

https://naver.me/GpCiTkai

MBC's 'Good Day' signals a major change in the broadcasting industry.

According to Nielsen Korea, a viewer rating research company, the February 16 broadcast of 'Good Day' recorded viewer ratings of 4.9% in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The 2049 viewer ratings, a key indicator of channel competitiveness and buzz, reached 3.0%, surpassing 'My Little Old Boy' and claiming the top spot in its time slot. It also ranked first overall among all Sunday TV programs, including dramas and variety shows.

The highest-rated moment was the preview of '88 Nation,' featuring G-Dragon, Kim Soohyun, Jung Haein, Lim Siwan, Lee Soohyuk, and Kwanghee. That scene reached a peak rating of 6.2%, captivating viewers with their playful awkwardness and genuine chemistry.

theqoo

-I watched the live broadcast for the first time in a while yesterday ㅋㅋㅋㅋ It was fun.

-Oh, the ratings are good.

-It was fun, G-Dragon was cuteㅋㅋㅋ

-It was funnyㅋㅋㅋ

-What time does it air?

-Looking forward to next week's '88 Nation' episode...

-The synergy between G-Dragon and PD Kim Tae-ho is amazing, and the cast is all funny too.

-It was more fun than I expected.

-I just realized G-Dragon is quite a cute person...?ㅋㅋㅋ

-I finally found something worth watching againㅎㅎㅎㅎ

-I like how G-Dragon laughs a lot..

-It was comfortable to watch and enjoyableㅋㅋㅋ It was fun overall.

-I didn't expect much, but it was entertaining.

-G-Dragon's reactions are goodㅋㅋㅋ I laughed along whenever he laughed.

-I didn’t have high expectations, but I enjoyed itㅋㅋㅋ I'm going to watch it regularly from now on.

Continue reading G-Dragon x Kim Taeho PD 'Good Day' explodes in popularity from the first broadcast, ranks #1 in viewer ratings among 2049 demographic