https://en.fannstar.tf.co.kr FANNSTAR RSS Service - All Articles copyright (c) FANNSTAR fannstar@tf.co.kr Exploring Career Choice Standards in the AI EraPart 1 airs on the 18th at 10:55 AMActors Lee Sang-yeop and broadcasters LEE MI-JOO Moon Se-yoon and So Seul-ji (from left) team up for SBS's new educational program, "Revising the Success Formula - Youngkku is Going to Work." /SBS[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Broadcaster Moon Se-yoon LEE MI-JOO So Seul-ji and actor Lee Sang-yeop will explore new standards of success envisioned by future generations.SBS production team announced on the 12th, "The new educational program, 'Revising the Success Formula - Youngkku is Going to Work' (hereinafter referred to as 'Youngkku is Going to Work'), will premiere on the 18th," and "Moon Se-yoon LEE MI-JOO So Seul-ji and Lee Sang-yeop have confirmed their appearances.""Youngkku is Going to Work" follows the journey of middle school seniors and their parents as they decide on high school, exploring career choice standards suitable for the future society. It delivers the message that there are diverse paths to success beyond the long-standing formula that "success is based on academic background."The "Samjeonnix" (a portmanteau of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix) craze in 2026 caused a seismic shift not only in the South Korean economy but also in the education sector. In particular, the issue of multi-million dollar performance bonuses for high school graduates at SK Hynix shocked many office workers and presented a new topic for career choices for students and parents.SBS's new educational program, "Revising the Success Formula - Youngkku is Going to Work," will premiere on the 18th. /SBSThe advent of the "AI (Artificial Intelligence) era" further accelerates these changes. As "Neo Blue-collar" workers, who emphasize expertise and technical skills, emerge as high-income professions, the perception that academic background is no longer a guarantee of success is solidifying.The four MCs will delve into in-depth stories from their unique perspectives. Moon Se-yoon, a father of a middle school senior daughter, empathizes with career concerns from a parent's realistic viewpoint. LEE MI-JOO, who graduated from a vocational high school, offers a different perspective with vivid personal experiences.Lee Sang-yeop shares his journey of intensely contemplating his career path, switching from the Department of Business Administration to Theater and Film. So Seul-ji, a graduate of Sungkyunkwan University, confidently states that she understands the meaning of attending university better than anyone."Youngkku is Going to Work" will broadcast Part 1 on the 18th at 10:55 AM and Part 2 on the 25th at 10:55 AM.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 RESCENE 'Reverse Run', Entering Terrestrial News&Winning 2 Awards at TMA... Rapid RIIZEMonday, October 12, BTS/ RESCENE/ Lim Young Woong/ Haru/ Assassins/ Kim Min-jongBTS's global power has been proven once again. They were nominated for three categories at a representative American popular culture awards ceremony, and in Peru, South America, they mobilized approximately 150,000 spectators over three days, showcasing overwhelming ticket power. /Big Hit Music[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] BTS, BTS's global power has been proven once again. They were nominated for three categories at a representative American popular culture awards ceremony, and in Peru, South America, they mobilized approximately 150,000 spectators over three days, showcasing overwhelming ticket power.First, BTS was nominated for three categories at the 'Kids' Choice Awards' hosted by American entertainment channel Nickelodeon: 'Favorite Album', 'Favorite Song', and 'Favorite Music Group/Duo'. Their 5th full album 'Arirang' and the title track 'Swim' were nominated in the album and song categories, respectively.In particular, they are challenging a new record of winning the group category for five consecutive years. Black Pink is also nominated in the same category, drawing attention to the competition between representative K-pop groups. It remains to be seen whether BTS can once again lift the trophy at an awards ceremony where the choices of global teenage fans are reflected.The enthusiasm shown in South America was also intense. BTS held their world tour 'Arirang' concerts at Estadio San Marcos in Lima, Peru, on the 7th, 9th, and 10th, meeting approximately 151,500 spectators over three days.The concerts, initially scheduled for two dates, were extended to three due to the enthusiastic response from local fans, and all three performances were sold out. The members responded to the cheers and sing-alongs of the fans filling the venue by saying "Los amo," meaning "I love you," in Spanish, creating a special moment.BTS's influence did not stop within the concert venue. Consumption spread throughout the local economy, including accommodation, transportation, food and beverages, tourism, and souvenir sales. It was also reported that the demand for ride-hailing services to the stadium on the day of the concert significantly increased compared to normal. This demonstrated a global cultural phenomenon that moves not only music but also the city's economy and tourism.Nominated for three categories at major American popular culture awards ceremonies and gathering 150,000 spectators in South America, BTS's fandom transcends borders and languages, and their powerful charisma on stage. This achievement once again shows why BTS continues to hold a unique presence in the global popular music market.Following the reverse run phenomenon, appearances on terrestrial news, and now two awards at an awards ceremony, girl group RESCENE is continuously setting new records and increasing their presence in the K-pop market. On the 11th, RESCENE appeared on SBS 8 News to share their feelings about the attention gained from their music chart reverse run, their musical color, and their future goals. /SBSThe Myth Ignited by the Reverse Run of 'LOVE ATTACK'... Their Status Has ChangedFollowing the reverse run phenomenon, appearances on terrestrial news, and now two awards at an awards ceremony, girl group RESCENE is continuously setting new records and increasing their presence in the K-pop market.On the 11th, RESCENE appeared on SBS 8 News to share their feelings about the attention gained from their music chart reverse run, their musical color, and their future goals.In particular, the long-term success of 'LOVE ATTACK' became a decisive moment in engraving RESCENE's name in the public consciousness. It is significant that they are maintaining steady popularity based on the response from fans and the public, rather than just a fleeting moment of chart attention.RESCENE expressed their gratitude, saying they realize their popularity when they see fans singing along at events. They also expressed their ambition to present RESCENE's unique, fragrant music that evokes specific moments and memories through their music.Adding to this, the achievement of winning two awards at this year's TMA further highlights RESCENE's upward trend. The progression from reverse run on music charts to awards ceremony wins and terrestrial news appearances demonstrates RESCENE's changed status.Their new album 'PULSE', scheduled for release on November 3rd, is also highly anticipated. They are determined to take another leap forward with music that moves the heartbeats of the public and fandom.RESCENE is now expanding its sights beyond domestic popularity to the global stage. RESCENE, using the reverse run as a stepping stone for a new leap forward. Attention is focused on their next move as they advance towards becoming a global girl group with their own music and color.'Can We Meet Again' MV Surpasses 53 Million Views... Endless Record StreakRecord holder, singer Lim Young Woong has set another meaningful record. The music video for Lim Young Woong's 'Can We Meet Again' has surpassed 53 million YouTube views, proving his unwavering popularity.As of the 10th, this music video, released on Lim Young Woong's official YouTube channel, has exceeded 53 million cumulative views, with approximately 170,000 likes and 35,000 comments.'Can We Meet Again', the title track of Lim Young Woong's first full album 'I'm Hero', released in 2022. It is a lyrical ballad that captures the longing and hope for reunion after a breakup, showcasing Lim Young Woong's unique deep vocals and delicate emotional expression.Although it has been over four years since its release, the continuous increase in views shows the accumulated love of fans over a long period, beyond the popularity at the time of its release. This record has also continued in recent music activities.The special digital album 'I'm Hero Ten', released on September 8th, garnered attention as its tracks, including the title song 'TtoTto', entered the top ranks of major music charts immediately after their release. In particular, 'TtoTto' ranked first on Melon HOT100, and 'Moise' ranked second.This album, containing a total of 10 songs – six new songs and four newly arranged existing songs – to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their debut, has been praised for showcasing Lim Young Woong's musical spectrum.From the first full album 'IM HERO' to the special album 'IM HERO 10', the streak of album releases, music charts, and YouTube views shows that the interest in Lim Young Woong is not just a one-time craze.Songs that are revisited over time, and singer Lim Young Woong, who consistently sets new records. Fans are paying attention to what new records his music will create in the future.First Fan Concert, Heated Emotion... 15 Songs Performed, Japanese Officials Also NoticedSinger Haru successfully concluded his first solo fan concert after his debut, creating special memories with his fans. Haru met approximately 2,000 spectators at his first fan concert held at the Daehan Hall of Sejong University in Seoul on the 10th at 5 PM, receiving an enthusiastic response.During the concert, Haru showcased his broad musical charm by performing a total of 15 songs, including his representative hits, favorite songs, and various pop songs. In addition, with his more relaxed stage presence, witty remarks, and humor, he connected closely with fans and filled the venue with excitement.A stage revealed for the first time that day particularly caught the eye: a remake of an OST from the popular drama 'Winter Sonata'. This performance, introduced to fans for the first time before its official release, signals Haru's new musical challenge and is expected to serve as a meaningful stepping stone for his debut in Japan.In fact, Japanese officials were reportedly present at the concert venue that day to watch Haru's performance firsthand. Attention is focused on whether this fan concert will serve as an opportunity to expand his activities beyond domestic promotions to overseas markets.After successfully completing the Seoul concert, Haru is scheduled to meet fans again in Busan at BEXCO on the 17th. Singer Haru, who has shown not only communication with fans through his first solo fan concert but also the potential for overseas expansion. Anticipation is high for what kind of stage and charm he will captivate fans with at the Busan concert.Amid Historical Distortion Controversy, Group Screenings at 17 Schools Nationwide, Divided OpinionsThe movie 'Assassins' is continuing its box office success during the Hangeul Day holiday, nearing the 3 million cumulative audience mark.According to the Korean Film Council's integrated network, as of the morning of the 12th, the cumulative audience was 2,992,539. The cumulative revenue was 29,387,496,770 won. Despite the controversy over historical distortion, the film is maintaining its box office success as audience interest continues.However, the controversy has also spread to the education sector. According to Lee In-seon, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, 17 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide have conducted or are planning group screenings of the film. Of these, 8 schools have completed the screenings, 3 schools are scheduled to watch it, and 6 schools have canceled their plans.The film is based on the assassination of President Park Chung-hee's wife, Yuk Young-soo, in 1974, and controversy arose over historical distortion due to its depiction of the involvement of then-power institutions and the implication of former President Park Chung-hee's potential involvement.The Korean Teachers and Educational Workers' Union expressed concern that blurring the lines between unverified suspicions and historical facts could instill a distorted historical perception in young people. In contrast, the production team explained that the film was not made with the intention of confirming a specific historical conclusion or distorting existing facts.Opinions are also divided on school group screenings. Opponents point out that students may accept cinematic imagination as historical fact and that the use of school budgets should be approached with caution.On the other hand, proponents emphasize that comparing and discussing the film with actual historical records can be an educational opportunity to develop the ability to distinguish between historical facts and fiction, and critical thinking skills. Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin also stated that there are limitations to uniform intervention in school screenings and that it is necessary to educate students to distinguish between historical facts and fiction.Ultimately, what matters is not just whether group screenings are held. The key is whether sufficient explanation of historical facts and critical discussion are provided, and whether schools have selected the work in accordance with their educational objectives.'Assassins', which is simultaneously experiencing box office success and controversy, poses the question of how to harmonize freedom of expression in film with the responsibility of historical education.Suffering from MC Mong Controversy... Forgiveness Despite Pain of Film Withdrawal, Generous ActActor Kim Min-jong has suffered from baseless accusations against him but ultimately chose forgiveness. However, the repercussions of the controversy did not end there. The fact that his planned film appearance was also canceled adds to the regret.In the SBS program 'My Little Old Boy' aired on the 11th, Kim Min-jong honestly shared his recent conflict with MC Mong and his feelings at the time.Previously, in a social media live broadcast in May, MC Mong mentioned a celebrity gambling ring and named Kim Min-jong. Kim Min-jong's side refuted this, stating it was untrue, and on September 1st, he filed a lawsuit against MC Mong for defamation. MC Mong later apologized directly, and Kim Min-jong withdrew the lawsuit on the 9th of the same month.So why did Kim Min-jong stop legal action? He stated that the apology felt sincere and that he forgave MC Mong to ease his own mind. He chose to let go of the burden rather than hold onto anger towards the other person until the end.However, the wounds did not easily disappear. Kim Min-jong revealed that after the controversy, another actor was cast in a film he was scheduled to appear in. Given his affection for the role, the disappointment must have been significant.Kim Min-jong, who went through a difficult time that shook his mental state, stated calmly that he had put the matter behind him, saying, "It seems it wasn't meant to be."Despite being hurt by baseless accusations and losing a role, Kim Min-jong ultimately chose forgiveness. True strength may lie not in blaming the other person until the end, but in letting go for one's own sake.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Released first full album 'Adios' on the 10thJeon Yu Jin released their first full album 'Adios' on the 10th. The music video for the title track 'Adios' showed a more mature side of Jeon Yu Jin, capturing his journey of looking back and letting go of the past. The photo is a scene from the music video. / J Label[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] Singer Jeon Yu Jin delivered a deep lingering impression with the music video for 'Adios', the title track of his first full album, which captures a new beginning.Jeon Yu Jin released their first full album 'Adios' on the 10th and unveiled the music video for the title track 'Adios'. In particular, the music video showed a more mature side of Jeon Yu Jin, capturing his journey of looking back and letting go of the past in line with the story of saying goodbye to a past love and embracing a new beginning.The music video begins with Jeon Yu Jin running through a forest. Then, scenes of Jeon Yu Jin at a lakeside in the rain and in a room, taking out mementos one by one, are intercut, creating an atmosphere of looking back at past times. Jeon Yu Jin bids farewell to past memories by organizing the mementos in the room one by one.Later, the scene of the mementos being moved to the forest visually expresses the process of letting go of the past and moving on to a new path. The contrast between the deep forest colors and the pink-filled room distinguishes past memories from the present, making the video's narrative clearer.The melancholic visuals and Jeon Yu Jin's soulful vocals blend together to deliver the song's emotion of farewell more deeply. In particular, Jeon Yu Jin's figure moving towards the forest after organizing his memories evokes Jeon Yu Jin's journey of moving towards a wider world.Born in 2006, Jeon Yu Jin gained recognition through the 2019 Pohang Beach National Song Festival and debuted in March 2020 with the digital single 'Do you love...?' He later received much love for his outstanding vocals and deep emotions on MBN's 'Hyeonyeo Ga-wang', which ended in February 2024, ultimately taking first place.Having gained much experience and turned twenty, Jeon Yu Jin opened a new chapter by releasing his first full album 'Adios' on the 10th. The mindset and determination to move forward are well captured in the 'Adios' music video.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "The person who endured difficult times with me by my side."Musical actor Kim Jun-sik (right) is joining the ranks of married men. / Kim Jun-sik's social media[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Musical actor Kim Jun-sik personally announced his wedding news.On the 12th, Kim Jun-sik posted a handwritten letter on his social media account stating, "I am getting married today," and "I am about to start a new chapter with a truly grateful person who has stayed by my side."He went on to introduce his bride-to-be as "a truly grateful person who endured difficult times with me by my side, instilled confidence when I doubted my passion, and soothed the flames when I burned too brightly."He also said, "I had many concerns about how to deliver this news," and "I wanted to visit each and every one of you in person, but as I am preparing for the wedding on a small scale, I have approached today with caution."Musical actor Kim Jun-sik announced his wedding news through a handwritten letter. / Kim Jun-sik's social mediaFinally, he said, "I want to share this happy news with everyone who has shared their hearts with me and be with them. It would be incredibly happy if you would bless us both today," and "I will see you all with a more mature attitude and greater sense of responsibility in the future."Kim Jun-sik debuted in 2016 with the independent film 'The Eternal Theme of Humanity.' He later expanded his activities to musicals and has appeared in works such as 'Fighting Call,' 'Escape from the Deserted Island,' 'Park Yeol,' 'The Fiction,' and 'Yeon's Letter.' He will also appear in the musical 'Broken Numbers' starting November 18th.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Character stills released for Stationmaster Gap-su, who has guarded Seol-o Station his entire lifeCharacter stills of Kim Yun-seok, who plays Stationmaster Gap-su in the movie 'Snowstorm', have been released. / Showbox[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Actor Kim Yun-seok will once again reveal a new side of himself with 'Snowstorm'.Distributor Showbox released character stills of Kim Yun-seok, who will lead the movie 'Snowstorm' (directed by Hong Eui-jeong&Park Seon-woo) on the 12th. He is set to play Stationmaster Gap-su, who has guarded Seol-o Station his entire life, and plans to showcase a fresh acting ensemble with Koo Kyo-hwan.The film is a mystery drama that unfolds when a mysterious dead body is discovered in front of Stationmaster Gap-su, who is about to retire, and his new successor Hyeon-taek (played by Koo Kyo-hwan) at a rural train station isolated by a snowstorm.In the play, Gap-su is the stationmaster one day before his retirement, and while his successor's arrival is delayed due to the snowstorm, he is preparing to hand over Seol-o Station, which has been his workplace and living space, on his last day of work.Having guarded the station for a long time and adhered to his own work style, he faces an unexpected situation after the arrival of his successor. Kim Yun-seok, who plays this role, is expected to captivate the audience by persuasively portraying the complex emotional changes of the character that arise from the meeting of the two men.The stills released today capture Gap-su's diverse appearances at Seol-o Station amidst the snowstorm, as he prepares for his last day of work, drawing attention. He is seen meticulously checking his uniform and hat in front of a mirror, and also reveals the charisma and experience of a long-serving stationmaster while inspecting the snow-covered tracks.Furthermore, his tired appearance sitting in a messy station office as if something has happened, and a photo of him urgently opening the station office door, fully reveal Gap-su's various emotions, making the situation he faces even more intriguing.Regarding this, Kim Yun-seok said, "'Snowstorm' is a rare, densely packed work that I've encountered in a long time, with a very strong drama and unique characters. The movie is about a person leaving and a person arriving, a senior and a junior. The emotions of lingering regret, pride, envy, and jealousy are intertwined between the two men's meeting and are well absorbed into the character of Gap-su."Director Hong Eui-jeong, who took the megaphone, said, "I grew up watching Kim Yun-seok's films, so it was a great honor to work with him. There were many moments that went beyond emotion and were shocking in their portrayal of the character," raising expectations.'Snowstorm', featuring Kim Yun-seok's passionate performance, will be released in November.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 To celebrate BTS’s Jimin’s birthday, Japanese fans held various celebratory events. The fanbase ’PARKJIMIN JAPAN’ showcased advertisements in major Japanese cities such as Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka to commemorate Jimin’s birthday. Advertisements were broadcast on October 13 on the Sapporo Hiroshi Vision and Nagoya Hisaya Central Vision, from the 12th to the 13th on Tokyo Shinjuku Unika Vision, and from the 11th to the 13th on Fukuoka Hakata Dontaku Vision. On the Dotonbori River in Osaka, an LED ad cruise operated from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM on the 11th, and a photo session was held in front of the Glico sign. Near Osaka Dotonbori, the ’JIMTOBER Lemonade Stand’ was set up, with proceeds from lemonade sales donated to ’Child Kemo House,’ a lodging facility for families of children with cancer. This event was inspired by fan donations following Jimin’s encouragement of a young fan battling pediatric cancer at his Texas concert. In Kobe, three locations—the Port Tower, Meriken Park, and the Maritime Museum—were illuminated with yellow lights. This was the first time these facilities lit up in honor of BTS members. The individual fan group ’TEAM MOCHI JIMIN JP’ ran advertisements at the taxi stand in front of the HYBE building in Yongsan throughout October, and digital signage ads in the Hongdae Entrance Station transfer passage from the 8th to the 14th. ’JIMINPENNO HEYA’ and ’BLACK N WHITE’ organized advertisements and birthday events in Tokyo and Shizuoka, and the Sapporo TV Tower was also lit in yellow on the 13th.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Annie from ALLDAY PROJECT revealed several photos on her personal SNS. On the 11th, Annie posted photos on her account with the caption ″week 2.″ In the released photos, Annie showcased an all-black styling, wearing a black crop top and hot pants. In the pictures, Annie revealed her waistline and abdomen exposed by the short top, along with her long, slender legs. Her long straight hair, confident pose, and haughty expression created a unique atmosphere. ALLDAY PROJECT, the group Annie belongs to, released their second mini-album ’CRASH’ last month on the 28th and is currently promoting. Annie is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Chairman Lee Myung-hee and the daughter of Shinsegae Chairwoman Chung Yoo-kyung. Netizens who saw Annie’s photos left comments such as ″What’s going on with that body,″ ″Amazing waistline,″ ″The proportions are insane,″ and ″The definition of a hot girl.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Musical actor Kim Junsik announced his marriage. On the 12th, Kim Junsik personally shared the news of his wedding through his SNS, expressing affection and gratitude toward his fiancée. Kim Junsik stated on SNS, ″I have news to share with you all, so I am writing this. Today, I am getting married.″ He continued to describe his fiancée as ″a truly grateful person who has endured difficult times by my side, who instills confidence when I doubt my passion, and who soothes the flames when they burn too fiercely.″ He also added, ″I am now about to start a new chapter with this truly grateful person who has stayed by my side.″ Regarding how he shared the news, he explained, ″I was very concerned about how to deliver this news. I wanted to visit each person individually, but since we are preparing a small-scale wedding, I approached today with a cautious heart.″ He went on to say, ″Still, I wanted to share this joyful news with everyone who has shared their hearts with me. It would make me incredibly happy if you could bless the two of us today.″ Finally, Kim Junsik said, ″From now on, I will meet you all with a more mature appearance and a greater sense of responsibility. Thank you always.″ Kim Junsik debuted in 2016 with the independent film ″The Eternal Theme of Humanity″ and appeared in ″That Man Was There″ in 2019. Since then, he has been active on various musical stages such as ″Fighting Call,″ ″Geumak,″ ″Taekwondo, Fly Up,″ ″The Child Given by the Moon,″ ″Escape from the Deserted Island,″ ″Park Yeol,″ ″The Fiction,″ ″Deungdeunggok,″ ″Ostrich Boys,″ ″Punk,″ and ″Letter of Yeon.″ He is currently preparing for the stage of ″Broken Numbers.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Release of mini-album 'Sequence 02: Attraction' on the 27thAND2BLE released personal concept photos of the attraction version of their mini-album 'Sequence 02: Attraction'. ZHANG HAO YOO SEUNGEON HAN YUJIN KIM GYUVIN Rikin (top left, clockwise) / YH Entertainment[THE FACT | Reporter Jeong Byung-geun] Boy group AND2BLE expressed a natural attraction with unadorned visuals.AND2BLE(ZHANG HAO YOO SEUNGEON RICKY KIM GYUVIN HAN YUJIN) released personal concept photos of the attraction version of their mini-album 'Sequence 02: Attraction' on their official social media at midnight on the 12th. The members exuded their individual charms subtly in natural casual looks in everyday spaces with a comfortable atmosphere.Following the Observe version, which expressed the desire to linger and see more closely, AND2BLE has further heightened the comeback excitement by sequentially releasing attraction version concept photos that maximize the natural attraction felt in ordinary daily life.The mini-album 'Sequence 02: Attraction' is AND2BLE's new album approximately five months after the release of their first mini-album 'Sequence 01: Curiosity' in May. AND2BLE plans to capture the moment when 'curiosity' from the previous work, based on a more sophisticated sensibility, has spread to 'interest' and 'attraction'.AND2BLE ranked in the top 4 for debut album first-week sales among all K-pop groups by surpassing 730,000 copies in initial sales with their first mini-album 'Sequence 01: Curiosity'. They also successfully completed showcase concerts in four Asian cities. They will continue their momentum by releasing their second mini-album 'Sequence 02: Attraction' at 6 PM on the 27th.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim Nam-gil revealed his experience of holding an event for 5 hours and 40 minutes during a fan meeting in Japan. When the fan meeting continued until 11 p.m., the mothers of the fans posted on SNS, ″Are you sending our daughters home?″ to which Kim Nam-gil replied, ″I do send them home.″ On the November 11 broadcast of MBN’s This Is Hyunmoo Road, Jeon Hyun-moo, Lee Joon, and Kim Nam-gil were shown traveling in Tokushima, Japan. Jeon Hyun-moo introduced Kim Nam-gil as an ″all-in-one star″ who excels in acting, variety shows, and singing. Kim Nam-gil approached Lee Joon, whom he met for the first time, saying, ″Call me hyung (older brother),″ and the three were called the ″Tokushima Brothers.″ During the trip, Jeon Hyun-moo mentioned that Kim Nam-gil sang 21 songs at his fan meeting in Japan. Lee Joon admired Kim Nam-gil’s fan service, saying, ″If you do that, fans won’t go to other celebrities.″ Jeon Hyun-moo shared his own fan meeting experience, revealing that 50 people attended a fan meeting that was announced only three hours in advance. While traveling in Tokushima, the three visited an art museum and tried parodying famous paintings. Jeon Hyun-moo transformed into ″Jeonmooliza,″ a parody of the Mona Lisa; Lee Joon portrayed The Scream; and Kim Nam-gil took on the male version of Girl with a Pearl Earring. Jeon Hyun-moo looked at Kim Nam-gil and said, ″You have a pretty face.″ Also, when Lee Joon saw Jeon Hyun-moo ordering in Japanese at a restaurant and asked how many languages he could speak, Jeon Hyun-moo replied that he could speak English, Japanese, and Chinese. When Kim Nam-gil mentioned his past travel experience with a girlfriend, Jeon Hyun-moo said that his girlfriend was impressed when he spoke Chinese during a trip to China. MBN’s This Is Hyunmoo Road airs every Sunday at 10:30 p.m.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Son Ho-young has revealed a preview of the new song ″Go Around,″ showcasing refreshing vocals. On the 12th at midnight, Son Ho-young released a mood film video for the new digital single ″Go Around″ to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their solo debut through official SNS and YouTube channels. The video features Son Ho-young strolling through a garden, conveying a bright and free atmosphere. Under the warm sunlight, Son Ho-young adds positive energy with natural movements such as smiling softly to the rhythm or looking up at the sky. The previewed portion of the song includes the lyrics ″find my love. find my way again and go further″ revealed for the first time with Son Ho-young’s clear and sweet tone. Son Ho-young’s unique delicate falsetto blends with the upbeat tempo melody, leaving a deep impression. ″Go Around″ is a song that Son Ho-young personally participated in writing, containing messages of comfort and encouragement. It conveys the experience of standing alone over the past 20 years and the current mindset through hopeful lyrics and sincere vocals. Son Ho-young’s new song ″Go Around″ will be released on various online music platforms at 6 PM on the 14th. The solo concert ″HORIZON″ will be held at KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on October 31 and November 1, 2026.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group ALL(H)OURS successfully completed the Seoul performance of their first world tour, ’RISE UP(RIIZE Up).’ On the 10th, ALL(H)OURS held the first stage of their 1st World Tour ’RISE UP’ at the main auditorium of Sungshin Women’s University Unjeong Green Campus and met with fans. The performance featured a variety of songs including ’HOP,’ ’READY 2 RUMBLE,’ ’GOTCHA,’ ’GIMME GIMME,’ ’Graffiti,’ and ’’Bout That Issue.’ Additionally, stages with various atmospheres followed, including ’Kings & Queens,’ ’PSYCHO MANTRA,’ ’Piece of Me,’ ’S!REN,’ ’DEAD MAN WALKING,’ ’DANG DANG,’ and ’Swimming.’ Fans filled the venue with passionate energy. Along with unit stages by the members, cover performances of B1A4’s ’What’s Going On,’ GD&TOP’s ’Don’t Go Home,’ and TREASURE’s ’NANLINA’ were also presented. ALL(H)OURS expressed, ″We are very proud that the response was so enthusiastic after all the hard preparation. We are very thankful and love everyone who joined us at the start of our first world tour. Having started off well, we will perform hard and enjoy ourselves. Please continue to support us.″ The concert concluded with the fan song ’My Spring, My Light, My Breath’ and the stage of ’VIVA.’ Meanwhile, ALL(H)OURS will continue their world tour starting with the Seoul performance, followed by Europe in November and North America in January 2027.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Kim YonJa appeared on KBS 2TV variety show ″The Manager’s Ears Are Donkey Ears″ and shared a special connection with junior artist Kim Yong Bin. On the broadcast aired on the 11th, Kim YonJa reunited with Kim Yong Bin after a long time upon receiving an invitation to dinner, and the two shared a warm and friendly conversation. When Kim YonJa mentioned that Kim Yong Bin liked to look at the stars and talk, celebrating the release of Kim Yong Bin’s new song ″I Guess I Can See That Star,″ Kim YonJa candidly replied, ″Yongbin is very artistic. I’ve never talked while looking at stars.″ Also, to Kim Yong Bin, who had been saving money in about 50 different bank accounts since childhood, Kim YonJa gave practical advice, saying, ″Just saving money isn’t good enough. You should buy gold or invest. You’re too rigid.″ Kim YonJa showed detailed interest by accurately remembering Kim Yong Bin’s grandmother’s name and expressed affection for the junior by saying, ″Yongbin had excellent fashion sense since he was young,″ and ″There was a karaoke machine at home.″ In response, Kim Yong Bin said, ″I’m touched that you remember my old memories in such detail.″ During the broadcast, Kim Yong Bin prepared a tribute stage for Kim YonJa. He passionately sang Kim YonJa’s ″Mother’s Season,″ and watching this, Kim YonJa shed tears and said, ″Thank you for singing. From now on, may you only walk on a path of flowers. I’ll support you.″ Meanwhile, Kim YonJa, who belongs to Choik Creative Lab, is actively promoting activities between Korea and Japan this year, marking the 52nd anniversary of his debut. On the 30th of last month, he released a new emotional ballad titled ″I Guess I Can See That Star.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jungkook surpassed 421 billion hashtag views on TikTok. According to data released by the global music news outlet About Music, Jungkook’s hashtag ’#jungkook’ ranked 5th overall among celebrity hashtags on TikTok with over 421 billion views. Hashtags related to BTS reached about 1 trillion views, securing the 1st place. In 2nd place was soccer player Lionel Messi (770 billion views), 3rd was Cristiano Ronaldo (624 billion views), and 4th was pop star Taylor Swift (448 billion views). Jungkook ranked among the top 5 alongside them and recorded the highest views among male singers. Jungkook’s solo songs ’Seven,’ ’3D,’ ’Standing Next to You,’ his collaboration with Charlie Puth ’Left and Right,’ and the World Cup official soundtrack ’Dreamers’ are also popular on TikTok. He has shown strong influence both as a member of BTS and through his individual activities. Jungkook is the main vocalist of BTS and has gained global popularity through his solo activities as well.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Yeongsook from the 34th season of ″I Am Solo″ is gaining attention beyond the broadcast. Recently, an online community posted a screenshot from the show along with comments suggesting that Yeongsook might have a tattoo on her wrist. In the photo, Yeongsook is smiling while wearing a wristwatch, and a small pattern is slightly visible beneath the watch strap, leading some netizens to speculate that it could be a tattoo. Although the tattoo was not clearly visible on the show due to the watch covering it, those who zoomed in on the screenshot found the wrist area, continuing the interest. It has not been confirmed whether the pattern is an actual tattoo. Earlier, Yeongsook also became a topic of discussion due to online eyewitness accounts claiming she was the ″queen bee″ of a running crew. Posts appeared on anonymous office worker communities and social media saying, ″I saw her in the same running crew before,″ and ″She was the queen bee of the running crew,″ with claims that Yeongsook was seen at running gatherings in various areas such as Dongjak-gu and Seocho-gu. Yeongsook from the 34th season appeared as the first solo woman on the ″multi-child special″ of ″I Am Solo,″ revealing that she is the youngest of eight sisters. She said there is more than a 20-year age gap with her eldest sister, and since her niece is already married and expecting a child, she is set to become a ″great-aunt″ even before getting married herself. She also shared a story about a past relationship where she considered marriage but ended it after her parents told her, ″You have to go in order,″ because she had unmarried older sisters. Upon learning late that it was a multi-child special, she initially reacted by saying, ″I didn’t want to go out,″ but after entering Solo Nation, she showed interest in Youngho. Youngho became popular early on by taking care of water and being considerate of those around him, earning the choice of female contestants. Yeongsook did not receive any votes during the men’s first impression selection on the first broadcast, but she has sparked much discussion online since then. Interest in Yeongsook’s self-introduction and real life continues due to the running crew eyewitness accounts and the wrist tattoo controversy.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Girls’ Generation released a photo of all eight members gathered together ahead of their 20th anniversary debut. On the 11th, Tiffany Young posted a complete group photo of Girls’ Generation on her SNS with the caption ″twenty.″ In the released photo, Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany Young, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun posed side by side wearing white dresses of different designs with their long hair down. All eight showed a unified style, but Tiffany Young attracted attention by wearing a wedding ring. Tiffany Young sat in the center of the front row, smiling, and in a separately released close-up photo, the wedding ring on her finger was captured. Meanwhile, Tiffany Young legally became a married couple with actor Byun Yo-han after registering their marriage in February this year. Girls’ Generation debuted in 2007 with ″Into the New World″ and will celebrate their 20th anniversary next year.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A social media account capturing the daily life of comedian Jo Se-ho has emerged, drawing attention. On the 11th, an account named ″Jo Se-ho Exposure Account″ was created, and its profile description read, ″This account is operated without Jo Se-ho’s consent. Facing suspension risk just one day after creation.″ The account operator shared a screenshot of a message saying ″What is this?″ received from a contact saved as ″Seho Seho.″ They also posted, ″Emergency, emergency, suspension risk just one day in ᄃᄃ.″ A hand-heart emoji next to the sender’s name in the message led to speculation that the account operator might be Jo Se-ho’s wife. A total of four videos were uploaded to the account. The videos showed Jo Se-ho’s natural daily life, such as eating food at a birthday party, opening the front door and coming inside, and playing the guitar while singing. In the second video, Jo Se-ho was seen tidying up shoes scattered at the entrance. Later that afternoon, a post saying ″Our front door is clean now. Really,″ along with a photo of neatly arranged shoes at the entrance, was added. This entrance is also the place where Jo Se-ho had posted a photo of himself going to work on his personal channel. In several videos, a woman’s voice can be heard, and since Jo Se-ho’s daily life was filmed up close, speculation continued that the account operator is his wife. Meanwhile, Jo Se-ho married former supermodel Jung Soo-ji in November 2024.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim Gun-mo recently successfully completed his concert in Daegu and expressed his gratitude to fans through SNS. On the 10th, he posted on his SNS, ″Daegu concert successfully completed. Thank you to the audience who joined us. See you in Jeonju,″ along with a photo taken after the concert. In the released photo, Kim Gun-mo is seen wearing black sunglasses, a black jacket, and a scarf around his neck, resting one hand on his chin while looking at the camera. This appearance reminded some of Kim Gun-mo during his past days singing ″Excuse.″ Kim Gun-mo returned to the stage last September after about six years and joked with the audience at the time, saying, ″I’ve aged a lot, right?″ He is currently continuing a live tour commemorating his 35th debut anniversary and plans to meet fans in Jeonju, the next concert location, after finishing the Daegu performance. Meanwhile, Kim Gun-mo was embroiled in sexual assault allegations in 2019 but was not prosecuted by the prosecution in 2021 due to lack of evidence. The complainant’s appeal and retrial request were also dismissed afterward. Fans expressed their happiness about Kim Gun-mo’s recent status through SNS. Comments such as ″I’m so happy to see Kim Gun-mo’s face again,″ ″I’m so, so happy to see Gun-mo oppa’s wonderful stage again this year following last year,″ and ″Highly recommend the ballad concert, hyung″ continued. Earlier this year, photos released showed a gaunt appearance that worried fans, but in March, photos with a bright expression were shared. This time, he appeared before fans again with his signature sunglasses and relaxed pose.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The first preliminary listening session for the ’95 MBC Seoul Music Festival’ was broadcast on October 10th on MBC’s entertainment program ’How Do You Play?’. On that day, Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Joo Woo-jae, and Heo Kyung-hwan listened to the participants’ songs through videotapes. During the performance of ″Not a Breakup″ by ’Stop Moving’, Joo Woo-jae remarked, ″Wow, they even wore all that.″ Yoo Jae-suk and Haha showed puzzled reactions, and Joo Woo-jae said, ″My heart that wishes for happiness is unbalanced.″ In response, Heo Kyung-hwan clarified, ″It’s not me,″ and praised, ″They are really good.″ Yoo Jae-suk said, ″Ah, this song is a shame,″ and Joo Woo-jae added, ″This is meant for the stage.″ Heo Kyung-hwan raised his voice, asking, ″Are you deciding who it is now? What’s going on?″ Yoo Jae-suk said, ″This song should have gone to the finals.″ Regarding the pass or fail decision, Yoo Jae-suk emphasized, ″More than anything else, I appreciate the person who participated with this song, but they can’t sing worse than me.″ Heo Kyung-hwan objected, saying, ″I thought it was very pure,″ but Yoo Jae-suk gave a fail. Haha said, ″I liked the dialect, and I passed them. I want to see them again,″ and Joo Woo-jae said, ″I gave a fail.″ Heo Kyung-hwan said, ″I really don’t know,″ but when Yoo Jae-suk told him to be objective, he decided, ″Then I’ll pass.″ Accordingly, the pass or fail status of ’Stop Moving’ was put on hold. That day, ’Sleepless Night in Seattle’ sang Kim Hyun-sik’s ″My Love Beside Me.″ Haha shouted, ″This is my song,″ and Yoo Jae-suk wondered, ″Who chose this song?″ Joo Woo-jae expressed surprise, saying, ″Wow, it’s similar.″ Yoo Jae-suk explained, ″It’s a representative song of the late senior Kim Hyun-sik and contains his final voice.″ Then Yoo Jae-suk recalled the time after entering college in ’91 when he joined a broadcasting station as a comedian but things didn’t go well, so he worked part-time at a pub with Kim Tae-gyun, saying, ″When we worked there, Tae-gyun often played this song on LP. At that time, it was a new song. So it’s a song that left a strong impression.″ Joo Woo-jae mentioned his experience participating in the ’80s music festival, saying, ″Compared to the humiliation I suffered back then, this is mild. They said I smelled like anchovies. As soon as I sang one line, they said I smelled like anchovies.″ Yoo Jae-suk commented, ″This song also brought a strong scent of Tongyeong.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 tvN’s 20th Anniversary Special Weekend Drama ’100 Days of Lies’ surpassed a 7% viewership rating after just two episodes. According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode aired on the 11th recorded a nationwide paid household rating of 7.6%, ranking first in its time slot across cable and general programming channels. This marks a 2.3 percentage point increase from the 5.3% rating of the premiere episode. In the metropolitan area, the average rating was 8.3%, with a peak of 9.4%. In episode 2, Yoo So-ran (played by Kim Hyun-joo) attempted to assassinate Sato Shinichi (played by Jin Sun-kyu), but the operation faced unexpected complications when Geum Seok-jung (played by Kam Woo-sung), disguised as a cake delivery man, appeared. A shootout broke out between Geum Seok-jung and Sato Hideo (Park Jin Young), during which Suzuki (played by Kim Do-hyun) was shot by Geum Seok-jung and collapsed. Geum Seok-jung lost his gun and was put in danger but narrowly escaped through a window. After the shootout, Lee Ga-kyung (played by Kim Yoo-jung), who had been hiding, was captured by the police. When Governor-General’s Police Bureau Chief Fukuda (played by Kim Jung-hee) questioned Geum Seok-jung’s connections, Sato Hideo testified, ″This woman saved the Chief Political Officer and me,″ protecting Lee Ga-kyung. Yoo Philip (played by Lee Moo-saeng) warned, ″If you keep suspecting us, we will have no choice but to report today’s incident,″ and eventually, Sato Shinichi ordered the police to withdraw. After the operation failed, Yoo So-ran blamed Lee Ga-kyung. Lee Ga-kyung expressed her frustration, saying, ″I never imagined that trying to earn a few bucks would get me involved in the independence movement and almost send me to the afterlife.″ Yoo Philip aimed a gun at Lee Ga-kyung, wary of letting her go, but after Yoo So-ran intervened, only the stolen passport was returned, and Lee Ga-kyung was released. Yoo So-ran revealed that Geum Seok-jung was her husband, from whom she had been separated for 13 years. She said, ″This is Geum Seok-jung. My husband, whom I hadn’t heard from for 13 years... If I could find him, I would want to kill him.″ Yoo So-ran’s past was also unveiled. Thirteen years ago, her husband Geum Seok-jung was captured by the Japanese army while leading the March 1st Movement, and they lost their daughter Geum Seo-hee (played by Park Yoo-ha). It was revealed that the person responsible for the atrocities at that time is the current Chief Political Officer Sato Shinichi. Meanwhile, the relationship between Lee Ga-kyung and Sato Hideo also changed. Sato Hideo did not believe Lee Ga-kyung’s explanation that she was a housekeeper working at Yoo So-ran’s home and pressed her about her true identity. Lee Ga-kyung escaped the scene with Yoo Philip’s help, but suspicion remained unresolved. Yoo So-ran informed the members of the Patriotic Corps at the assembly hall about the failed assassination attempt and asked them to pretend she had a miscarriage due to the shock from the shootout. The next day, Lee Ga-kyung visited Yoo So-ran with seaweed and beef, but after receiving only the cost of the ingredients from Yoo So-ran’s 100 won, she turned away, saying not to meet again. At the Governor-General’s office, a manhunt for Geum Seok-jung began. Upon receiving a report that Han Cheol-ryong (played by Kim In-kwon), a key member of the Patriotic Corps, had returned from Shanghai, Sato Shinichi ordered, ″This is our chance to root out the Patriotic Corps.″ He assigned Sato Hideo to act as a temporary English interpreter in place of Suzuki and instructed him to keep an eye on Yoo Philip. At the end of the broadcast, Lee Ga-kyung encountered Sato Hideo again at a pawnshop in Jongno, where she had gone to sell bullets. Sato Hideo caught her and said, ″Got you, pickpocket,″ sparking interest in the upcoming developments. ’100 Days of Lies’ airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Chaeryeong shared a simple daily life moment while enjoying autumn gizzard shad. Recently, Chaeryeong posted several photos on her SNS taken inside a restaurant, wearing a black short-sleeve T-shirt and an apron. She uploaded images of herself holding a glass in one hand, smiling and looking straight at the camera, while enjoying seasonal seafood such as autumn gizzard shad and large shrimp. The post, capturing the sentiment of an autumn night, included phrases like ″I tried autumn gizzard shad,″ ″with water,″ ″large shrimp wow,″ ″precious autumn night,″ and ″a little sentimental in autumn,″ conveying a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Alongside group activities, Chaeryeong is set to debut as a solo singer this November. Currently busy with album production and music video preparations, she is drawing fans’ anticipation by promising a more mature charm this autumn.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jungyeon shared an update by revealing photos that strongly evoke the autumn atmosphere. Recently, she posted several photos on her SNS along with maple leaf emojis symbolizing autumn. In the photos, Jungyeon is wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt, resting her arm on a table while looking out the window. Outside the window, a cozy landscape of trees unfolds, and Jungyeon sits in front of a cup of tea and a coffee cup, appearing deep in thought. Her long hair is neatly braided up, adding a tidy touch. In another photo, she is seen wearing a gray top and a brown cardigan, either leaning against a wall or sitting by the window with a plain-colored wall as the background, creating a relaxed atmosphere. The presence of tea and a coffee cup conveys a calm daily life. Jungyeon is also preparing to take on new challenges as an actress, meeting fans in various ways while continuing her singing activities. She presents a more mature and composed image than before, raising anticipation for her acting debut. Through the changes that have continued since last year, she shows a deeper charm, drawing attention to her future endeavors.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 aespa Winter recently shared a stylish update through social media. Winter recently posted several photos on her Instagram with the caption, ″Sky blue is not sky blue!″ In the pictures, Winter wore a beige trench coat and posed in various ways against the backdrop of the sea. Scenes that caught attention included her holding a cup while enjoying leisure time by the water in a yellow sweater, and waving her arms while leaning on the ship’s railing, gazing at the sunset. The background, where the blue sky and orange clouds blended, created an even more refreshing atmosphere. This post captures moments like a photo shoot that highlight Winter’s unique sophisticated and soft charm, receiving great responses from fans. She is loved for her transparent and pure image and has been actively communicating with fans not only through her recent music activities but also through various content. Winter stands out as a distinctive presence in the girl group aespa, actively working in various fields such as music, stage, and photo shoots. In particular, she has received strong support from the public and fans, being selected as the Best Popular Solo Female Singer at various award ceremonies this year. There is growing interest in the diverse appearances and activities Winter will show in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The official Seventeen account recently released a message saying ″I’m so in love, so in love″ along with a photo featuring members Jeonghan and Joshua together. The post included hashtags #JxJ, #JeonghanXJoshua, #DREAMSCAPE, and #12oclock, capturing the attention of fans. In the revealed photo, the two members are wearing black shirts, gently touching their fingers to their lips, smiling against the backdrop of a city night view, drawing all eyes. The warm atmosphere between Jeonghan and Joshua seemed to hint at the dreamy and emotional concept of their new song ’DREAMSCAPE.’ Seventeen is currently active with diverse musical activities and global fan events, continuously presenting various content through official SNS to communicate with fans. This post, especially as a special unit project between Joshua and Jeonghan, has generated great anticipation and buzz among fans. Moving forward, Seventeen is expected to continue their musical journey highlighting each member’s individuality and teamwork. Fans are eagerly awaiting the day when the special unit stage will be revealed along with the new song.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NCT 127 successfully completed the second day of their fifth tour, ’NEO CITY : #HONGKONG - THE REDLINE,’ held in Hong Kong. On this day, the members wore red outfits at the venue and delivered a powerful performance while sitting on stage and staring straight ahead, sharing a special moment with the fans gathered on site. This tour is a large-scale event commemorating NCT 127’s 10th anniversary, drawing high expectations from local fans with diverse performances and stylish stage production. Throughout the stage, there were meanings symbolizing communication with fans, and the lights illuminating both the members and the audience created a rich atmosphere. Meanwhile, NCT 127 continues to actively engage with global fans by regularly sharing photos and videos related to the tour on their official SNS accounts. They plan to present even more polished performances in upcoming shows.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Yuri shared an update on her daily life from Paris, France. Recently, Yuri posted a photo on her SNS wearing a black leather jacket, smiling while holding food at a café. In the photo, Yuri is looking straight ahead with a relaxed and natural expression inside a softly lit café, creating a more leisurely atmosphere. She also shared images of herself walking or standing on the street with a bright smile, impressively enjoying the romance of autumn in Paris. The post included a baguette symbolizing France, a cute kissing emoji, and the phrase ″Autumn in Paris,″ indicating a glimpse of her simple daily life there. Meanwhile, Yuri recently marked her third year living in Jeju by making a surprise appearance in the audience of ″National Singing Contest,″ cheering on the participants and continuing her active engagements. Dressed modestly, she energized the performance venue and interacted with fans, receiving positive responses.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actor Jung Hae-in showcased a sophisticated airport fashion look as he departed to attend the New York Fashion Week event hosted by the global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger. Recently, Jung Hae-in posted photos on his SNS featuring a denim-on-denim style, pairing a blue denim jacket with a white T-shirt and jeans. In the revealed photos, he holds a bag in one hand and either gazes straight ahead or walks with a bright smile in front of the airport terminal, creating a warm atmosphere. His natural appearance against the backdrop of the airport’s glass structures and vehicles attracted much attention from fans. This trip is known to be for attending the Singapore F1 event held alongside the 2026 New York Fashion Week hosted by Tommy Hilfiger. Jung Hae-in announced his participation in the event through the official hashtags #tommyhilfiger, #tommyfamily, and #tommyhilfigerxcadillac. Known for his sophisticated yet effortless visuals, which have earned him steady love both domestically and internationally, Jung Hae-in is expected to once again demonstrate his unique sense of style and distinctive presence at this fashion week event. Meanwhile, Jung Hae-in has been actively engaging in external activities, including successfully completing a recent fan meeting in Japan.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actor Lee Jong-suk met with fans while continuing promotional activities for ’The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God’ at the Busan International Film Festival. Recently, Lee Jong-suk posted several photos related to the Disney+ original series ’The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God’ on his SNS with the caption ’Busan~’. In the photos, he brightened the atmosphere with a gentle smile, wearing a brown suit and resting one hand near his mouth while looking at the camera. He also showed various charms by taking selfies inside the event venue dressed in a white shirt and black dress, and by holding a Mickey Mouse doll in front of a background displaying the Disney+ logo. In ’The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God,’ Lee Jong-suk plays the role of a prince, a character who is unfamiliar yet holds secrets, delivering a deep and nuanced performance. Attending the outdoor stage greeting at the Busan International Film Festival, he expressed his anticipation for the work and actively communicated with the audience. Especially, a warm two-shot photo with actress Lee Se-young was released, receiving great responses from fans. The two showcased their chemistry in ’The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God,’ highlighting their unreal visuals and the charm of their characters. This visit to Busan held special meaning for Lee Jong-suk as well. At the event, he revealed the character preparation process, including horseback riding and waltz, showing his passion for the work. In addition, through official events and fan meetings, he is leading the success of the series while maintaining close communication with fans via his official SNS. ’The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God’ received intense attention after being officially invited to the On Screen section of this year’s Busan International Film Festival, and expectations for its subsequent broadcast are rising due to the performances of Lee Jong-suk and other main actors. At this event, Lee Jong-suk expressed his deep affection for the work and his character, further raising anticipation for the story to be presented in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Sunye, formerly of Wonder Girls, recently shared an update along with a meaningful message on her SNS. Sunye posted a photo with the caption, ″We who grew up watching our older sister are happy even when we’re wrong,,🫶🏻,″ creating a warm atmosphere. In the photo, Sunye showcased a comfortable yet stylish look, pairing a white crop top with jeans and a black jacket. Sitting with her legs apart and arms crossed, she smiled brightly while looking straight ahead, warming the hearts of viewers. The background appears to be a practice room with light-colored walls and floor, and four individuals with different hair colors were captured together. Another photo drew attention with a person wearing a purple top and gray pants waving their arms and moving their body. Sunye received much love in the past for her activities with Wonder Girls, and now she balances her daily life raising three daughters with her music career. She consistently shares happy moments with her family, communicating with fans. In particular, this post attracted attention as Sunye mentioned her ″older sister,″ revealing her growth process and sense of solidarity. Previously, Sunye has shown an active presence in music and daily life through various broadcasts and SNS, gaining continuous interest with her bright and positive charm. Many are looking forward to the diverse activities and news Sunye will share in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Nana shared her first update on social media nine days after confirming her relationship. Recently, Nana posted a photo shoot picture on her Instagram wearing a dark-colored oversized coat. In the photo, she gazes directly at the camera with her long black hair naturally flowing down, exuding a chic atmosphere with her distinct lip color. The blurred city background adds a dreamy feel, revealing a calm yet sophisticated autumn goddess vibe. She posted only the photo without any caption, showcasing a strong presence. This appearance is Nana’s first official update since announcing her relationship, attracting fans’ attention. Meanwhile, Nana has confirmed her relationship with T.O.P, formerly of the group Big Bang. Although she had refrained from personal social media activity since the announcement, this photo shoot release once again highlights her unchanged beauty and style, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Solar shared an update by revealing herself enjoying delicious food. Recently, Solar posted a photo on SNS wearing a white robe, sitting on a chair with a smile while holding a snack. In the photo, which highlights her soft expression and relaxed atmosphere, Solar captured the happy moment of eating delicious food. Especially in an indoor space with beige curtains as the background, she communicated with fans in a natural and comfortable manner, sharing the small joys of everyday life. Solar conveyed the joy she feels when eating delicious food in a short message, gaining empathy from her fans. Meanwhile, Solar is actively pursuing various activities not only as a singer but also in acting and musicals. She recently released a teaser for the music video of her new Chinese song ″Your Own Star,″ expanding her musical career, and is meeting global fans through overseas tours in places such as Texas, USA, and Malaysia.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group CORTIS shared an electrifying moment with over 60,000 spectators on the main stage of the ’Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix 2026’ held on the 9th. CORTIS passionately performed a total of 15 songs over 50 minutes, including their hit tracks ″Red Red″ and ″Go!″, further intensifying the excitement at the event. The performance took place at the Marina Bay city circuit against the backdrop of the night sea, showcasing a dynamic stage as thrilling as the F1 race itself, accompanied by dazzling lights. On stage, CORTIS expressed deep gratitude to their fans, and the audience responded with cheers and applause, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere. After the performance, CORTIS shared a photo on their social media with the caption ″not mad btw,″ showing a bright smile and offering a glimpse of their relaxed daily life. In the photo, they wore a white sleeveless T-shirt and held an ice cream cup, smiling naturally, capturing fans’ attention. Having perfectly dominated the main stage of the Singapore Grand Prix, CORTIS is expected to continue active activities on the global stage, raising anticipation.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actor Kim Min-jong spoke about his feelings for the first time on a broadcast since his legal dispute with MC Mong. On the 11th, on SBS’s variety show ″My Ugly Duckling,″ Kim Min-jong revealed the process of withdrawing his lawsuit after accepting MC Mong’s apology regarding recent controversies related to illegal gambling allegations. In May, MC Mong claimed on a live broadcast that there was an illegal gambling group in the entertainment industry and mentioned Kim Min-jong by name. Kim Min-jong immediately denied the claims as groundless and filed a defamation lawsuit against MC Mong under the Information and Communications Network Act on September 1. At the time, Kim Min-jong’s side argued that his reputation and trust, built since his debut in 1988, had been damaged. As a result, Kim Min-jong had to withdraw from a new Hollywood film shooting on location in the U.S., and two major advertising contracts under discussion were also canceled. On September 5, MC Mong met Kim Min-jong in person to apologize and admitted his wrongdoing during the live broadcast. Kim Min-jong said, ″I thought it was necessary to give another chance to someone who admitted their mistake and apologized. It is true that I suffered wounds and damages that are hard to heal over the past four months, but I did not want to ignore the heart of a junior who reflected and asked for forgiveness. I believed that embracing a person was a more meaningful choice than legal action.″ Kim Min-jong’s legal representative announced on September 10 that the lawsuit had been withdrawn, closing the misunderstanding and conflict. On the same broadcast, Kim Min-jong revealed his newly renovated second house in Yangpyeong after five years. Actor Lee Jong-hyuk and singer Yoon Min-soo were invited to the housewarming party and expressed admiration for the changes inside and outside the house. Kim Min-jong attempted a Finnish-style salmon dish for the two, but an unexpected incident occurred. Additionally, while sharing memories of the cast of the drama ″A Gentleman’s Dignity,″ a phone connection was made with Kim Soo-ro. Kim Soo-ro, the only unmarried member among the cast, offered dating advice and volunteered to arrange a blind date for Kim Min-jong. The broadcast also showed Kim Min-jong demonstrating his feng shui routine in a one-person outdoor tent. Kim Min-jong stated, ″Another actor has already been cast for the planned movie. I think it was not meant to be.″ He added, ″The director had been preparing the project for three years, so he had a harder time.″ He then opened up about his feelings over the past four months, saying, ″My mental state fluctuated a lot,″ and concluded, ″As time passed, I was able to sort things out. What’s past is past, and I believe the future will be better.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The MBC variety show ″Hangout with Yoo?″ showcased the first preliminary listening session of the ″95 Seoul Music Festival″ on the October 10 broadcast. Yoo Jae-suk took on the role of PD to evaluate the participants’ singing skills, and the hit songs from the 1990s evoked nostalgia among the cast and viewers. This episode was the first to air after a three-week hiatus due to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games coverage. The nationwide household rating recorded 4.5%, ranking first among Saturday variety shows, and the 20-54 age group rating was 2.8%, topping variety programs on the same day. The metropolitan area rating was 4.3%, with a peak minute rating of 5.7%. In the October variety program brand reputation announced by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, ″Hangout with Yoo?″ secured first place for two consecutive months. The first preliminary round was conducted as a blind evaluation, with participants using nicknames based on popular 1990s variety shows and movie titles. ″Chungking Express″ passed with Kim Gun-mo’s ″First Impression,″ and ″M″ passed with Kim Wan-sun’s ″Pierrot Smiles at Us.″ ″The Bridges of Madison County″ and ″Sleepless in Seattle″ also passed with ″You Reflected in My Smile″ and ″My Love Beside Me,″ respectively. ″Our Paradise″ passed with Kim Min-woo’s ″It’s Only Love,″ ″Moon of Seoul″ with Yoon Do-hyun’s ″Love Two,″ and ″Léon″ with Shin Sung-woo’s ″Prologue.″ The identities of ″Terminator″ and ″Jurassic Park,″ which sparked curiosity, also passed with Park Mi-kyung’s ″Unreasonable Reason″ and Min Hae-kyung’s ″Face I Miss,″ respectively. Notably, the acceptance scene of ″Jurassic Park,″ whose identity Yoo Jae-suk was curious about, was regarded as the best one-minute segment with the highest minute rating. There were also participants who added fun. ″Walking to the Sky″ was eliminated after revealing Yang Sang-guk due to his dialect, and Heo Kyung-hwan received mixed reviews for his singing of ″Stop the Action,″ resulting in a hold decision. Hwang Jae-kyun challenged with ″The Demon’s Diary″ but was eliminated. ″Love in Your Arms″ and ″The Shawshank Redemption″ received hold decisions with rock spirit and prison live performances, respectively, earning chances to advance to the next round. Yoo Jae-suk said, ″I have been sharpening my skills and waiting only for 1995,″ and conducted the preliminaries with Haha, Heo Kyung-hwan, and writer Joo Woo-jae. This broadcast marked the beginning of a project encompassing beloved songs from the 1990s through 1995.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Tiffany Young posted a photo of all eight Girls’ Generation members on her SNS on the 11th with the caption ″twenty.″ The released photo shows all Girls’ Generation members—Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany Young, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun—posing in pure white dresses. Girls’ Generation debuted in 2007 with the single album ″Into the New World″ and established themselves as a leading girl group in Korea by releasing numerous hit songs such as ″Gee,″ ″Genie,″ ″Oh!,″ ″The Boys,″ and ″I GOT A BOY.″ In 2022, to celebrate their 15th anniversary, they released their seventh full-length album ″FOREVER 1″ and appeared on music shows and variety programs as a complete group for the first time in about five years. The photo, taken with members who are currently active under different agencies gathered together after a long time, was released ahead of their 20th debut anniversary next year, drawing attention to the members’ unwavering friendship and loyalty. Girls’ Generation is actively working in various fields such as acting, units, and solo singing, and recently Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Sooyoung promoted as the unit ″HYO-LI SOO.″ Tiffany Young legally married actor Byun Yo-han in February of this year.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Updates on the 33rd cast members of ENA·SBS Plus’s ’I am SOLO’ special for lifelong singles have been shared. Yeongsook from the 33rd season recently posted on her Instagram, saying, ″Only 4 out of 100 photos survived,″ along with everyday photos. In the released pictures, Yeongsook wore a light purple shirt, sitting at a café table looking at her phone or holding the phone in one hand while covering her mouth and smiling, showing various poses. Her neatly tied black hair and the natural light combined to highlight an elegant atmosphere. Fans left comments such as ″You are beautiful,″ ″Always supporting you,″ and ″So pretty.″ Additionally, Jeongsook from the 33rd season also shared photos on her SNS with Kwangsoo, Yeongsook, Youngja, Hyunsook, and others. Jeongsook posted various scenes including mirror selfies with the cast, moments at a restaurant, and four-cut photos, along with the caption ″Dance club Join.″ In the photos, the cast showed friendly vibes with poses like the V sign, salutes, and playful expressions. Fans responded with comments like ″Kwangsoo is so cute,″ ″Hyunsook is really pretty,″ and ″It’s so nice to see you all getting along well.″ Meanwhile, Yeongsook from the 33rd season was chosen by Youngsik on ’I am SOLO,’ but she gave up the final choice, fearing she might hurt the other person. Youngsik had given Yeongsook a bouquet and a letter on the show. Jeongsook from the 33rd season became a couple with Youngcheol in the final choice but later revealed on the YouTube channel ’Chonjangen Entertainment TV’ live broadcast that they did not continue as a real couple. Even after the show, the 33rd cast members continue to communicate through SNS.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Seung-gi challenged himself with a one-day part-time job at the kids’ cafe on his YouTube channel ’Lee Seung-gi2,’ sharing his parenting experiences and anecdotes with his children. In the video, Lee Seung-gi was seen spending time with the kids and talking with parents about parenting. While playing with his 9-month-old child, he shared an experience where a parent introduced him as the ″uncle who sings well,″ and at home, while singing along to children’s songs, his 31-month-old daughter told him, ″Dad, you can’t sing.″ He said his daughter dislikes him singing along and prefers to listen to the songs only as recordings. He also told a parent whose first child is 9 months old, ″My first child is 31 months old. It must be tough now, right? 31 months is harder.″ He added, ″I thought 9 months was really hard, but that was heaven compared to now.″ At 31 months, children understand everything parents say, and if parents come home late and miss seeing the child asleep, they get scolded the next morning. After cleaning the kids’ cafe, Lee Seung-gi expressed respect for parents who juggle parenting and work. ″During the week, they work so hard, and on weekends, they might want to meet friends or enjoy leisure time, but no one comes with a sour face,″ he said, praising Korean parents. He also noted that many fathers come alone and vowed to work harder at parenting himself. He also expressed gratitude toward his wife, Lee Da-in. While talking with a father, he said, ″My wife is so beautiful and gave birth to a healthy child. I come home from work, and if my wife is taking good care of the child and everything is fine at home, I am very thankful. Sometimes I even get choked up and want to cry.″ Meanwhile, Lee Seung-gi married actress Lee Da-in in April 2023 and has one son and one daughter. He recently had a second son and is currently involved in a legal dispute with the chairman of the Chagawon Piac Group over the deposit for a luxury villa lease in Hannam-dong.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Yoo Jae-suk personally explained the reason why he canceled his schedule on the day of recording for the first time in 35 years of broadcasting due to health issues. He revealed that he was worried about COVID-19 or flu infection because of sudden throat pain and fever, but test results showed no major problems. On the 10th, Yoo Jae-suk mentioned the situation of canceling the filming of the recent SBS variety show ″Whenever There’s a Chance,″ on the same day in the video ″The Detective Game Is an Excuse″ released on the YouTube channel ″DdeunDdeun-Excuse.″ Song Eun-i, Go Kyung-pyo, and BIBI appeared together in the video and talked. Song Eun-i shared an episode of contacting Yoo Jae-suk directly after hearing about his health issues, saying, ″I sent a message after seeing the news that Jae-suk was sick, and he replied, ’I’m fine.’ He said he heard too many stories.″ Yoo Jae-suk explained that although he usually participates in filming even when he is not feeling well, he was worried about the possibility of infectious diseases due to sudden throat pain and fever at that time. He said, ″I usually endure and go to recordings even if I’m sick. My throat suddenly hurt a lot. I also had a bit of a fever. I was worried it might be COVID or the flu. It wasn’t to the extent that I couldn’t get up.″ He also said that the filming method influenced the decision to cancel this time. Since ″Whenever There’s a Chance,″ involved meeting general viewers directly and moving to various locations, he postponed filming because he thought it might cause harm to others. Yoo Jae-suk explained, ″When it’s just our members, even if I visit the hospital and feel better in the afternoon, we can delay the time and proceed. But this filming involves meeting general viewers and going around here and there, so I wasn’t confident. That’s why I postponed it.″ After receiving treatment at the hospital, his condition improved, and he inquired whether filming could resume, but the cast and production team had already disbanded. Yoo Jae-suk said, ″I got an injection in the morning, and fortunately, I felt better in the afternoon. So I called again and asked, ’Can we do the recording again?’ but they said they had already disbanded.″ Yoo Jae-suk said this was the first time such a thing happened since he started his broadcasting career, and he expressed gratitude and apology for the many people who worried about his health more than expected. He said, ″It’s the first time in over thirty years, so I feel sorry for causing so much worry. I’m sorry for unintentionally causing concern, and thank you for your support.″ Song Eun-i joked, ″I thought the national mother had collapsed.″ At that time, an official from SBS’s ″Whenever There’s a Chance,″ stated, ″Yoo Jae-suk asked for understanding from the staff and canceled the filming due to a decline in condition just before today’s recording,″ adding, ″We plan to reschedule the recording soon.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A scene aired on KBS 2TV’s weekend mini-series ″Not You, But Another Love,″ where Namgung Ho (played by Seo Kang-joon) suggested to Imi Do (played by Ahn Eun-jin) that she meet Han Tae-seung (played by Lee Joo-an). The broadcast revealed the wounds and conflicts Imi Do experienced in her relationship with Namgung Ho, as well as her new feelings for Han Tae-seung. Imi Do confessed to Namgung Ho her true feelings and admitted that she had forced herself to continue with the movie. Namgung Ho responded by saying, ″Let’s reconsider our marriage,″ signaling a breakup. Afterwards, Imi Do met Han Tae-seung again, and while jumping out of Han Tae-seung’s car and crossing the middle of the road, she injured her arm in an accident. At the hospital, Namgung Ho and Han Tae-seung confronted each other, and Namgung Ho threw a punch at Han Tae-seung. Namgung Ho expressed that the time they spent together to protect Imi Do’s dream felt wasted, and Imi Do also revealed how difficult it had been for her. In the repetitive daily life and hopeless existence, Imi Do could not deny that she felt fluttering feelings for Han Tae-seung, telling Namgung Ho, ″It felt like you turned on the switch in my darkened life.″ Namgung Ho showed anger, saying, ″Before we break down any further, let’s turn off each other’s lives.″ After the breakup, an article about Imi Do leaving the movie was reported, and Imi Do disappeared without contact. Namgung Ho recalled how Imi Do did not avoid the car running toward her during the accident but just watched. Later, Namgung Ho found Imi Do at an elementary school playground, and Imi Do tearfully said that she only wanted to show her good side to her lover but ended up showing the worst. Namgung Ho knelt down, held her hand wearing the ring promising marriage, and said, ″Go meet the man who turned on the switch.″ Meanwhile, Imi Do proposed a one-month contract relationship to Han Tae-seung. Imi Do said, ″Will you go out with me? Will you go crazy and have fun with me for a month?″ signaling the start of a new relationship. Episode 8 of ″Not You, But Another Love″ will air on the 11th at 9:20 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Broadcaster Kim Da-young, a former announcer, announced her pregnancy news ahead of childbirth. On the 11th, Kim Da-young posted several photos on her SNS along with the caption, ″A look back at the past eight months of pregnancy on the occasion of Pregnant Women’s Day.″ The photos included daily life with her husband Bae Sung-jae, scenes from domestic and international trips, and fetal ultrasound images. Kim Da-young described the pregnancy period as both a ″pregnancy record″ and a ″prenatal travel record.″ Kim Da-young shared updates about visiting various places such as Gyeongju, Yangyang, Yangpyeong, Busan, and Hong Kong during her pregnancy. Specifically, she visited Yangyang at 16 weeks, Yangpyeong at 18 weeks, Hong Kong at 21 weeks, and Busan at 23 weeks. She also traveled to several domestic cities including Jeonju and Daejeon. In Daejeon, she visited according to Bae Sung-jae’s broadcasting schedule and revealed her experience of purchasing bread without waiting by showing her pregnant woman badge at Seongsimdang. Among the released photos were images showing her protruding belly in a pink swimsuit, a selfie with her husband Bae Sung-jae with their faces close together, and a photo taken among large teddy bears. Kim Da-young added the comment ″It also looks like a water balloon″ to the swimsuit photo. She revealed that the fetus’s nickname is ″Dabong.″ Thinking of the baby who will greet her parents for the first time, Kim Da-young also wrote, ″Baby, you are extraordinary.″ Meanwhile, Kim Da-young and Bae Sung-jae married last May after dating for over two years and announced the pregnancy about a year after their wedding. The two were senior and junior announcers at SBS; Bae Sung-jae left SBS in February 2021, and Kim Da-young joined SBS as an experienced announcer in August of the same year, so they never worked together. It is known that the couple met through the show ″Gol Ttaerineun Geunyeodeul.″ The couple is expecting their first child this December.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWICE member Nayeon took the stage as a surprise guest at Charlie Puth’s ’Whatever’s Clever! World Tour in Seoul’ held on the 11th at Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. On this day, Nayeon and Charlie Puth passionately performed ’We Don’t Talk Anymore,’ presenting a special stage in front of approximately 38,000 spectators. Nayeon wore a sleeveless dress and showed a relaxed live performance, dancing face-to-face with Charlie Puth. After the stage ended, the two embraced and greeted each other, and Charlie Puth said, ″Please cheer for Nayeon.″ This concert marked Charlie Puth’s first stadium-level performance in Korea in two years. The show started at 7:07 PM, with an estimated 38,000 attendees according to the organizers. Charlie Puth performed hit songs such as ’How Long’ and ’LA Girls’ from the beginning of the concert. ’We Don’t Talk Anymore’ is a track from Charlie Puth’s debut album ’Nine Track Mind,’ released in 2016, which reached number 6 on the Billboard album chart. Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Charlie Puth expressed his fandom for TWICE, saying, ″I’ve been listening to TWICE’s music a lot lately,″ and added, ″I love K-pop. Sometimes, as a producer, I listen to just the instrumental to understand how the song was composed. I learn a lot and enjoy listening.″ Since his first Korean concert at Yes24 Live Hall in 2016, Charlie Puth has gradually expanded his venues, performing at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in 2018, KSPO DOME in 2023, and Gocheok Sky Dome in 2024. This concert took place at Goyang Sports Complex.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Tiffany Young posted a photo of the complete group of Girls’ Generation’s 8 members on her SNS on the 11th with the caption ″twenty.″ In the released photo, Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany Young, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun are seen posing side by side wearing pure white dresses. Although the members are active under different agencies, they gathered in one place to celebrate Girls’ Generation’s journey ahead of their 20th anniversary. This photo was taken in anticipation of their 20th debut anniversary next year, and Tiffany Young’s caption ″twenty″ drew attention. Girls’ Generation debuted in 2007 with the single album ″Into the New World″ and established themselves as a representative girl group in Korea by releasing numerous hit songs such as ″Gee,″ ″Genie,″ ″Oh!,″ ″The Boys,″ and ″I GOT A BOY.″ In 2022, to mark their 15th anniversary, they released their 7th full album ″FOREVER 1″ and promoted as a complete group. Currently, the members are actively working in various fields such as acting, units, and singing. Tiffany Young legally married actor Byun Yo-han in February this year. Last summer, Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Sooyoung promoted as the unit HYO, YURI, SOOYOUNG.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 RESCENE (Woni, Liv, Minami, Mei, Jena) appeared on ’SBS 8 News’ broadcast on the 11th, sharing their feelings about gaining public love through a reverse chart run and various stories about their music activities. On that day, RESCENE conducted a sincere interview on the meaningful stage of terrestrial news. The members revealed that they continue to enjoy widespread popularity by achieving good results with their representative songs such as ″LOVE ATTACK″ and ″Pretty Girl.″ They also expressed gratitude to their fans and the public while mentioning the legendary reverse chart run on the music charts. When asked if they feel their popularity, RESCENE replied, ″The word ’popularity’ feels embarrassing, but rather than feeling it directly, we somewhat sense it when everyone sings along at events.″ Regarding the group’s concept of conveying fragrance through music, they explained, ″We want to deliver music with the meaning that when you think of that moment, this scent comes to mind. We want our songs to evoke each person’s memories when they listen to our music.″ RESCENE is set to release their 4th mini-album, ″PULSE,″ on November 3rd. About the new album, they said, ″When you listen to it, you can tell it’s RESCENE’s music,″ and added, ″’PULSE’ means heartbeat. We hope this album will touch the heartbeats of the public and our fandom, Rimaine.″ Finally, RESCENE expressed their aspirations, saying, ″We feel the love we receive a lot. We want to maintain this love for a long time,″ and ″We want to rise higher and expand globally. We want to become a group that leaves a mark on K-pop like the senior artists before us.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Choi Hwa-jung revealed the identity of a troublesome audience member she encountered on the theater stage. In a video posted on the channel ″Hello, This is Choi Hwa-jung″ on the 1st, Choi Hwa-jung showed herself enjoying daily life while riding a Han River cruise ship. While dining on the cruise ship, Choi Hwa-jung mentioned her experience when she appeared in the play ″Educating Rita.″ She recalled that a male audience member never watched the performance but only looked at the pamphlet every time she acted on stage. Regarding this, Choi Hwa-jung said that the audience member came to find her after the performance ended. When she asked, ″Why are you looking at the pamphlet?″ the audience member revealed he was a fan, saying, ″I was too nervous to watch.″ Recalling the time, Choi Hwa-jung explained that the audience member had booked early and sat in the front row but was so nervous when she appeared on stage that he only looked at the pamphlet. She also mentioned that the small theater made the distance between actors and the audience very close. Choi Hwa-jung was born in 1961 and is 65 years old this year. She debuted as a TBC 21st public recruitment talent in 1979. She has appeared in dramas such as ″Love Struck by the Jujube Tree,″ ″No One Loves Anymore,″ ″A Good Day,″ ″Jealousy Incarnate,″ and ″Can We Get Married?″ Choi Hwa-jung appeared three times in the play ″Educating Rita″ in 1991, 1994, and 2008. This work is a high comedy play written by British playwright Willy Russell and was nominated for Best Play at the 1981 Tony Awards.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Kim Yong-ji’s private wedding, held without any prior dating rumors, was revealed through the social media accounts of fellow actors. On the 11th, Kim Yong-ji held a wedding ceremony with a non-celebrity groom at an outdoor venue set against the backdrop of a traditional Korean house. Specific details about the location of the wedding and the groom’s identity were not disclosed. Kim Go-eun tagged Kim Yong-ji’s account on her social media and posted photos from the wedding venue, expressing her congratulations. The two are known to be classmates from the 2010 cohort at the Korea National University of Arts and have maintained a long-standing friendship. The photos shared by Kim Go-eun showed Kim Yong-ji in a wedding dress standing side by side with her husband, holding a red bouquet and smiling brightly. Additionally, Bae Jung-nam, who co-starred with Kim Yong-ji in tvN’s ″Mr. Sunshine,″ attended the wedding as a guest and posted a photo with the couple on his social media. Bae Jung-nam left a message saying, ″Yong-ji, congratulations on your wedding,″ and the groom’s face was covered with an emoji in the photo. Actor Kim Beom was also reported to have attended the wedding. Born in 1991, Kim Yong-ji debuted as an advertising model in 2015. She began her acting career in 2018 by playing the role of Hotaru in the tvN drama ″Mr. Sunshine,″ and has since appeared in various works including ″Watcher,″ ″The Lies Within,″ ″The King: Eternal Monarch,″ ″Tale of the Nine Tailed,″ ″Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938,″ and the Netflix series ″Somebody.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Seung-yoon revealed that they received help in buying their parents’ house from the rebroadcast fees of MBN’s ″I Am a Natural Person.″ On the 10th episode of ″Kim Juha’s Day and Night,″ Yoon Taek and Lee Seung-yoon, who have hosted ″I Am a Natural Person″ for over 700 episodes, appeared. Lee Seung-yoon said, ″I was in the mountains filming until yesterday, but coming here feels so glamorous. The facilities are great.″ Yoon Taek shouted, ″Hooray.″ Regarding the filming of ″I Am a Natural Person,″ Lee Seung-yoon mentioned that when visiting local traditional markets, they receive a warm welcome from the elders, to the extent that even Hollywood stars would be envious. Yoon Taek added that many people who see them for the first time often greet them by saying it’s been a while since they last saw them on TV. In particular, Lee Seung-yoon revealed that ″I Am a Natural Person″ is rebroadcast 400 times a week, which has greatly helped their livelihood. They said that as a result of working hard, it contributed to buying their parents’ house.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Trot singer Kim Yong Bin made his first appearance on KBS 2TV’s ″The Manager Has Donkey Ears,″ revealing his lifelong dedication to trot and his low interest in popular culture. Before his new song stage, Kim Yong Bin held a meeting at his agency’s office and mentioned that his first performance would be at ″Open Concert″ held at Kookmin University. When the agency representative suggested DAY6’s ″You Were Pretty″ as an encore song, Kim Yong Bin showed unfamiliarity with the song. However, when the chorus of ″You Were Pretty″ played, he admitted, ″I know this song.″ Kim Yong Bin explained that he grew up listening only to trot and is not familiar with other genres or popular culture. He said he has never watched ″Infinite Challenge″ or ″2 Days & 1 Night″ and does not know the members. When Park Myung-soo asked if he knew the members of ″Infinite Challenge,″ he replied, ″I don’t know. I’ve never watched ’2 Days & 1 Night’ either.″ Lee Soon-sil expressed surprise, saying, ″Even in North Korea, they watch ’2 Days & 1 Night.’ The ratings for ’2 Days & 1 Night’ were all boosted by North Korea.″ Additionally, Kim Yong Bin revealed that he has been active as a trot singer since he was 11 years old, and that fans over their 70s have once gathered by bus for his performances. He shared that although he couldn’t read when he was young, he memorized and sang lyrics immediately after hearing them. The broadcast showed Kim Yong Bin displaying a perfect and meticulous personality, along with staff mentioning his narcissistic remarks such as ″The clothes look good because I pulled them off well.″ Kim Yong Bin reacted embarrassedly, saying, ″I think this was edited wrong. I’m not that kind of person.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS held their first-ever world tour ″ARIRANG″ concert at Estadio San Marcos in Lima, Peru since their debut. According to BigHit Music, the concert, held over three days on the 7th, 9th, and 10th, attracted approximately 151,500 attendees. Originally scheduled for two shows, an additional concert was added due to the enthusiastic response from local fans, and all three shows were sold out. To commemorate the concert, a light show dedicated to BTS was held in downtown Lima, and a street was named ″BTS Street.″ Large crowds gathered day and night near the venue, and local media reported that the area around the stadium was filled with BTS fans. Some fans wore wedding veils and carried bouquets to the concert, expressing their devotion. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism projected that over 50,000 people would visit Lima for the BTS concerts, generating an economic impact of approximately 25.1 billion KRW in the tourism sector. The Lima Chamber of Commerce analyzed that economic activities and the fan economy effect could reach up to 200 million soles (about 78 billion KRW) across various sectors including merchandise, hotels, food and beverage, and tourism. After the concerts, BTS members expressed their thoughts, saying, ″Your enthusiasm is truly amazing,″ and ″We wonder why we came to Peru only now.″ Jimin received cheers when he said, ″I will always live remembering that you love us so much from the other side of the world.″ Fans expressed their satisfaction, saying, ″The concert satisfaction score is 10 points, no, a thousand points, infinite.″ BTS will continue their performances in Santiago, Chile on the 14th and 16th-17th, and will proceed with their South American tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and São Paulo, Brazil.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Kim Yong Bin revealed that although they saved money earned since childhood and accumulated 50 bank accounts, they still do not own a house in their name. On the broadcast of KBS2’s ’Boss Has Donkey Ears’ on the 11th, Kim Yong Bin, who has been in the industry for 23 years, appeared as the boss and shared their asset management method. Kim Yong Bin stated that after debuting at the age of 11 with the song ″Seonaya,″ they performed at events from a young age and received appearance fees. At that time, the fee was 50,000 won, and their grandmother saved all the money. Kim Yong Bin said, ″My late grandmother saved every penny I earned from a young age without spending any of it,″ and added, ″I still keep those bankbooks, and there are more than 50 of them.″ However, regarding homeownership, Kim Yong Bin said, ″I still do not have a house in my name,″ and explained the reason as ″I have not earned enough money to buy a house.″ When Kim Sook asked about this, Kim Yong Bin responded accordingly. Trot senior Kim YonJa advised Kim Yong Bin, ″It’s not good to just save money. You should buy gold, invest, or buy a house,″ adding, ″The value of currency keeps changing, so you shouldn’t just save money.″ Kim YonJa mentioned their own experience, saying, ″I bought a house around 1984. The difference in house prices now is huge.″ They also said, ″Try buying gold with that money. What you said is the saddest thing I’ve heard.″ Meanwhile, Kim Yong Bin won first place in TV Chosun’s ’Mr. Trot 3’ last year. When Jun Hyun-moo asked how they used the 300 million won prize money, Kim Yong Bin revealed, ″Actually, I used the 300 million won prize from winning ’Mr. Trot 3’ to pay off all my debts. I had debts from releasing albums and working since I was young, but things didn’t go well.″ Kim Yong Bin explained that they released an album in 2012, but it did not do well, which caused debt, and they settled all of it with the prize money.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won will hold a special concert for fans from December 18 to 20 at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1, Hall 5, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The ’2026 Lee Chan-won Concert ’ is organized to express gratitude to the fans who have been with them for seven years since their debut. The performance will feature newly arranged stages of beloved songs such as ’Chance Time’ and ’Changa,’ showcasing Lee Chan-won’s unique musical colors through a mashup that spans from traditional Korean trot to various genres, as well as their deepened vocal skills. This concert is prepared as a time for Lee Chan-won and their fans to look back on the past year together during the winter season, closing one year and welcoming a new one. Tickets for the ’2026 Lee Chan-won Concert ’ will be available for reservation through Yes24 starting at 8 PM on October 14.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWS has revealed a variety of promotional schedules ahead of the release of their second single album ’TO US.’ On October 12, TWS (Shinyu, Dohun, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin) presented the ’TO US’ promotion scheduler through their official channels. This single is scheduled to be released on November 2 at 6 PM, marking their first new release in about seven months since ’NO TRAGEDY,’ which was released domestically last April. ’TO US’ is notable for having the same pronunciation as the group’s name and means ’to us.’ The revealed scheduler is composed in a collage style featuring daily photos, handwritten notes, and doodles. Official photos and concept films will be released sequentially in four versions: ’Closer’ (14th), ’Beyond’ (15th), ’Everglow’ (19th), and ’Beside’ (20th). On the 16th, content titled ’BEING MYSELF’ is also scheduled. Following that, the tracklist will be revealed on the 23rd, the highlight medley on the 26th, and official teasers 1 and 2 will be released on the 28th and 30th, respectively. TWS achieved a million-seller status with their previous work ’NO TRAGEDY’ and sold out all seats, including restricted view seats, at their June performance at KSPO DOME (Olympic Gymnastics Arena). They also gained attention last year with the title track ’OVERDRIVE’ from their fourth mini-album ’play hard.’ Meanwhile, on the 10th, TWS held their first solo concert at Singapore Arena Expo as part of their Asia tour ’24/7:FOR:YOU.’ TWS said, ″We are truly happy to finally come to Singapore, where we really wanted to perform. While making eye contact with each and every person on stage, I felt that I definitely want to come back again.″]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 xikers (xikers·Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter, Yechan) has announced their comeback by releasing the first concept poster for their 8th mini album, ’ROUTE ZERO : The CALLING.’ The concept poster was revealed on xikers’s official SNS from October 9 to 11. In the poster, the members showcased structural silhouettes centered around black and hard-edged styling details. Their leather outfits were adorned with spikes and chain decorations, creating a cold and controlled atmosphere. The unique otherworldly presence characteristic of goblins was also revealed. Each member displayed intense charisma with different poses and deep gazes. Additionally, the surreal city background combined with mysterious black sculptures created an eerie mood. The members’ visuals, contrasting with the monochromatic space, completed a scene that crosses the boundary between reality and unreality. The poster expressed the anxious and ambiguous situation of boys who must continuously make choices in a mission with unknown coordinates. The members’ intense eyes and restrained expressions in the cold and dark space captured the image of boys caught in a confusing situation. xikers’s 8th mini album, ’ROUTE ZERO : The CALLING,’ will be released on November 2 at 6 PM through various online music platforms.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jeonghan and Joshua of Seventeen are making a comeback with their new song ″12 o’clock.″ On the 12th at midnight, JeonghanXJoshua released a dance challenge video for the title track ″12 o’clock″ from their first mini album ″DREAMSCAPE″ on Seventeen’s official Instagram. This video featured the first preview of a portion of the track containing both members’ vocals. The title track ″12 o’clock″ is a dance rock-based song that modernly reinterprets disco and funk styles, enhanced by Jeonghan and Joshua’s languid and stylish vocals. The new release ″DREAMSCAPE″ includes a variety of songs such as ″12 o’clock,″ the house genre track ″Like you,″ the electronic piano-sound-impressive ″Outside,″ the R&B and soul-based ″One plus one,″ and ″No looking back,″ which highlights electric guitar and bass. JeonghanXJoshua’s ″12 o’clock″ and all the tracks from the album are scheduled to be released on the 19th at 6 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The UNICEF Korea Committee announced on the 12th that it will launch the youth mental health chatbot ″My Mind Guide″ to mark the first anniversary of the ″Together for Tomorrow″ campaign. This chatbot is designed to help young people understand and express their emotions and to request professional support if needed. ″My Mind Guide″ was created based on the Youth Health Prevention Guidelines (HAT) toolkit jointly developed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNICEF Mental Health Framework. The chatbot includes images and messages from Tomorrow X Together (TXT) members throughout, and upon completing the entire process, users can also receive special photos left by the members. Tomorrow X Together (TXT) participated not only in the ″Together for Tomorrow″ campaign but also in the development of ″My Mind Guide,″ expanding related activities into a digital experience. Tomorrow X Together (TXT) stated, ″It has been meaningful to share our message while discussing youth mental health together over the past year.″ They added, ″Since anyone can face difficult moments, we hope this helps people honestly look at their emotions and seek help.″ Meanwhile, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) signed a partnership with UNICEF last year and pledged a donation of approximately $1.4 million (about 1.97 billion KRW) over two years.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong’s music video for ″Can We Meet Again″ reached 53 million views as of October 10. The music video was released on Lim Young Woong’s official YouTube channel in May 2022 and achieved this number of views in about four years. Lim Young Woong debuted on August 8, 2016, and celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. To commemorate this, they held a solo concert, ″IM HERO - THE STADIUM 2,″ at Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium from September 4 to 6. Additionally, Lim Young Woong released a new album, ″IM HERO 10,″ on September 8. Before the concert, Lim Young Woong, together with their agency Molgogi Music, donated 200 million won to the Community Chest of Korea to support residents affected by heavy rain in the southern region.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Young Tak is gaining attention online and at live performances with the title track ″Kkeokgeo″ from the third full-length album ″GOGO.″ Released on the 14th of last month, the song features an addictive melody and signature choreography, sparking a dance challenge primarily on social media. Various stars such as Kim Junsu, LEE MI-JOO, Yang Se-hyung, Yang Se-chan, LIGHTSUM Sang-ah, NOWZ Jin-hyuk, and Cherry Bullet’s Heo Ji-won participated in the challenge, drawing significant attention. Previously, EXO’s Sehun, THE BOYZ Eric, Kyungri, actor Kim Jaewon, Mighty Mouth, Pentagon’s Kino, Boom, Moon Se-yoon, Kim Dong Hyun, BTOB’s SEO EUN KWANG, (G)I-DLE’s So-yeon, hrtz.wav Hagiwa, 82MAJOR’s Yoon Ye-chan, VERIVERY Dongheon, Ascent Kyle, ICHILLIN’ Yeju, and Kim Hee Jae also joined the challenge. The song ranked 7th on Instagram’s popular audio chart immediately after its release and is also gaining popularity in short-form content. In particular, many videos combining the song with ″Visual Change″ short-form content have been created, capturing dramatic moments before and after makeup or outfit changes. From the 3rd to the 5th, Young Tak held a solo concert titled ″TAK SHOW5″ at Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. At the event, Young Tak reinterpreted Big Bang’s ″Bang Bang Bang″ and Girls’ Generation’s ″Tell Me Your Wish″ in trot versions, adding trot’s unique rhythm and Young Tak’s signature ″Jegichagi dance,″ captivating the audience. ″Bang Bang Bang″ recently gained attention in content that uses AI to transform K-pop into trot style, and Young Tak performed it live on stage with singing and choreography. Following the release of the concert video, requests for trot versions of other K-pop hits have continued. Young Tak will continue the ″TAK SHOW5″ national tour starting in Jeonju on the 24th and 25th, followed by Daegu on November 28th and 29th, Incheon on December 19th and 20th, and Busan on January 16th and 17th, 2027.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 SUNG HANBIN will release their first solo EP ’DEAD:ALIVE’ at 6 PM on the 12th, three years after their debut. Having served as the leader of ZEROBASEONE, SUNG HANBIN conveys their story of overcoming fear and trials through this album. The central theme of this album is ’beautiful destruction,’ capturing the process of breaking free from a familiar self and finding a new identity without stopping despite the pain. The title track ’UNDEAD’ features intense guitar riffs, grand choir, and diverse drum performances, characterized by a cinematic scale combined with a pop sensibility. This song contains a narrative of willingness to endure pain and trials for both you and oneself, and of rebirth as a being who rises again after falling. The track ’Killin’ Me’ tells a story of turning pain into a driving force for growth, while ’Insidious’ expresses the complex emotions of an unbreakable relationship through strings and disco sounds. ’3AM’ reveals another hidden self after the night deepens, and ’Bloody Gravity’ compares an irresistible attraction to gravity. ’Other Side’ depicts moving beyond fear and boundaries toward an unfamiliar world. The album includes a total of eight tracks, including ’Flash,’ which conveys feelings and promises to fans, and ’Steal the Thunder,’ which carries a message of reclaiming light in the darkness to awaken someone’s world. On the release day, the 12th, at 8 PM, a ’CURATING SESSION’ will be held at Layers Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul. This event combines exhibition, performance, and talk to introduce the stories contained in the album and will also be broadcast live online.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 PLAVE will release their fifth mini-album, ″HYPERDRIVE,″ on the 12th at 6 PM through various music streaming platforms. This album includes a total of five tracks, including the title track ″Star Trace.″ ″Star Trace″ is PLAVE’s first EDM-based dance pop track, which was pre-released during their world tour performances. The song delivers intense energy with layered synthesizer sounds and heavy beats, and its lyrics express the connection between PLAVE and their fans, linking Asterum and Terra. The track ″Rewind″ is the first song PLAVE collaborated on with external composers, with Kenji and the composing team KZLAB participating in its creation. The lyrics reflect gratitude for past moments by looking back on past love and youthful times. Additionally, ″Kkun″ creates a dreamy atmosphere based on bossa nova rhythms, and ″Raindrops on the Blue Sky″ is a rock track featuring acoustic guitar and vocals. ″The Answer Is Yes″ is a pop track characterized by bright and positive energy. Through this album, PLAVE expands their musical spectrum by showcasing various genres such as EDM-based dance pop, bossa nova, rock, pop, and R&B pop. Along with the release of the music, the music video for the title track ″Star Trace″ will also be unveiled on the same day. Ahead of their comeback, PLAVE released a racing concept challenge video for ″Star Trace″ on their official YouTube channel on September 22, and on the 9th, they released a music video teaser. The teaser features members racing on the track in racing cars and performing, with Bambi and Eunho, Hamin and Yejun, and Noah forming teams to compete in the race. PLAVE is a five-member virtual boy group under Blast, which debuted in 2023. The team name combines ″Play″ and ″Rêve (dream)″ to signify their pursuit of their dreams. Meanwhile, the physical album will be released on the 13th, and PLAVE will hold performances on their first world tour ″KEEP IT MANIC″ in Singapore on October 17, Taipei on the 23rd and 24th, Macau on the 31st and November 1, and LA on November 14.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NMIXX has released an a cappella highlight medley ahead of the release of their 6th mini album ’Strange Muse.’ On the afternoon of the 11th, NMIXX showcased an a cappella highlight medley video through their official social media channels. In this content, the six members—Lily, Haewon, Seolyun, Bay, Jiwoo, and Kyujin—sang parts of the new album’s tracks using only their voices, without any instruments. The a cappella highlight medley is a signature teaser content that NMIXX presents with each comeback, conveying the atmosphere and story of the new songs through the members’ harmonies. This video revealed parts of three songs: the title track ″Birthday Wish,″ track 2 ″Kerosene,″ and track 3 ″RudE TaLK.″ The members wore all-black outfits to create a mysterious atmosphere and completed the songs using only their voices in harmony. The 6th mini album ’Strange Muse’ also includes unit songs ″Sing to the Moon″ (Lily, Haewon), ″Hot ’n Unbothered″ (Seolyun, Bay), and ″WHIP″ (Jiwoo, Kyujin). These unit songs were not revealed in the a cappella highlight medley. This album, which includes the members’ first unit songs that they directly participated in creating, will be officially released on the 19th at 6 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Most are hosted by public institutions or large corporationsSignificant promotional effect for the costThe Incheon International Airport Corporation will host the free festival '2026 Sky Festival' at Inspire Arena on November 7th and 8th. / Incheon International Airport Corporation[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] With many festivals being held every year, there is growing interest in the increasing number of 'free festivals.'In October and November, several 'completely free festivals' are scheduled in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions. First, the '8th Black Music Festival' will be held on the 16th and 17th at the outdoor stage of the Uijeongbu Arts Center in Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province. Many artists who are very popular in the hip-hop scene, such as Zion.T, N.Flying, Giriboy, Sokodomo, DJ Vavo, Gray, Kim Seung-min, Noh Yun-ha, Fusion MC, and Panda Gomm, will perform at this event.Additionally, on October 24th, the '2026 Seoul Music Festival,' featuring artists like Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-Ah, Okdal, Nerd Connection, Choo Da-hye Band, and Kim Chang-wan Band, will be held at Nodeul Island in Seoul. On November 7th and 8th, the '2026 Sky Festival,' with performances by Epik High, Psy, Bibi, Zion.T, KickFlip, Hype Princess, xikers, hrtz.wav, TNX, and OurR, will take place at Inspire Arena in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon.All of these festivals are completely free. In addition to these festivals, various other 'free festivals' are held across the country each year, excluding local festivals.The question here is 'who,' 'why,' and 'how' are these festivals held for free. As a stark example, industry analysis suggests that hosting a festival of similar scale to the 'Sky Festival' would easily exceed 1 billion won in venue rental and artist appearance fees alone.In fact, according to the bid announcement for event agency services issued by the Incheon International Airport Corporation, the host of the '2026 Sky Festival,' the total project cost amounts to 2.1989 billion won.The secret to hosting a festival with such high costs for free is, of course, having a secure source of funding. Currently, all free festivals being held are hosted by public institutions or large corporations.For instance, the Uijeongbu Culture and Tourism Foundation is the host of the '8th Black Music Festival,' the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture for the '2026 Seoul Music Festival,' and the Incheon International Airport Corporation for the '2026 Sky Festival.' All of these are institutions established and funded by the city or public enterprises.Goh Ki-ho, president of the Korea Association of Music Performance Industry, explained, "All the free festivals currently being held are events directly hosted by public institutions or large corporations. They often have budgets allocated from the outset for promotional or other business purposes. For public institutions, it can be seen as a cultural return project for citizens or customers, and for corporations, it's appropriate to view it as part of their promotional marketing efforts."The Uijeongbu Culture and Tourism Foundation and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, which host the 'Black Music Festival' and the 'Seoul Music Festival,' respectively, are both institutions established and funded by their respective cities. / Uijeongbu Culture and Tourism Foundation, Seoul Foundation for Arts and CultureSo, the question arises again: 'Is the effect really worth it?' Naturally, if sufficient promotional marketing effects are not achieved, it becomes a 'loss' for corporations. In the case of events hosted by public institutions, since tax money, such as national subsidies, is mostly involved, it can easily become a target of significant criticism.In this regard, President Goh explained, "For example, if a festival attracts 10,000 attendees per event, direct product or policy promotion can be conducted for these customers. Also, attendees who agree to the use of their personal information can be utilized for future marketing. The ability to secure 'a definite 10,000 people' seems to be highly valued."As he said, unlike online visits where people usually stay for a few seconds to a few minutes, festival attendees are repeatedly exposed to brands for 4-5 hours through title sponsors, LEDs, booths, sampling, MC mentions, photo walls, F&B, and merchandise.Furthermore, according to a 2025 survey conducted by Freeman, a global event management company, and The Harris Poll, a market research firm, 95% of offline event attendees reported trusting the brand more after the event, 92% reported a positive impact on brand perception, and 87% expressed an intention for online interaction, such as visiting the brand's website afterward.In other words, companies and public institutions secure loyal customers through festivals. However, some voices have also warned against holding festivals too habitually.Yoon Dong-hwan, a member of the Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee directly under the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "It is naturally a good thing for social costs to benefit citizens. However, in a situation where festivals are saturated, habitually holding new festivals, even if free, can lead to audience fatigue, a decline in quality, and negative perceptions of existing festivals. It would be good to strive to create well-made festivals, considering these points."He continued, "Also, since free festivals do not consider profits, there is a tendency to only invite famous singers. This creates a risk of taking audiences away from existing private festivals. Private festivals with reduced competitiveness end up cutting production costs, which leads to a vicious cycle of reducing opportunities for new artists. I hope this industrial structure is also considered."laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Ratings RIIZE from 5.3% in First Episode to 7.6% in Second EpisodeIdentity of Kim Hyun-joo's Husband, Gam Woo-sung, RevealedtvN's Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days' recorded an increase in viewership ratings along with the reunion of lead actors Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin Young. /tvN broadcast screen capture[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byul] Viewership ratings for '100 Days' have risen with the fateful reunion of actors Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin Young.In the second episode of tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days' (written by Ryu Bo-ri, directed by Yoo In-sik&Kim Yoon-jin), which aired on the 11th, a variable occurred in Yoo So-ran's (Kim Hyun-joo) assassination attempt, revealing the identity of Geum Seok-jung (Gam Woo-sung), and Lee Ga-kyung (Kim Yoo-jung) met Sato Hideo (Park Jin Young) again at a pawn shop in Jongno.Boosted by this, the viewership rating for the second episode of '100 Days' recorded 7.6%. This is a 2.3%P increase from the first episode's rating of 5.3%. (Based on Nielsen Korea's paid platform nationwide)On this day, Yoo So-ran, Yoo Philip (Lee Mu-saeng), and Suzuki (Kim Do-hyun) embarked on an assassination attempt targeting Sato Shin-ichi (Jin Sun-kyu). However, Geum Seok-jung, disguised as a cake delivery man, appeared and engaged in a gunfight with Sato Hideo. In the process, Suzuki was shot and fell instead of Lee Ga-kyung, leading the situation in an unexpected direction.Cornered, Geum Seok-jung exchanged an unknown glance with Yoo So-ran before throwing himself out the window to escape. Afterwards, Yoo So-ran revealed to Yoo Philip that Geum Seok-jung was "my husband whom I haven't heard from in 13 years," arousing curiosity about the hidden story between the two.The police, who lost Geum Seok-jung, interrogated Lee Ga-kyung. In response, Sato Hideo testified that the Deputy Prime Minister and Lee Ga-kyung were the ones who saved him, covering for her. Yoo Philip also warned that he would make the incident public if the police search took too long.At the end of the broadcast, the connection between Lee Ga-kyung and Sato Hideo continued. Lee Ga-kyung, who visited a pawn shop in Jongno to sell bullets, encountered Sato Hideo there. Embracing Lee Ga-kyung's waist as she tried to escape, Sato Hideo quietly murmured, "Caught you, pickpocket," and the reunion of the two marked the ending.Meanwhile, Yoo So-ran's past, losing her daughter during the Manse Movement 13 years ago, and the fact that the mastermind of that tragedy was Deputy Prime Minister Sato Shin-ichi were revealed. This raises anticipation for the revenge drama that will unfold as Lee Ga-kyung, Yoo So-ran, and Sato Hideo become intricately involved.'100 Days' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'Tazza: The Hidden Card' 3rd, 'The Odyssey' 4thJapanese animation 'Chikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island' (left) took first place at the weekend box office in its second week of release, and 'Assassination(s)' surpassed 3 million cumulative viewers. /Movie Poster[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] 'Chikawa' and 'Assassination(s)' dominated the weekend movie theaters.According to the Korean Film Council's Integrated Network of Automated Film Reporting System, 'Chikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island' (Director Kei Oiwa, hereinafter referred to as 'Chikawa') captivated 407,895 viewers from the 9th to the 11th, taking first place at the box office. The cumulative number of viewers is 1,281,485.'Chikawa (Hachi-Mao)' is a manga serialized by Japanese illustrator Nagano, depicting the joyful, poignant, and sometimes rough daily lives of unique characters.The movie 'Chikawa,' based on the most popular episode 'Seiren Arc' serialized in 2023, is an animation that depicts Chikawa and his companions embarking on a mysterious subjugation mission to an unknown island, lured by the sweet temptation of 100 times the reward, and uncovering the secrets hidden there. Nagano himself participated in the script and supervision, fully capturing the charm and emotion of the original work.Second place went to 'Assassination(s)' (Director Hur Jin-ho), which drew 407,680 viewers. The film also achieved the feat of surpassing 3 million viewers, becoming the fifth Korean film released this year to do so.Released on the 23rd of last month, 'Assassination(s)' is a film that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination of the First Lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974. It is based on the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, which occurred during the 1974 Liberation Day ceremony, an event that had never been covered in Korean cinema before.'Assassination(s)' enjoyed a successful run, dominating the Chuseok holiday box office, but faced unexpected issues. Some raised concerns about historical distortion, pointing to scenes suggesting the involvement of former President Park Chung-hee or the Central Intelligence Agency in the incident, and claims of Chinese capital investment led to it becoming the center of various controversies.In response, the production company issued an official statement to distance itself from the allegations, but the controversy surrounding the film spilled beyond the screen, with protests occurring in front of the homes of actors involved in the production. Ultimately, 'Assassination(s)' canceled its stage greetings and official participation in the 31st Busan International Film Festival.Despite this chaotic atmosphere, 'Assassination(s)' continues to attract audiences, and attention is focused on what new box office records it will set.'Tazza: The Hidden Card' (Director Choi Gook-hee) ranked 3rd with 190,080 viewers, 'The Odyssey' (Director Christopher Nolan) ranked 4th with 95,218 viewers, and 'Resurrection Man: The Red' (Director Baek) ranked 5th with 49,345 viewers.[Entertainment Desk | ]jiyoon-1031@tf.co.krssent@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Confident a cappella highlight medley'Strange Muse' to be released on the 19thNMIXX has released an a cappella highlight medley for their 6th mini-album 'Strange Muse,' set to be released on the 19th. /JYP Entertainment[THE FACT | Reporter Jeong Byung-geun] Girl group NMIXX has built up the diverse emotions of their new album solely with the voices of the six members, without any instruments.NMIXX (LILY HAEWON SULLYOON BAE JIWOO KYUJIN) will release their 6th mini-album 'Strange Muse' on the 19th. Ahead of this, they are increasing anticipation by releasing various teasing content, and on the 11th, they released an a cappella highlight medley on their official social media channels to convey the mood of the new album.The a cappella highlight medley is a signature teasing content that NMIXX presents with every comeback. It focuses the listener on the stories of the new album's tracks, building harmonies solely with the members' voices. This content, which showcases the well-founded confidence of NMIXX, whose members all possess outstanding vocal skills, has once again proven their capabilities.NMIXX sang parts of three songs: the title track 'Birthday Wish,' track 2 'Kerosene,' and track 3 'RudE TaLK.' Dressed in all black, they exuded a mysterious atmosphere, and with the chorus as their guide, they focused entirely on their voices without instrumental accompaniment.Curiosity and anticipation are growing not only for the full audio of the new songs 'Birthday Wish,' 'Kerosene,' and 'RudE TaLK,' each with different moods and charms, but also for the unit songs not revealed in the a cappella highlight medley: 'Sing to the Moon' (Lily, Haewon), 'Hot 'n Unbothered' (Sullyoon, Bae), and 'WHIP' (Jiu, Kyujin).NMIXX's sixth mini-album 'Strange Muse,' which includes their first unit songs with members directly participating in the songwriting, adding a special touch, will be officially released on the 19th at 6 PM.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 6 songs included, including the title track 'I SPY'Released on the 12th at 6 PMGroup NCT WISH will release their fourth mini-album 'I SPY' on the 12th at 6 PM. /SM Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group NCT WISH is returning with 'upgraded' music and performances.According to their agency SM Entertainment on the 12th, NCT WISH(SION RIKU YUSHI JAEHEE Ryo Sakuraya) will release their fourth mini-album 'I SPY' at 6 PM on the same day and begin their comeback activities in earnest.NCT WISH's new album 'I SPY' includes a total of 6 songs, including the title track of the same name, 'I SPY', 'We Own This Street', 'UPGRADE', 'Super Major', 'Hubble Time', and 'Like A Dream'.The title track 'I SPY' is a hybrid dance-pop song that depicts the heart's awakening and focus on a person the moment they develop a crush. The lyrics express excitement and curiosity towards the other person, and the desire to invite them into one's world.Prior to the album release, NCT WISH held an offline event 'I SPY YOU' to commemorate the release of their fourth mini-album three times at the Hwajeong Gymnasium at Korea University on the 10th and 11th, and pre-released the stage for 'I SPY'.The 11,400 audience members who attended the event showed an explosive response to the 'I SPY' stage, raising expectations for the comeback.NCT WISH will release 'I SPY' on various music sites at 6 PM on the 12th and begin their activities. In addition, they will begin preparations for their second tour 'INTO THE WISH : Face Our WISH', which will start on January 15, 2027.'INTO THE WISH : Face Our WISH' includes NCT WISH's first solo concert at Gocheok Sky Dome and has so far announced performances in 13 cities across 9 countries.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]laugardagr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 News of acquaintance's death ahead of retirement match"Someone I deeply respected... I can't believe it"Mixed martial artist and broadcaster Choo Sung-hoon expressed his deep condolences to an acquaintance. The photo shows him attending the '2025 SBS Entertainment Awards' held last year. / Reporter Park Heon-woo[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Mixed martial artist and broadcaster Choo Sung-hoon announced a suspension of his social media activities due to the grief of losing an acquaintance.On the 11th, Choo Sung-hoon posted on his social media, "Someone I loved and respected deeply has taken their own life," adding, "It was such an early age, only in their 40s."He continued, "My heart aches and I am so sad that I don't know what to say," and "Only the person knows what pain they went through or what happened, but I wish they had held on a little longer. I still can't believe it and my heart aches."He also expressed his longing for his acquaintance. Choo Sung-hoon said, "I want to see you again," and "I offer my deepest condolences and pray for the repose of their soul. I will be suspending all social media activities for the time being."Choo Sung-hoon transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2004 after a career as a judoka. He subsequently excelled in events such as K-1, UFC, and ONE Championship, and gained recognition through appearances on various domestic entertainment programs starting in 2008.Choo Sung-hoon is scheduled to have his retirement match at the mixed martial arts (MMA) event 'Black Combat 17,' which will be held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on November 21st.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 140,000 Spectators Mobilized..North American Tour Kicks Off in 10 U.S. Cities on the 30thBOYNEXTDOOR concluded its first world tour's Japan leg, 'KNOCK ON Vol.2 IN JAPAN', on the 11th at Lara Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. Approximately 140,000 spectators attended the Japan tour. /KOZ Entertainment[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] Boy group BOYNEXTDOOR is heading to the United States after successfully completing their Japan tour.According to their agency KOZ Entertainment on the 12th, BOYNEXTDOOR(SUNGHO RIWOO Myung Jae-hyun TAESAN LEEHAN WOONHAK) concluded their first world tour's Japan leg, 'KNOCK ON Vol.2 IN JAPAN', on the 11th at Lara Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. Approximately 140,000 spectators attended the Japan tour.BOYNEXTDOOR held 13 performances in six Japanese cities, including Kanagawa, Saga, Osaka, Miyagi, Nagano, and Chiba. Tickets for Osaka, Nagano, and Chiba sold out early, and broadcasters in Saga and Osaka visited the concert venue to interview BOYNEXTDOOR, focusing on the现场's excitement.They opened the Chiba concert with '06070', which contains autobiographical stories, and quickly heated up the atmosphere with 'VIRAL', 'What?', and 'I Feel Good'. They also performed 'Count To Love', 'Boom Boom Boom', and 'SAY CHEESE!', which were released in Japan.When the members said in Japanese, "We will give you a fun time" and "It's a loss if you don't jump at our concert," cheers erupted from the audience. The giant LED towers that changed with the mood of the songs, the use of car props in 'Hollywood Action', and 'Live In Paris', which recreated an airport atmosphere, added to the visual enjoyment.BOYNEXTDOOR will begin their North American tour on the 30th (local time), starting in Dallas. They are scheduled to hold 10 performances in 10 North American cities, including Chicago, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco. /KOZ EntertainmentBOYNEXTDOOR said, "I am proud to show growth compared to the previous tour. Thank you for giving us happy memories. I tried to show good performances in all activities and stages, and I hope this sincerity was well conveyed. I will do my best in the remaining tour with the energy I received from you."BOYNEXTDOOR will begin their North American tour on the 30th (local time), starting in Dallas. They are scheduled to hold 10 performances in 10 North American cities, including Chicago, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco.Having successfully completed their Japan tour, BOYNEXTDOOR will continue their activities with their first full album repackage 'HOME: DELUXE'. They are scheduled to perform the new album's track 'Count To Love (Korean Ver.)' on music shows. They will also appear on KBS Cool FM's 'Hanhae's Kiss the Radio' on the 16th.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 First official fan meeting since debut in 1994To be held on December 5 at Mapo Art CenterSinger Yoon Do-hyun will hold his first official fan meeting since his debut, 'Lobby 55: 2026 Mapo Winter Edition', on December 5 at 6 PM at the Mapo Art Center Art Hall Mac in Seoul. / Rolling Hall[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Yoon Do-hyun of the band YB will hold his first official fan meeting approximately 32 years after his debut.Performance planning company Rolling Hall announced on the 12th, "Yoon Do-hyun will meet fans by holding his first fan meeting since his debut, 'Lobby 55: 2026 Mapo Winter Edition', on December 5."'Lobby 55: 2026 Mapo Winter Edition' is an event prepared for Yoon Do-hyun to share stories and communicate with fans in a closer setting. This is the first fan meeting Yoon Do-hyun has held since his debut in December 1994.The fan meeting title 'Lobby 55' was also created by Yoon Do-hyun and his fans. With that meaning in mind, Yoon Do-hyun plans to share deep connections with fans by preparing various stories and special corners that are difficult to encounter in regular performances.After confirming the fan meeting, Yoon Do-hyun expressed his anticipation on his social media, saying, "This is my first time holding a fan meeting in my life. I've met fans on stage for a long time, but this time I wanted to prepare it to share stories a little closer." He added, "I hope it will be a time when music becomes a small hope and our stories become a comfort to each other."Yoon Do-hyun's first fan meeting since his debut, 'Lobby 55: 2026 Mapo Winter Edition', will be held on December 5 at 6 PM at the Mapo Art Center Art Hall Mac in Seoul. More details can be found on the official social media.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actors from 'Mr. Sunshine' and 'Tale of the Nine Tailed'Bae Jung-nam and Kim Go-eun celebrate outdoor weddingActress Kim Yong-ji held her wedding ceremony on the 11th. /Kim Yong-ji's social media[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actress Kim Yong-ji surprised everyone with a wedding, without any dating rumors.On the 11th, actors Bae Jung-nam and Kim Go-eun shared photos on social media showing Kim Yong-ji in a wedding dress. Kim Yong-ji's face, beaming with a bright smile for her wedding, can be seen.First, Bae Jung-nam, who appeared with Kim Yong-ji in the tvN drama 'Mr. Sunshine', posted a photo taken with Kim Yong-ji and her spouse, saying, "Yong-ji, congratulations on your marriage." The face of Kim Yong-ji's husband, who boasts a tall stature, was covered with an emoticon.Actors Bae Jung-nam and Kim Go-eun released photos from Kim Yong-ji's wedding. /Bae Jung-nam, Kim Go-eun's social mediaNext, Kim Go-eun sent her wholehearted congratulations by sharing a photo of Kim Yong-ji looking at the guests with her husband. The two, known to be close friends, were born in the same year, 1991, and were classmates in the 2010 cohort at Korea National University of Arts.Kim Yong-ji debuted as a commercial model in 2015. She officially began her acting career in 2018 with 'Mr. Sunshine' and subsequently gained recognition for her roles in dramas such as SBS's 'The King: Eternal Monarch' and tvN's 'Tale of the Nine Tailed'.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Released mini 5th album 'KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1' on the 6thAttitude towards life reached after much thought.. Solidifying identityKickFlip released their mini 5th album 'KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1' on the 6th. It's an album where the group, which playfully rebelled outwards, began to look inward for the first time. /JYP Entertainment[THE FACT | Reporter Jeong Byung-geun] Boy group KickFlip has been kicking down walls since their debut. They've turned a deaf ear to adult nagging, broken free from established molds, and run towards where their hearts led them. They confessed awkwardly to their first love, and upon turning twenty, they fearlessly threw themselves into new experiences.After going through 4 mini-albums, KickFlip (Kyehoon Amaru Donghwa Juwang Minje Keiju Donghyeon) is now questioning if they are doing the right thing. The answer they reached after much deliberation is not to wait until they are perfect, but to run again as they are, unfinished. It is a promise to themselves and a message to all youths.The fifth mini-album 'KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1', released on the 6th, is therefore a significant turning point for KickFlip. It's an album where the group, which playfully rebelled outwards, began to look inward for the first time, and moved beyond asking "What can we do well?" to asking "What kind of group do we want to be?"Debuting in January 2025, KickFlip showcased a free-spirited boyishness. While their mini 1st album 'Flip it, Kick it!'s 'Mama Said' playfully kicked away adult nagging and standards, their mini 2nd album 'Kick Out, Flip Now!' pushed the boundaries of freedom further, solidifying KickFlip's unique boyishness, faithful to present emotions and impulses.From their mini 3rd album 'My First Flip', their gaze began to shift from the outside to the inside. They brought personal emotions like the excitement of first love, awkward confessions, and hurts into the album, adding a layer of growth to their playful freshness. In their mini 4th album 'My First Kick', they sang about first challenges, first failures, and the emotions and trial-and-error of facing things for the first time.KickFlip actively brought out the struggles that twenty-year-olds might experience beneath the surface of bright and playful freshness. This is the biggest change and growth point for KickFlip in the new album. /JYP EntertainmentIf mini-albums 1 and 2 were about kicking away the world's standards, albums 3 and 4 were a time to look into their own emotions and growing pains that followed. In the process of transitioning from their teens to their twenties, the members participated in all the songs, moving from a group that expressed youth to a group that directly wrote about their own youth.And 'KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1', met at the end of that flow, naturally fits into the narrative as an album that looks back for the first time, asks questions, and even finds answers. KickFlip actively brought out the struggles that twenty-year-olds might experience beneath the surface of bright and playful freshness. This is the biggest change and growth point for KickFlip in this album.A device that effectively shows this point is the double title track, attempted for the first time since their debut. If the first title track 'Unfinished' is a question, 'Kick Off The Wall' (Feat. iann dior) is the answer.'Unfinished' likens the confusion of being twenty to a puzzle that doesn't quite fit. While keeping their original pop-punk roots, it utilizes glitchy hyper-pop textures, fragmented beats, dreamy synths, and expanded spaces compared to before. This creates room to look at their own imperfections rather than blindly rushing forward.The message that "our clumsy and messy Puzzle Pieces" eventually become a 'Masterpiece' differs from the common growth narrative of filling in what's lacking to become perfect. KickFlip's attitude of rejecting predetermined answers since their debut has now evolved from rebellion against external standards to accepting their own shortcomings.On the other hand, 'Kick Off The Wall' (Feat. iann dior) is the sprint that starts again despite it all. This song, which creates a much more aggressive hybrid sound by layering distorted synths and 808 bass onto pop-punk centered around guitar and drums, encapsulates KickFlip's answer: "If it's a Question with no answer anyway," they will go without waiting for an answer to emerge.While the anxiety of 'Unfinished' delves inward, 'Kick Off The Wall' explodes that energy outward. With the addition of iann dior's melodic emo rap and laid-back vocals, the scope of pop-punk that KickFlip had previously established has also naturally expanded.If previous albums proved their potential, the new release is the cornerstone solidifying that potential into an identity, and a big step forward towards KickFlip's goal of "completing our own unique color that makes people immediately think, 'This is the music KickFlip makes.'" /JYP EntertainmentThe contrast in the double title track music videos is also clear. While 'Unfinished' is a work that delves into the inner selves and pasts by drawing characters from the members' actual experiences, 'Kick Off The Wall' turns the entire city into a giant playground. Walls become not obstacles but springboards for new movements.The change is even more evident when looking at the B-side tracks. In particular, 'hate blueberry', which stems from Donghwa's real-life experiences, and Minje's 'Drop In', inspired by the drop-in technique in skateboarding, are meaningful in that the members have gone beyond simply being credited on the songs to translating their own memories and tastes into KickFlip's musical language.In fact, KickFlip members had participated in songwriting since their debut album. What's different from then to this album is that they agonized over how to turn their own stories into music and brought them to fruition, which is why the members say, "We constantly thought about how to incorporate our stories now, beyond just making good songs."The boys who kicked away their mothers' nagging sneaked out of classrooms, fell in front of their first loves, and after experiencing their first moments of being twenty, they now face the walls in front of them. They no longer avoid those walls. They don't seek perfect answers either. They simply put down their boards and kick the walls again. KickFlip's identity comes from that very attitude.The addition of Part 1 to the album title suggests the starting point of a new phase, where they confront the world with the selves they have confirmed. If previous albums proved their potential, this album is the cornerstone solidifying that potential into an identity, and a big step forward towards KickFlip's goal of "completing our own unique color that makes people immediately think, 'This is the music KickFlip makes.'"kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The commercial film's calculation hidden by 'cinematic imagination'... the boundary between reality and fictionThe mystery product 'star cameos mobilized' that 'historically questions' hinders immersionControversy surrounds 'Assassins'. The film, based on the assassination of First Lady Park Chung-hee on August 15, 1974, sparked political and social debate immediately after its release, with arguments over 'historical distortion' clashing with counterarguments of 'cinematic imagination'. / Still cut from the movie 'Assassins'[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Controversy surrounds the movie 'Assassins'. The film, based on the assassination of First Lady Park Chung-hee on August 15, 1974, sparked political and social debate immediately after its release, with arguments over 'historical distortion' clashing with counterarguments of 'cinematic imagination'. Some criticize it for exaggerating unconfirmed suspicions based on actual historical events, while others emphasize freedom of creation, stating it is merely a fictional film based on historical facts. Is the true essence of 'Assassins' solely about historical distortion?The movie does not recreate the '74 incident' as it happened. It reconstructs it as a mystery chase film by introducing fictional characters based on the questions surrounding the incident at the time. Instead of reconfirming the conclusion of the actual event, it asks the question, 'Could there have been another assassin?' and draws the audience into the process of investigation. Director Hur Jin-ho also said that he wanted to tell the story of those who pursued the truth, starting from the questions and limitations left in the records of the time, rather than reaching a final conclusion about the incident.The film transforms an event with historical weight into the genre of mystery, and features lead actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho. In addition, familiar faces such as Jung Woo-sung, Park Jung-min, Shim Eun-kyung, Park Hae-joon, Oh Jung-se, Shin Hyun-been, Bae Seong-woo, Uhm Tae-woong, and Oh Dal-su make successive short special appearances. Why were so many star actors needed? The director said, "We needed actors who could bring weight to the roles, and I thought it would be enjoyable for the audience to see the actors."◆ "Too many star cameos are not good" They hinder immersionContrary to the director's intentions, a different effect occurs from the audience's perspective. When famous actors appear as cameos, the audience recognizes the actor before the character. Curiosity arises about 'Why is this actor here?', the presence of the character grows, and the buzz around the movie increases. In other words, the star casting itself becomes a cinematic device and simultaneously generates promotional effects. This is particularly evident in mystery genres like 'Assassins', which follow the clues of an event.Of course, it cannot be explained solely in positive terms. More cameos are not always better. They have the greatest effect when cast in the right place at the right moment by the right person. In fact, audience reactions to 'Assassins' are mixed. While some appreciate the appearance of familiar actors, others point out that the story's flow is interrupted by the successive short appearances of star actors, drawing attention to those actors. This can hinder immersion.◆ Mobilizing history and film, facts and imagination... the ultimate goal is 'commercial success'Furthermore, there is no need to overthink the answer to the question of whether it was intended for 'commercial success' from the outset. A film is ultimately a product that must draw audiences to theaters. Especially for a large commercial film released targeting the peak season of Chuseok, it is a very natural strategy to feature glamorous actors and genre entertainment. In fact, 'Assassins' highlighted its 'glamorous cast' as a key promotional point before its release and proved its public interest by surpassing 1 million viewers within four days of its release.Interestingly, famous stars were not cast as President Park Chung-hee and First Lady Park Chung-hee. Instead, stars were heavily featured in the fictional characters surrounding the historical event. This choice clearly shows the nature of the film. Historical figures are kept at a distance, while fictional characters around them attract audiences with the power of stars. It maximizes popular appeal between history and film, fact and imagination.The movie is not a history book, but once it takes material from history, it cannot remain solely in the realm of completely free imagination. 'Assassins' asks the question 'What is truth?' through the story of detectives and investigative reporters who pursued truth in an authoritarian era, maximizing the audience's curiosity and entertainment. / Still cut from the movie 'Assassins'◆ Intersection of actual records and cinematic fiction, possibility of confusing historical facts and creationFrom this perspective, there is no need to be confined to the simple dichotomy of the controversy surrounding the film, namely 'Is the movie distorting history or not?'. It is naturally possible to use fiction in a film based on a true story. Conversely, one cannot say, 'Since it's a movie, imagination is unlimited.' The moment historical events are reconstructed as mysteries, the film induces specific suspicions and emotions in the audience. Especially when actual records and cinematic fiction intersect, the possibility of confusing what is fact and what is creation is bound to increase.The core of the controversy lies in how far historical questions were expanded through cinematic imagination and how much that imagination was packaged as a popular product. 'Assassins' stands precisely on that boundary. Through the story of detectives and investigative reporters who pursued truth in an authoritarian era, it asks the question 'What is truth?', while simultaneously maximizing audience curiosity and entertainment by adding a glamorous lead lineup and numerous star cameos.The movie is not a history book, but once it takes material from history, it cannot remain solely in the realm of completely free imagination. This is especially true if the film becomes the first historical memory for the younger generation, who may not remember actual events from decades ago. Perhaps the biggest question 'Assassins' poses is not the identity of the assassin in the movie who remains an enigma. 'How do we remember history, and how does film recreate that memory?' The essence of the controversy lies here.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 DK (December) received praise on the stage of ’Immortal Songs’ by reinterpreting SG WANNABE’s ’Timeless’ together with KCM. On the 10th episode of KBS 2TV’s ’Immortal Songs’ Park Geun-tae special, DK teamed up with KCM and performed second on stage. The two showcased SG WANNABE’s ’Timeless’ along with stories reflecting their 20 years of friendship. DK expressed his determination, saying, ″We will reinterpret a man’s song,″ and added, ″It is meaningful to perform together with KCM.″ On stage, DK and KCM completed the harmony with smooth tones and explosive high notes. Their relaxed tempo control and high notes enhanced the immersion, and their eye contact while coordinating was impressive. Watching the performance, Ok Joo-hyun, Heo Gak, and others commented, ″The two men battled with high notes,″ ″It was a feast for the ears,″ ″They look so composed,″ and ″There is so much to learn from them.″ Composer Park Geun-tae evaluated, ″I knew they sang well, but it gave me goosebumps. I was amazed by how excellently they interpreted the song.″ DK revealed, ″Each song holds memories from that time, so even if I like other songs, there are irreplaceable ones. ’Timeless’ is a song with a story for KCM and me, so we prepared hard.″ Meanwhile, DK released ’Don’t Be Happy’ last July and has been communicating with fans through various broadcasts and content, including recently appearing on SBS’s ’The Listen: The Season We Stayed.’]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 SBS’s ″Our Ballad 2″ will air on the 12th at 10 PM. In this episode, participants with diverse backgrounds, including a girl who studied abroad in Texas and a soldier, will perform songs spanning a wide range of generations. The participants will stage songs that cover different eras, such as Lee Sang-eun’s ″Someday″ released in 1993 and Yudabin Band’s ″High Fever″ from 2019. In particular, one male participant captured the attention of the judging panel ″Top Baek-gwi″ with his warm appearance and relaxed stage manner. Moon Geun-young watched the performance and said, ″I won’t let my groom see this,″ while Joo Woo-jae responded, ″Do you want to see someone go crazy?″ Roy Kim and Jung Seung-hwan introduced themselves as ″visual balladers″ and joked, ″It’s hard to be recognized for our skills rather than our looks.″ Their remarks resonated with the participants and lifted the atmosphere on site. Also, regarding another participant with a clear and pure voice, Joo Woo-jae revealed, ″My ideal type is someone who sings like this.″ Various participants filled the studio with their unique charms and stories. Moon Geun-young has been active in dramas such as ″Autumn in My Heart,″ ″Painter of the Wind,″ and ″Hellbound 2,″ as well as the film ″My Little Bride.″ Last July, she announced her marriage to musical actor Jung Pyeong, who is seven years her senior. Joo Woo-jae debuted as a model and has appeared on various entertainment programs, including ″Hangout with Yoo?″]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Dancer Bata’s daily life showing his affection for his fiancée Ji Ye-eun was revealed. At the end of the MBC show ″The Manager″ aired on October 10, a preview video featuring the members of WeDemBoyz was broadcast. The video showed Bata cooking in the kitchen from the morning, and those around him mentioned how Bata had changed ahead of his wedding, saying things like, ″He has dreamed of becoming a good husband since long ago,″ ″His complexion has visibly improved,″ and ″He smiles a lot more than usual.″ Bata also attracted attention in the studio with his bright face as he prepared for marriage. In the observation footage, Bata’s home was revealed, and he started cooking with a bright expression. In-gyu praised Bata by saying, ″You can cook well,″ while eating the food Bata made, and Bata continued talking about Ji Ye-eun, saying she eats well the meals he prepares. Bata expressed his affection by saying, ″Once I make it for Ye-eun, she really eats four or five servings.″ The preview also announced that the usual daily lives of the WeDemBoyz members and the site of their first music video shoot would be revealed. Ji Ye-eun and Bata, both born in 1994, are planning to hold their wedding ceremony on December 12. The couple confirmed their relationship in April, and Ji Ye-eun’s agency CP Entertainment stated, ″The two have promised to share their lives together based on deep trust. We ask for warm congratulations and support for the couple as they embark on this new beginning.″]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 tvN weekend drama ’100 Days of Lies’ made a spectacular start with the premiere on the 10th, marking Kim Yoo-jung’s return as Lee Ga-kyung, a pickpocket in Gyeongseong. Set in Gyeongseong in 1932, the drama depicts the intertwined fates of five characters with different goals: Lee Ga-kyung (Kim Yoo-jung), Sato Hideo/Kim Tae-woong (Park Jin Young), Yoo So-ran (Kim Hyun-joo), Yoo Philip (Lee Moo-saeng), and Sato Shinichi (Jin Seon-kyu). In the first episode, Lee Ga-kyung appears as a pickpocket living around Gyeongseong Station, dreaming of going to America. She cleverly escapes a police inspection and shows a playful quarrel while fluently switching between Korean, Japanese, and English during her first encounter with Sato Hideo/Kim Tae-woong. Lee Ga-kyung boldly steals Sato Hideo’s wallet and reveals her survival-first character through a friendly daily life with Inoma (Hong Sa-bin). The atmosphere changes as the new Chief Political Officer Sato Shinichi arrives at Gyeongseong Station. The couple Yoo So-ran and Yoo Philip greet Sato Shinichi through the Governor-General’s interpreter Suzuki (Kim Do-hyun). In fact, Yoo So-ran and Yoo Philip are members of the Patriotic Corps, disguised as a married couple for the assassination mission against Sato Shinichi. Yoo So-ran expresses her determination before the decisive day, saying, ″I have waited 13 years, but waiting a few more days is even harder.″ That day, Lee Ga-kyung faces a police inspection while trying to steal Yoo So-ran’s bag but avoids danger by attaching a ’first-class’ paper tag found on the train to the bag. Later, an uncomfortable atmosphere arises when she bumps into Sato Hideo, and Lee Ga-kyung escapes after stealing his wallet at Gyeongseong Station. Yoo So-ran, Yoo Philip, Han Cheol-ryong (Kim In-kwon), and Suzuki hold a final operation meeting, reaffirming their resolve for revenge. Sato Shinichi attends a dinner invitation from Yoo Philip and his wife, with Sato Hideo’s presence becoming a variable. An uninvited guest appears at the dinner, and Lee Ga-kyung arrives demanding money after finding a bullet in Yoo So-ran’s bag. Sato Hideo asks Lee Ga-kyung to return the wallet she stole at Gyeongseong Station, but she deceives him by claiming she is the house’s night watchman. Then, a mysterious man disguised as a cake delivery person appears, threatening Lee Ga-kyung with a gun and ordering her to lead him to the restroom where Sato Shinichi is. Lee Ga-kyung is taken hostage and faces a tense situation, and when she makes eye contact with Sato Hideo, she asks for help, saying, ″Help me... Assassination.″ The first broadcast gathered the five characters at Gyeongseong Station, beginning the main story and portraying the meeting of characters entangled with different intentions and interests. ’100 Days of Lies’ episode 2 will air on the 11th at 9:10 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Seo Jang-hoon denied the rumor of having a 2 trillion won fortune surrounding him and revealed his actual asset situation and frugal habits. He owns three buildings in Seoul but expressed discomfort over a joke that started on a variety show being mistaken for fact. Seo Jang-hoon cited saving and frugality during his athlete days as the secret to accumulating his assets. He said, ″I didn’t spend the money I earned as a player at home, so I was able to keep saving it,″ and added, ″As I saved what I earned, it accumulated and grew a bit more.″ He also mentioned his frugal spending habits, saying, ″I cut down on everything I can reduce,″ and revealed, ″The only money I spend on myself is for food delivery.″ He added that even if he wants to buy clothes, it’s not easy to find clothes that fit due to his large build. On the SBS variety show ″Anything for You - Secretary Jin,″ where Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-gyu accompanied him, Seo Jang-hoon revealed that he owns three buildings and confessed, ″There are difficulties in my own way.″ When Lee Seo-jin asked, ″Why did you put the building up for sale? There was even an article about it,″ Seo Jang-hoon mentioned putting the Dabobuilding in Seocho-dong on the market. The building was purchased in 2000 for about 2.817 billion won and was listed for sale in August for 45 billion won. It has two basement floors and five above-ground floors, with a land area of 376.9m2 and a total floor area of 1,474.9m2. Although the asking price is 42.183 billion won higher than the purchase price, he explained that this is not an actual capital gain from the sale. Seo Jang-hoon bought a building in Heukseok-dong jointly with his mother in 2005 for about 5.8 billion won, and in 2019, he purchased a building in Seogyo-dong for about 14 billion won. It is estimated that the value of his real estate holdings exceeds 70 billion won, but it was also noted that this is not net assets reflecting debts and other factors. Regarding the ″2 trillion won fortune″ rumor, Seo Jang-hoon explained, ″Kim Hee-chul joked on a variety show, and it was exaggerated to 2 trillion won,″ clarifying that the joke on JTBC’s ″Knowing Bros″ was distorted. He said, ″Do you know how many people in our country have 2 trillion won? I looked it up, and there are about 35,″ adding, ″How would I make 2 trillion won? Out of 100 people, five or six really believe it.″ Seo Jang-hoon also emphasized on EBS’s ″Seo Jang-hoon’s Millionaire Next Door″ regarding tenant eviction issues, ″For your information, I have never once told anyone to move out.″ About income from the large rooftop electronic billboard, he revealed in 2017, ″The income is not mine. I lease the entire billboard to someone else and only receive rent.″ Seo Jang-hoon is known for setting rent lower than the market rate and has earned the nickname ″kind landlord.″]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Yeon Sang-ho addresses humanity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) through a mystery thriller in his new work, ″Paradise Lost.″ The film highlights the unbridgeable gap that ultimately remains between reality and illusion. The movie was first unveiled domestically at the 31st Busan International Film Festival Gala Presentation. ″Paradise Lost″ tells the story of Soyoung (Kim Hyun-joo), a mother who lost her son and lives relying on an AI version of him, and her reunion with her son Sunwoo (Bae Hyun-sung) after nine years. Although Soyoung meets her son again, she feels unfamiliarity and anxiety rather than joy. This is because the AI is more consistent than the real person, the film explains. At a press conference held on the 10th at the Busan Cinema Center, director Yeon Sang-ho explained, ″Continuity is necessary to recognize a person as the same individual.″ The AI was designed to meet this condition, but after nine years, the connection in the returned son is missing, causing Soyoung to doubt whether the person in front of her is truly Sunwoo. Director Yeon emphasized human traits such as imperfection, incomprehensibility, and isolation as the opposite of AI. The starting point of this perspective was John Milton’s epic poem ″Paradise Lost.″ Yeon said, ″I thought that humanity gaining its identity as human was the event of eating the fruit of good and evil and being expelled from paradise.″ The original story idea came from a three-page episode written by the director’s mother. It was about a mother who could not stop her son from doing bad things but could never stop loving him. Based on this, Yeon wrote a screenplay titled ″Punk″ in 2020. Later, the setting was moved to a fictional village on the border between Canada and the United States, resulting in ″Black Inferno,″ a novel by writer Oh Sung-eun. In the third version, ″Paradise Lost,″ the story was shifted to the AI era. Filming was completed in 14 sessions. Compared to the usual 50 or more sessions for feature films, this was a short period. Kim Hyun-joo said, ″It was actually good because I could act with more immersion,″ adding, ″I tried to express Soyoung herself rather than just acting. Since filming continued every day, I think that presence was conveyed as it was.″ ″Paradise Lost″ will be released on the 21st.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 SBS Friday-Saturday drama ’Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia’ ranked first in Saturday mini-series viewership ratings after just two episodes. According to Nielsen Korea, episode 2 of ’Doctor X,’ aired on the night of the 10th, recorded nationwide ratings of 14.9%, 14.7% in the metropolitan area, and a peak rating of 17.4%. The 2049 demographic rating also ranked first among all Saturday programs and all programs aired during the week, with a peak of 5.4% and an average of 4.6%. In this episode, surgeon Kye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won) demonstrated outstanding skills by performing surgeries on two patients consecutively. Soo-jung provoked resentment from other surgeons by acting independently of the hospital hierarchy, such as taking the wheelchair of VIP patient Park Kwang-chul (played by Kim Ki-cheon) to transport emergency patient Lee Joo-hee (played by Yuna). The surgeons assigned intern Park Tae-kyung (Kim WooSeok) to monitor Soo-jung, but Park Tae-kyung instead developed respect for her. Soo-jung clashed with surgical chief Do Yoon-sik (played by Kim Young-min) over the surgeries of Park Kwang-chul and Lee Joo-hee. Do Yoon-sik advocated for a partial resection surgery that would leave some of the cancerous area to reduce the risk of death for Park Kwang-chul, who has pancreatic cancer, while Soo-jung confidently insisted she could completely remove the cancer. Ultimately, Do Yoon-sik took charge of Park Kwang-chul’s surgery, and Soo-jung handled Lee Joo-hee’s surgery. On the day of the surgeries, Do Yoon-sik attempted to stop the operation due to the patient’s condition being more severe than expected, and hospital director Boo Seung-kwon (played by Son Hyun-joo) urgently called Soo-jung to Park Kwang-chul’s operating room. Soo-jung had already completed Lee Joo-hee’s surgery, which was expected to take 3 to 4 hours, in just one hour, and then successfully performed a complex surgery involving en bloc resection of the pancreatic head including the artery, completing both patients’ surgeries in 6 hours and 30 minutes. During this process, Soo-jung prioritized life over the patient’s status or power and drew attention for her stance against the hospital’s power structure and practices. Jang Hee-sook (played by Lee Jung-eun), the head of the medical staffing agency representing Soo-jung, received double the usual fee, and upon seeing the news of the search of Park Kwang-chul, said, ″You have to be alive to be punished and pay the price.″ At the end of the broadcast, suspicions related to Soo-jung’s past were raised. The medical staff at Gu Seo University Hospital discovered the existence of a doctor named ’Doctor X’ who had used the same surgical method in the past, and that a patient who underwent that surgery died within two months. Soo-jung’s face was captured in a news photo, adding to the mystery. Hospital director Boo Seung-kwon warned, ″You can’t avoid failure forever,″ to which Soo-jung replied, ″It seems like you have already failed, director.″ ’Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia’ airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In the KBS2 weekend drama ″Love Is Coming,″ Han Gyurim, played by Ahn Heeyeon, shocked her family by transforming into a completely different style from usual. Han Gyurim attempted a bold change with flashy clothes and heavy makeup to push away Kim Mujin (Ha Seokjin), causing confusion even among her family with her unexpected behavior. Kim Mujin actively approached by signing a supply contract with Han Gyurim’s side dish store. Feeling burdened, Han Gyurim asked an AI for ways to make Kim Mujin give up and fell into worry. Eventually, she went to Kim Mujin at dawn and reached out first, saying, ″Let’s meet again.″ However, this was a deliberate act by Han Gyurim to lead Kim Mujin to lose affection for her and leave. Han Gyurim made Kim Mujin uncomfortable at a convenience store and coldly turned away, saying, ″Are you showing off your wealth?″ when he bought her a drink. Meanwhile, Han Gyurim’s family gradually showed favor toward Kim Mujin. Han Gyoo (Bae Yoonkyu) felt grateful to Kim Mujin, who sincerely comforted him during difficult times. Han Seokjoong (Ryu Seungsu) opened his heart after visiting Kim Mujin’s restaurant with Jo Heungsik (Bae Jungnam). Han Seokjoong even called Kim Mujin his ″son-in-law.″ Jo Heungsik also advised Han Gyurim to accept Kim Mujin, but Han Gyurim stated she could not continue the relationship because Kim Mujin was the only son of a chaebol family and had given up everything for her. Additionally, Go Yoonhee (Yoon Yooseon) left home and started working part-time at a barbecue restaurant, beginning to stand on her own. Jang Huntae (Kwon Haeho) was anxious, wondering if Go Yoonhee was preparing for a breakup. At the end of the broadcast, a scene showed Han Gyurim appearing at Kim Mujin’s restaurant in a leopard print outfit and heavy makeup, surprising Kim Mujin. Episode 21 of ″Love Is Coming″ will air on the 11th at 8 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Heo Nam-jun shared an update on his recent activities to mark his 7th debut anniversary. On the 11th, Heo Nam-jun posted several photos on his personal SNS along with the message, ″It’s already been 7 years since my debut. Thank you for being with me all this time. I look forward to your continued support.″ The released photos showed Heo Nam-jun wearing a dark brown shirt, smiling as he flipped through a magazine. There was also an image of him looking at the camera while covering half of his face with the magazine. In the photos, Heo Nam-jun displayed both a soft and sweet atmosphere and a playful expression. Heo Nam-jun became known to the public through the film First Drink, which was released on October 11, 2019. Since then, he has built his filmography by appearing on both the big screen and television.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The MBC variety show ″Hangout with Yoo?″ resumed broadcasting on October 10th after a three-week hiatus, presenting the first preliminary listening session of the ″95 Seoul Music Festival″ project. The broadcast introduced beloved hit songs from the 1990s through 1995, featuring participants with diverse personalities and talents, capturing viewers’ attention. Yoo Jae-suk appeared as the PD and evaluated the participants’ singing skills through a blind audition. The participants took the stage using nicknames based on hit variety shows and movie titles from the 1990s. ″Chungking Express″ selected Kim Gun-mo’s ″First Impression,″ and ″M″ chose Kim Wan-sun’s ″The Clown Doesn’t Laugh at Us,″ both passing the audition. ″The Bridges of Madison County″ and ″Sleepless in Seattle″ also passed by singing ″You Reflected in My Smile″ and ″My Love by My Side,″ respectively. Yoo Jae-suk recalled his part-time job at Kim Tae-gyun’s pub during his college days and reminisced that ″My Love by My Side″ was a comforting song for him. ″Our Paradise″ passed with Kim Min-woo’s ″It’s Just Love,″ ″Moon of Seoul″ with Yoon Do-hyun’s ″Love Two,″ and ″Léon″ with Shin Sung-woo’s ″Prologue.″ ″Terminator″ passed by singing Park Mi-kyung’s ″A Reason That Doesn’t Seem Like a Reason,″ and ″Jurassic Park″ passed with Min Hae-kyung’s ″Face I Want to See.″ Yoo Jae-suk expressed curiosity about the identity of ″Jurassic Park.″ Additionally, ″Love in Your Arms″ and ″The Shawshank Redemption″ received a hold decision and advanced to the hold round. ″Walking to the Sky″ was eliminated after revealing a dialect that identified the participant as Yang Sang-guk, and ″Stop Moving″ was also held. Hwang Jae-gyun challenged with ″The Demon Master″ but was eliminated due to his choir-style singing. This broadcast recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 4.5%, ranking first among Saturday variety shows, with a 4.3% rating in the metropolitan area and 2.8% among viewers aged 20 to 54. Notably, the acceptance scene of ″Jurassic Park″ achieved the highest viewership rating of 5.7% in the metropolitan Bundang area, making it the best one-minute segment. ″Hangout with Yoo?″ successfully concluded the ″80s Seoul Music Festival″ special in the second half of last year and ranked first for two consecutive months in the October variety program brand reputation. The broadcast also previewed the second preliminary round and the face-to-face stage for the participants who were held.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Shimizu of the dance crew LACHICA revealed his long-standing affection by analyzing the personalities and characteristics of the IVE members. Shimizu appeared on MBC’s variety show ″The Manager″ and was seen meeting with an assistant to discuss IVE’s year-end stage concept. On the broadcast that day, Shimizu revealed that he is in charge of directing IVE’s music video shoots and award show stages. Based on his experience of working with IVE for over five years, he explained detailed directing points tailored to each member. Shimizu said, ″Having worked together for more than five years, I roughly know them. Ahn Yujin likes bold and refreshing movements that match her straightforward personality.″ Regarding Lee Seo, he said, ″She is transforming into a mature image now that she is an adult.″ About Rei, he explained, ″She has a surprising charm that combines cuteness with sexiness, so I place iconic moves for her.″ He mentioned that Rheeze ″has a beautiful line and is good at bouncing,″ and evaluated Ga-eul as ″a member I can trust because her movements are very precise along with a hip vibe.″ Especially about Jang Wonyoung, he praised, ″She has the charm to turn everything into a killing scene. She does tremendous research,″ adding, ″Even with the same moves, when it’s her turn, she brings them to life with a completely different feeling.″ Shimizu also spoke about his connection with IVE, saying, ″I started giving choreography to IVE from ’LOVE DIVE,’″ and revealed, ″I personally went to lessons during ’I AM,’ and since then, I have been in charge of directing music video shoots and award show stages.″]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Broadcast personality Nam Chang-hee’s wife, Yoon Young-kyung, has entered her 23rd week of pregnancy. She is expected to give birth in February next year. Nam Chang-hee personally announced his wife’s pregnancy during the live broadcast of KBS Cool FM’s ″Yoon Jung-soo Nam Chang-hee’s Mister Radio″ on the 9th. Their agency, TN Entertainment, officially confirmed the pregnancy on the 10th. The couple dated for about four years and six months before getting married on February 22 of this year at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, and they announced the pregnancy about eight months after their wedding. Yoon Young-kyung appeared on MBC’s 2014 ″Infinite Challenge″ special ″Hong-cheol, Let’s Get Married,″ where she earned the nickname ″Hangang IU.″ At the time, Haha introduced Yoon Young-kyung as a woman resembling IU from the Han River, and she attracted attention for her pure appearance right after the broadcast. Yoon Young-kyung won second place at the 83rd National Chunhyang Selection Contest in 2013 and later worked as an actress in films such as ″Ode to My Father″ and dramas including ″Hwajeong″ and ″Wok of Love.″ In 2019, she also appeared on the dating reality show ″Before Some RIIZE.″ Afterward, she left the entertainment industry and worked for about six years as a public officer in the Public Relations Department of Dongdaemun-gu Office in Seoul, handling district promotion tasks. She recently concluded her career as a civil servant. At the end of last month, Yoon Young-kyung announced her resignation, saying, ″I leave with only good memories and head toward a new world.″ The cake prepared by Nam Chang-hee bore the message, ″Young-kyung, thank you for your hard work over six years.″ The news of her 23rd week of pregnancy was revealed shortly after her resignation. Nam Chang-hee debuted in 2000 on SBS’s ″Happy Our Saturday″ and has been active in both variety shows and acting. He is also well known as a longtime close friend of Jo Se-ho. Currently, he works as a radio DJ alongside Yoon Jung-soo. According to their agency, Nam Chang-hee is balancing his schedule while taking care of his wife’s health and focusing on prenatal care.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Seung-yoon and Yoon Taek revealed various experiences gained from hosting MBN’s ’I Am a Natural Person’ for 15 years. Lee Seung-yoon stated that the rerun appearance fees greatly helped in purchasing his parents’ house, and Yoon Taek also mentioned that he contributed to buying land with his rerun fees. On the broadcast of MBN’s ’Kim Juha’s Day and Night’ on the 10th, the two appeared to talk about the behind-the-scenes of the long-running program and its financial rewards. When host Moon Seyoon asked about the appearance fees, noting that reruns of ’I Am a Natural Person’ air about 400 times a week, Lee Seung-yoon replied, ″I worked hard, and that really helped,″ adding that it contributed to buying his parents’ house. He further added about Yoon Taek, ″In his case, he contributed to buying land.″ The two also mentioned the recognition they gained through the program. Lee Seung-yoon said that when he visits local traditional markets, he receives a warm welcome from the elders, and Yoon Taek shared that even strangers greet him with ″Long time no see,″ showing their friendly relationship with viewers. They said, ″When we go to local traditional markets, we envy no one. Not even BTS.″ They also shared food experiences encountered during filming. Yoon Taek recalled eating centipedes, saying, ″It tastes somewhat like concentrated ink. The texture is very unpleasant. The texture varies by part.″ Regarding cockroaches, he said, ″Cockroaches just taste like bugs.″ Unexpectedly delicious food was the larvae of hornets, which he described as ″100 times better than silkworm pupae.″ Lee Seung-yoon recounted an early filming story where he ate fresh liver of a water deer; a natural person disassembled the deer right in front of him and handed him the fresh liver, and he was overwhelmed by the person’s spirit and ended up eating it. Additionally, Lee Seung-yoon mentioned receiving wild ginseng as a gift from a natural person during filming in his newlywed days, saying that after eating the precious wild ginseng, he immediately conceived a child. He said, ″They said if you eat this, you will have a child right away. When I got home, my body was very hot. I had a child right away. The child born also has a lot of heat.″ ’I Am a Natural Person’ has surpassed 700 episodes and has established itself as a long-loved program. ’Kim Juha’s Day and Night’ airs every Saturday at 9:40 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group AND2BLE has released new concept photos ahead of their second mini album release. AND2BLE (ZHANG HAO, YOO SEUNGEON, Ricky, KIM GYUVIN, HAN YUJIN) showcased individual concept photos of the ’Observe’ version from their mini album 2, ’Sequence 02: Attraction,’ on their official SNS on the 8th. In these concept photos, the five members revealed a more mature charm with restrained gazes and expressions against vivid primary color backgrounds. The photos expressed the emotional transition from curiosity to interest, drawing attention for their deeper atmosphere and sophisticated styling compared to previous activities. AND2BLE plans to sequentially release three versions of concept photos: ’Observe,’ ’Attraction,’ and ’Archive.’ They will continue preparing for their comeback with various content such as the tracklist, highlight medley, and music video teaser. This new release comes about five months after their first mini album, ’Sequence 01: Curiosity,’ released last May. It captures the process of ’curiosity’ evolving into ’interest’ through new music and concepts. AND2BLE is a group where all members have re-debuted. ZHANG HAO, Ricky, KIM GYUVIN, and HAN YUJIN left the team after ending activities with ZEROBASEONE and terminating their contract with WakeOne last March, while YOO SEUNGEON started anew under their original agency, YH Entertainment (formerly Yuehua Entertainment), after finishing activities with Even. Debuting last May, AND2BLE recorded initial sales of 730,000 copies with their first album. They ranked 4th in initial sales for debut albums by K-pop groups and held the show concert ’2026 AND2BLE SHOW CONCERT: Welcome to Qurious’ in four Asian cities. They also won a total of 12 trophies at major domestic and international award ceremonies. AND2BLE’s mini album 2, ’Sequence 02: Attraction,’ will be released on the 27th at 6 PM through various music platforms. On the same day at 8 PM, a comeback fan showcase will be held.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won uncovers the true identity of the two-faced murderer on MBC’s ″Surprise Mystery Salon.″ ″Surprise Mystery Salon″ will air on October 11th with the theme ″The Cruel Death Hidden Behind the Mask: The True Identity of the Ultimate Two-Faced Murderer.″ The released preview showed an ordinary grandson who takes care of his grandmother, loves his pet dog, and cherishes his family. Then, Lee Chan-won shouted, ″But!″ hinting at a twist in the case. Along with the phrase ″Scare them properly and send them back,″ scenes of insane evil acts followed, previewing the appearance of the most extreme psychopath in Surprise history. Additionally, Lee Chan-won expressed anger, saying, ″This is insane!″ The broadcast will air on the 11th at 10:40 AM.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Bada shared several photos on her SNS. On the 10th, Bada posted photos on Instagram with the caption, ″The brightest moment, everyone~ Did you enjoy yesterday’s performance?″ In the photos, Bada wore a lace-patterned see-through bodysuit and a cropped leather jacket trimmed with fur. She completed the look with a high-leg design bodysuit, low-rise mini shorts worn over the hips, and black lace-up long boots reaching below the knees. Under the fireworks in the night sky and stage lights, the leather, lace, and fur materials harmonized beautifully. Bada released the remix track ″Love wave″ last August.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won will take the stage at the ’24th Pocheon Citizens’ Day’ festival held at Pocheon Sports Complex in Gunnae-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do on October 11th at 6 PM. The festival will feature performances by Lee Chan-won, Lee Daehwan, H1-KEY (HI-.KEY), Diva, and others. The event will be held under the theme ″Greater Happiness with Citizens, Pride Pocheon,″ with various programs such as experience booths and cultural performances. Lee Chan-won has recently been actively participating in various broadcasts, events, and as a model for Ollokdam advertisements.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Kim Yong Bin appears as the new boss on KBS2’s ’The Boss Has Donkey Ears.’ Kim Yong Bin debuted at the age of 11 and is now in the 23rd year of their career. On the show, they revealed that their late grandmother had saved every penny earned since their childhood without spending any, and they disclosed the bankbook. They said they still keep those bankbooks, which number over 50. However, they also mentioned that they do not yet own a house in their name. On the broadcast, trot veteran Kim YonJa gave practical advice to Kim Yong Bin. Kim YonJa said, ″It’s a shame,″ and added, ″Just saving money isn’t enough. You need to buy gold, buy a house, or invest.″ Then Kim YonJa continued advising Kim Yong Bin, saying, ″Try buying gold with that money. What I heard from you is the most regrettable.″ Meanwhile, Kim Yong Bin won the TV CHOSUN show ’Mr. Trot 3.’]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ATEEZ has confirmed the 2027 world tour ’ZERO TO ALL.’ KQ Entertainment released the poster for the ’2027 ATEEZ World Tour ″ZERO TO ALL″’ on their official SNS on October 10. The tour will begin in Incheon from January 22 to 24, 2027, followed by performances in Tokyo, Japan on February 2 and 3, and in Kobe on February 13 and 14. Afterwards, the tour will continue in Europe in April, North America from July to August, and South America in September. Additional shows have also been announced. The tour name ’ZERO TO ALL’ is a reverse of the subtitle of ATEEZ’s debut album, ’TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero,’ symbolizing the group’s growth and challenges. Previously, ATEEZ sold out all seats for their world tour ’IN YOUR FANTASY’ in Incheon and Kobe, Japan, and added extra shows in Los Angeles and Orlando in the U.S., as well as Melbourne and Sydney in Australia due to high ticket demand. Meanwhile, ATEEZ will release their 15th mini-album, ’GOLDEN HOUR: Part.6,’ on November 13. Their 14th mini-album, ’GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5,’ released last June, marked their third No. 1 on the US Billboard main album chart, the Billboard 200, and the title track ’BAD’ sparked a challenge craze.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 CORTIS (Martin, James, Juhun, Seonghyeon, Geonho) appeared on the main stage of the Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit on the 9th (local time) at the ’Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix 2026.’ CORTIS was the only K-pop artist among this year’s performers and took the ’Padang Stage.’ An estimated 60,000 spectators gathered for the performance, and CORTIS performed a total of 15 songs over 50 minutes. The stage featured various songs such as ″TNT,″ ″FaSHioN,″ ″REDRED,″ ″GO!,″ and ″MOTION (feat. Juicy J),″ and during the ″YOUNGCREATORCREW″ segment, the members came down from the stage to interact closely with the audience. The members of CORTIS, visiting Singapore for the first time since their debut, expressed, ″We are grateful that many core fans joined us. It’s a truly beautiful city,″ and greeted in local-style English, saying, ″Thank you lah.″ Meanwhile, at Plaza Singapura in downtown Singapore, the ″CORTIS POP-UP in SINGAPORE″ is being held from the 2nd to the 25th.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 MC Lee Seung-yoon of MBN’s ″I Am a Natural Person″ mentioned his first meeting with his wife and the revenue from reruns. Lee Seung-yoon revealed on the show that he was attracted to his wife because she was good at spelling. He explained that he first met his wife, an editor who planned books, while he was doing the comedy segment ″Health Boy.″ Every time they exchanged text messages, his wife corrected his spelling mistakes one by one, which led him to study and search the Korean language. Lee Seung-yoon said, ″I think I liked my wife’s intellectual side,″ adding that his wife said, ″Since you are a broadcaster, you shouldn’t make mistakes anywhere, so I corrected you as much as I could.″ He expressed gratitude, saying that thanks to his wife, he won first place four times and became a master twice on Korean language broadcasting programs. He also revealed that although his wife is taller than him, she always wears low heels, and MC Kim Ju-ha talked about Lee Seung-yoon’s family photo and praised his wife’s beauty. The broadcast also discussed the number of reruns and the revenue of ″I Am a Natural Person.″ MC Moon Se-yoon stated that the program is rerun 400 times a week and asked about rumors that Lee Seung-yoon bought a house with the rerun fees. In response, Lee Seung-yoon said that the results of his hard work greatly helped his life and that he contributed to buying his parents a house. Then, Yoon Taek mentioned using rerun fees to buy land, which made Yoon Taek look embarrassed. Lee Seung-yoon also shared an experience from his newlywed days when he received a rare wild ginseng in the mountains and, after consuming it, was able to have a child. He recalled that his child had a high fever while growing up. Meanwhile, ″I Am a Natural Person″ has been airing for 15 years and has surpassed 700 episodes.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS V showcased an outfit commemorating the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day on the ’Arirang’ overseas tour stage held in Lima, Peru. On October 9th (local time), V took the stage at the Lima concert wearing a T-shirt with handwritten Korean text on the front reading ″Lima″ and ″Kim Taehyung,″ and on the back, ″October 9, 2026, today is the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day.″ The concert lasted for two days, and V ranked first on Google Trends in 76 countries. The performance video of V on stage wearing a black beanie and T-shirt quickly spread on TikTok, and on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, it surpassed 16.5 million views, becoming a hot topic. During the ’Arirang’ tour, V communicates with fans in various languages. The Peruvian news agency Agencia Andina highlighted V’s Spanish remarks at the San Marcos Stadium concert in Lima as a key moment, and Latina TV reported that after V shouted, ″¡PERU ES CLAVE!″ (″Peru is key!″), the audience erupted in cheers. Meanwhile, according to a survey by the Korean Association for International Cultural Exchange, 9 out of 10 global BTS fans have studied Korean to understand the lyrics and conversations among the members in the content.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 CLOSE YOUR EYES took first place on KBS2’s ’Music Bank.’ They won the trophy on the broadcast on the 9th with the title track ″Drop That!″ from their fourth mini-album ’256th Note.’ This album surpassed 710,000 copies in initial sales after its release on the 30th of last month, setting a new personal record. On music charts, ″Drop That!″ reached a peak position of 26 on Melon’s latest release chart, 3 on Bugs’ real-time chart, and 56 on the daily chart. It entered the TOP 5 on Bugs’ real-time chart for the first time since their debut. On overseas charts, ’256th Note’ ranked 62nd on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, marking the third highest position among K-pop artists currently on that chart. Right after receiving the award, CLOSE YOUR EYES said, ″We worked really hard preparing this album, so we are truly happy to receive such a great award. Thanks to Closer (the fandom name), we have been feeling what it means to be loved these days and how happy that is.″ They added, ″We believe everything is thanks to Closer, and we will strive to become even more impressive artists who can repay them.″ The title track ″Drop That!″ samples ″Enjoy This Night″ and reinterprets it in a 90s street hip-hop style. CLOSE YOUR EYES added their unique sensibility based on bold genre experimentation and an expanded musical spectrum.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hearts2Hearts released the ending theme song ″Candy Box Lover″ for the Japanese animation ″Catch! Teenieping″ Season 4 ″Sweet and Sour Catch! Teenieping″ at midnight on the 11th through various music sites. This song is in the electro-pop genre, capturing the excitement and heartbeat of opening a candy box, blending Hearts2Hearts’s lovely and fresh charm with the animation’s worldview. Hearts2Hearts has gained positive responses from local fans by performing both the opening and ending theme songs. Additionally, they debuted in Japan by releasing their first single ″ICONIC HEART″ on August 12. The group is scheduled to attend ″Tobu Railway presents ANIMAX MUSIX 2026 supported by Lemino DAY2″ held in Yokohama on November 21. Following that, on the 22nd and 23rd, they will hold their first fan event in Tokyo Ariake Arena, ″Hearts2Hearts Japan First Fan Event ’READY! S2U’ (Hearts2Hearts JAPAN 1st Fan Event ’READY! S2U’),″ to meet local fans. Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts released the Korean version of their Japanese debut song ″ICONIC HEART″ on the 5th and plans to continue active music broadcast activities in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'Shinbyeong 4' Director Min Jin-ki&Writer Yoon Ki-young's Finale Commemorative Interview"Happy to become a 'National Series'... Still have many stories to tell"Writer Yoon Ki-young (left) and Director Min Jin-ki met with for a finale commemorative interview for the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage'. /KT Studio Genie[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Min Jin-ki and Yoon Ki-young's 'Shinbyeong' has been captivating viewers with its increasing quality with each season. It's solidifying the 'Shinbyeong' genre with episodes that evoke not just laughter and fun, but also emotion, going beyond ordinary military stories. 'Shinbyeong' promises an endless stream of stories to come.Director Min Jin-ki and Writer Yoon Ki-young recently met with at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for a finale commemorative interview for the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' (written by Yoon Ki-young&Kim Dan, directed by Min Jin-ki&Jo Jae-wook, hereinafter referred to as 'Shinbyeong 4'). The two, who were in charge of directing and writing respectively, shared various stories related to the series that has continued for four seasons.'Shinbyeong 4' is a hyper-realistic military comedy that depicts the story of Sergeant Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho), whose rank and worries have increased, facing an unpredictable military life once again with the appearance of new characters. It is the fourth season of the 'Shinbyeong' series, which was first released in 2022.Season 4, consisting of a total of 12 episodes, started with a series-high opening viewership rating of 2.8% and reached 3.6% by episode 4, achieving the highest viewership rating across all seasons. The series continued its upward trend in viewership, reaching a peak of 5.2% in its final episode aired on the 29th of last month. (Based on Nielsen Korea's national paid household ratings)Recently, Directors Min and Yoon have been realizing the popularity of the series, with viewership ratings significantly higher than previous seasons. The newly achieved record-breaking ratings have excited them. They are savoring the feeling of being rewarded with numbers for the time they struggled to meet viewers' expectations."I started every season with a sense of anxiety. Especially when I saw Season 4 starting with higher ratings than the previous season, I knew the viewers' expectations were high. So, this season, the writer and I worked even harder to ensure there would be no decline in viewership. I'm happy that 'Shinbyeong' has become a 'National Series'." (Director Min Jin-ki)ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' concluded with the highest viewership ratings in the series' history. /KT Studio GenieDirector Min has been the director for all seasons of 'Shinbyeong', from Season 1 to Season 4. While directing Season 4, he focused on the reasons why viewers should watch 'Shinbyeong'. He aimed to provide more enjoyment to a wider audience by moving beyond repetitive military stories and incorporating various forms of entertainment.The special appearances, strategically placed, served the same purpose. This season of 'Shinbyeong 4' featured YouTuber Kwak Tube and actors Kim Young-ok, Lee Han-wi, Song Young-jae, and Kim Joon-bae, enhancing the drama's entertainment value. Notably, actress Han Ga-in, who appeared as the sister of Jeon Se-gwang (played by Kim Dong-jun) in Season 3, made a real-life appearance, generating significant buzz."We planned with Kim Dong-jun for a long time to make Han Ga-in's appearance happen. (laughs) After Kim Dong-jun appeared on Han Ga-in's YouTube channel, their sibling-like chemistry became a 'meme' online, and I was curious about how it would translate to the drama." (Director Min Jin-ki)Directors Min and Yoon made Season 4 a turning point for the protagonist, Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho). They wanted to highlight that being the son of the division commander isn't always an advantage from a different perspective. This was a necessary step in expanding the worldview with successive seasons."In Season 4, we absolutely had to address Park Min-seok's background as the division commander's son. Otherwise, the character of Park Min-seok wouldn't have been able to grow. Due to the emotional aspect of being the son of someone in power, he had a strong image of a 'low-class soldier,' and we needed to shake that up. This was the right time. We wanted to show organizational satire." (Director Min Jin-ki)ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' heightened viewer interest with a unique cast combination of original members Kim Min-ho, Nam Tae-woo, and Lee Sang-jin, along with new member Lee Won-jung. /KT Studio GenieHe also expressed strong affection for the original members who have been with the series up to Season 4, including Kim Min-ho, Nam Tae-woo, and Lee Sang-jin. Directors Min and Yoon stated, "Our slogan is 'Don't lose your original intention'," and "Our goal is to not forget our rookie days in Season 1 and to continue working together for the next season.""'Shinbyeong' has maintained its original members well. (laughs) Not a single actor had an easy journey to get here. That's why they are all diligent actors who know how to protect themselves. However, we welcome them not being able to appear in the next season if they become more successful. I truly hope they do better. We can let them go with joy."Their teamwork often surprises many on set. Director Min said, "The actors can predict what direction I'm going to give," and "I can also tell their condition just by looking at their eyes." He explained that with their perfect synergy, the filming speed has noticeably increased, making it easy to shoot in any location.He also mentioned actor Lee Won-jung, who plays Kim Hyun-wook, a new addition to the 'Shinbyeong' universe this season. Kim Hyun-wook is an original character created for the drama, not present in the original work, who harbors animosity towards Park Min-seok early in the story due to a misunderstanding.The production team cited 'young energy' and 'proven acting skills' as reasons for casting Lee Won-jung. They explained that they needed a young actor who matched the age of the 'Shinbyeong' characters to expand the viewer base. After searching for an actor with solid acting skills who wouldn't disrupt the flow of the drama, they discovered Lee Won-jung.Directors Min and Yoon did not spare praise for Lee Won-jung. They described him as an actor who "crosses between good and evil," stating that he "expresses both his ace-like qualities and the hidden ambiguity within." They added, "He is so diligent that he exercised for over two months for the bathhouse scene."Writer Yoon Ki-young (left) and Director Min Jin-ki revealed their strong affection for the drama 'Shinbyeong' and their commitment to new seasons. /KT Studio GenieAs the story of 'Shinbyeong 4' approached its end, fans expressed their desire for a Season 5. Regarding this, Director Min said, "The next season is up to the viewers," and "We have more than enough stories. We will continue as long as the viewers want it." Writer Yoon also stated, "There are still many stories to tell. I will continue as long as Director Min contacts me."In fact, the production team announced the confirmation of Season 5 just one day after the finale of 'Shinbyeong 4'. While the specific broadcast period has not been determined, the production team plans to begin work on Season 5 after the spin-off movie 'Shinbyeong the Movie: Ghosts Live in the Military Hospital' (hereinafter referred to as 'Shinbyeong the Movie') and the drama 'Sunning Baseball Team'.They also requested anticipation for 'Shinbyeong the Movie', which is scheduled to be released before the new season. 'Shinbyeong the Movie' is a film set in a military hospital and features Kim Min-ho, the protagonist of the 'Shinbyeong' series, along with actors Ryu Kyung-soo and group TWICE JEONGYEON. Ryu Kyung-soo makes his first appearance in the 'Shinbyeong' universe as Yoo Jae-hoon, a mysterious soldier admitted to the military hospital. Jeong Yeon, who is making her acting debut in this work, plays the role of nurse officer Yoo Jeong-yeon.Director Min expressed confidence, saying, "It's a 'Shinbyeong' story worth seeing in theaters," and "We are expanding the space and introducing new actors accordingly. It's a completely different story from the existing 'Shinbyeong'. Viewers won't feel it's just an extension of the drama 'Shinbyeong'.""It's a story that takes place in a different space from the drama 'Shinbyeong'. Even if you haven't watched the drama, you can enjoy it purely for entertainment. In particular, we were able to freely express levels of content that were impossible on TV due to censorship. 'Shinbyeong' is evolving into various genres beyond just a drama." (Director Min Jin-ki)mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Second Challenge to Establish the 8th TeamAirs Every Sunday at 9:10 PMMBC's variety show 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung' returns for Season 2 with a bigger goal. /MBC[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] 'Kim Yeon-Koung', which started as a 'rookie director,' returns this time as a 'veteran director.' 'Kim Yeon-Koung', which captured both laughter and emotion with the players' earnestness and Kim Yeon-Koung's sincere leadership, has set a bigger goal in Season 2: establishing a professional team. With higher expectations due to the success of Season 1, it also faces the challenge of surpassing them.MBC's variety show 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung' Season 2 (hereinafter referred to as 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2') premieres today (11th). The program is the desperate and passionate founding challenge of 'veteran director' Kim Yeon-Koung and the 'sure-win Wonderdogs' (hereinafter referred to as 'Wonderdogs').While Season 1, which aired last September, depicted the first challenge of Kim Yeon-Koung, who transformed into a rookie director after retirement, and the players who got another chance to stand on the court, Season 2 moves towards a higher goal. 'Wonderdogs', which showed potential in Season 1, must now prove their worth by aiming to 'establish the 8th professional women's volleyball team.'Previously, Season 1 garnered high interest even before its broadcast simply because it was the first directorial challenge for Kim Yeon-Koung, known as a legend in the volleyball world. However, it didn't just stop at showing the post-retirement journey of a star player; it sincerely captured the growth process of Kim Yeon-Koung and the 'Wonderdogs' players, captivating even the hearts of general viewers.As a result, the viewership ratings started at 2.2% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household) and ended with a highest rating of 5.8%, receiving great love. It was also hot in terms of buzz. In the TV&OTT Non-Drama Appearance Buzz rankings for the 3rd week of November 2025 announced by K-Content Buzz Analysis Agency Good Data Corporation's Findex, Kim Yeon-Koung ranked first, and the program ranked first in TV&OTT Sunday Non-Drama Buzz for 6 consecutive weeks.The achievements also led to various awards. 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung' won 6 awards at the '2025 MBC Entertainment Awards' and set a great record of 3 awards at the 38th Korea PD Awards. It also won the Best Variety Program award in the broadcasting category at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards, proving its quality.'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2' is the desperate and passionate founding challenge of 'veteran director' Kim Yeon-Koung and the 'sure-win Wonderdogs.' /MBCAt the center of these achievements was the new appearance of Kim Yeon-Koung, who moved from player to coach. Having dominated the court for a long time as a world-class player, he now had to look at each player's skills as well as the entire team. He sternly pointed out plays that did not meet expectations, while also praising players who performed well.In particular, Kim Yeon-Koung's characteristic blunt speaking style created both sincerity as a coach and entertainment value. His direct advice to the players heightened the tension while also eliciting laughter. His honest emotional expression in the face of victory or defeat also added to the sincerity.The stories of the 'Wonderdogs' players also contributed to the program's strength. In Season 1, players who were released from the professional league, players from industrial teams, and players dreaming of a comeback after retirement gathered for various reasons. Since there is no professional second division league in women's volleyball, there were not many opportunities for players pushed out of the first division to challenge for a professional spot again.The gathered players began to prove their worth again under the name 'Wonderdogs.' Although they initially seemed like a collection of players with different backgrounds, their growth into one team as the games progressed resonated with viewers.Viewers naturally became immersed in their growth. As the season progressed, fans emerged who cheered for specific players and 'Wonderdogs.' After the season ended, a fan meeting with Director Kim Yeon-Koung and the players was even held, concluding Season 1's journey with the viewers.Now, Season 2 goes one step further. Kim Yeon-Koung, now a 'veteran director,' and the players aim to establish the 8th team. The production team also emphasized that this could be the last chance if a club owner does not appear, foreshadowing a more intense competition.'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2' meets viewers every Sunday at 9:10 PM. /MBCNew faces will also join. The 'Wonderdogs' players, still shrouded in mystery, will be reborn as one team under Kim Yeon-Koung's direction, each with their own stories and goals. As the players' stories in Season 1 drew viewers in, the stories that the newly joined players will create will also be an important point to watch.Yang Hyo-jin, who led the golden generation of Korean women's volleyball with Kim Yeon-Koung, joins as a commentator, adding new fun to the program. Yang Hyo-jin has written the history of Korean women's volleyball by playing as a middle blocker representing the national team and V-League for a long time. Based on her extensive game experience and understanding of volleyball, she is expected to easily convey the game's flow and players' plays.However, high expectations are also the biggest hurdle for Season 2 to overcome. The success of Season 1 had the powerful weapon of being the first. The first directorial challenge of the retired Kim Yeon-Koung, and the process of players from their respective positions coming together to form a team, were all new and fresh to viewers. Season 2 must create new fun based on a now-familiar setting.In particular, maintaining the balance between sports and entertainment, which was a strength of Season 1, is important. The success of Season 2 will depend on how much unexpected stories can be drawn out without simply repeating the success of Season 1.In Season 1, 'Wonderdogs' grew from 'underdogs' into a team with whom viewers cried and laughed together over wins and losses. Now, what they must prove is not potential, but sustainability. It remains to be seen whether the solid asset of Season 1's success will become the driving force for Season 2, or rather a high wall to overcome.'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2' will premiere on the 11th at 9:10 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Yoon So-hee has recently been suffering from malicious comments online. Following the controversy over Park Wi’s ’KTX Accident CCTV Release,’ criticism has also been directed at Yoon So-hee, who is known as the adopted daughter of Park Chan-hong PD, Park Wi’s father. As the video of Park Wi spending Chuseok with his family, which he had shared in the past, gained renewed attention, the appearance of Park Wi’s parents, actress Yoon So-hee, and Park Wi’s wife Song Ji-eun together in the video was reexamined on online communities. Although it was not a major issue at the time, the video became a hot topic again after the recent Park Wi controversy. Some netizens raised suspicions that Park Wi’s parents discriminated against daughter-in-law Song Ji-eun and Yoon So-hee in the video. Allegations included differences in tableware at the meal, only praising Yoon So-hee who graduated from KAIST, and Park Wi mentioning Yoon So-hee before Song Ji-eun when praying. While some considered these claims to be groundless speculation, the discrimination controversy escalated, focusing criticism on Yoon So-hee as well. Since the 7th, some malicious comments have been posted on Yoon So-hee’s recent SNS posts, along with questions about her relationship with the Park Wi family. Comments crossing the line, such as ″What a bizarre relationship,″ continued, but Yoon So-hee has neither closed nor deleted the comment section. Yoon So-hee gained attention last year by appearing on the Netflix variety show ’Devil’s Plan: Death Room.’ After seemingly conceding the championship by giving up betting in the final match against Jung Hyun-kyu, she suffered from malicious comments from viewers after the show ended. There were also suspicions about her relationship with Jung Hyun-kyu, with whom she had formed an alliance throughout the game. She has since clarified the situation through various content, gradually erasing the negative image. However, due to the recent ’Song Ji-eun Discrimination’ allegations, Yoon So-hee is once again suffering from malicious comments.]]> FANNSTAR Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 On October 9th, the final competition took place on KBS 2TV’s ″Happy Together - Glad Not to Be Alone.″ The last stage of the broadcast was decorated by the grandmothers of the Kkotme Youth Choir from Haenam. Before going on stage, the grandmothers of the Kkotme Youth Choir revealed their longevity photos and said, ″There are fewer years to live than the years we have lived. As we get older, we feel a bit sad,″ evoking deep emotions. Afterwards, the grandmothers sang ″Becoming a Thousand Winds″ with all their might, and this performance brought tears to both the MCs and the audience. RESCENE Woni said, ″I was crying even before they started singing. Photos from the past were passing by next to me, and I was so moved. I want to tell the grandmothers that their life starts now. It was such a touching stage.″ Jang Hang-jun also said, ″I’m usually someone who really doesn’t cry. I’m cold-blooded, but I never imagined I would cry watching the choir,″ adding, ″I think this stage will be remembered for a long time. It will remain not sad anymore but beautiful and touching. Thank you for showing such a wonderful stage. Please stay healthy for a long time.″ Woorim Ko said, ″I’m often told that I don’t cry anywhere and that I have no blood or tears, but listening to the choir’s song today made me shed a tear. I sincerely thank you for becoming a hope for the mothers and creating a precious opportunity for new experiences.″ Various teams performed on this day’s competition. The Fantastic Pair team Hwang Ji-won and Lee Minwoo, known as the superstar of Dangjin, took the stage, and the Underground Parking team passionately sang Fly to the Sky’s ″Sea Of Love″ with support from Pentagon’s Wooseok and S.E.S’s Bada. The Famous Voices team Jeon Sang-geun and Shin Ye-young chose Kim Bum-soo’s ″Last Love″ and received praise from Yoon Jong-shin as ″Kim Bum-soo’s successors,″ along with early congratulations on their victory. Intti Band’s Lee Hae-in and Natti, who met on an audition program, selected BoA’s ″No.1″ and presented the only dance performance. After the stage, a video letter from Natti’s father was revealed, and Natti tearfully said, ″I never imagined this. My dad has never spoken like this directly. But hearing this makes me feel like I endured well and did well.″ Bang Da-sik, the father, and Jeong Mi-young, the mother, joined the Bangga Bangga team on stage and sang SG WANNABE’s ″La La La.″ Jang Hang-jun commented, ″I was so envious of a family that can become one through song and music. What should my family do on stage? Should the three of us write a script? It was a wonderful stage that healed me.″ Woorim Ko also said, ″Watching the stage reminded me a lot of my mother. My mother majored in vocal music and has been involved in music for a very long time. I hope the day comes when I can sing on stage with her.″ The MCs for the day were Yoo Jae-suk, Yoon Jong-shin, Jang Hang-jun, RESCENE Woni, Minami, Forestella’s Woorim Ko, and Kang Hyung-ho.]]> FANNSTAR Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Monsta X shared a relaxed Friday night atmosphere through their official SNS. In the released photo, a Monsta X member is wearing a white jacket and a black hat, smiling and looking straight ahead in an indoor space. They struck a pointing pose with one hand, radiating bright and positive energy. The background features mirrors and lighting, adding a stylish and sophisticated vibe. A beverage bottle is also visible, indicating a comfortable time. This post is a casual daily share to communicate with fans, showcasing a friendly charm different from their glamorous stage presence. While intensifying preparations for upcoming activities and albums, Monsta X continues to maintain warm interactions with fans in between.]]> FANNSTAR Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Bang Chan shared an update along with his sophisticated fashion style. Recently, he posted a photo on SNS showing him wearing a black shirt and pants while looking through several clothes hanging on a rack. In a space where a brick wall and wooden shelves harmonize, Bang Chan exuded a calm yet trendy atmosphere. In another photo matching blue jeans with a denim jacket, he showcased a stylish look by wearing sunglasses and gazing at the camera. Especially with his short blonde hair as a highlight, his ″thumbs up″ pose revealed a relaxed and confident attitude. The background, featuring a brick wall, metal structures, and displayed watches, completed a modern vibe. In this post, Bang Chan revealed his connection with the global watch brand Breitling (@breitling) by adding the hashtags ’#STAY #Breitling.’ He emphasized his unique style by adding a sense of taste not only to his fashion items but also to his choice of watch. Meanwhile, Bang Chan was spotted departing through Incheon International Airport on the 9th to attend an event held in Singapore. Fans’ attention is focused on his future activities.]]> FANNSTAR Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900