Hearts2Hearts donates 50 million KRW ... "We want to share the love we receive from Hatchu"

SOURCE: 하츠투하츠, 5천만 기부…"하츄 사랑을, 나누고 싶다"

Hearts2Hearts celebrated their 1st debut anniversary with a warm act.

On the 23rd, international development cooperation NGO G-Foundation stated, "Hearts2Hearts has donated 50 million KRW under the name of Hatchu (fandom name) to celebrate their 1st debut anniversary."

The donation will be used to support underprivileged young women in South Korea, including to provide sanitary products to those who are facing financial difficulties.

Hearts2Hearts shared, "For our 1st anniversary, we took part in this donation because we wanted to pass on the love we received from Hatchu to even more people."

They added, "We hope that underprivileged young women can live their daily lives without worry. We will become artists who spread positive influence."

Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts recently made a comeback on the 20th with new single, 'RUDE!'.

Continue reading Hearts2Hearts donates 50 million KRW ... "We want to share the love we receive from Hatchu"

'Pachinko' Kim Minha and Noh Sanghyun reunite ... Team up for Netflix's rom-com 'Starlight'

SOURCE: '파친코' 김민하X노상현 재회..넷플릭스 '별짓'으로 로코 호흡 [공식]

Netflix has confirmed the production of their new movie 'Starlight' and announced the casting of Kim Minha and Noh Sanghyun.

On the 23rd, Netflix revealed that they have finalized production for the realistic romantic-comedy movie 'Starlight.' The movie tells the chaotic yet realistic story of a long-term couple in their 10th year of dating who love each other to death and hate each other just as fiercely, showing all the wild and ridiculous things they do because of love.

Soohyun (played by Kim Minha) and Hyuntae (played by Noh Sanghyun) met like destiny on an arts college campus and fell in love at first sight. They continued their relationship with intense passion, and even after 10 years together, they still love and hate each other intensely. The movie promises to humorously show the 'total mess' of a real relationship where they do all sorts of crazy things because of love, raising high expectations. 'Starlight' plans to show the reality of a passionate relationship that anyone has either experienced at least once, or wished to, through the romantic-comedy genre.

Kim Minha and Noh Sanghyun will play the roles of Soohyun and Hyuntae, a couple who started as college classmates and have been together for a decade. The two, previously portraying a sad romance in the series 'Pachinko,' will reunite in 'Starlight; as a long-term couple who can read each other's minds just by looking at their eyes. Kim Minha plays as Soohyun, a talented curator who strives for perfection in her work and career but falls apart when it comes to love and jealousy. Noh Sanghyun plays as Hyuntae, an installation artist who has been dating Soohyun for 10 years, portraying an artist with his own strong beliefs. The movie 'Starlight' will show the unusual romance of a long-term couple who date loudly, loving each other passionately and hating just as intensely. With Kim Minha and Noh Sanghyun reuniting in the romance genre, 'Starlight' is expected to bring a special kind of excitement to viewers all over the world through their realistic chemistry.

'Starlight' will be directed by rising filmmaker Seo Jungmin, a graduate of the Korea National University of Arts who is expected to show a fresh and witty direction. The production is handled by Bom Baram Film Productions, which previously produced Director Namkoong Sun's 'Love Untangled' and Director Kim Doyoung's 'Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.' 

Continue reading 'Pachinko' Kim Minha and Noh Sanghyun reunite ... Team up for Netflix's rom-com 'Starlight'

'10th anniversary' IOI confirms May comeback ... Full group return after 9 years

SOURCE: '10주년' 아이오아이 5월 컴백 확정..완전체 9년만[공식]

Girl group IOI is making a comeback to the music scene to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary.

On the 23rd, Swing Entertainment announced, "IOI (Im Nayoung, Chungha, Kim Sejeong, Jung Chaeyeon, Kim Sohye, Yoo Yeonjung, Choi Yoojung, Kim Doyeon, Jeon Somi) has confirmed a comeback this May. They are currently preparing a new album." Swing Entertainment will be exclusively managing IOI and their comeback activities for this 10th anniversary project.

This marks their first activity in about nine years since 2017. It's a reunion to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut, making it especially meaningful for fans. The members have consistently shown their desire to reunite in various interviews and public events. After long discussions, they have finally come together again. However, Kang Mina and Zhou Jieqiong will not be able to participate due to prior schedules. Therefore, IOI will return as a 9-member group.

As the members have built successful careers as solo artists, actresses, and entertainers in their own fields, expectations are high for the new music and upgraded performances they will show as a team after 10 years. There's also growing interest in what kind of synergy their individual experiences and personalities will bring to the group.

IOI is a project group formed through national voting on Mnet's 'Produce 101' in 2016 and officially made their debut in May of that year. Starting with their debut song 'Dream Girls,' they released many hits including 'Whatta Man,' 'Very Very Very,' and 'Downpour.' They swept first places on music shows and topping major music charts, quickly establishing themselves as one of the leading girl groups in the music industry.

Based on these achievements, IOI won 'Rookie of the Year' awards at major ceremonies like Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Seoul Music Awards. Besides music, they were also active on various TV shows, solidifying their title as the 'Nation's Girl Group,' before officially finishing their activities with a concert in January 2017.

Along with the new album, IOI plans to meet global fans directly by starting a concert in Seoul followed by an Asia tour. They are promising a large-scale performance to satisfy the long-awaited anticipation of fans who have waited nine years.

Continue reading '10th anniversary' IOI confirms May comeback ... Full group return after 9 years

'37 years old' Ahn Bohyun opens up about his feelings about marriage ... "I want to keep this excitement. If I marry now, things would get complicated"

SOURCE: '37세' 안보현, 결혼 심정 고백했다…"설렘 유지하고 싶어, 지금 하면 복잡해질 것 같아" ('스프링')[인터뷰]

"When I see people around me meet someone great and start a family, I feel very proud of them. It would be a lie to say I'm not jealous, but right now I love my work so much, and doing projects is the most important things to me."

On the 11th, at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Ahn Bohyun shared these thoughts during an interview following the final episode of tvN drama 'Spring Fever.' Born in 1988, Ahn Bohyun shared various stories about the project and opened up about his current thoughts on marriage.

'Spring Fever,' based on a Webtoon, is a hot pink romance story about a cold teacher, Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joobin), and a man with a burning heart who melts even the coldest feelings, Son Jaegyu (played by Ahn Bohyun). On the 10th, the drama ended successfully with its highest viewer ratings of 5.7%. Ahn Bohyun was praised for his perfect synchronization to the character, Son Jaegyu, who is described as a 'straightforward country femme-fatale.'

Last year, Ahn Bohyun gained attention for attending the wedding of Kim Woobin and Shin Minah, along with Kwaktube, who is known to be his close friend. Now that he is in his late 30s and surrounded by many married friends, he laughed when asked about his marriage plans, saying, "It's not something that you can do alone, is it?" He added, "I love kids so much, so I do get jealous of my friends who are married." However, he emphasized that for now, "My love for work is much greater than my desire for marriage."

"I'm joining the filming of 'Flex X Cop 2' the day after tomorrow, I'm so excited. Other actors went to the first shoot yesterday and sent me photos from the set. I also love communicating with the director. Even on my day off, I'm so excited that I keep thinking, 'Should I just go to the set? Should I stop by?'"

Ahn Bohyun said, "I want to keep this excitement I feel for my work as long as possible. If I had to juggle both work and marriage at the same time right now, wouldn't things get complicated? I really want to focus only on work."

He also opened up about his struggles with acting, saying, "On the outside, Jaegyu's character might look comfortable, simple, and doesn't have major difficulties. But inside, I struggle a lot. I often worried, 'Is this right? Or is that right?' or 'What if this action causes misunderstandings?' I even prepared different tones for every line."

He added, "Seeing the positive reactions from viewers made me think that maybe I can put more strength into what I do and say, that maybe I can be more confident. As the worries I had turned into great love from the fans, it feels like I gained courage as an actor. This project made me want to express myself even more boldly no matter what character I play next."

After finishing 'Spring Fever,' Ahn Bohyun will immediately begin filming for 'Flex X Cop 2.' He also mentioned the kind of roles he wants to try i the future, saying, "Personally, I think the only proper villain role I've done so far was in 'Itaewon Class.' If I get the chance, I want to challenge myself with a strong, impactful villain role. It doesn't matter if it's in a movie or a drama. I hope for a chance to show a completely new side of myself through a character."

Continue reading '37 years old' Ahn Bohyun opens up about his feelings about marriage ... "I want to keep this excitement. If I marry now, things would get complicated"

BTS V: "I'm surprised that Min Heejin submitted our Kakao Talk messages without my consent ... I had no intention of taking sides"

SOURCE: BTS 뷔 "민희진, 내 동의없이 카톡 제출 당황…특정 편 서려는 의도 없어" [전문]

V has his position regarding the Kakao Talk messages used as evidence in the legal battle between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Heejin.

On the 20th, V stated through his account, "This was part of a private, daily conversation I shared with my acquaintance to show empathy. I have absolutely no intention of taking either side."

He continued, "However, I'm very taken aback that this conversation was submitted as evidence without my consent."

Previously, on the 12th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled on two lawsuits, including HYBE's lawsuit to confirm the termination of the shareholder agreement and Min Heejin's lawsuit to seek for payment for her shares. The court dismissed HYBE's claims and ruled that HYBE must pay approximately 25.5 billion KRW to Min Heejin.

It is reported that the court saw Min Heejin's allegations that ILLIT copied NewJeans as a fair opinion. During this process, Min Heejin's side submitted Kakao Talk messages she exchanged with V as an evidence, which the court accepted.

According to a news report on the 20th, V reportedly told Min Heejin in the message, "(People always talk about plagiarism, it never stops) Sigh... I know right. I also saw it and thought 'this looks similar...'" The court also noted that HYBE's Chairman Bang Sihyuk produced ILLIT's debut album.

After seeing these reports, V personally addressed on his personal social media, expressing how flustered he was that Min Heejin’s side submitted the messages as evidence without his permission.

Continue reading BTS V: "I'm surprised that Min Heejin submitted our Kakao Talk messages without my consent ... I had no intention of taking sides"

Shinhwa's Kim Dongwan sparks controversy by claiming "prostitution should be legalized"

SOURCE: 신화 김동완 "성매매 합법화해야" 주장 파문 [스타이슈]

On the 17th, a screenshot of Kim Dongwan’s post on Threads was posted to the Shinhwa gallery on the online community DC Inside.

According to the post, Kim Dongwan stated, "By trying to get rid of red-light districts, the whole country is becoming a red-light district. I can't help but have questions when I see entertainment districts in front of churches, schools, and police stations. We must recognize and manage them. Given the fact that single-person households are increasing, we shouldn’t just brush it aside with the logic that it's okay to keep things hidden."

One netizen strongly agreed with the post, saying, "No matter how much I think about it, I believe it is right to manage prostitution by introducing a legal system. Prostitution is something that can never disappear because of human nature, and isn't it already happening underground?" They added, "People ask how sex can be bought with money, but the history of prostitution has gone hand in hand with human history. It has always existed, and the demand will never disappear, so I think we should manage it through a legal system. We also need a clear legal distinction between prostitution and sexual violence."

To this explicit supportive comment, Kim Dongwan replied, “Could you summarize it a bit shorter? Maybe in about four lines?”

Furthermore, when another netizen expressed mixed feelings, saying, "I have mixed feelings about this. I'd like the government to collect taxes, but I'm not sure if legalizing it is right," Kim Dongwan argued back, "The reason I think it should be legalized is because there are people who can't have sex without paying for it. It's also necessary for disease control."

Even fans reacted with shock. They showed cold reactions, saying, "Wow," "He has really gone too far now,""This is the worst nonsense I've ever seen," "Can't he change starting this new year?", "This is crazy," and "I feel dizzy."

Kim Dongwan’s post claiming prostitution should be legalized was taken down as he deactivated his Threads account, but traces of it still remain on Google.

On the 19th, Kim Dongwan posted a lengthy message criticizing 'anonymity,' saying, "The culture of hate has grown too much while wearing the mask of being anonymous."

He said, "Anonymity once had a role. In a time when people had no place to speak, there was certainly a need for a public petition system. However, that system was meant as a way to reach those in power, not a loudspeaker in a forest used to amplify each other’s anger. Korea's strong sense of unity sometimes brings people together, but at other times it turns into a misguided confidence. When hatred toward specific countries and races is packaged as patriotism, people do not feel guilt. And now, people drunk on agitation are pointing knives at each other. Some recent incidents have shown clearly how easily humans can become ugly. Being anonymous has become a way to avoid responsibility instead of a way to protect people."

Additionally, Kim Dongwan shared, "We need an era where people take responsibility for their words. It is time to think deeply about whether to leave anonymous message boards as they are or to introduce some form of real-name system and verification."

Continue reading Shinhwa's Kim Dongwan sparks controversy by claiming "prostitution should be legalized"

'This looks similar...' V and Min Heejin's Kakao Talk messages submitted as evidence in the 'ILLIT-NewJeans copy allegations' trial

SOURCE: "이거 비슷한데…" 뷔-민희진 카톡, '아일릿-뉴진스 카피 의혹' 재판 증거 됐다

While former ADOR CEO Min Heejin won the 26 billion KRW legal battle against HYBE, a Kakao Talk message from BTS' V is included in the court ruling, drawing attention.

On the 12th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Min Heejin in the lawsuit she filed against HYBE. The court recognized the exercise of her 'put option' and ordered HYBE to pay approximately 25.5 billion KRW.

According to the first trial verdict obtained by this paper on the 20th, the court judged that HYBE was the one who first spread the conflict to the public through media play. Also, the court determined that Min Heejin's suspicions of ILLIT copying NewJeans was an expression of opinion rather than defamation.

Notably, the court drew attention as they accepted the Kakao Talk message between V and Min Heejin as evidence. In the messages, V reportedly said, "(People always talk about plagiarism, it never stops) Sigh... I know right. I also saw it and thought 'this looks similar...'"

Previously, V had asked Min Heejin to be the head producer for his first solo album, Layover, released in 2023. At the time, Big Hit Music stated that at V's request, Min Heejin led the entire production, including music, choreography, design, and promotions.

Later, after Min Heejin's injunction against HYBE was dismissed in 2024, she appeared on the Youtube channel 'Kim Youngdae's School of Music,' where she shared, "V occasionally contacts me from the military," adding, " Since I've been going through this situation, he asked me if I was okay."

Meanwhile, HYBE filed an appeal on the 19th and is continuing to fight the court's decision.

Continue reading 'This looks similar...' V and Min Heejin's Kakao Talk messages submitted as evidence in the 'ILLIT-NewJeans copy allegations' trial