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Monday, February 17, 2025

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

 

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

And this clip already existed before that happenedㅋㅋ 



-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
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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.


-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
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Han Jimin x Lee Joonhyuk's photo booth pictures

 






-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

 

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
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"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



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
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