https://en.fannstar.tf.co.kr FANNSTAR RSS Service - All Articles copyright (c) FANNSTAR fannstar@tf.co.kr A showdown between a free-spirited genius chef and a perfectionist hard workerFirst broadcast on October 24th at 10:40 PMStill cuts of actors Ahn Hyo-seop (top left) and Jang Ryul, who will be working together in JTBC's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Final Table,' have been released. /SLL, BA Entertainment, Film Company Doo-jung[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Actors Ahn Hyo-seop and Jang Ryul will go head-to-head for the title of best chef.The production team of JTBC's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Final Table' (written and directed by Kim Do-hoon) released still cuts on the 30th of Kang Han (played by Ahn Hyo-seop) and Cha Woo-jin (played by Jang Ryul), who will compete in cooking in different ways.'Final Table' is a drama that depicts a feast of spectacular food and intriguing stories by Korean chefs from all over the world for the 'The Table: K Chef 2026' competition to select the best Korean chef.Kang Han, played by Ahn Hyo-seop, is the head chef of the restaurant 'Familia,' a genius with innate aesthetic sense and excellent learning ability. As befits his free-spirited personality, he signs contracts with different restaurants each year rather than staying in one place. Thanks to this, he has his own unique style that encompasses culinary methods from various countries, not limited to one nation.On the other hand, Cha Woo-jin, played by Jang Ryul, has taken the opposite path. He is the head chef of 'Excepcion,' the best restaurant in Korea, having trained at a prestigious culinary school. He is a perfectionist who does not allow even the slightest mistake and has honed his skills through rigorous practice. Like his personality, his cooking is spectacular yet precise and strictly formal.Although the two have little in common, from their upbringing to their personalities and the cuisine they pursue, they share one commonality: their sincerity in cooking. They would go to the ends of the earth to obtain better ingredients, and they do not overlook even minor details, from the plating angle to the doneness of the food. The pride match between the two chefs, who have completed their own unique dishes in different ways, is highly anticipated.Above all, this is not the first time Kang Han and Cha Woo-jin have competed. The two previously clashed at a cooking competition held overseas. At that time, Kang Han took first place and Cha Woo-jin took second, making the results of their rematch in 'The Table: K Chef 2026' highly anticipated.'Final Table,' consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on October 24th at 10:40 PM.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Performance on the main stage from 7 PM on October 3rdSinger MUZI (left) and Lee Min-hyuk will co-star at 'EDC KOREA 2026' on the 3rd. / Brand New Music, BTOB Company[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Multi-tainer MUZI and BTOB member Lee Min-hyuk (HUTA) will co-star at the global EDM festival.Agencies Brand New Music and BTOB Company announced on the 30th that MUZI and Lee Min-hyuk will appear at the electronic music festival 'EDC KOREA 2026', held at the Inspire Entertainment Resort Discovery Park in Incheon on October 3rd.On this day, MUZI and Lee Min-hyuk will take the stage together at 'KINETIC FIELD', the main stage of 'EDC KOREA 2026', from 7 PM to 8 PM.In particular, for this performance, MUZI has prepared and will premiere a specially remixed version of Lee Min-hyuk's new title track 'Icy & Spicy' and album track 'KO' live.Expectations are high for how 'Icy & Spicy', with its powerful Afro House rhythm, and 'KO', an industrial hip-hop genre, will be reborn when they meet MUZI's electronic sound.Lee Min-hyuk also plans to showcase a special performance filled with explosive energy to match the festival atmosphere. Attention is focused on the synergy that will be created by the meeting of MUZI, the representative 'multi-tainer' of the music industry, and Lee Min-hyuk, the 'festival king'.'EDC KOREA 2026' will be held on October 3rd and 4th at the Inspire Entertainment Resort Discovery Park in Incheon.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Attended the press call for 'Opera'... Plays Louis XIV"I did my best as I made a big decision to appear"Actor Jo Byeong-gyu said at the press call for the musical 'Opera' held at Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 30th, "I prepared diligently as it is my first musical." / Orchard C&C[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actor Jo Byeong-gyu revealed his feelings about performing on stage for the musical 'Opera' before his enlistment.At the press call for the musical 'Opera' held at Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul at 3 p.m. on the 30th, Jo Byeong-gyu said, "I am deeply moved that my first musical is 'Opera'," and added, "I did my best."'Opera' is a work that shows what is lost when art is possessed as an ornament of power, through the relationship between Louis XIV, a symbol of absolute monarchy in France, and the two artists Molière and Jean-Baptiste Lully. Jo Byeong-gyu plays the role of the Sun King Louis, who tries to prove himself through art.On this day, Jo Byeong-gyu said, "I wanted to appear in a work by Chu Jeong-hwa, who is in charge of writing and directing 'Opera,' since I was 21," and added, "Thanks to preparing with my favorite seniors, the stress of it being my 'first work' was less. I received a lot of help."However, he admitted to having concerns about singing. Jo Byeong-gyu reflected, "My singing skills were lacking, and I didn't know much about the musical genre, so appearing in this 'musical' was a big personal decision," and said, "I did my best and worked hard."He also shared his feelings about his upcoming military enlistment. Jo Byeong-gyu said, "After 'Opera,' I plan to temporarily step down from civilian status," and added, "As I have been acting for a long time, I am curious about myself as a person, not an actor, for about a year and a half. I will endure well and return safely."Jo Byeong-gyu debuted in 2015 with the KBS2 drama 'Who Are You: School 2015' and has since appeared in works such as 'Money Flower,' 'SKY Castle,' 'Arthdal Chronicles,' 'Hot Stove League,' and 'The Uncanny Counter.'The musical 'Opera' will be performed from October 1st to 18th at Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "I will continue to work together to promote the museum and our culture."BTS RM donated 100 million won through the National Museum of Korea Society, a museum support group. This will be used to purchase and donate museum collections in the future. /THE FACT DB[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Group BTS member RM donated 100 million won for the purpose of purchasing National Museum of Korea collections.The National Museum of Korea announced on the 30th, "RM delivered a donation of 100 million won the previous day through the National Museum of Korea Society, a museum support group." This donation will be used by the National Museum of Korea Society to purchase and donate museum collections in the future.The National Museum of Korea Society is carrying out various support projects, including the purchase of relics, academic support, and the creation of museum facilities. In 2023, it purchased and donated the Joseon Dynasty's 'Mother-of-Pearl Lotus Vine Box' to the National Museum of Korea, and in 2024, it purchased and donated Hwang Ghiro's 'Choseo' from the early Joseon Dynasty.Previously, RM exercised a positive influence by donating 100 million won each to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation in 2021 and 2022, hoping it would help preserve, restore, and utilize overseas Korean cultural heritage.Furthermore, appointed as the global ambassador for the National Museum of Korea in June, he has shown his commitment to promoting interest in the museum and Korean culture through donations.RM stated, "I am happy to be able to support the museum as the global ambassador for the National Museum of Korea. I will continue to work together to promote the museum and our culture."In addition, a special exhibition 'RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me' with RM and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will be held from October 3rd (local time) to February 7th of next year.This is the first exhibition to showcase RM's personal collection at a museum, and it is expected to attract more attention as approximately 180 works, including about 140 items he has collected, will be displayed together.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 IDID celebrated their 1st anniversary since debut by revealing a photo shoot and interview in the October issue of the fashion magazine DAZED KOREA. Composed of Jang Yong-hoon, Kim Min-jae, Park Won-bin, Chu Yoo-chan, Park Seong-hyeon, Baek Jun-hyuk, and Jeong Se-min, IDID showcased various styling in this photo shoot. In the photo shoot, they created a chic and dreamy atmosphere by pulling off challenging makeup such as red-toned eyeshadow, white eyelashes, and bold eyeliner. They expressed a winter vibe with white outfits and emphasized a hip-hop personality with black styling. In the interview, IDID reflected on their activities over the past year and revealed that they appeared more relaxed than during the DAZED shoot before their debut. The members shared their thoughts, saying, ″Standing in front of the camera, I truly felt how much I have grown,″ and ″Standing here again after a year, I felt proud that there are many more faces we can show during that time.″ They also mentioned various efforts for musical growth, including studying composition and songwriting, learning English for global communication, and showing interest in styling. Additionally, they expressed their passion for teamwork and music. IDID debuted last September with their first mini-album I did it. and won first place on music shows just 12 days after debut. Since then, they have released the digital single PUSH BACK and the single album FLY!, winning rookie awards at major award ceremonies. IDID is scheduled to attend the Asia Artist Awards (AAA 2026) held at the National Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, this December.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS member RM is revealing his personal art collection, which he has been gathering for about 10 years, for the first time at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in the United States. SFMOMA will hold a special exhibition titled ″RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me″ from October 3 to February 7, 2027. This exhibition is the first time RM’s personal collection is showcased in a museum and marks SFMOMA’s first collaboration with a K-pop artist since its establishment. Approximately 140 pieces from RM’s collection, combined with SFMOMA’s holdings, will bring together a total of around 180 works. Many of the pieces collected by RM will be exhibited in the United States for the first time. The exhibition highlights universal themes such as nature, memory, and human existence across time and cultures through various media. It also offers a comprehensive view of the flow of Korean art from the 6th century to the present, including ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures. Works by masters of modern and contemporary Korean art such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rae-hyun, Jang Uk-jin, Kwon Ok-yeon, Kim Yoon-shin, and Do Sang-bong will be displayed alongside SFMOMA’s collection, which includes pieces by Kim Whanki, Nam June Paik, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe. RM actively participated not only in lending works but also in the overall planning and curation of the exhibition. He collaborated with SFMOMA co-curators America Castillo and Kim Hyo-eun from the selection of works to the conceptualization of the exhibition, and personally wrote the exhibition texts and artwork descriptions in both Korean and English. Additionally, he prepared bilingual audio guides recorded in his own voice and the music played throughout the exhibition space. Through his agency Big Hit Music, RM stated, ″This is the first time I am sharing my collection under my own name. I believe it is rare for a collection amassed over a long time to honestly reveal the person behind it. In that sense, this exhibition will be quite an extended self-introduction.″ He added, ″My collection includes many works by modern and contemporary Korean artists. Some names may still be unfamiliar outside Korea, but I have collected them with the hope of adding a better perspective and sensibility, and this process has led to this exhibition.″ SFMOMA introduced the exhibition on its official website, saying, ″RM of the world-renowned pop group BTS has been collecting works that move his heart for nearly a decade. Now, about 150 pieces from his personal collection will be brought together with SFMOMA’s holdings, showing unexpected connections that link different artists, ideas, and cultures.″ Christopher Bedford, director of SFMOMA, explained, ″This project closely aligns with SFMOMA’s direction to expand global conversations around art. It creates space for new voices in the museum while inviting visitors who have encountered contemporary and Korean art through RM to this place.″ The museum stated that this exhibition offers an opportunity to closely examine what inspires RM and why. Visitors can explore his personal thoughts and stories about the works through exhibition texts written by RM himself and audio guides narrated in his voice. RM said, ″I hope people feel how fun and enjoyable it is just to go see an exhibition through this opportunity.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong showcased a musical transformation with the new song ″Moise.″ ″Moise″ is a track that Lim Young Woong personally participated in writing and composing, included in the special digital album ″IM HERO 10.″ It features an exciting melody and heartfelt lyrics. Lim Young Woong introduced this song at the 2026 concert ″IM HERO - THE STADIUM 2,″ describing it as ″a song that fits perfectly on a festival day.″ Indeed, the music video focuses on the theme of ″gathering,″ as suggested by the title, portraying the entire village preparing for a festival together, with traditional festival scenes such as lion mask dances and pungmul performances presented in a modern way. The video begins with the phrase, ″The call from the eastern end, a tune of Korea, tonight Moise.″ The lyrics contain messages emphasizing community, such as ″Eolsu, good, Jihwaja, Korea is great,″ and ″From Hallasan to Seoraksan, brothers from every corner, let’s go, we are one.″ Rather than personal emotions like love or farewell, collective themes like ″Korea,″ ″brothers,″ and ″one″ are repeatedly expressed. The music video prominently features many people enjoying the festival together. As of the 30th, the official music video for ″Moise″ surpassed 2 million views on YouTube, achieving this milestone about two weeks after its release on the 15th. ″Moise″ is regarded as following a similar path to Cho Yong-pil’s representative song ″Let’s Go on a Trip,″ as it aims to be a festival song that everyone enjoys together across generations and regions. Released in 1985, ″Let’s Go on a Trip″ is a classic festival and travel song loved for its simple lyrics and lively melody. Hijacker Studio, which produced the ″Moise″ music video, explained that the core of the song is ″people coming together and becoming one,″ and they realized this concept through the visual world of ″a grand feast of Korea.″ Lim Young Woong also set new records with this year’s performances. At ″IM HERO 10 - THE STADIUM 2 IN GOYANG,″ held in September at Goyang Sports Complex, a total of 95,798 people attended over three days, bringing the cumulative concert audience to over 1 million.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 October 3rd at Cinemathque KOFA... Director Yeon Sang-ho to hold GVDirector Yeon Sang-ho's 'Train to Busan' will meet audiences again on October 3rd at Cinemathque KOFA in a 4K remastered version to commemorate its 10th anniversary. /Work Poster[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Director Yeon Sang-ho's 'Train to Busan' will return to audiences to celebrate its 10th anniversary.The Korean Film Archive announced on the 30th, "A special screening to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the release of the movie 'Train to Busan' (directed by Yeon Sang-ho) will be held at Cinemathque KOFA at 4:30 PM on October 3rd," adding, "This screening will feature the work in a 4K remastered version."Released in 2016, 'Train to Busan' is a film that depicts the struggle for survival of passengers on a KTX train heading to Busan from Seoul amidst an outbreak of an unknown infection. The film was directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starred actors Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Kim Eui-sung, Choi Woo-shik, and Ahn So-hee.'Train to Busan' was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, and after its release in Korea, it achieved the feat of surpassing 10 million viewers, becoming the first Korean zombie film to do so.In particular, the film captivated audiences by depicting the rapidly spreading infection in the confined space of a train and the choices made by various characters in response to it. Since then, Director Yeon has built his own worldview by presenting zombie-themed works such as 'Peninsula' and 'Hellbound'.Meanwhile, 'Train to Busan', celebrating its 10th anniversary, is being re-released sequentially in overseas theaters, starting with the Philippines, followed by North America, Japan, and Italy, meeting audiences in foreign cinemas.In response, the Korean Film Archive has organized this special screening to provide domestic audiences with the opportunity to re-experience 'Train to Busan' in a 4K remastered version in theaters. Both audiences who watched it at the time of its release and those encountering the film for the first time can enjoy the movie on the big screen.Additionally, a GV (Guest Visit) session with director Yeon Sang-ho and film critic Kim Bong-seok will be held after the screening. They will discuss the production behind-the-scenes of 'Train to Busan' and its significance in the history of Korean genre films. Detailed screening schedules related to this can be found on the Korean Film Archive's website.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWICE raised anticipation for the new year by releasing the teaser image for the 2027 season greeting ’Spotless.’ The season greeting teaser features member Tzuyu wearing a teal short-sleeve t-shirt paired with white panties. Tzuyu is shown with her long hair naturally down, holding several colorful envelopes in both hands, smiling and looking straight ahead in a room with floral wallpaper and a display cabinet in the background. The clean yet bright atmosphere stands out, capturing the fans’ attention. TWICE announced that pre-orders for this season greeting will be available from 2 PM on October 6 until midnight on the 14th. The season greeting, which receives great interest every year, is expected to be a special gift for fans. Meanwhile, TWICE is drawing attention not only for their active music activities but also for the individual pursuits of the members. Recently, Jeongyeon expanded her activities as an actress and released new profile photos, Jihyo showcased new attempts in stage costume choices, and Dahyun communicated with fans in various ways, including attending the official schedule of the Jecheon International Film Festival.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 LE SSERAFIM Sakura continues her global journey by being selected as a ’Friend of the House’ for the Italian luxury jewelry brand Damiani. Recently, Sakura shared posts on her SNS introducing Damiani’s beautiful jewelry and promoted related content published in the official digital magazine Elle Digital. She especially expressed her affection by recommending Damiani’s pieces centered around her favorite items. In the newly released photoshoot, she attracted attention by showcasing diverse styling under soft lighting inside a vehicle and natural light. Sakura wore various outfits including a white dress, beige dress, yellow jacket and dress, and black dress, accessorized with Damiani’s elegant necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The sophisticated jewelry harmonizing with her pink hair highlighted her unique charm even more. Damiani’s ’Friend of the House’ plays a role in deeply connecting with the brand and widely promoting the beauty and value of its jewelry. With this selection, Sakura raises expectations for ongoing collaborations with the luxury brand and reaffirms her global influence as a K-pop star. Meanwhile, Sakura is actively performing on festival stages with LE SSERAFIM members and continues steady communication with fans by sharing various certification shots and on-site moments on SNS. Her activities in various fields are highly anticipated going forward.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Trot singer Park Min Su has recently been actively communicating with fans by participating in the ’Blink Blink Challenge’ through SNS. Park Min Su captivated fans’ attention with bright and cheerful energy while taking on the challenge. In the video and photos of this challenge, Park Min Su wore a white top, a blue vest, and a yellow skirt, raising both hands and performing a lively dance, adding a sense of friendliness by smiling and looking straight at the camera. Filmed in an indoor hallway, the video conveyed a cheerful atmosphere, bringing joy to viewers. This challenge was made even more meaningful by the participation of Hong SeongYoon, who is gaining attention as the next-generation trot star. The two showed a natural and bright chemistry while coordinating with each other, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans. The ’Blink Blink Challenge’ is an SNS participatory content popular among trot fans, and through this participation, Park Min Su once again proved their own vibrant charm. Recently, Park Min Su has been actively engaging in music activities with the new song ’Blink Blink,’ consistently communicating with the public. Fans have shown a warm response to Park Min Su’s bright and lively appearance and cheerful participation in the challenge, expressing high expectations for future activities. Park Min Su will continue to communicate with fans with their unique energy going forward.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Kim Sa-rang recently revealed scenes of her visiting various locations during her trip to New York through her YouTube channel ’Kim Sa-rang sa rang.’ In the video, Kim Sa-rang enjoyed her travels by touring major landmarks such as New York’s ’9/11 Memorial’ and ’Oculus,’ as well as architectural works designed by Santiago Calatrava. The video also included scenes of her having a meal and conversation with a longtime acquaintance who is a landscape designer. On the evening of the fourth day of her trip, Kim Sa-rang attracted attention by visiting a famous local pizzeria. That day, she wore a black off-shoulder halter neck dress that created a sophisticated atmosphere. The deeply cut neckline and body-hugging silhouette emphasized her figure, and she naturally tied her long hair up, revealing her neckline and collarbones. Even in the ordinary scene of eating pizza, she created a photoshoot-like ambiance. Comparing the pizzas from two stores, Kim Sa-rang stated through subtitles, ″Since COVID-19, many night markets like this have really appeared in New York. It’s so nice to sit outside and chat on a pleasant night like this.″ She then visited a jazz bar with her acquaintances and shared her impression, saying, ″I think I spent today quite like a New Yorker.″ Meanwhile, Kim Sa-rang was born in 1978 and was selected as the winner of the 2000 Miss Korea pageant. The following year, she began her acting career with the MBC drama ’What Should I Do?’ She later appeared in films such as ’Who Slept with Her?’ and dramas including ’Secret Garden’ and ’My Dear Eun-dong.’ Since 2021’s ’Revenge,’ she has not been active in any notable projects.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jo Kwon recently revealed his muscular physique and shared an update on his recent life. Jo Kwon, formerly of 2AM, posted a photo and video on his SNS on the 28th with the caption ″run.″ The photo showed Jo Kwon running shirtless on the streets of Thailand. His defined muscles and tattoos on his arms and collarbone caught attention. Previously, Jo Kwon appeared on the MBN variety show ’Jeon Hyun-moo Project 4’ and revealed that his weight is 59kg, mentioning that even though he eats a lot, he always stays in the 50kg range. Additionally, Jo Kwon opened up about why his broadcasting activities had been scarce since April, explaining that during his military service, his mother underwent foot amputation surgery due to skin cancer, and his father had four surgeries for colorectal cancer, causing him to go through a difficult time due to his family’s health issues. He has since been focusing on caring for his parents.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Pre-release of 'Looks Can Kill' on the 19th, release on the 26thGroup IVE has released their promotion scheduler and officially begun their comeback countdown. The photo shows IVE Rei Gaeul Jang Won-young, An Yu-jin Leeseo Liz (from left) attending the media showcase for their second full album 'REVIVE+' held on February 23rd. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group IVE has heated up the comeback atmosphere by releasing a stylish schedule poster.On the afternoon of the 29th, their agency Starship Entertainment released the schedule poster for their new mini-album 'Looks Can Kill' on IVE (An Yu-jin Gaeul Rei Jang Won-young Liz Leeseo)'s official social media.The poster features IVE's promotion schedule in a banner format, combining bold fonts and intense colors, drawing attention.According to the schedule, IVE will release the tracklist on October 4th, followed by 'HERO IN EVERYWHERE' content on the 5th, and 'POST CREDITS SCENE : GIRL HERO' content on the 6th, before unveiling concept photos in various versions.Subsequently, on October 19th, the title track of the same name, 'Looks Can Kill', will be pre-released, and the new mini-album 'Looks Can Kill' will be officially released on October 26th.IVE is set to showcase a 'girl hero' concept in their new album 'Looks Can Kill'. / Starship EntertainmentIVE's new album 'Looks Can Kill' is a spin-off project based on the 'girl hero' concept. They will transform into six heroes, expanding on their previous Cupid and magical girl concepts with new characters and storylines.Having consistently shown new sides with each album through unique concepts and music, IVE is determined to deliver even more intense visuals and music, along with their signature confident message, in 'Looks Can Kill'.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Yang Joon-il recently communicated with fans by sharing various Instagram posts and photos through official SNS. In the released photos, Yang Joon-il was seen wearing a black jacket with see-through lace details directly on bare skin. Another photo captured Yang Joon-il smiling and enjoying the stage performance. In a recent post, Yang Joon-il wrote, ″NSM My Qs & Ks, Monday will pass quickly like a holiday. So October 10 will come quickly too,″ expressing anticipation for upcoming events. Yang Joon-il actively interacts with fans through a unique musical world and fashion sense.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Hwang Jung-eum revealed a photo of herself going out wearing socks with holes. On the 30th, Hwang Jung-eum posted a photo of herself getting into a car on her personal channel with the caption, ″Ha, is it Yebini or Yeju-ni?″ In the photo, Hwang Jung-eum is dressed comfortably for an outing, and the socks she is wearing have a large hole. Hwang Jung-eum mentioned one of her dogs, Yebin or Yejun, as the culprit who made the hole in the socks. Currently, Hwang Jung-eum is raising her two sons alone after divorcing her ex-husband and communicates with fans through her YouTube channel.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong demonstrated musical influence by simultaneously charting 14 songs on the Billboard Korea ’Global K-Songs’ chart. On the October 3, 2026, Billboard Korea ’Global K-Songs’ chart, Lim Young Woong set a record by entering 14 tracks. Among them, ″Love Always Runs Away″ ranked highest at 16th place and remained on the chart for 36 consecutive weeks. ″TtoTto″ reached 24th place, and ″Please Be Happy″ ranked 39th. ″Moise″ (72nd), ″Baila″ (74th), ″To Us Who Have Lived″ (75th), and ″I Hate You″ (77th) also made the rankings. Following these were ″Like Forever in a Moment″ (79th), ″Grains of Sand″ (80th), ″Our Blues″ (81st), ″New York″ (82nd), ″A Bientot″ (83rd), ″Melody for You″ (91st), and ″I Am HERO″ (100th). In particular, ″Our Blues″ stayed on the chart for 20 weeks, continuing its long-term success. This chart entry includes songs evenly from various periods, ranging from Lim Young Woong’s early representative works to tracks from the special album ″IM HERO 10.″ Lim Young Woong recently surpassed 3.2 billion cumulative views on YouTube and 14.6 billion cumulative streams on Melon. Through various musical activities and new projects, Lim Young Woong continues to engage with fans.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group CLOSE YOUR EYES's KENSHIN, SONG SEUNGHO, JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, KIM SUNGMIN, JANG YEOJUN, SEO KYOUNGBAE (from left) pose at a press conference for their fourth mini-album '256th Note' held at the Mont Blanc Hall of The Riverside Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 30th. /Reporter Park Sang-min [THE FACT | Reporter Park Sang-min] Group CLOSE YOUR EYES's KENSHIN, SONG SEUNGHO, JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, KIM SUNGMIN, JANG YEOJUN, SEO KYOUNGBAE pose at a press conference for their fourth mini-album '256th Note' held at the Mont Blanc Hall of The Riverside Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 30th. CLOSE YOUR EYES's new album '256th Note' is inspired by the 256th note, one of the shortest notes in existence, and is an album that expresses the 'fleeting emotions' felt by the members. The album includes a total of 7 tracks, including the pre-release song 'Open Your Eyes,' which lyrically expresses the free sense of jazz, the title track 'Drop That!,' 'Vibe Check,' 'Slowly Bleed,' 'Fool For You,' 'Baby Bossa Nova,' and 'Eternity.' CLOSE YOUR EYES members added authenticity by participating in the lyrics of many of the included songs. The new album will be released at 6 p.m. today through various music sites. psm27@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The only survivor of the camping school bus disappearance, Ryu Sun-woo... Stills revealedOpening October 21Character stills of actor Bae Hyun-sung, who appears in the movie 'Paradise', have been released. /CJ ENM[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Actor Bae Hyun-sung will show a different side of himself than ever before in his first leading role on the big screen.Distributor CJ ENM released character stills of actor Bae Hyun-sung, who plays Ryu Sun-woo in the movie 'Paradise' (directed by Yeon Sang-ho), on the 30th. The photos capture the unknown atmosphere of Ryu Sun-woo, who has returned after a long absence.'Paradise' is a psychological thriller that begins when Ryu Sun-woo, who was presumed dead, miraculously returns to his mother Ryu So-young (played by Kim Hyun-joo), who lost her son in a camping school bus disappearance 9 years ago.Ryu So-young, who lost her son 9 years ago, has been enduring day by day by meeting her son, who stopped at the age of ten, within the AI (Artificial Intelligence) program 'Children of Paradise'. Then one day, Ryu Sun-woo, who was thought to be dead, returns home after 9 years, and Ryu So-young's daily life begins to shake.Ryu Sun-woo, played by Bae Hyun-sung, is the sole survivor of the camping school bus disappearance that shook the nation. Although he has returned to his mother's side after a long time, the traces of the innocent child that Ryu So-young remembers are hard to find. What he did and where he was during his lost time is shrouded in mystery, adding to the questions.Bae Hyun-sung, who is taking on his first leading role on the big screen with this film, focused on not easily revealing the character's inner thoughts. He said, "I felt the charm in the coolness of not knowing what Sun-woo was thinking. I wanted to create a coolness that emanated from a restrained attitude rather than an overtly scary one."Director Yeon Sang-ho praised him, saying, "Ryu Sun-woo had to be a mysterious character with both innocent and cool sides, and I thought Bae Hyun-sung could show those dual aspects. I was surprised by his concentration and his acting ability to instantly turn into a cool character."The stills capture the atmosphere of Ryu Sun-woo, whose inner thoughts are unknown, with different temperatures. First, Ryu Sun-woo, who quietly looks at his reflection in the mirror, shows little emotion. His calm expression and deep, sunken eyes add to the curiosity about the secrets he holds.Next, a scene of him standing alone in front of a fence in the middle of the night creates tension. Ryu Sun-woo, dressed in worn clothes, stares straight ahead in the darkness. It sparks curiosity as to why he is standing there and what connection it has to his time of disappearance.Bae Hyun-sung's movie 'Paradise', which will show a new face through his first leading role on the big screen, will meet audiences in theaters on October 21st.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Allegations of historical distortion and Chinese capital, followed by a police complaintAmidst continuous controversy, it regains the No. 1 spot at the box office, drawing attention.The film "Assassination(s)" is a work that uses the assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo during the 1974 Liberation Day ceremony as its motif, filling the gaps in official records with cinematic imagination and presenting the story as a suspense genre. The photo shows actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho (from left) posing at the press preview and conference for the film "Assassination(s)" held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on September 8. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] The film "Assassination(s)," which became the winner of the Chuseok holiday box office, is at the center of attention due to various negative controversies, including historical distortion and allegations of Chinese capital. As these controversies affect not only the cast but also related content, spreading widely, attention is focused on whether the film can continue its box office success despite the noise."Assassination(s)" (directed by Hur Jin-ho), released on the 23rd, is a mystery thriller that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the shocking assassination of the First Lady on August 15, 1974, adding cinematic imagination to the remaining records and unresolved questions to this day.The film was directed by Hur Jin-ho, who has delicately explored characters and events through films like "The Last Princess" and "Christmas in August," and raised expectations with the collaboration of Yoo Hae-jin, the "No. 1 in cumulative audience for Korean films," Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho.Furthermore, it garnered significant attention from the production stage as it was motivated by the assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo during the 1974 Liberation Day ceremony, an event that had never been covered in Korean cinema before. The incident was investigated as Moon Se-gwang, backed by North Korea and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chochongryon), attempted to assassinate former President Park Chung-hee but failed, and Madam Yuk Young-soo was fatally shot in the process. Moon Se-gwang, arrested at the scene, was sentenced to death.Director Hur, who dealt with this, illuminated the period from nine days before the incident to 90 days after, filling the gaps in official records with cinematic imagination and presenting the story as a suspense genre. Rather than pointing to a specific individual as the mastermind behind the incident, the film delves into the power dynamics and atmosphere of Korean society at the time through the police and reporters who investigate the questions and masterminds behind the officially known events.Some viewers who watched the film raised suspicions of historical distortion regarding scenes where some characters suggest the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident, and politicians also voiced their opinions to support these views. / Hive Media Corp.However, some viewers who watched the film raised suspicions of historical distortion regarding scenes where some characters suggest the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident. In addition, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, proposed a boycott, and the Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Foundation, the Yuk Young-soo Memorial Foundation, Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party, and broadcaster Hong Hye-geol publicly voiced their support with statements such as "historical distortion" and "insult to the deceased."Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party also mentioned reports that Hive Media Corp. selected the consortium of Mirae Asset Securities PE and CLSA Capital Partners Korea as the preferred bidder and pursued investment of 40 billion won in 2023. He added, "This means it is directly linked to Chinese capital. While it is practically disguised as investment, we must also consider the possibility of Chinese backstage manipulation."Furthermore, Lee Jong-bae, former Seoul City Council member of the People Power Party, filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against director Hur Jin-ho and the production team for defamation of fact under the Criminal Act. He pointed out that the film's title, "Assassination(s)" (plural), implies the possibility of other assassins besides Moon Se-gwang, stating, "It makes the audience perceive that former President Park Chung-hee was behind the assassination or involved in the crime."As controversies surrounding "Assassination(s)" continued through various online communities and some media outlets, the production company Hive Media Corp. released an official statement.Regarding the allegations of historical distortion, they stated, "This is a fictional film that reconstructs a historical event that occurred in 1974 based on various records related to the incident at the time, with added cinematic imagination. The film does not designate any specific individual as the mastermind behind the incident, nor does it present hypotheses and dramatic settings within the film as historical facts."They also denied the allegations of Chinese capital. The production company stated, "There is absolutely no inflow of Chinese capital into our company or in the production and investment process of 'Assassination(s).' 'Assassination(s)' is a work independently planned and produced with domestic capital under the leadership of domestic production staff and creators. While we respect criticism and diverse opinions towards the film, we hope that information that deviates from the facts will not be amplified and reproduced, as matters concerning investment and production capital are objectively verifiable facts.""Assassination(s)," released on the 23rd, surpassed 1 million cumulative viewers in just four days of its release, becoming the winner of the Chuseok holiday box office. However, attention is focused on how the various controversies will affect its future box office performance. / Hive Media Corp.However, the controversies that have erupted have not subsided easily, and malicious comments are pouring in not only for the film "Assassination(s)" itself but also for the actors who appeared in it, as well as actors who left recommendation messages such as Lee Young-ae, Kim Go-eun, and Park Byung-eun.Yoo Hae-jin, who plays the protagonist Cheol-gu, does not operate a personal social media account, so his commercial videos became targets. Eventually, Burger King blocked comments on the Yoo Hae-jin advertisement video uploaded to its official YouTube channel. Although no clear reason was given, it is known that some netizens demanded Burger King to terminate Yoo Hae-jin's contract, citing his appearance in "Assassination(s)," indicating that the repercussions of the controversy have extended to the advertising industry.Various content related to "Assassination(s)" also did not escape the impact of the controversy. The review video of "Assassination(s)" uploaded to the YouTube channel "Btv Lee Dong-jin's Fire-akia" received thousands of critical comments such as "The movie should be suspended" and "You are the same," and the production team announced, "Due to the ongoing debate surrounding the film, the review video has been made private." The YouTube channel "Jimoovi," with 4.18 million subscribers, also deleted related videos without specifying a reason.Meanwhile, "Assassination(s)," which had a pleasant start at the box office, attracting 134,460 viewers on its opening day, continued its box office run by surpassing 1 million viewers in four days. However, the film seemed to suffer a blow to its box office performance when it lost the No. 1 spot to "Tazza: One Eyed Jack" (directed by Choi Gook-hee) on the 28th, but it regained the top spot in just one day, showing a resilient box office performance.There are also opinions that freedom of creation should be respected, as numerous films dealing with historical events have met the public. While negative views and various controversies surrounding "Assassination(s)" continue, these disturbances may also act as elements that stimulate the curiosity of potential viewers. It remains to be seen whether this situation will become a brake on its box office success or rather a spark that ignites greater interest.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Broadcaster Joo Woo-jae, singer Jung Jae-hyung, broadcaster Park Kyung-lim, actor Cha Tae-hyun, actor Moon Geun-young, singer Jung Seung-hwan, and Roy Kim (from left) pose at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. /Reporter Park Sang-min [THE FACT | Reporter Park Sang-min] Broadcaster Joo Woo-jae, singer Jung Jae-hyung, broadcaster Park Kyung-lim, actor Cha Tae-hyun, actor Moon Geun-young, singer Jung Seung-hwan, and Roy Kim pose at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. 'Our Ballad 2' is an SBS ballad audition program that shares life ballads that have been with us at every moment in our memories and seeks voices that will re-sing the songs of that era. The previous season achieved results such as entering the Netflix Korean Series TOP10 and surpassing 100 million cumulative views of online clips. This season will showcase stages that span generations through various songs released over 40 years from 1985 to 2025. PD Ahn Jung-hyun said, "I hope viewers will discover new perspectives and stories from different generations through the contestants' songs." 'Our Ballad 2' will premiere on October 5th. psm27@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Moon Geun-young poses at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. /Reporter Park Sang-min [THE FACT | Reporter Park Sang-min] Actress Moon Geun-young poses at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. 'Our Ballad 2' is an SBS ballad audition program that shares life ballads that have been with us at every moment in our memories and seeks voices that will re-sing the songs of that era. The previous season achieved results such as entering the Netflix Korean series TOP10 and surpassing 100 million cumulative views of online clips.This season will present a stage that spans generations through various songs released over 40 years, from 1985 to 2025. 'Our Ballad 2' will premiere on October 5th. psm27@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Yoon Hang-gi poses at a press conference for the 'Yoon Hang-gi 65th Anniversary Tribute Concert' held at Korea Art College of Practical Studies in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th. /Reporter Song Ho-young Singers Jo Hang-jo, Yoon Hang-gi, and Yoo Hyun-sang (from left) pose.[THE FACT | Reporter Song Ho-young] Singer Yoon Hang-gi poses at a press conference for the 'Yoon Hang-gi 65th Anniversary Tribute Concert' held at Korea Art College of Practical Studies in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th.The concert, dedicated to Yoon Hang-gi, a first-generation singer-songwriter who left behind the hit song 'I Am Happy,' will feature singers Jang Mi-hwa, Choi Baek-ho, Kim Soo-hee, Jo Hang-jo, Yoo Hyun-sang, Jeon Young-rok, Insooni, Choi Hee-sun, and So Chan-whee.The Yoon Hang-gi 65th Anniversary Tribute Concert will be held at 6 p.m. on the 24th of next month at Mapo Art Center Art Hall Mac in Mapo-gu, Seoul. hysong@tf.co.krPhoto Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Reporter Song Ho-young] Singers Cho Hang-jo, Yoon Hang-gi, and Yoo Hyun-sang (from left) pose at the press conference for the 'Yoon Hang-gi 65th Anniversary Tribute Concert' held at Korea Art School of Practical Studies in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 30th.This tribute concert, dedicated to Yoon Hang-gi, a first-generation singer-songwriter who left behind 'I Am Happy,' will feature singers Jang Mi-hwa, Choi Baek-ho, Kim Soo-hee, Cho Hang-jo, Yoo Hyun-sang, Jeon Young-rok, Insooni, Choi Hee-sun, and So Chan-whee.The Yoon Hang-gi 65th Anniversary Tribute Concert will be held at 6 p.m. on the 24th of next month at the Mapo Art Center Art Hall Mac in Mapo-gu, Seoul.hysong@tf.co.krPhoto&Video Production Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Broadcaster Joo Woo-jae (left) ties actor Cha Tae-hyun's shoelaces at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning. /Reporter Park Sang-min [THE FACT | Reporter Park Sang-min] Broadcaster Joo Woo-jae ties actor Cha Tae-hyun's shoelaces at the production presentation of SBS audition program 'Our Ballad 2' held at SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the morning. 'Our Ballad 2' is an SBS ballad audition program that shares life ballads that were with us at every moment in our memories and seeks voices that will re-sing the songs of that era. The previous season achieved results such as entering the Netflix Korean Series TOP10 and surpassing 100 million cumulative views of online clips.This season will present a stage that spans generations through various songs released over 40 years from 1985 to 2025. 'Our Ballad 2' will premiere on October 5th.psm27@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong, Melon Cumulative Streaming Surpasses 14.6 Billion Views... Another 'Great Record'Wednesday, September 30, Jang Hanbyul/ Lim Young Woong/ BTS/ Ko Young-wook/ Kim Jong Kook[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Tickets for singer Jang Hanbyul's first solo concert were literally 'instantly sold out.' But what's more surprising is that this isn't the first time. The fan meeting in July sold out all seats in 1 minute, and this first solo concert sold out all seats in 2 minutes. This moment truly confirmed the ticket power of the fandom 'Eunhasu.'Jang Hanbyul's first solo concert, titled 'THE STAR IS BORN,' will be held on October 31st at the Daehan Hall of Sejong University in Seoul, with two performances at 1 PM and 6 PM.Ticket reservations began at 2 PM on the 29th. All seats were sold out in just 2 minutes, and for the fans who were waiting for ticketing, it was literally a 'ticket war.'In particular, within the fandom 'Eunhasu,' there were reports of heated enthusiasm, with some even saying they would mobilize their children and grandchildren to get tickets. This shows how desperately fans wanted to see Jang Hanbyul's first solo concert in person.So, why are they so enthusiastic? The first reason is, of course, talent. Jang Hanbyul gained recognition by reaching the TOP3 in MBN's 'Muyeong Legend' and recently won first place on KBS2's 'Immortal Songs' after performing with Sungri.They reinterpreted Songgolmae's 'Accidentally Met You' with a performance that blended dance, rock, and trot, showcasing explosive vocals and stage presence.The second reason is their broad appeal that transcends genres. This concert will feature various genres, including trot, ballad, and pop, performed with a live band. In particular, a special unreleased stage, only to be revealed at the first solo concert, has been announced, raising fans' expectations.And the third, and most importantly, is the time they have built with their fans. After extensive stage experience, Jang Hanbyul is now embarking on their first solo concert under their own name. Therefore, this performance is not just a place to listen to music, but also a stage to confirm the journey Jang Hanbyul has taken with the fandom 'Eunhasu' and to announce a new beginning.Following the 1-minute sell-out of the fan meeting and the 2-minute sell-out of the first solo concert, this is a record that proves the phrase 'ticket power' attached to Jang Hanbyul's name is by no means an exaggeration. Now, there's only one thing left. How much passionate support will 'Eunhasu,' who secured tickets in 2 minutes, show at Daehan Hall on October 31st?Jang Hanbyul's first solo concert 'THE STAR IS BORN,' as the name suggests, fans are keenly watching to see if it will be another moment where a star shines.Records Continue... Melon Reaches 14.6 Billion Streams, Endless New Record StreakSinger Lim Young Woong has set another great record. On Melon, Korea's largest music platform, they have achieved cumulative streaming of 14.6 billion views, once again proving their endless streak of new records.According to the Melon Hall of Fame's artist section, Lim Young Woong's cumulative streams amount to a staggering 14.6 billion. This figure, which is the sum of all songs released by Lim Young Woong since their debut, reflects their consistent music power as a solo artist.Notably, Lim Young Woong further enhanced their musical journey by releasing the special digital album 'IM HERO 10' on the 8th. Immediately after the album's release, all of its tracks ranked on major music charts, and they quickly entered the top ranks on Melon TOP100 and HOT100.The title track 'TtoTto,' which Lim Young Woong participated in writing and composing, topped the Billboard Korea Global K-Song Chart, receiving a热烈 response. In addition, other tracks such as 'New York,' 'Baila,' 'Moise,' 'You Will Be Happy,' and 'To Us Who Have Lived' also appeared on the Global K-Song Chart, maintaining interest.This album consists of 6 new songs and 4 remake songs, totaling 10 tracks. In particular, the reinterpretation of their debut song 'Miwoyo' drew attention. 'Love Always Runs Away,' which was loved as an OST for the drama 'Young Lady and Gentleman,' was also included as a remake version.'Love Always Runs Away' is also a song that set another record by surpassing 1 billion cumulative streams on Melon in July. Lim Young Woong had already entered the 'Diamond Club' by surpassing 10 billion cumulative streams on Melon for the first time and in the shortest period as a solo artist.And now, they have added a new record of 14.6 billion views. With overwhelming streaming records confirmed by numbers, consistently loved representative songs, and challenges with new music, fans' interest is growing even more about how far Lim Young Woong's record streak will continue.'Arirang' Dominates Billboard for 6 Months... VMA 3 Wins Reconfirm Global PresenceBTS, BTS's global activities are once again shaking the world music market. Their 5th full album 'Arirang' has remained on the Billboard main album chart 'Billboard 200' for 6 consecutive months, showcasing their immense music power.According to the latest Billboard chart, 'Arirang' ranked 40th. Since its debut at number 1 in April, it has stayed on the 'Billboard 200' chart for an impressive 27 consecutive weeks. In particular, it held the top spot for three consecutive weeks from its initial entry, once again proving BTS's global influence.The long run of the title track 'SWIM' is also noteworthy. It ranked 22nd on the 'Global 200' and 7th on the global chart excluding the US. On the global chart, it has remained in the top 10 for 27 consecutive weeks since its debut at number 1. In addition, significant records have been added at global awards ceremonies.At the '2026 MTV Video Music Awards' (VMA) held on the 27th, BTS won 'Song of the Year' and 'Best K-Pop' for 'SWIM,' and also took home 'Best Group,' sweeping all three categories for which they were nominated.In particular, winning 'Song of the Year' is a first for a K-pop group, and it is evaluated as a case that once again demonstrated BTS's presence in the US mainstream music market. This 'Best Group' award also marks their 5th win in total.Returning as a full group after their military hiatus, BTS is now expanding their stage beyond charts and awards ceremonies to global tours. They will embark on the 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'' South American tour, starting in Bogota, Colombia, on October 2nd.From the album's long-term success and global chart performance to awards at world-renowned ceremonies, BTS's 2026 activities are not just about 'returning to the top,' but are demonstrating with numbers and records that they are still a group with powerful influence in the global music market.Banished from Instagram and YouTube, now TikTok... How Should I Live Now?Ko Young-wook, a former member of the group Roola, who chose to face public disapproval rather than live a quiet life of repentance for his past wrongdoings, also drew backlash for trying to gain attention by arbitrarily targeting fellow celebrities.Ko Young-wook, a former member of the group Roola, has now been banned from TikTok as well. Ko Young-wook recently created a TikTok account and shared videos, attempting to reconnect with the public. However, the account was deleted on the 28th, just one day after its creation was revealed.TikTok Korea explained that account holders confirmed to have committed sex crimes against minors have their accounts, as well as any other accounts they may own, permanently suspended. Regarding this, Ko Young-wook stated, "Perhaps I should change my name to Gojeuneuk, clean up dog poop at home, ride my bike to go grocery shopping, and live a leisurely life by running in a quiet place."The next day, he expressed his complex emotions by mentioning rivers, clouds, emptiness, and silence. This is not the first time Ko Young-wook has faced such a situation. His Instagram account was deleted just one day after its creation in 2020, and his YouTube channel's activities were blocked in 2024.The background to this is his past conviction for sex crimes against minors, for which he received a prison sentence. Ko Young-wook was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, served his sentence, and was released in 2015. His electronic monitoring period also ended in 2018.Regardless of the fact that he has legally completed his sentence, the public's and platforms' perception of him remains heavy. In particular, activities that expose him to the public, separate from his freedom of expression, are inevitably judged alongside social standards for protecting victims and minors.So, what does Ko Young-wook need going forward? At least based on the situation so far, it seems more important to accept his past with gravity and demonstrate a lifestyle that does not harm others over a long period, rather than regaining public attention.Living quietly is also an option. And for that choice to be genuine, actions will be needed more than words, responsibility more than explanations, and restraint more than attention. Ko Young-wook's future life will ultimately depend on his own choices.However, it is clear that past wrongdoings do not automatically disappear with time, and it takes a long time to regain public trust once it has been broken.Stars Who Don't Spend Even When They Have Money... Kim Jong Kook&Jeon Won-ju&Seo Jang-hoon's Different SidesFor our last piece of news today, we will share the results of an unusual survey. What's the difference between frugality and stinginess? For starters, it has nothing to do with giving or sharing.Not spending money carelessly and saving it for necessary places is 'frugality,' but when one is so stingy that they give the impression of being excessively miserly even when spending, we often call them 'stingy person' or 'stingy woman.'Recently, interesting survey results were released. DC Inside conducted a survey on the topic, "Which star, no matter how much money they earn, would live without spending a single won on those around them?"Out of a total of 7,506 votes, the first place went to Kim Jong Kook with 1,214 votes (16%). Second place was Jeon Won-ju with 1,126 votes (15%), and third place was Seo Jang-hoon with 650 votes (9%). They were followed by Jang Won-young, Im Woo-il, and Kyuhyun. However, looking closely at this ranking, there is an interesting commonality.First, Kim Jong Kook. The image of frugality attached to Kim Jong Kook is closer to a style of concentrating money and energy on things they consider important, rather than simply not spending money.While showing considerable interest in exercise and self-management, their tendency to reduce unnecessary spending has been repeatedly exposed through various variety shows. In particular, by revealing their spending habit of saving most of their income, the image of a "person whose spending level is unlikely to change much even if they earn a lot of money" was created.Second place, Jeon Won-ju, is slightly different. For Jeon Won-ju, frugality and financial management are connected as a character. She is known not only for her thrifty lifestyle but also for her investment methods of holding assets such as stocks, real estate, and gold for long periods.In particular, the story of her holding SK Hynix stocks, which she purchased around 2011, until now has become a representative example showcasing Jeon Won-ju's economic sense. She has also emphasized her long-term holding principle on recent broadcasts. In other words, for Jeon Won-ju, there is an image of "a person who doesn't spend" along with the image of "a person who saves and turns it into assets."Third place, Seo Jang-hoon, is a different type. Seo Jang-hoon gives a strong impression of being someone who views money realistically, rather than emphasizing frugality. From his days as a basketball player until now, he has spoken relatively honestly about his financial sense and spending habits, and on broadcasts, he has shown a "realistic consumption attitude of distinguishing between what is necessary and what is unnecessary."And Jang Won-young's thorough self-management and clear-cut image, along with Im Woo-il and Kyuhyun's thrifty and rational spending habits shown on broadcasts, likely influenced these results.So, here's an important question: Do these people really not spend a single won on those around them? Of course, this survey did not confirm that. This survey was not an investigation of actual expenditure or relationships, but rather a vote on the "image of frugality" that the public perceives from each star.Ultimately, what this result shows is not "stars who don't spend money," but rather the public's image of "stars who seem unlikely to spend money carelessly."And this is precisely where the difference between frugality and stinginess arises. Frugality is an action that enhances the value of money, while stinginess can be an attitude of begrudging the act of spending money itself. It is more difficult than earning a lot of money to not be swayed by spending even when earning a lot. Perhaps the commonality among the stars people thought of in this survey is this.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Expected to give birth to their first child after marrying in May 2025Broadcaster Bae Sung-jae (left) and Kim Da-young are expecting their first child. /THE FACTDB, Kim Da-young's Instagram[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Broadcaster Bae Sung-jae and his wife, announcer Kim Da-young, are becoming parents.Bae Sung-jae's agency, SM C&C, announced on the 30th, " 'The couple, Bae Sung-jae and Kim Da-young, are currently preparing to welcome a precious new life.'" Bae Sung-jae and Kim Da-young married in May 2025.SM C&C added, "Due to privacy concerns for the artist, it is difficult to provide details, including the expected due date," and requested, "We ask for your warm interest and support for Bae Sung-jae and Kim Da-young."Bae Sung-jae joined SBS as an announcer in 2006 after working as an announcer at KBS Gwangju Broadcasting Station. After leaving SBS in 2021, he has been active as a broadcaster, appearing in entertainment programs such as 'You Must Run' and 'Flame Band'.Announcer Kim Da-young joined SBS as a career announcer in 2021 and hosted 'SBS 8 News' weekday sports news and 'Sports Tonight'. She also appeared in the entertainment show 'Kick a Goal' and left SBS in April last year.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A Hilarious Finale Befitting a Military Comedy, 'Shinbyeong'ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' recorded a viewership rating of 5.2% with its final episode aired on the 29th. /KT Studio Genie[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] 'Shinbyeong 4' concluded in a cheerful and warm manner.The final 12th episode of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' (written by Yoon Ki-young, directed by Min Jin-ki, hereinafter referred to as 'Shinbyeong 4'), aired on the 29th, depicted the unit members looking back on their time together following the sudden news of their separation due to the merger of the Shinhwa unit, as announced by Inspector Major Kim Ha-na (played by Gong Min-jeong).The viewership rating recorded 5.2%, an increase of 1.3%P from the 11th episode. This is not only the highest viewership rating for 'Shinbyeong 4' but also the highest rating in the entire 'Shinbyeong' series. (Based on Nielsen Korea's national paid household ratings)On this day's broadcast, Major Kim Ha-na appeared at the Shinhwa unit with an unusual presence. Battalion Commander Byun Hyuk-jin (played by Lee Hyun-kyun) could not hide his surprise at the appearance of a major-level inspector who arrived without prior notice. Major Kim Ha-na presented the 'Report on the Results of the Unit Merger Survey,' conveying the fact that the Shinhwa unit had been finalized as a target for merger.Upon receiving the news, the officers of the 2nd Company reflected on their military service thus far. Their memories, scattered throughout the Shinhwa unit, unfolded. Spaces where the unit members had been together, from the guardhouse to the smoking area, laundry drying area, administrative office, and barracks, were sequentially shown, adding to the regret of having to leave the unit.ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' episode 12 concluded with Park Min-seok welcoming new recruits. /KT Studio GenieFor a moment, they were overcome with emotion at the thought of it being the last, but upon hearing the news of new recruits arriving, the unit members rushed to the administrative office. The new recruits who arrived at the Shinhwa unit were, as expected, unusual. Characters with distinct personalities appeared, from a recruit possessed by a spirit to a recruit who was the son of a conglomerate family.'Shinbyeong 4' concluded with Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho) greeting the new recruits with the words, "Let's do well from now on." Like his meaningful remark, "This is going to be fun," the story of the Shinhwa unit was completed in the most 'Shinbyeong'-like way until the very end.As such, 'Shinbyeong 4' demonstrated the true value of its cheerful hyper-realistic military comedy until the final episode. By adding imaginative twists to military stories that anyone might have heard before, it created laughter while also cheerfully and warmly depicting the process of becoming 'us.'In particular, this season, through the unexpected crisis of the Shinhwa unit's dissolution, made viewers reflect on the preciousness of everyday life and relationships that they had not realized due to familiarity, leaving a touching resonance beyond laughter. 'Shinbyeong 4,' once again proving its potential as a legendary 'Guntents' (military + content), is scheduled to return with Season 5.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ENA broadcast in the first half of 2027Hedge funder Kim Young-kwang&contract veterinarian Lee Joo-myungActors Kim Young-kwang (left) and Lee Joo-myung will appear in ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Queen of Training,' scheduled to air in the first half of 2027. /Wide S Company, Alien Company[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byul] Actors Kim Young-kwang and Lee Joo-myung will meet in the romantic comedy 'Queen of Training.'The production team of ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Queen of Training' (written by Lee Min-young, directed by Song Hyun-wook) announced on the 30th, "We have confirmed the casting of Kim Young-kwang and Lee Joo-myung," and "It is scheduled to be broadcast in the first half of 2027."'Queen of Training' is a romantic comedy that unfolds as Ma Ji-yong (played by Kim Young-kwang), a hedge funder (an investor who pursues high returns in the financial market and invests in various financial products) who is the top predator in the financial world, and Jo Woo-ri (played by Lee Joo-myung), a contract veterinarian working at the zoo he acquired, become entangled in an unexpected boss-subordinate relationship.Kim Young-kwang will play the role of Ma Ji-yong, a man like a wild beast. Ma Ji-yong is a hedge funder who handles astronomical funds and has a genius sense for money and investment. He is always on edge to survive in a fierce chaebol family, but he has a surprising charm of being a novice in love.Lee Joo-myung will play the role of Jo Woo-ri, a strong-willed veterinarian. Jo Woo-ri is the 'Queen of Training' who is excellent at soothing the hearts of animals and is a confident character who is not intimidated even in front of wild beasts. Her daily life will undergo a major change when she meets Ji-yong, a man like a wild beast.Attention is focused on the boss-subordinate romance and warm chemistry that these two individuals with unique charms will create.'Queen of Training,' starring Kim Young-kwang and Lee Joo-myung, will be broadcast as an ENA Monday-Tuesday drama in the first half of 2027 and will also be available on KT Genie TV.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS V has been selected as the global ambassador for the British tech brand Nothing. Nothing appointed V as its global brand ambassador and unveiled the new product ’Headphone (1) Pro.’ Nothing is a British tech brand founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, manufacturing headphones, smartphones, wearables, and more. Carl Pei, co-founder of Nothing, explained the reason for selecting V as an ambassador: ″V has an instinctive sense of fearlessly trying new things. He constantly challenges new sounds and styles, following his creative instincts rather than already proven formulas. This is exactly the image we wanted to embody through Headphone (1) Pro.″ Nothing also used V’s meme with the phrase ″V stepped into the crowd wearing Nothing,″ and conveyed the message, ″Who was the first to experience this product?″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group Monsta X's SHOWNU (right) and HYUNGWON are posing for reporters and fans as they depart through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend Paris Fashion Week. /Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Group Monsta X's SHOWNU and HYUNGWON are posing for reporters and fans as they depart through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend Paris Fashion Week. ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Group Monsta X's SHOWNU (right) and HYUNGWON are posing for reporters and fans as they depart through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend Paris Fashion Week.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Solo mini-album '二十七(27)' to be officially released on October 8Group (G)I-DLE's YUQI has released new concept photos for their second solo mini-album '二十七(27)'./Cube Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] (G)I-DLE's YUQI showcased a fresh visual at the age of twenty-seven.On the 29th, her agency Cube Entertainment posted new concept photos for YUQI's second solo mini-album '二十七(27)' on the official social media of (G)I-DLE (MIYEON MINNIE SOYEON YUQI SHUHUA).In the photos, Yuqi captured attention with her bright visuals. Yuqi added her unique lovely charm with fair skin, red blush, and a baby perm hairstyle, and her innocent appearance riding a bicycle and a swing on green grass brought smiles to viewers.Notably, following the previously released teasing content, Yuqi once again held a sunflower, adding to the curiosity.'二十七(27)', for which Yuqi wrote and composed all songs, is an album that captures Yuqi's twenty-seven-year-old sensibility, just like the album title. It includes a total of 6 songs, including the title track 'Stay', '快乐(Kuai Le)', 'Chamomile Tea', 'I Like You', 'Feels Right', and '银河之舞(Yin He Zhi Wu)'.Yuqi will release her new mini-album '二十七(27)' on October 8 at 6 PM on various music sites.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Genius Surgeon Gye Soo-jung Role... Teaser ReleasedFirst broadcast on October 9th at 9:50 PMThe third teaser video for SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' has been released. /SBS[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Actress Kim Ji-won shakes up the hospital's hierarchy.The production team of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' (written by Pyeon Seong-geun, directed by Lee Jung-rim, hereinafter referred to as 'Doctor X') released a third teaser video on the 30th, showing Gye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won) performing surgery.'Doctor X' is a work that depicts the activities of 'Doctor X' Gye Soo-jung, who breaks down immense absurdity with her genius surgical skills, knowing neither failure nor compromise. It is based on the Japanese 'Doctor X' series, which was a mega-hit on TV Asahi.The teaser video begins with Gye Soo-jung quickly taking control of the operating room. However, soon after, a voice filled with dissatisfaction is heard saying, "You performed that surgery without permission," hinting that she has done something unusual at the hospital.Gye Soo-jung is unconcerned with the hierarchy at Gu Seo University Hospital. While calmly eating ramen despite the opposition of surrounding doctors, she boldly leads the surgery in the operating room. The addition of the phrase 'No failure, no compromise' foreshadows Gye Soo-jung's performance, proving her existence solely through her skills.Gye Soo-jung's veiled past is also partially revealed. As a significant narration flows, "An arrogant hand of God who enjoys weighing life and her own skills," the present, where she moves freely around the hospital, intersects with a past set amidst a dangerous explosion. It sparks curiosity about what story is hidden in the past that made the current Gye Soo-jung.Furthermore, Gye Soo-jung says, "As long as they are alive, I will save them," and prepares for surgery with solemnity. It makes one wonder what choices and actions Gye Soo-jung will take to shake up Gu Seo University Hospital.'Doctor X', consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on October 9th at 9:50 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group BTS's JIMIN and Jin, V (from left) arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend an overseas schedule and are departing for Atlanta, USA. /Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Group BTS's JIMIN and Jin, V (from left) arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend an overseas schedule and are departing for Atlanta, USA.On this day, Jin attracted attention by wearing a T-shirt with a photo of Jungkook, the youngest member, printed on it.Meanwhile, BTS will begin their South American tour, 'BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG', starting in Bogota, Colombia on the 2nd of next month. ksr@tf.co.krPhoto&Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Son Ho-young is releasing a new song to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his solo debut. His agency Gemstone E&M announced that Son Ho-young will release a new digital single titled ″Go Around″ on various online music platforms at 6 p.m. on October 14. Son Ho-young has been active as a member of god since 1999 and debuted as a solo artist in September 2006 with his first full-length album ″Yes.″ He has continued his solo music activities steadily, and this new song is his first solo release in about five years since the single ″In the Flowing Time″ released in March 2021. According to the scheduler released at midnight on the 29th through his official SNS, Son Ho-young plans to sequentially release various teasing contents such as concept photos and lyric teasers before the release of ″Go Around.″ Additionally, keywords related to his solo concert were included in the scheduler for October 31 and November 1. Gemstone E&M stated, ″Son Ho-young, who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his solo debut this year, has put the musical depth he has accumulated over a long time into the new song.″ In March of this year, Son Ho-young held a solo fan meeting titled ″HOurs″ at Yonsei University Centennial Memorial Hall Concert Hall, and in May, he met with fans at the Everland West Gate parking lot for a theme park project fan concert commemorating god’s 10,000 days since debut.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group ITZY YEJI arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend an overseas schedule and posed for reporters and fans as they departed for Paris, France. /Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Group ITZY YEJI arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend an overseas schedule and posed for reporters and fans as they departed for Paris, France. ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ILLIT released the ’BURNING’ version concept film of their 5th mini album ’BREAK EVEN’ on the HYBE LABELS YouTube channel at 8 PM on the 28th. This video expresses the moment of realizing the sunk cost of emotions through the members’ vivid acting. The video begins with lightning striking a clear sky and the sound of thunder, heightening the tension. Yoona shows an angry expression with a wounded face, Minju holds a chainsaw with a blank expression and a crazed look, Wonhee wipes away tears before striking a teddy bear, and IROHA reveals suppressed emotions by smashing things here and there with a hammer. Classical music and escalating orchestral melodies blend with the members’ casual lines such as ″They said this is really the end this time″ and ″It’s a waste of time,″ creating a cold atmosphere of farewell. The phrase ″I’LL LOSE ALL MY PATIENCE. NOT WORTH IT.″ appears along with the subtitle ’FOUR STORIES,’ adding curiosity to the narrative of the new release. In this album, ILLIT reaches a turning point in the ’relationships’ that have been central to their musical narrative. The album title ’BREAK EVEN’ signifies the break-even point of a relationship with neither loss nor gain, containing a declaration to no longer invest heart and time in someone who does not reciprocate efforts. A representative described it as ″a new side of ILLIT who has boldly and openly pursued their feelings without hiding their affection.″ The title track ″I’ll Arrest You″ is a song where these emotions reach their peak, serving as a warning to the other party who made ILLIT misunderstand through habitual kindness, and expressing ILLIT’s autonomous attitude in choosing to end the relationship themselves. ILLIT plans to hold encore concerts at Incheon Inspire Arena on October 17 and 18, followed by the release of the 5th mini album ’BREAK EVEN’ on the 26th.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Enhypen released ″Bloody Paradise x VELOCIDADE (PETERBLUE Remix)″ in collaboration with Latin pop group Santos Bravos on the 29th at 1 PM. Along with this track, a visualizer video was also uploaded to the HYBE LABELS YouTube channel. This song is a remix version combining Enhypen’s mini album 8 title track ″Bloody Paradise″ and Santos Bravos’ ″VELOCIDADE,″ arranged by DJ PETERBLUE, who maintained the original energy while creating a faster and more dynamic sound. Enhypen previously released six remixes with overall member participation and a version featuring Luiza Sonza. Through this new song, they are expanding their connection with listeners. With the mini album 8 ″THE SIN : BLISS,″ Enhypen achieved No. 1 on the US Billboard main chart ″Billboard 200,″ entered the ″Bubbling Under Hot 100,″ and recorded their highest team rankings on the ″Global 200″ and ″Global (Excl. US)″ charts. Santos Bravos is a five-member group that debuted in October 2025 through HYBE Latin America based on HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s ″multi-home, multi-genre″ strategy and ″K-pop methodology.″ They have won trophies at various pop culture award ceremonies with their Latin pop reflecting diverse cultures.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group izna (Mai, Bang Jimin, Coco, Yoo Sarang, Choi Jeongeun, Jung Sebi) continues to grow, having recorded hundreds of millions of cumulative streams on global music streaming platforms. Their agency WakeOne announced that izna recently surpassed 200 million cumulative streams on Spotify. Prior to this, they had exceeded 400 million cumulative streams on YouTube Music. With this, izna has consecutively achieved hundreds of millions of streams on major global music platforms. Since their debut, izna has built their own musical world by challenging various concepts, expanding their fanbase in both domestic and international music markets through their signature sharp choreography, high-quality music, and performances. Currently, izna is holding their first concert tour, ″2026-2027 izna Concert Tour: WHO DAT GIRL?″. Starting the tour at Seoul Olympic Hall, izna will meet fans in 10 cities domestically and abroad, including Taipei on October 9, Manila on October 17, Hong Kong on October 24, Singapore on November 8, Kuala Lumpur on December 5, Fukuoka on March 12, 2027, Tokyo on March 14, Nagoya on March 27, and Osaka on March 28. Domestically, izna continues their activities by performing at university festivals one after another. They recently performed at Gachon University, Hanseo University, Yeoju University, and Kyung Hee University International Campus, and have upcoming performances at Korea University, Dongduk Women’s University, Jeonju University, Myongji College, Gyeongsang National University, and Hanshin University. izna was formed through the Mnet audition program ″I-LAND 2: N/a″ and debuted on November 25, 2024. A representative from the agency stated, ″Please look forward to izna’s future activities as they solidify their strong presence in the music market based on their outstanding live performance capabilities.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong continues to set unparalleled records by surpassing 14.6 billion cumulative streams in the Melon Hall of Fame artist category. According to Melon on the 29th, Lim Young Woong holds the highest cumulative streaming numbers among all singers, including solo and group artists. As the first solo artist to enter the ’Diamond Club’ by exceeding 10 billion cumulative streams in the shortest period, Lim Young Woong has steadily broken records, reaching 14.6 billion streams. This achievement is significant because it reflects a consumption pattern where both existing songs and new releases are consistently streamed, rather than relying solely on hits from a specific period. Recently, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut, Lim Young Woong released the special digital album ’IM HERO 10’ on the 8th. Immediately after its release, all tracks charted on major music platforms, and the album topped Melon’s TOP100 and HOT100 charts. The title track ″Again Again″ was written and composed by Lim Young Woong and reached number one on Billboard Korea’s Global K Song chart. ’IM HERO 10’ includes six new songs such as ″Again Again,″ ″Moise,″ and ″New York,″ along with four newly remade existing tracks like ″I Hate You″ and ″Love Always Runs Away.″ Lim Young Woong personally participated in writing and composing for this album, enhancing its completeness. Each time Lim Young Woong releases new songs, they rank high on the charts, while existing songs continue to be consumed steadily, maintaining long-term success.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Group BTS JUNG KOOK arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th to attend an overseas schedule and is departing for Atlanta, USA.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jimin attracted great attention from fans worldwide by releasing his first video on his personal TikTok account. Jimin opened his TikTok account around the end of August and gained over 5 million followers without posting any content until the 28th. On the 28th, he uploaded his first video set to the background music of ″Be Mine,″ a track from his second solo album ″MUSE.″ In this video, Jimin showcased original choreography outdoors on a coastal road beneath seaside cliffs. The response was intense from the moment it was released. Within about 16 hours, the video recorded 10 million views and over 4.55 million likes, and by the afternoon of the 29th, in about 22 hours, it had over 5.3 million views and more than 371,500 comments. As of midnight on September 30, it had surpassed 15 million views and 6 million likes, with followers increasing to over 6.54 million. A cover video appeared less than an hour after the video was posted. Jimin’s ″Be Mine″ dance video was the first time he revealed a performance that had never been fully disclosed before, and Brazil Billboard introduced it as the unreleased choreography of ″Be Mine.″ Fans responded with comments like, ″His first TikTok is the ’Be Mine’ choreography,″ and ″Finally, we can see the ’Be Mine’ choreography.″ Fans also paid attention to Jimin’s use of the hashtag ″#thisisjimin″ in the video. TikTok Korea’s official account introduced Jimin’s first post with the comment, ″Jimin’s special trait: coming back with his first TikTok right after the holiday,″ and left a comment saying, ″Posting the first video to prevent Monday blues after the Chuseok holiday is truly thoughtful.″ On X (Twitter), the video was shared with related keywords such as ″THIS IS JIMIN,″ ″JIMIN ON TIKTOK,″ and ″JIMIN DANCING TO BE MINE.″ Fans from various countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Myanmar left comments.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Rosé exuded chic charm wearing a black leather jacket. She caught attention with a charismatic expression, resting her chin on one hand and gazing straight ahead with her lips closed, her long blonde hair naturally flowing inside the vehicle. In the photo with the car seat and window as the background, Rosé created an atmosphere of deep contemplation, showcasing a unique presence with intense yet sophisticated styling. Meanwhile, Rosé is making waves on global music charts with her new song ″new trick,″ a collaboration with Apple. The new track was released with a music video linked to the iPhone campaign ″Shot on iPhone,″ featuring a polished pop-rock sound that has garnered significant attention. The song quickly rose to number two on the Kpopit Board Global Chart, proving Rosé’s musical growth and worldwide influence. Rosé plans to continue communicating with her fans through various musical challenges and collaborations in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Seventeen Joshua is drawing fans’ attention by releasing the vertical video for his new song ″Baby Come Home (English Ver.).″ In the video recently released on Seventeen’s official SNS channels, Joshua poses looking sideways against a solid blue background while wearing a blue jacket. His short hairstyle and calm atmosphere stand out, naturally expressing the emotional mood of the new song. ″Baby Come Home (English Ver.)″ is a song that harmonizes Joshua’s soft vocal tone with an emotional melody, delivering a deep resonance to fans. As a member of Seventeen and as a solo artist, Joshua continues his music activities steadily, and this new song is receiving great attention from fans and music lovers alike. Seventeen actively pursues not only group activities but also individual activities of each member, showcasing diverse musical colors. Joshua is also expanding his musical scope while strengthening communication with global fans. The release of this English version is expected to foster more interaction with overseas fans.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Song Ga-In has attracted attention by sharing everyday photos that evoke a strong autumn atmosphere. Recently, Song Ga-In posted several photos on their SNS with the short caption, ″Is it autumn? 🤎.″ In the pictures, they wore a burgundy short-sleeve t-shirt and jeans, taking mirror selfies indoors or striking various poses while holding a smartphone, showing a natural side. In a space decorated with clean white walls and wooden floors, Song Ga-In created a comfortable yet sophisticated vibe by either looking straight ahead with lips closed or touching their hair while gazing at the camera. In particular, the calm autumn fashion featuring the burgundy t-shirt and the subtle expression harmonized to express the warmth of the season. Song Ga-In’s simple yet stylish styling was enough to capture fans’ attention. Meanwhile, Song Ga-In continues to receive steady love through various musical activities and TV appearances. This SNS post serves as both an update for autumn and a channel for communication with fans.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer KWON EUN BI has revealed recent updates from their visit to Turkey. KWON EUN BI recently posted several photos on their SNS with the short caption ″Türkiye✈️.″ In the released photos, KWON EUN BI is seen wearing a white tank top and a black miniskirt, standing between bookshelves filled with books or looking at the shelves, relaxing inside a café, and more. The photos also include scenes of KWON EUN BI walking energetically with arms spread wide on a city street with a fountain, standing with arms crossed in front of a pink café exterior, and looking affectionately at a cat on the street. Through these photos, it can be seen that KWON EUN BI is enjoying a leisurely time while soaking in the local atmosphere during the trip. Especially, by featuring various locations such as a space full of books, a café, and city streets, KWON EUN BI is sharing a comfortable and natural daily life with fans. Meanwhile, KWON EUN BI has been actively continuing activities by participating in the Yeonji Daedongje ’Wolha Yeonhui’ stage held recently at Induk University in Nowon-gu, Seoul. On stage, KWON EUN BI captured the audience’s attention with outstanding performance and unique charm. This trip appears to be a time for recharging before upcoming activities.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Jisoo recently appeared at Dior’s 2027 Summer Season Collection event held in Paris, France, showcasing her unique elegance. Wearing a white blouse paired with a pink tulle skirt, Jisoo captivated attention with a calm yet sophisticated atmosphere on the white sidewalk lined with trees. Gazing straight ahead with a closed-mouth expression, she created a serene mood, holding a bouquet of flowers and naturally posing with one hand around her waist, enhancing her luxurious presence. She emphasized her feminine charm with a ribbon decoration in her long hair and completed the look by carrying a handbag. Through SNS, Jisoo shared a photo from the collection with the caption, ″Il y a des beautés que le temps n’effacera jamais (There are beauties that time will never erase),″ showing her deep connection with the brand. This event was the official launch for Dior’s 2027 summer season, attracting great attention from fashion figures worldwide. Meanwhile, Jisoo began her solo career last year, releasing the new song ″Click″ and gaining recognition for her musical abilities. Especially, her solo debut album ″ME″ achieved sales of 1.17 million copies, becoming a million-seller and ranking first in initial sales among female solo artists, drawing significant attention. She is establishing herself as a versatile artist by actively participating in major domestic and international stages and fashion events.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Reporter Kim Seong-ryeol] Actress Kim Yoo-jung poses for reporters and fans at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th before departing for Paris, France, to attend the '2026 Mesika High Jewelry Show'.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 aespa KARINA is attracting attention by sharing enjoyable and natural daily life moments abroad. Recently, KARINA posted photos and writings capturing various moments, including eating tacos, on their SNS. In the photos, wearing a white and blue striped shirt and sitting inside a restaurant while enjoying tacos deliciously, a rarely seen simple charm stood out. Especially, KARINA directly expressed their love for tacos and communicated with fans with a witty comment, ″Luckily it’s abroad, if it were Korea, I would have taken it all.″ They also showed a friendly side by sharing a small everyday experience of tying their hair with a hairpin-like tool but having the style change every few minutes. They conveyed a warm personality by kindly responding to a fan asking for banana pudding information on the street. Adding a post about receiving compliments on their hairstyle from their older sister, a warm relationship with family was glimpsed. Wearing sunglasses and taking a mirror selfie on a shopping street, a natural atmosphere and relaxation were felt. The diverse daily life of KARINA captured in the SNS posts creates a friendly and comfortable charm different from their usual intense stage image, gaining fans’ positive responses. Meanwhile, KARINA is currently continuing active activities, and much attention is focused on their future steps.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NCT member Johnny shared an update announcing his collaboration with the fashion brand Acne Studios. Recently, through his official SNS, Johnny posted a photo wearing a gray jacket and holding a drink in one hand, with a river and bridge at sunset in the background, showing a relaxed appearance. In this post, he greeted with ″Santé!″ and added the hashtags ’#NCT’, ’#JOHNNY’, ’#JOHNNYxAcneStudios’, and ’#AcneStudiosxJOHNNY’ to communicate with fans. The collaboration between Johnny and Acne Studios is raising expectations for diverse activities encompassing fashion and music. Meanwhile, Johnny started his solo podcast ″Journey with Johnny″ on the global music platform Spotify on September 16. This program, which releases new episodes every Wednesday, has established itself as a channel to share K-culture and personal experiences while connecting with fans worldwide. Recently, NCT has been carrying out various activities to celebrate their 10th anniversary, and Johnny is also actively continuing his work in music, fashion, broadcasting, and other fields.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Lizzy shared an update about spending her vacation in Busan. Recently, Lizzy posted on her SNS, ″Bukanga~ Bukanga~ Goodbye Bukanga! Goodbye Bukangi! Goodbye~ Bukangi bye-bye!! I love you Bukangi🤍🦈,″ along with a message set against the backdrop of Busan North Port. She also added hashtags such as ″#BukangiLover BusanUncle is next to me.. lololololol #Bukangi #NorthPort #Busan,″ creating a cheerful atmosphere. In the post, Lizzy repeatedly used the expression ’Bukangi,’ indirectly showing how she is enjoying a special vacation in Busan. This SNS post, which showed a bright and friendly side while communicating with fans, gives a sense of her natural and relaxed daily life. Previously, Lizzy has been communicating warmly with fans through SNS, maintaining a healthy appearance and bright energy. Meanwhile, Lizzy continues to receive steady love from fans while balancing her music activities and daily life.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Aori revealed that she has checked all the past of her boyfriend, Korean medicine doctor Kim Hyung-bae. Recently, Aori invited Kim Hyung-bae, with whom she started a public relationship, to her YouTube channel, where they asked each other questions. The two honestly shared how they became close from their first meeting and about their dating process. Regarding the reason for going public with their relationship, Aori explained that her boyfriend enjoys helping with YouTube filming. Aori said, ″We went to Geoje Island to film together, but since I couldn’t reveal my boyfriend, I did it roughly, and he felt a bit disappointed.″ Kim Hyung-bae added, ″I was confident that we wouldn’t break up.″ When asked, ″You have been divorced once; wasn’t that a hurdle?″ Kim Hyung-bae replied, ″Honestly, I never thought about dating a divorced woman. I had never even considered it. But it was okay. I took it as having had a serious relationship once.″ When Kim Hyung-bae was asked about concerns regarding their public relationship, Aori said, ″Before going public, I asked if there was anything wrong in the past. I checked for school violence, delinquency, crimes, cheating history, and so on. I also thought that more verification would happen during the public relationship.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS RM will hold his first solo collection exhibition reflecting his artistic taste at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). The special exhibition ″RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me″ will be held locally from October 3rd to February 7th, 2027. This exhibition is the first collaboration with a K-pop artist since the founding of SFMOMA and was prepared based on RM’s consistent interest in contemporary art. Through his agency Big Hit Music, RM stated, ″This is the first time I am sharing my collection under my name. I think it is rare for a collection gathered by one person over a long time to show that person so honestly. In that sense, this exhibition will be quite a long self-introduction.″ He also said, ″My collection includes many works by modern and contemporary Korean artists. Some names may still be unfamiliar outside of Korea, but I have collected with the desire to add a better perspective and sensibility, and that process has led to this exhibition.″ About 180 works will be exhibited in total, of which approximately 140 are works collected by RM. The majority of the collection will be shown for the first time in the United States. The exhibition features masterpieces of modern and contemporary Korean art by artists such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rae-hyun, Jang Uk-jin, Kwon Ok-yeon, Kim Yoon-shin, and Do Sang-bong, alongside works by Kim Whanki, Nam June Paik, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe from SFMOMA’s collection. Through various genres including ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and sculpture spanning from the 6th century to the present, the exhibition highlights the flow of Korean art. It is the largest exhibition of modern and contemporary Korean art held in the United States. RM not only provided the artworks but also participated directly in the curation and exhibition planning stages. To aid visitors’ understanding, exhibition texts and artwork descriptions were written in both Korean and English, and bilingual audio guides recorded in his own voice are also provided. He personally selected the music played in the exhibition space. Christopher Bedford, director of SFMOMA, explained, ″This project closely aligns with SFMOMA’s direction to expand global conversations around art. While creating space for new voices in the museum, it invites visitors who have encountered contemporary and Korean art through RM to this place.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Sung Hyun-joo recalled her past connection with Heo Kyung-hwan, turning the scene into a sea of laughter. In the video released on the 28th on the ’Heartwarming Hyung Shin Dong-yup’ YouTube channel, KBS 22nd generation comedians gathered in one place to enjoy an MT (membership training). On that day, Sung Hyun-joo emphasized her connection with her colleague Heo Kyung-hwan, saying, ″Heo Kyung-hwan has become such a star now. Honestly, you can’t talk about him without mentioning me.″ She continued, ″When we did ’Korea’s Perfect Man,’ I was his co-star when he flubbed his lines seven times. During that corner when the rookie Heo Kyung-hwan was becoming a star, writer Lee Sang-deok gave us credit cards. He always told us to eat with this card after practice.″ Sung Hyun-joo revealed that they often gathered at her house in front of the broadcasting station when practice ended early. ″We often slept at my place. Sometimes,″ she mentioned, catching everyone’s attention. When Shin Dong-yup reacted, ″Are you really going to say that now?″ Sung Hyun-joo explained, ″We just slept. Slept on the floor.″ Heo Kyung-hwan started to say, ″I was so tired at Hyun-joo’s house that I...″ but stopped, and Sung Hyun-joo emphasized again, ″We slept!″ which caused laughter. When Heo Kyung-hwan said, ″If you say ’we slept’...″ looking embarrassed, Park Sung-kwang lightened the mood by saying, ″Stop! Stop talking! That’s enough.″ Park Young-jin joked, ″Did the two of you sleep together using the card that writer Lee Sang-deok gave?″ Sung Hyun-joo clarified, ″We didn’t sleep together; we just slept.″ Park Young-jin added, ″Writer Sang-deok played the role of a matchmaker,″ and Shin Dong-yup said, ″Let’s talk about old stories comfortably like they do in the U.S.,″ adding, ″Your husband will understand since it’s in the past.″ Sung Hyun-joo responded, ″Oh, of course.″ Later, when asked for more details, Sung Hyun-joo said, ″We slept. We did,″ then explained that Heo Kyung-hwan slept on the floor while she took a nap on the bed. She went on to say that Heo Kyung-hwan took off his socks, and she mistakenly put them in the washing machine with her laundry. When the washing machine made strange noises and stopped, an insole came out from inside the socks on Heo Kyung-hwan’s ankle.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ENA·SBS Plus ’I am SOLO’ Season 32 featured Oksoon from Season 32’s divorced special, who shared a photo with Kwangsoo from Season 32 on her Instagram. Oksoon from Season 32 recently posted several photos on Instagram with the caption, ″Taking it easy in the lobby and taking pictures (let’s endure the beggar zone, so dark) Can you take some emotional photos in the hotel hallway with a good vibe? Thinking man.″ In the photos, Oksoon was sitting on a sofa wearing a beige half-zip top paired with light denim pants, posing with both arms raised above her head as if fixing her hair. A white inner shirt was visible under the top, and her black hair fell to her shoulders. Her natural expression and a checkered shoulder bag in white, blue, and orange colors caught attention. In the next photo, she stood in the hallway wearing the same outfit, with both hands raised beside her head. She looked straight ahead with her hair swept back and shoulder-length hair, carrying the checkered bag on one shoulder. The loose silhouette top and wide denim pants created a casual atmosphere. In another photo, Kwangsoo from Season 32 wore a light gray sweatshirt and light denim pants, sitting on a chair with one leg crossed over the other and his fingers near his cheek in a pose. In the last photo, Oksoon and Kwangsoo stood side by side in front of a mirror, posing together. Oksoon wore a beige half-zip and carried the checkered bag on her shoulder, while Kwangsoo wore a light gray top and stood close right behind her. The two revealed their casual and comfortable looks together. Oksoon and Kwangsoo from Season 32 chose each other in the final selection of the ’I am SOLO’ Season 32 divorced special aired last July, becoming the final couple. They revealed that they continue their real-life relationship after the broadcast, and through this post, they shared their daily life together again. Meanwhile, Oksoon, born in 1986, runs a Pilates Gyrotonic studio, and Kwangsoo, born in 1987, is a dentist.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Kim Yoo-jung strikes a pose for reporters and fans at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th before departing for Paris, France, to attend the '2026 Messika High Jewelry Show'. /Incheon International Airport=Kim Sung-ryeol, Reporter[THE FACT | Incheon International Airport=Kim Sung-ryeol, Reporter] Actress Kim Yoo-jung strikes a pose for reporters and fans at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 30th before departing for Paris, France, to attend the '2026 Messika High Jewelry Show'.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The film ″Assassin(s)″ continues its success by ranking first in ticket sales for Korean films in its second week of release. This work is a political thriller inspired by the assassination of the late Mrs. Yuk Young-soo at the Liberation Day ceremony on August 15, 1974, tracing the background and hidden suspicions behind the incident. Actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho play the roles of a detective, a newspaper social affairs chief, and a rookie reporter, respectively, adding tension to the story. Directed by Heo Jin-ho, the film goes beyond simple historical reenactment to address issues of press freedom and information control, attracting audience interest. Surpassing one million viewers within four days of release, the film shows signs of long-term success despite criticism and accusations from political circles. Some, including the People Power Party, have raised controversy over historical distortion by suggesting hypotheses that power agencies or former President Park Chung-hee’s side may have planned the incident. On the 29th, former Seoul city council member Lee Jong-bae filed a criminal complaint against director Heo Jin-ho and the production team for defamation of the deceased. Lee claimed that the plural form in the film’s title and the depiction implying involvement of power agencies lowered the social evaluation of the bereaved families. The production team stated in an official statement that the work does not aim to confirm any specific historical conclusion or deny or distort existing facts. They emphasized that it is a feature film that adds artistic imagination to various historical records and clarified that they did not designate any specific individual as the mastermind behind the incident or present dramatic settings as historical facts. Director Heo Jin-ho explained that the term ″Central Intelligence Agency upper echelon″ in the film was not aimed at the president. Major overseas media have evaluated the film as ″a condemnation of a corrupt government that deceived its citizens″ or ″a political thriller depicting the structure of state power hiding the truth.″ Variety in the United States mentioned the fictional disclaimer at the beginning of the film and interpreted the conspiratorial elements as belonging to the realm of creation and fiction. The film ″Assassin(s)″ was released nationwide on the 23rd and is currently showing in theaters across the country.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer IU personally revealed the reason why high-resolution photos from the European trip with Yoon In-na could not be released. Recently, during a chat event on Melon Musicwave, IU interacted with fans and received questions about the quality and originals of the European trip photos featured in a video with Yoon In-na. IU explained that the photos were stored on Yoon In-na’s old phone and had not been transferred to her recent phone, so the images were used by photographing the screen directly. IU said, ″The reason we can’t release the European trip photos in high resolution is that those photos are on In-na unnie’s phone, and she hasn’t been able to transfer them to her new phone recently, so we took pictures of the screen as it is.″ Earlier, on the 15th, IU posted a video on their personal account with the captions ″Sure YOO IN NA we best soulmate″ and ″Dear my crazy soulmate.″ The video was composed of photos and videos taken together over 15 years with Yoon In-na, set to IU’s new song ″Dear my crazy soulmate,″ capturing their friendship and memories. The video included various moments such as the two traveling together, posing side by side for the camera, and caring for each other. Especially notable were the photos taken during a European trip about 10 years ago, which appeared in the video. In the photos, IU and Yoon In-na enjoyed the trip with a youthful appearance different from now. Fans expressed curiosity about the original photos due to some images’ unclear quality, and IU’s explanation resolved their questions. It was reported that the photos were used in the video by photographing Yoon In-na’s old phone screen without any separate editing or restoration. IU’s new song ″Dear my crazy soulmate″ is dedicated to Yoon In-na, with IU personally participating in the lyrics writing. The song is included in IU’s new digital single ″From This Star,″ released on the 10th, and was released alongside the double title track ″From This Star.″ Both songs are known to have lyrics written by IU.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim Sa-rang shared an update on SNS along with photos capturing memories from New York. On the 28th, Kim Sa-rang posted on her SNS, ″I want to go back to New York, eat pizza at a night market, and listen to good music at a jazz bar. There must be great jazz bars in our country too, right?″ along with photos. The photos show Kim Sa-rang eating pizza at an outdoor table in New York, wearing a black off-shoulder outfit that reveals her shoulder line while holding a slice of pizza. This scene also appears in a recent New York travel video she released on her YouTube channel. In the video, Kim Sa-rang says, ″Since it’s Friday night, I’m going to visit a few popular spots these days,″ as she visits a night market in New York. She created a relaxed atmosphere with a form-fitting black outfit and naturally tied hairstyle. Born in 1978 and currently 48 years old, Kim Sa-rang attracted attention with her natural appearance while eating pizza and looking at the streets. Netizens responded with comments such as, ″Dressing like this just to eat pizza?″, ″Even eating pizza at a night market looks like a photo shoot,″ ″Is she really 48?″, ″Her vibe is truly unique,″ ″She fits so well with New York,″ and ″Why does holding just one slice of pizza look so cinematic?″ Kim Sa-rang debuted as Miss Korea in 2000 and has appeared in various works including the dramas Millennium Love, The Slave Hunters, Secret Garden, and My Dear Eun-dong. In 2018, she was preparing to appear in Mr. Sunshine but withdrew and was replaced by Kim Min-jung; at that time, the production company and her agency stated that her departure was not due to screen time or conflicts. After a long hiatus from dramas and movies following TV Chosun’s Revenge in 2021, she appeared as a host on Coupang Play’s SNL Korea Season 7 last year.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Suhyun recently promoted the AKMU concert with a changed appearance. A video titled ″How to Enjoy the AKMU Concert to the Fullest″ was uploaded on AKMU’s official channel. In the video, AKMU introduced tips for attending their solo concert ″2026 Rumored Paradise,″ which will be held for three days from October 9 to 11 at the KSPO DOME (Olympic Gymnastics Arena) in Seoul. Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Suhyun demonstrated dances such as ″Rumored Paradise″ and ″Falling″ in a cheerful atmosphere with modulated voices and B-grade sensibility. Then, Lee Suhyun appeared on stage with the line, ″There has never been a princess like this before. An icon of this era who has overcome hardships and adversity. The fry of this era. Lee Suhyun,″ and performed an act. In the video, Lee Suhyun’s sharp jawline and dress after her diet caught attention. Meanwhile, Lee Suhyun previously experienced a slump and was diagnosed with insomnia, depression, lethargy, social phobia, and panic disorder. During her hikikomori lifestyle, she gained a significant amount of weight due to binge eating. Later, she revealed her healing process through her channel, showing how she lost 30 kg over about two years through consistent exercise while living with her older brother Lee Chan-hyuk.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Influencer Kim Ji-young, who appeared on ″Heart Signal 4,″ has shared an update after giving birth. On the 29th, Kim Ji-young posted on her SNS, ″This afternoon is my hospital visit. It’s my first ophthalmology outpatient appointment since giving birth, and I’m a bit nervous... Glaucoma, I hope nothing serious happens to you,″ along with a photo. In the revealed photo, Kim Ji-young wore a cropped t-shirt, showing off her slender figure just two months after giving birth. In another photo, she wore a slip dress, creating a natural atmosphere and revealing her shoulder line. There was also a shot of her going out for the first time in a while. Kim Ji-young married Trevari founder Yoon Soo-young in February and gave birth to their first daughter in July.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A total of 48 teams to perform over two daysDiverse stages announced across 3 venues'Grand Mint Festival 2026' reveals timetable / Mint Paper[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung, Reporter] The autumn music festival 'Grand Mint Festival 2026 (hereinafter GMF2026)' has entered its final countdown.On the 30th, organizer Mint Paper released the timetable for 'GMF2026', which will be held on October 17th and 18th at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, via its official social media. A total of 48 teams will take the stage, with Lee So-ra, Lee Seung-yoon, Hong Isaac, Yoon Ha, Sipsyran (10CMxSorran), and Lee Seok-won serving as headliners.On the first day, October 17th, Lee So-ra, Lee Seung-yoon, and Hong Isaac will each perform as headliners. They will conclude the performances on the 'Mint Breeze Stage (88 Lawn Plaza)', 'Club Midnight Sunset (KSPO Dome)', and 'Loving Forest Garden (88 Lake Waterfront Stage)', respectively.On the 18th, Yoon Ha, Sipsyran (10CMxSorran), and Lee Seok-won will headline each stage. Along with them, a total of 48 artists will take the stage over the two days at 'GMF2026' to deliver diverse performances.Beyond the performances, opportunities for artists and fans to connect will continue. The special stage 'RADAR', set up between the KSPO Dome and the swimming pool, will feature various programs including live broadcasts, talks, and fan signing events.'GMF2026' will take place from October 17th to 18th in the Olympic Park area of Songpa-gu, Seoul. / Mint PaperOn the 17th, 'Sipsyran Live Broadcast Special Live' will be held, and on the 18th, 'Lacuna Returns' will be presented, offering a different side of the artists beyond their performances.The 'Close Signal Detection' program, allowing for close interaction with artists, will also be available. On the 17th, there will be fan signing events for Yeonjung, Hi-Fi Un!corn, and Sumi, as well as a high-touch and fan signing event for May 5th. On the 18th, there will be fan signing events for Shininyuryu and Far East Asian Tigers, and a high-touch event for ONEWE.In addition, 'GMF2026' will offer a variety of content, including artist and label merchandise, vinyl records, accessories, and photo zones.Detailed information about 'GMF2026' can be found on the official social media.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Son Ye-jin recently expressed concerns about the exposure of her son’s face and secret filming. On the 29th, during an interview for the Netflix series ″Scandal″ held in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Son Ye-jin revealed that when she goes out with her family, many citizens recognize her and take photos, and she sometimes asks those who secretly film to delete the pictures. She explained that since she and Hyun Bin are actors known to the public, they accept a certain level of attention, but if their young son’s face becomes known, it could impose restrictions on his daily life. Therefore, she said she inevitably becomes more sensitive about the issue of her child’s face being exposed. Son Ye-jin has recently shared stories related to her son frequently through her personal channel and broadcasts. Her honest disclosure of her daily life as a mother and parenting experiences has received empathy and positive responses. During the interview that day, the topic of her son naturally came up, and she talked about various subjects, including her son’s future career possibilities. Meanwhile, some people expressed puzzlement over Son Ye-jin repeatedly mentioning her son in broadcasts and interviews. Some netizens pointed out that it seemed contradictory for her to feel burdened by public interest when she herself has repeatedly raised attention by talking about her son’s appearance, personality, and potential entry into the entertainment industry. Comments included, ″Wouldn’t it be better to talk less about her son usually?″, ″She is the one who talks about it the most actively,″ ″As the child grows, the parents’ remarks might become a burden,″ and ″It would be better to raise him quietly.″ However, it was also noted that sharing episodes about children on broadcasts with parental consent and secretly filming a young child’s face and posting it online without consent are separate issues. Son Ye-jin has maintained a wide range of acting activities for a long time and has continued working steadily even after marriage and childbirth. Recently, she has gained public empathy and positive responses by honestly sharing her life not only as an actress but also as a wife and mother.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Choo Mo-bin, the eldest son of the couple Choo Shin-soo and Ha Won-mi, celebrated 365 days with his girlfriend Yeji by sharing a long letter and photos. On the 29th, Choo Mo-bin posted on his SNS a message titled ″365 Days with My Princess,″ along with photos with his girlfriend Yeji and a handwritten letter. The released photos captured their daily life, including close-up shots in a photo booth, a baseball stadium date, and scenes of them embracing on the street. In the letter, Choo Mo-bin recalled the moment he first met Yeji, writing, ″From the moment I first saw Yeji, I somehow felt that she would become a truly special person in my life.″ Their first meeting took place at a BBQ chicken restaurant, and Choo Mo-bin revealed, ″From the moment I met Yeji working at BBQ Chicken to the day of our first date, I definitely wanted to be in a relationship with her.″ Choo Mo-bin expressed his feelings over the past year, saying, ″My love for Yeji has grown day by day since the day we started dating, and it continues to grow even now.″ He also wrote, ″Even on the worst baseball game days of my life, the moment I look into Yeji’s eyes, my mood lifts, and all the negative thoughts in my head disappear,″ expressing how much strength his girlfriend gives him. He continued, ″She is my closest friend, the one who makes me smile, the person who brings me happiness, and my everything,″ and showed affection by saying, ″Yeji is the person who allows me to be ’Choo Mo-bin.’ Thanks to Yeji, my life has become complete.″ The letter concluded with a promise: ″No matter which direction our lives take in the future, as long as Yeji is by my side, I will feel that I am where I am meant to be,″ and ″I love Yeji, and I will continue to love her until the day I die.″ Meanwhile, born in 2005, Choo Mo-bin is currently active as a baseball player at Orange Coast College in the United States.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Sam Okyere shared an update on social media after about four months. On the 29th, he posted photos from 10 years ago and the present on his SNS, writing, ″Sometimes, it is necessary to look back and reflect on life. There are 10 years between these two photos. Definitely, it has gotten better.″ The released photos show Sam Okyere wearing a brightly patterned outfit 10 years ago, posing with a woman, and now standing in front of the camera with the same woman in a more relaxed atmosphere. Both photos show bright smiles, illustrating the changes over 10 years. Sam Okyere left a caption meaning ″10 years ago and 10 years later″ along with several hashtags, and this post was his first in 121 days since May 31. Sam Okyere, a broadcaster from Ghana, has been active in Korea, appearing on JTBC variety shows such as ″Non-Summit.″ In 2020, he sparked controversy by pointing out that the graduation photo of Uijeongbu High School students’ ″Coffin Dance″ had potential racial insensitivity toward Black people. Subsequently, controversies arose over his use of the hashtag ″teakpop″ and gestures in past broadcasts that seemed to demean East Asians. After suspending his activities, he appeared on a broadcast after about two years and said, ″Before I start talking seriously, I want to apologize. I am sorry for disappointing those who liked and loved me during that time,″ adding, ″I sincerely want to offer my apologies.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actor Byun Yo-han revealed the behind-the-scenes story of his secret wedding without any entertainment industry acquaintances on the SBS TV variety show ″Whenever There’s a Chance″ with MC Yoo Jae-suk. On the broadcast, Yoo Jae-suk expressed his regret about not being invited to the wedding, mentioning that he had sent a congratulatory message in advance asking for an invitation but was unable to attend. In response, Byun Yo-han explained that the ceremony was held quietly with only family members. Byun Yo-han also shared the behind-the-scenes story of his marriage to Tiffany Young, a member of the group Girls’ Generation and an actress. The two met through Disney+’s ″Samshiki Samchon″ and registered their marriage last February. The actual wedding was a private family-centered event, and there was an incident where AI-generated fake wedding photos were circulated online. Yoo Jae-suk recently mentioned that secret weddings are becoming a trend, and Byun Yo-han shared that he went on a honeymoon to San Francisco and Hawaii in the United States.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Held at KINTEX Hall 2 from the 20th to the 22ndKorea-Japan Festival 'WONDERLIVET 2026' Unveils Timetable / LIVET, WONDERLOCK[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung] The largest Korea-Japan festival in Korea, 'WONDERLIVET 2026,' has heightened the festival's excitement by releasing its three-day performance plan.Live entertainment brand LIVET and performance production company WONDERLOCK unveiled the timetable for 'WONDERLIVET 2026,' which will take place from November 20th to 22nd at Goyang KINTEX Hall 2, on their official social media on the afternoon of the 29th. The performances will alternate between two stages, WONDER STAGE and LIVET STAGE, for approximately 600 minutes daily from 12 PM to 10 PM.Headliners to cap off each day include THE ORAL CIGARETTES on the 20th, Alexandros on the 21st, and YUZU on the 22nd. In addition, natori, SAMBOMASTER, and SUKIMASWITCH will perform as sub-headliners, further intensifying the festival's excitement.'WONDERLIVET 2026' also stands out with distinct genre differentiation by day. Friday, the first day, will feature a blend of intense rock and subculture, while Saturday will primarily showcase artists with 3D virtual stages and explosive live performances. The final day, Sunday, will be adorned with artists focusing on refreshing and easy-listening pop and acoustic music.More details about 'WONDERLIVET 2026' can be found on the official social media.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ENA Monday-Tuesday drama ’Rookie 4: Sabotage’ continued with unpredictable developments until the end due to the consolidation of the Myth Unit and the arrival of new recruits. The final episode recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 5.2%, with a peak of 5.8% per minute, setting a new personal best. The target rating for the metropolitan area’s 2049 demographic also rose to a peak of 2.5% per minute, and in the 4th week of September, the TV-OTT integrated buzz survey by Good Data Corporation’s Fundex ranked the show 2nd for five consecutive weeks. In the final episode, Major Kim Hana (Gong Min-jung), an inspector, appeared in the Myth Unit to conduct an inventory audit of each company’s warehouse, supplies, and facilities. Although it seemed like a simple inventory check, it was revealed that Major Kim Hana had actually come to conduct an on-site inspection for the consolidation of units due to manpower reduction. Through the ’Unit Consolidation Inspection Report,’ Major Kim Hana announced that the Myth Unit was finally confirmed as a target for consolidation. The unit members busily tried to match the ledgers with the actual quantities, but Major Kim Hana had already sealed the warehouses of each unit and begun the actual counting, causing the administrative team’s attempts to fail. During this process, the adjutant brought out the ’canteen grave,’ and the members discovered canteens and old items buried in the hills, along with a photo of the adjutant in his youth. It was also revealed in the ammunition depot that there were more blanks than recorded in the ledger, but Major Kim Hana personally used up the blanks and overlooked the discrepancy. At the PX, she was seen buying frozen food for the unit members while naturally listening to their stories. A conversation between the regiment commander and Nam Joong-beom (Jo Seung-yeon) hinted at a twist, revealing that the disbandment of the Myth Unit was not merely an administrative decision but involved a power struggle targeting Jo Baek-ho (Oh Dae-hwan) and Byun Hyuk-jin (Lee Hyun-kyun). The officers of the 2nd company reflected on their military life and expressed affection for the unit, and the adjutant, who had been with the Myth Unit for over 20 years, stated that all his youth remained there. Major Kim Hana was also present at this gathering. During a dinner, a conversation between Kim Hana and Jo Baek-ho revealed that they had known each other since the past. Scenes of spaces filled with memories of the Myth Unit added to the sadness of having to leave the unit. Just as the thought of the end lingered, news of new recruits arriving brought the members back to the administrative team. The reason for Sergeant Choi Il-gu’s (Nam Tae-woo) return was also revealed. Seeing Platoon Leader Oh Seok-jin (Lee Sang-jin) infatuated with a woman he met on SNS, Choi Il-gu realized it was a scam and recalled his own near experience with the same scam after discharge due to financial difficulties and tuition fees. Unable to send money due to lack of funds, he was eventually blocked by the scammer and looked for non-commissioned officer recruitment announcements again, leading to his return as a sergeant. The newly introduced recruits appeared with distinctive personalities: one who had received a spiritual calling, a son of a chaebol who attended prestigious American private schools and the Ivy League, and a figure presumed to be a former national representative reserve soldier. Park Min-seok (Kim Min-ho) greeted with ″Let’s do well from now on,″ showing his rookie spirit until the end. This season expanded the story through the growth of existing characters and the clash with newly joined characters. Kim Min-ho portrayed Park Min-seok, who became a corporal, and his struggles with being the son of a division commander; Kim Dong-jun added vitality with his sly acting; Oh Dae-hwan portrayed Jo Baek-ho’s transformation after promotion to major; Lee Hyun-kyun played Byun Hyuk-jin, the battalion commander pushing for advanced military camps; Lee Won-jung acted as rookie Kim Hyun-wook, who does not easily reveal his true feelings. Existing cast members Nam Tae-woo, KIM YO HAN, Lee Chung-gu, LEE JEONGHYEON, Jeon Seung-hoon, Kim Hyun-gyu, and Kim Hee-soo continued their roles. Special appearances by Han Ga-in, Kim Young-ok, Gong Min-jung, Jung I-rang, and Kwak Jun-bin appeared throughout, adding to the drama’s enjoyment. ’Rookie 4: Sabotage’ maintained the unique tone of military comedy while depicting the moment when familiar spaces and relationships disappear through the crisis of the Myth Unit’s consolidation. At the end, the appearance of new recruits left the possibility for new stories.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The unit song ″RUNNERS HIGH,″ featuring xikers members Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, and Seeun, is scheduled to be released at midnight on September 30, 2026. This song was entirely written, composed, and arranged by Kim Min-jae, who also handled the chorus and MIDI programming. Recording took place at In Grid Studio with Yeominsu and Hong Yechan, who also took charge of digital editing. Mixing was done by Shin Bongwon at Penny Lane Studios, with Park Namjoon assisting as mix assistant. Mastering was completed by Park Jeongeon at Honey Butter Studio. The lyrics express a determination to keep running quickly even after falling, stepping over obstacles, and moving forward without fear. The repetitive chorus emphasizes the message of feeling the ″RUNNERS HIGH″ and pushing through difficult nights and darkness toward dreams. It also includes striking phrases like ″Please call me a freak, Imma let you know.″ Various updates related to the song can be found through xikers’ official platforms and SNS channels.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong has surpassed 14.6 billion cumulative streams on Melon, maintaining the highest record among all domestic artists. According to Melon’s Hall of Fame artist section on the 29th, Lim Young Woong’s cumulative streams reached 14,605,520,000. An additional 7,062,300 streams were added in just one day, averaging about 294,000 streams per hour and approximately 4,900 streams per minute. Lim Young Woong was the first solo artist to enter the ″Diamond Club″ by surpassing 10 billion cumulative streams in the shortest time and surpassed BTS to become the all-time leader in cumulative streams on Melon. Since then, Lim Young Woong has continued to break records, widening the gap with the second place. The recently released special digital album ″IM HERO 10″ continued its success by charting all tracks on major music sites immediately after release and topping Melon’s Top 100 and Hot 100 charts. The title track ″Again Again″ was written and composed by Lim Young Woong and ranked number one on Billboard Korea’s Global K-Song chart. This album includes six new songs such as ″Again Again,″ ″Moise,″ and ″New York,″ along with four reimagined existing tracks like ″I Hate You″ and ″Love Always Runs Away.″ By combining new songs and remakes, it targets a diverse range of listeners. Lim Young Woong’s existing songs, spanning genres such as ballad, trot, and pop, continue to be consistently consumed on the charts regardless of new releases. The fandom ″Hero Era″ also contributes to the record-breaking streaming numbers through continuous streaming. Having surpassed 14.6 billion cumulative streams, Lim Young Woong’s next goal is to reach 15 billion streams.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The music video for Lee Chan-won’s ″Sanai Cheongchun″ has surpassed 5 million views. ″Sanai Cheongchun″ is a track included in Lee Chan-won’s first full-length album, ″ONE,″ characterized by its lively rhythm, brass sounds, and a light, conversational vocal style. The song humorously portrays the masculine images from various regions such as Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do, Chungcheong-do, and Gangwon-do. The ″Sanai Cheongchun″ music video, released on Lee Chan-won’s official YouTube channel on February 20, 2023, exceeded 5 million views as of September 29. Lee Chan-won continues various activities including broadcasting and events, and recently has been active as a model for Ollokdam advertisements.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Young Tak presents a time travel-themed stage to fans through the solo concert ’TAK SHOW5’. The concert will be held from October 3 to 5 at Hwa-jeong Gymnasium, Korea University, Seoul. ’TAK SHOW5’ is the fifth brand concert of ’TAK SHOW,’ which began its first season in 2022, showcasing new stories and stages each season. The theme of this season is ’time travel.’ In the teaser video released on Young Tak’s official YouTube channel, a question appears in the voice of actor Kim Eung-soo: ″If you could go back to the past, when would you want to go?″ The video also features a scene of Young Tak as a college freshman. Young Tak said, ″Do you have a moment you want to go back to?″ and added, ″We have prepared a special stage where we can laugh, enjoy, and be deeply moved together while traveling through the past, present, and future.″ Meanwhile, Young Tak recently recorded initial sales of 370,463 copies with the third full album ’GOGO,’ ranking first on the Hanteo Chart weekly album chart and the Circle Chart retail album chart. The title track ’Kkeokgeo’ reached number one on KBS 2TV’s ’Music Bank.’ Starting with the Seoul performance, ’TAK SHOW5’ will continue its nationwide tour in Jeonju on October 24–25, Daegu on November 28–29, Incheon on December 19–20, and Busan on January 16–17 next year.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hearts2Hearts will release the Korean version of their Japanese debut song ″ICONIC HEART″ on October 5 at 6 PM. On the 30th, their agency SM Entertainment announced that Hearts2Hearts (Jiu, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Jueun, A-NA, Ian, Yeon), who introduced their first single title track in Japan, will release the song sung again in Korean. ″ICONIC HEART″ is a dance song based on Jersey club, characterized by synth sounds and a fast beat. As with the original, KENZIE participated in writing the Korean lyrics, capturing the lively emotions of moving toward a bigger world. Since its release in Japan in August, the song has ranked second on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, Combined Singles Chart, Billboard Japan HOT100, and Top Singles Sales Chart. Before the release of the song, Hearts2Hearts will first perform the Korean version of ″ICONIC HEART″ at the ″Spotify CLOSER″ event held at Myeonghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on October 2. They will also appear at the ″SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26″ concert held at Wangsan Marina Port in Incheon on October 3. After the release, domestic music show activities are also planned.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, and Seeun of xikers showcased new vocal synergy through the vocal unit content ’Runner’s High.’ At midnight on the 30th, their agency KQ Entertainment released xikers’s vocal unit content ’Runner’s High’ on their official SNS channels. In this content, the four members’ distinct vocal colors blended together to deliver refreshing energy. The harmony and unity of the vocals were praised for giving listeners a sense of liberation. In the released video, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, and Seeun appeared as a mysterious ghost band and performed a cheerful play. The video depicts a story where an office worker, tired of repetitive daily life, enters an unknown space through a vending machine, meets the members, and runs on a treadmill and across fields in search of freedom. xikers had previously shown their free-spiritedness and dynamic movements through the rap unit and performance unit, respectively. With this vocal unit content, they expanded the team’s musical spectrum. They are presenting various unit contents ahead of their comeback in November. Meanwhile, xikers is scheduled to hold their second fan meeting, ’Roadmap to University,’ at Zepp Osaka Bayside in Japan on October 4, and will release their 8th mini-album ’Route Zero: The Calling’ on November 2.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NMIXX has released new concept photos ahead of the release of the mini album ’Strange Muse’ and the title track ’Birthday Wish’ on October 19. On the 30th at midnight, NMIXX shared additional concept photos with a unique theme through their official SNS channels. In these photos, the members caught attention with poses and gazes that express their individual personalities in a static space. Scenes such as drawing a bowstring sparked curiosity about the narrative of the new album ’Strange Muse.’ The mini album contains a total of six tracks. Along with the title track ’Birthday Wish,’ it includes ’Kerosene,’ ’RudE TaLK,’ and unit songs that the members directly participated in creating: ’Sing to the Moon (LILY, HAEWON),’ ’Hot ’n Unbothered (SULLYOON, BAE),’ and ’WHIP (JIWOO, KYUJIN).’ NMIXX established the group’s identity by consecutively succeeding with ’Blue Valentine’ in October 2025 and ’Heavy Serenade’ in May this year. The sixth mini album will be officially released on October 19 at 6 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Entered various charts including 'Billboard 200'Both digital and physical albums are popularSinger EVAN ranked 49th on the US 'Billboard 200' chart with their debut album 'DEATH OF ME'. The photo shows the singer expressing their thoughts after receiving the 'World Best Wave' award at the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS, TMA)' held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the 19th. /Reporter Park Heon-woo[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Singer EVAN has achieved significant results as a solo artist.Bilibili Lab announced on the 30th that "EVAN's first mini-album 'DEATH OF ME' entered the 'Billboard 200' chart at 49th place, as announced by US Billboard on October 3rd local time."'Billboard 200' ranks albums by combining physical album sales, digital music downloads, and streaming numbers. EVAN has proven their global influence as a solo artist by entering the top 50 of this chart with their debut album.In addition, 'DEATH OF ME' and EVAN ranked 2nd on Billboard's 'World Albums', 7th on 'Top Album Sales', 1st on 'Emerging Artists', and 51st on the 'Artist 100' chart.'DEATH OF ME' is an album that contains EVAN's determination to move forward towards musical challenges. The album surpassed 500,000 copies in sales within three days of its release (based on Hanteo Chart), making EVAN a 'Half Million Seller'. Additionally, it achieved good results on major album charts such as Japan's Oricon, Billboard Japan, and the UK Official.The title track 'Death of Me' is also performing well, appearing on the UK Official 'Single Sales' and 'Single Downloads' charts.EVAN will continue the excitement with follow-up song promotions. EVAN is scheduled to perform the B-side track 'Twilight' on Mnet's 'M Countdown', which will air at 6 PM on October 1st.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Min Jun-ho, a cardiothoracic surgeon, role... stills releasedOctober 30th at 9:50 PM KSTCharacter stills of actor Yoo Yeon-seok, who will appear in MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Liar', have been released. /MBC[THE FACT|Choi Soo-bin Reporter] Actor Yoo Yeon-seok encounters an unexpected event in his perfect daily life.The production team of MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'A Killer Paradox' (written by Baek Ji-young, directed by Jo Young-min) released character stills of actor Yoo Yeon-seok, who plays the role of Min Joon-ho, on the 30th. The photos show Min Joon-ho in contrasting spaces: an operating room and an interrogation room.'Lie' is the story of a man and a woman who make completely opposite claims about a single memory, clashing fiercely in pursuit of the truth. It is also drawing attention as a work that reunites Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin, who co-starred in the 2016 SBS drama 'Dr. Romantic' and are now working together after 10 years.Yoo Yeon-seok's Min Jun-ho is 'the man who tells the truth.' A cardiothoracic surgeon, he is raising his son alone after his wife passed away. He is a perfectionist who allows no room for error when holding a scalpel, but he possesses a humor that eases the tension of others and shows a childlike innocence when he smiles. Min Jun-ho's peaceful daily life begins to be shaken by Kang Ji-sun (Seo Hyun-jin), whom he meets by chance.The stills capture these changes in Min-jun-ho. First, Min-jun-ho, who is about to undergo surgery, exudes the cool-headedness of a perfectionist cardiothoracic surgeon. His unwavering gaze, without even the slightest tremor, showcases his aspect as a doctor trusted by many.On the other hand, another photo gives off a completely different vibe. Sitting in a dark space that appears to be an interrogation room, he gazes intently at something. It makes one wonder why Min Jun-ho, the "man who tells the truth," ended up in an interrogation room.The production team said, "Min Jun-ho, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, is a doctor and father trusted by everyone. However, he will undergo significant emotional changes as he is thrown into an unexpected situation. We believe Yoo Yeon-seok, with his broad expressiveness and energy, is the best actor to portray Min Jun-ho with impact. In fact, Yoo Yeon-seok has perfectly created his own Min Jun-ho. We ask for your great interest and anticipation."'Liar', consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on October 30th at 9:50 PM.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The struggle for survival of the internet broadcast crew 'Killing Time'... to be released in OctoberThe movie 'Killing Time', starring actors Ryu Hye-young and Nam Yoon-soo, will be released in October. /The Title Co., Ltd.[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actors Ryu Hye-young and Nam Yoon-soo are in a desperate struggle against rapidly dwindling time.Distributor The Title Co., Ltd. released duo stills on the 30th, featuring the survival chemistry of Ryu Hye-young and Nam Yoon-soo, who play the lead roles in the movie 'Killing Time' (Director Jang Jun-hyeop).'Killing Time' is a time-attack thriller about the internet broadcast crew 'Killing Time', who lost everything in an instant accident, being attacked by an unknown entity in an abandoned hospital they visited to make a comeback, and their fight to survive the ruthless attacks.Yeon-woo (played by Ryu Hye-young), who stands in front of the camera again for a comeback after falling into ruin due to the death of a team member, and Joo-won (played by Nam Yoon-soo), the PD and leader of 'Killing Time' who pushes the plan to the end for the success of the content, are driven into an unexpected extreme situation where their lives are at stake.Actor Nam Yoon-soo (left) and Ryu Hye-young collaborate in the movie 'Killing Time'. /The Title Co., Ltd.The stills show Yeon-woo and Joo-won looking back as if on guard in a dark space. Their anxious expressions as they survey their surroundings raise curiosity about the situation they are facing and heighten the tension.In the following stills, Yeon-woo and Joo-won show even greater tension as they look beyond the iron bars. Expectations are high as to whether they will be able to successfully complete the time-attack survival game while avoiding the unidentified entity in the abandoned hospital.The time-attack thriller 'Killing Time' is scheduled to be released in October.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 New song 'ANIMAL' shows opposite approach to previous song 'VIRAL'The goal of 'energy that moves people' remains the sameGroup BOYNEXTDOOR released the repackage album 'HOME: DELUXE' on the 28th. 'HOME: DELUXE' includes a total of 14 tracks, including the new song 'ANIMAL'. / KOZ ENTERTAINMENT[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] They say opposites attract. Group BOYNEXTDOOR is making people's 'bodies' move with two completely different songs.BOYNEXTDOOR (RIWOO TAESAN WOONHAK SUNGHO LEEHAN Myung Jae-hyun) released the repackage of their first full-length album 'HOME', titled 'HOME: DELUXE', on the afternoon of the 28th and began promotions.'HOME: DELUXE' consists of 14 tracks in total, including the 9 songs from 'HOME', the new songs 'ANIMAL' and 'CLICHE', the Korean versions of the Japanese release 'Count To Love' and 'Boom Boom Boom', and the first fan song '400 Years'. It contains music and charms that were not fully shown in 'HOME'.Among these, the song that garnered the most attention is 'ANIMAL'. This song, chosen as the title track of 'HOME: DELUXE', is the first electro-funk genre attempted by BOYNEXTDOOR, expressing a mindset of relentlessly pursuing what one desires.And the reason this song is particularly interesting is that it forms a contrast with 'VIRAL', the title track of 'HOME', in many ways.BOYNEXTDOOR has explained that 'VIRAL' follows 'K-pop grammar with a clear beginning, development, climax, and conclusion', and revealed that the song is influenced by 2nd and 3rd generation K-pop. As they said, 'VIRAL' shows the song's emotions being led through a melody and band sound-focused instrumental composition, and a distinct progression.On the other hand, 'ANIMAL' goes beyond simply attempting a new genre of electro-funk, conveying a 'wildly racing feeling' through its intense beat, electronic-focused sound composition, dynamic rhythm, and repetitive chorus.The title track 'ANIMAL' of 'HOME: DELUXE' shows a completely different genre, sound, and development method compared to the title track 'VIRAL' of 'HOME'. / KOZ ENTERTAINMENTAs the sounds of 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' are at opposite extremes, the emotions contained in the two songs are naturally completely different.'VIRAL' is a song that emphasizes familiar grammar that evokes nostalgia for 2nd and 3rd generation K-pop, a clear progression, and a serious emotion. In fact, BOYNEXTDOOR reflected on 'HOME' by saying, "There's a more serious side to it," and explained that they "wanted 'VIRAL' to be sincere and weighty."In contrast, words that describe 'ANIMAL' include 'rough' and 'instinctive'. The members described it as "a song you can go crazy to without thinking," and urged listeners to "let go of your reason and feel the music."The interesting part starts here. Although 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' have different sound characteristics, emotions, and ways of expressing them, their goals align.The point BOYNEXTDOOR pursues in 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' is, in a word, 'the power to move people.' Both 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' are songs with a clear intention to deliver energy that makes listeners naturally sway their bodies in response to the music. However, the way the energy works is different.This is particularly evident in 'ANIMAL'. BOYNEXTDOOR's RIWOO explicitly stated the intention for 'ANIMAL', saying, "When I first heard it, I started to rhythm without even realizing it. I hope listeners can also let their heads and bodies be immersed in the music like us."In contrast, 'VIRAL' takes a different approach. It first touches on past nostalgia and emotions through its clear progression, familiar K-pop grammar, and lyrical melody.While 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' share the goal of 'making people move,' the way they achieve it is completely different. / KOZ ENTERTAINMENTIf 'ANIMAL' stimulates 'instinct' by letting the body follow the beat and rhythm, 'VIRAL' stimulates 'emotion' through melody and dramatic development to move people.Ultimately, 'VIRAL' and 'ANIMAL' are songs heading to the same destination. One stimulates emotion, the other stimulates instinct. It's like running in opposite directions to reach the same destination.They say opposites attract. Attention is focused on what results BOYNEXTDOOR's 'way of moving people' will bring, by eliciting the same reaction with contrasting music.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Pre-released live on October 2nd, official music release on the 5th.Group Hearts2Hearts will release the Korean version of their Japanese debut song 'ICONIC HEART' on October 5th at 6 PM. / SM Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group Hearts2Hearts will continue their Japanese popularity in Korea.Their agency SM Entertainment announced on the 30th, " Hearts2Hearts (JIWOO Carmen YUHA Stella JUUN A-NA IAN YE-ON) will release the Korean version of their Japanese debut song 'ICONIC HEART' on October 5th at 6 PM."'ICONIC HEART' is a Jersey club-based dance song that combines upbeat synth sounds with a bouncy beat. It expresses Hearts2Hearts's playful charm and lovely energy through music.Like the original song, KENZIE participated in writing the lyrics for the Korean version, vibrantly and cutely expressing the thrill and overwhelming emotions felt when running towards a bigger world.When 'ICONIC HEART' was released in Japan in August, it received enthusiastic responses, ranking second on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and Combined Singles Chart, and Billboard Japan HOT100 and Top Singles Sales Chart.As domestic fans also showed great interest and support for Hearts2Hearts's Japanese debut activities, a positive response is expected for the Korean version of 'ICONIC HEART'.Hearts2Hearts will first unveil the Korean version of 'ICONIC HEART' at 'Spotify CLOSER' held at Myeonghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on October 2nd.Following this, they are scheduled to perform at the concert held after the 'SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26' race at Wangsan Marina Port in Incheon on October 3rd.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Starting with 'National Singing Contest' and 'Gayo Stage' in OctoberIdaon, who has undergone systematic training at KDH Entertainment for about a year, will officially begin her activities with the recording of 'National Singing Contest' and 'Gayo Stage' in October. /KDH Enter[THE FACT | Reporter Jeong Byung-geun] Trot singer Idaon is embarking on full-scale activities with an upgraded image.KDH Entertainment announced on the 30th, "Based on Idaon's musical potential, we have been preparing vocal training, stage experience, and broadcast activities, and now we plan to promote Idaon's name and her unique comfortable and sincere trot sensibility through full-scale broadcast activities."Since signing an exclusive contract with KDH Entertainment, Idaon has consistently honed her skills as a singer by receiving systematic training and management for about a year. Idaon, who appeared on MBN's trot audition program 'Rookies' in February, now plans to take a powerful step forward for her leap.KDH Entertainment is promoting various projects for the overseas advancement of domestic content and artists by developing global concert agencies, broadcast/performance production, artist management, and entertainment businesses.Idaon is scheduled to record KBS's 'National Singing Contest' and 'Gayo Stage' in October. In addition, after completing the recording of the Paju City episode of National Singing Contest on October 3rd, she will hold a promotional live broadcast to communicate with fans through TikTok Live from 8 PM.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Season 2 Goal: Founding the 8th Professional Team"We will prove sufficient competitiveness."Former volleyball player Kim Yeon-Koung is set to showcase his growth as a seasoned coach through Season 2 of MBC's new entertainment program, "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung." Pictured is his appearance on the red carpet at the "2025 MBC Entertainment Awards" held at the MBC Media Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on December 29th of last year. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Former volleyball player Kim Yeon-Koung embarks on a challenge to establish the 8th professional team with the strengthened "Winning Wonderdogs."The production team of MBC's new entertainment program "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung" Season 2 (hereinafter referred to as "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2") released a written interview with Kim Yeon-Koung on the 30th. Kim Yeon-Koung, returning as a "seasoned coach" from "rookie director," said, "I hope you will watch how 'Winning Wonderdogs' overcomes challenges in the process of preparing for and competing against good teams.""Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2" is a club founding project where Kim Yeon-Koung, now a "seasoned coach" in his second year, and the "Winning Wonderdogs" move from UNDER to WONDER. While Season 1, aired last September, documented the club founding process of volleyball legend Kim Yeon-Koung, who returned as a rookie coach, this season depicts the team's growth and challenges amidst fiercer competition.Volleyball emperor Kim Yeon-Koung, who took his first step as a "rookie director" last year, now leads the "Winning Wonderdogs" as a second-year "seasoned coach." Having experienced trial and error as a coach in the first season, he has made changes from the start this time. He focused on drawing out each player's potential through more intensive training and enhancing the team's completeness.Kim Yeon-Koung shared his thoughts, saying, "Last year, it took longer than expected for the players to understand and adapt to the tactics I devised, and for the team to create the desired game. In a way, it felt like a slow start, but this year, we've compensated for that by starting with more intensity and tightness. I think I prepared and trained harder with the mindset that players need to adapt quickly."The experience from Season 1 also brought changes to Kim Yeon-Koung's coaching style. He explained, "During Season 1, I learned a lot about how crucial it is to maximize each player's strengths. In Season 2, I focused more on understanding players' abilities in detail, maximizing their individual potential, and integrating them well into the team's system.""Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2" will premiere on October 11th at 9:10 PM. / MBCThese changes are fully reflected in the player composition for Season 2. Kim Yeon-Koung said, "While individual player abilities were important, I think I spent more time contemplating how much the overall capabilities could be enhanced when forming a team. I also considered the chemistry and synergy among players. I had high expectations for how well the newly joined players would synchronize and what new plays they would show. The team composition this time also seems to showcase different strengths compared to the previous season," sparking anticipation.The destination for the newly formed "Winning Wonderdogs" is the "founding of the 8th professional team." Kim Yeon-Koung emphasized, "We need to show through our games that the system and plays we've prepared work against professional teams, proving that our players have competitiveness even in the professional league. I believe the most important thing is to give viewers the conviction that 'if this team becomes a professional club, it will have sufficient competitiveness and value.'"As it's the second challenge, the opponents to overcome are not to be underestimated. The process of the "Winning Wonderdogs" breaking through crises and approaching their goal while facing even stronger opponents is expected to be the main viewing point of this season.Kim Yeon-Koung encouraged viewers to tune in, saying, "The matchups this season were really tough. I hope you will enjoy watching how 'Winning Wonderdogs' overcomes challenges in the process of preparing for and competing against good teams. Please continue to watch and support the more solidified 'Wonderdogs' in Season 2.""Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung2" will premiere on October 11th at 9:10 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Im Si-wan, a prickly side hidden behind a proper heirSeol In-ah, infiltrates as an executive assistant to catch murder suspect Im Si-wanThe character teaser video for tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'My Guilty Person,' starring actors Im Si-wan and Seol In-ah, has been released. /tvN[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] Im Si-wan and Seol In-ah begin an unpredictable journey together, entangled as boss and executive assistant.The production team of tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'My Guilty Person' (written by Moon Su-jeong, directed by Park Dan-hee) sequentially released character teaser videos for Yoon Yi-jun (Im Si-wan) and Kang Jae-hee (Seol In-ah) on the 30th, foreshadowing the relationship between the two as boss and executive assistant.'My Guilty Person' depicts the close thriller romance between Yoon Yi-jun, an arrogant third-generation chaebol accused of murder, and Kang Jae-hee, a former special forces officer who infiltrates as his executive assistant.The Yoon Yi-jun video contrasts his public image as the next heir to Taekang Group with his true nature. He, who is active as the youngest economic envoy, says in an interview, "I'm not good at lying, and I hate doing it."However, it elicits laughter when executive assistant Kang Jae-hee testifies, "You're a really good actor." Yoon Yi-jun's appearance, warning with a fierce gaze while throwing documents, "I'm not a very patient person," shows his hidden prickliness.The Kang Jae-hee video captures the unique activities of detective Kang Jae-hee, who infiltrates as an executive assistant to approach the prime murder suspect Yoon Yi-jun. With a brilliant career as a special forces graduate and excellent martial arts skills, she secures the executive assistant position, which is said to "only hire men," and stays by Yoon Yi-jun's side with a confident attitude despite his threats.The ironic situation of Kang Jae-hee, who came to catch a murder suspect but is instead saving him, adds to the humor.As such, the character teasers of Yoon Yi-jun and Kang Jae-hee make viewers more curious about their meeting, and attention is focused on the chaotic journey they will write together.'My Guilty Person,' consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on October 19th at 8:50 PM.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jimin attracted great attention by releasing his first video on the official TikTok account. On the 28th, Jimin posted a video for the first time using the song ″Be Mine″ from his second solo album ″MUSE″ as the background music. This video, featuring original choreography against the backdrop of a beach sunset, recorded 10 million views and over 4.55 million likes in about 16 hours after its release, and ranked number one on the U.S. trends. Cover videos began to appear continuously even before an hour had passed since the video was released. Jimin’s account had more than 5.3 million followers without any separate posts, but within a day of posting the first video, the number of followers increased by more than 1 million, reaching over 6.54 million. As of midnight on September 30, Jimin’s first TikTok video recorded over 15 million views and more than 6 million likes. The official TikTok Korea account introduced Jimin’s first post, saying, ″Jimin’s unique trait: coming back with the first TikTok right after the holiday ends,″ and left a comment, ″Posting the first video to prevent Monday blues right after the Chuseok holiday is truly admirable.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Enhypen (ENHYPEN) has appeared on the US Billboard main album chart for five consecutive weeks. On the latest chart dated October 3, announced by Billboard on the 29th (local time), Enhypen’s eighth mini-album, THE SIN : BLISS, entered the Billboard 200 at number 196. This album reached number one on the chart dated September 5 and has remained steadily on the chart since then. On detailed charts, THE SIN : BLISS ranked 4th on the World Albums chart and 15th on the Top Album Sales chart, maintaining a high position. Enhypen has also appeared on the Artist 100 chart for over a month. THE SIN : BLISS surpassed initial sales of 2.09 million copies, becoming the team’s fifth double million seller. This album also topped major global music charts such as US Billboard, Billboard Japan, and Japan’s Oricon. Meanwhile, Enhypen is conducting the world tour ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ’BLOOD SAGA’ across 37 shows in 22 cities worldwide. The tour resumed with a performance in Macau in October and will continue with a four-dome tour in Japan from December to February next year, followed by performances in Asia and Europe until March next year.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Entered Billboard Charts for 2 Consecutive WeeksAlso Performing Well on Domestic Music ChartsGroup TUIDE Enters Billboard Charts for 2 Consecutive Weeks/ABD[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group TUIDE continues to enjoy steady popularity on various charts since their debut.According to their agency ADB on the 30th, TUIDE(Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Sea, Hani) was listed on the latest US Billboard charts (October 3rd issue), released on the 29th local time, for two consecutive weeks.TUIDE's first mini-album 'TUNE & PLAY' ranked 9th this week, following 3rd place last week on the World Albums chart, maintaining its top 10 position for two consecutive weeks.Furthermore, TUIDE ranked 35th on 'Emerging Artists' this week, following 1st place last week, proving the steady interest from local music fans.On the 27th, Billboard selected TUIDE as the 'K-Pop Rookie of the Month' for September and highlighted their musical world in depth.They noted TUIDE's unique 'Soultronic' style, which combines the warm emotions of soul with the sophisticated sounds of electronic music, and praised, "The distinct personalities of the seven members are woven into music that only they can deliver. Each member's voice maintains its unique color while blending naturally. This interaction completes the charm of the songs."TUIDE is achieving significant results not only on Billboard but also on various global charts.'TUNE & PLAY' entered the iTunes 'Top Albums' chart in 23 countries and regions worldwide, and sold over 110,000 copies in its first week alone, ranking in the top 10 for first-week sales of K-pop girl group debut albums of all time.On domestic music charts, all songs from the album 'TUNE & PLAY' entered Melon Hot 100.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Apologizes after revealing purchase history after raising 'hidden ad suspicions'Actress Han Ga-in revealed the actual purchase history of the product after being accused of 'hidden ad suspicions' by YouTuber Death Fox. /THE FACTDB, YouTube Channel 'Free Woman Han Ga-in'[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Death Fox, the '1.29 million subscriber YouTuber' who targeted actress Han Ga-in, has finally posted an apology.On the 30th, Death Fox posted a notice on his YouTube channel and apologized, saying, "I am the operator of Death Fox TV. Regardless of the reason, I apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable with this video. I am sorry."Previously, Death Fox mentioned that Han Ga-in introduced a product containing albumin on her YouTube channel while pointing out the problems of products containing albumin.Following this, Han Ga-in was embroiled in a 'hidden ad (the act of promoting a paid advertisement as if it were personally purchased) controversy,' and Han Ga-in eventually apologized, saying, "Although I purchased it myself, I was not careful."However, Death Fox did not stop there, creating a separate Shorts video about Han Ga-in and targeting her again. Han Ga-in then refuted the 'hidden ad suspicions' by revealing transaction details of directly purchasing the product even before starting her YouTube channel.As a result, a backlash arose, with people saying, 'Death Fox targeted Han Ga-in with uncertain content for the sake of trending,' so he deleted the Shorts video and posted an apology.Death Fox explained, "Despite Han Ga-in's apology, I cut out the part about Han Ga-in and made it into a Shorts video, causing misunderstanding," adding, "It was an immature and rash judgment for a channel that should focus on the essence."YouTuber Death Fox deleted the Shorts video and posted an apology after Han Ga-in revealed her payment details. / Screenshot from YouTube 'Death Fox TV'He continued to apologize, saying, "I sincerely apologize to Han Ga-in, who must have suffered unnecessary damage and hurt. I am keenly feeling my shortcomings and arrogance," and added, "I will thoroughly reflect and come to my senses so that I do not cause harm to others by deviating from the essence with rash actions again."The following is the full apology from Death Fox.I am sorry.This is the operator of Death Fox TV.Regardless of the reason, I apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable with this video.The problem is that in a recent video about albumin (title: "Revealing the Real Culprit"), I mentioned Han Ga-in, and even after Han Ga-in apologized, I cut out the part about Han Ga-in, which was not the essence, and made it into a Shorts video, causing misunderstanding.The problematic Shorts video has been made private.It was an immature and rash judgment for a channel that should focus on the essence to cut out that part and make it into a Shorts video.I sincerely apologize to Han Ga-in, who must have suffered unnecessary damage and hurt because of this.I am sorry.I have always vowed not to forget the weight of the microphone you have given me, yet I immediately created a problem. I am keenly feeling how heavy and frightening that weight is, and my shortcomings and arrogance.I will ponder and engrave all the criticisms you give me.I will thoroughly reflect and come to my senses so that I do not cause harm to others by deviating from the essence with such rash actions again.I am sorry.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Starting with the Miami performance on the 26th, experiencing poor conditionI plan to pause my activities for a while and get plenty of rest.WINTER of group aespa will not attend the Dallas concert in the US due to shingles. The photo shows WINTER attending the press conference for the release of aespa's second full album 'LEMONADE' held on June 28. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung] Member WINTER of group aespa will temporarily halt activities due to health concerns.SM Entertainment announced on the 30th that "aespa (KARINA WINTER GISELLE NINGNING) has decided to withdraw from the Dallas concert in the U.S. held on the 29th local time due to shingles and will be taking a break," posting a notice on its official Weverse channel.Currently, aespa is on its fourth world tour, 'SYNK : COMPLæXITY', and began its North American performances on the 18th.SM Entertainment explained, "Winter showed symptoms of poor condition before the performance in Miami on the 26th, but she took the stage with the will to be with the members. However, her condition did not improve afterward, and after receiving a detailed diagnosis at the hospital, she was diagnosed with shingles."They added, "Even after her diagnosis, Winter did her best to perform on stage, but following the medical team's recommendation that sufficient recovery is the top priority, she has unavoidably decided to be absent from this Dallas performance."SM Entertainment added, "We apologize to our fans for delivering this sudden news. We will do our best to ensure Winter recovers her health and can meet with our fans again."aespa is scheduled to perform in 26 cities across 16 countries until February 2027 through its fourth world tour 'SYNK : COMPLæXITY'.Here is the full announcement from SM Entertainment.This is to inform you about the absence from aespa WINTER's main performance in DALLAS and the Hi-Bye, Send-Off event.WINTER experienced symptoms of poor condition prior to the MIAMI performance, but stood on stage with the will to perform with her members. However, her condition did not sufficiently improve afterward, so she visited a hospital after the MIAMI performance for a detailed examination. The results showed she was diagnosed with shingles.Even after her diagnosis, WINTER showed a strong will to participate in the scheduled performance as much as possible, doing her best to recover her condition until right before the performance, and continuously monitoring the situation to see if she could take the stage. However, following the medical team's recommendation that the artist's health and sufficient recovery are the top priorities, after careful discussion between the agency and the artist, it was inevitably decided that she would be absent from this DALLAS performance and take a rest.Accordingly, today's main performance and Hi-Bye, Send-Off will proceed with three members: KARINA, GISELLE, and NINGNING.WINTER is also very disappointed that they will not be able to join this performance, as they have been looking forward to meeting the audience in DALLAS, and they apologize to the fans for the sudden news.We ask for your understanding once again for the sudden news delivered to the many people who have been waiting for the performance, and we will do our best to ensure that WINTER recovers her health and can meet with fans again.We sincerely thank you for your warm support and love always sent to aespa.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]laugardagr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Played the role of Jang Tae-young, who succeeded with innate luck and intuition"I want to persistently conclude a series with a 20-year history."Actor Byun Yo-han held an interview regarding the release of the movie 'Tazza 4'. /CJ ENM[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Actor Byun Yo-han has returned with 'Tazza 4', which marks the finale of the 'Tazza' series, which has spanned 20 years. He did not shy away from the pressure but faced it head-on, fiercely filling it with his own color, successfully completing his growth as an actor and a meaningful challenge.Byun Yo-han held an interview with on the 14th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of the movie 'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' (Director Choi Gook-hee, hereinafter referred to as 'Tazza 4'). He played the lead role of Jang Tae-young, brilliantly decorating the finale of the 20-year-old 'Tazza' series.The movie 'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' (Director Choi Gook-hee, hereinafter referred to as 'Tazza 4'), which was released on screen on the 23rd, is a crime film about Jang Tae-young, who thought he had the world at his fingertips with his online casino business, and his best friend Park Tae-young (played by Noh Jae-won) of the same name, who took everything from him, meeting again in the global gambling world for a revenge match.If you were to pick the busiest actor recently, it would undoubtedly be Byun Yo-han. In 'Kyungju Gihang' (Director Kim Mi-jo), released on August 26th, he played Baek Sang-hyun, who took the youngest child from Ok-sil's (played by Lee Jung-eun) family, showing a drastic visual transformation. In 'Father's Home Cooking' (Director Lee Joon-ik), released on the 9th, he played Myung-bok, the son of Ha-eung (played by Jung Jae-young) and Soon-ae (played by Lee Jung-eun), marking a significant addition to his filmography by being the first short drama to be released in theaters.Byun Yo-han played the role of Jang Tae-young, who succeeded with innate luck and intuition. /CJ ENMAnd shortly after, Byun Yo-han is meeting audiences with a new film, 'Tazza 4', on screen again. Regarding this, he said, "I just worked as usual, and it all piled up. Although it wasn't planned, I am very grateful that three films were released around the same time. It's so exciting to be able to meet the audience."'Tazza 4' is based on the work of the same name, which Huh Young-man selected as his favorite story among his series. It is the fourth sequel and finale of the 'Tazza' movie series, which has expanded its unique world for 20 years and received much love, drawing much attention from the production stage.In particular, 'Tazza' (2006) was loved by many, attracting 5.69 million viewers despite its R-rated classification, and its famous lines are still talked about today. After the second and third installments failed to surpass the box office success of the first, the pressure of taking on the role of the protagonist in the fourth installment, which concludes the series, was expected to be considerable.Nevertheless, Byun Yo-han, who jumped into the project with the mindset of "If someone is going to close the door, I want it to be me," fiercely completed a new 'Tazza' by preserving the franchise's identity while adding his own color. Along with this, he achieved growth as an actor, becoming even more solid by not avoiding daunting and pressured challenges."I didn't want to make a fuss just because it was the finale. If I hadn't appeared, it would have just been a passing project, but if I avoided it, I felt like I would be remembered as an actor who only does the acting he wants to do. Of course, I had simple thoughts like 'Can I do well?' and 'Can I make it my own color?' I felt like I had nothing to lose if I did well, and everything to lose if I didn't, but I grow when I do difficult projects, so I was able to keep going. Fortunately, I found the answers while working with the team. It was a set where we worked passionately with one heart."Byun Yo-han said, "I had the mindset that I had nothing to lose if I did well and everything to lose if I didn't, but I grow when I do difficult projects, so I was able to keep going," regarding his role in concluding the 20-year-old 'Tazza' movie series. /CJ ENMIn the play, Jang Tae-young had succeeded in the gambling world and the online casino business with his innate luck and intuition, but due to complacency bred by success, he failed to notice the jealousy harbored by his close partner Park Tae-young, and was betrayed by him, losing everything and falling into ruin in an instant. Afterward, he returns to the game with revenge as his sole motivation, starting a showdown where he risks everything."I tried to act similarly to the webtoon. And what I considered important in the script were emotions like human ambition, jealousy, envy, and inferiority. I tried to clearly portray emotions that everyone knows, seeking clarity."This work featured poker instead of Hwatu, and expanded its setting beyond Korea to Japan and Vietnam, completely breaking away from the connections of previous installments and presenting an independent story. Therefore, it required an understanding of Hold'em and training to master hand techniques."I observed people's subtle actions through Hold'em match videos to understand their tendencies, and I trained with professional players for several months. Understanding poker was important, but the essence of what the work wanted was also crucial. So, I practiced reading opponents' minds, maintaining a poker face, and finding their weaknesses. Unlike Hwatu, where emotions are expressed through dialogue, I tried to win with my gaze and energy."Byun Yo-han also expressed special affection for Noh Jae-won, who accompanied him through all these processes. The two, who worked together again in 'Tazza 4' after Disney+'s 'Uncle Samsik', created the work in the same direction, based on their shared love for acting and their frighteningly persistent concentration."I wanted to honestly convey and express the love I received from my seniors from my 20s to my 30s. In that regard, Noh Jae-won, although a junior and younger than me, was a passionate and inspiring person who awakened me. I think the reason I wasn't stingy in my expressions is because Noh Jae-won is a good person. Our chemistry was really great and enjoyable. I think it will be remembered for a long time."Byun Yo-han expressed his hope that "'Tazza 4' would be a film that persistently concludes a series with a 20-year history," and asked for much interest. /CJ ENMByun Yo-han also put a lot of effort into his physical appearance for the nude and bed scenes. He lost a significant amount of weight to create different bodies depending on the character's situation, even going to the emergency room."I felt fatigued, but I thought it would fit the character's condition well. There were times when I overdid it, but I found the process very fun and had a subtle certainty that these were moments when I became closer to the character. I believe that hard work is visible to the audience."After the preview screening held before the release, reactions like "Don't let Tiffany see it" emerged, given the bed scenes. Hearing this, Byun Yo-han shyly replied, "She's someone who supports me through everything. She trusts me and, having worked in the industry for a long time, she understands professionalism, so she would probably comfort me by saying I worked hard," and also mentioned changes after marriage."I've been told a lot recently that I look more comfortable and have become more of a man. In reality, my mind has become more at ease. Marriage is very significant, and I consider it an accomplishment harder than acting. Now, I want to be an actor who well protects my beloved family and does his job well."Finally, Byun Yo-han expressed his joy at being responsible for a part of the Chuseok theater season, which features Korean films of various genres, and said, "'Tazza 4' has a distinct difference from previous installments in its worldview and in the fact that Byun Yo-han and Noh Jae-won acted in it. We tried to make it our own by acting in a way that fits 2026. I hope it becomes a film that persistently concludes the 'Tazza' series, which has a 20-year history," encouraging many to watch it.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 30-Day Mini 4th Album '256th Note' ReleaseThe 'Literary Boy' Who Opened His Eyes Will Showcase a More Solid EssenceA Result of Growth, Not RepetitionCLOSE YOUR EYES will release their 4th mini-album, '256th Note,' on the 30th. Inspired by the 256th note, one of the shortest notes in the world, the album records fleeting emotions. /Uncore[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] The boys who emerged saying they would deliver music that is convincing even with their eyes closed are now telling us to open them. CLOSE YOUR EYES, who has called themselves 'Literary Boys' since their debut and focused on emotion, appears ready to unfold that emotion within a broader musical scope.CLOSE YOUR EYES (JEON MINWOOK MA JINGXIANG JANG YEOJUN KIM SUNGMIN SONG SEUNGHO KENSHIN SEO KYOUNGBAE) will release their fourth mini-album, '256th Note,' today (30th). Following the pre-release of the first track, 'Open Your Eyes,' on the 18th, they completed their warm-up by performing the new song for the first time at '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' on the 19th, raising expectations more than ever.The most noteworthy aspect is the pre-release song. Recalling the beginning of CLOSE YOUR EYES, the title 'Open Your Eyes' is intriguing. The team name signifies not only visible performances but also the intention to present music that is convincing even when listened to with closed eyes. Conversely, the command to 'Open Your Eyes' sounds like a declaration that connects the team's past and present, marking a transition to the next chapter.The expression 'next chapter' might be premature for a group approaching their second anniversary. However, the narrative they have built in the process is quite solid and sufficient to move towards the next chapter.CLOSE YOUR EYES's strength lies in the sensibility that matches their aspiration of 'music that is convincing even with closed eyes.' Their debut album, 'ETERNALT,' translated that aspiration directly into music. Just listing the titles like 'All the Poems and Novels Within Me,' 'My Lyrics Become Subtitles in This Movie Featuring You,' 'How to Dance in the Rain,' and 'Pretending Not to See' reads like a collection of youth short stories.Amidst the competition of stimulating sounds and intense performances, they chose the members' vocal tones, stories, and lingering emotions. Thus, a rather distinct character of 'Literary Boy' was created.The mini-album 2, 'Snowy Summer,' also maintained that thread. From the contrasting image of snow falling in summer to 'Paint Candy' and 'Bubble Tea in My Left Hand,' which turned ordinary daily life into excitement, their approach to subject matter was witty. While moving between genres like New Jack Swing and House Pop, the core of the music remained fresh emotions and stories.In mini-album 3, 'blackout,' the atmosphere shifted significantly. With 'X' and 'SOB' as double title tracks, they unleashed strong energy to break through fear and limitations, actively embracing diverse genres. In April of this year, with the digital single 'POSE,' they blended the energy of Brazilian Baile Funk with 2000s hip-hop.For CLOSE YOUR EYES, mini-album 3 and the single were a process of bringing not only sensibility but also performance and groove into their domain. Opening the new album with 'Open Your Eyes' perfectly connects with the narrative they have continued. Above all, their unique sentiment is embedded within that connection and flow.After experiencing various types of music, CLOSE YOUR EYES more clearly confirmed what they do best and returned to the pages they had written. It is the result of growth, not repetition. The photo shows them receiving the Global Hot Trend award at '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' held on the 19th. /Reporter Park Heon-wooThis movement is intertwined with the growth of their fandom. 'ETERNALT' started with a first-week sales volume of 316,047 copies, and 'Snowy Summer' recorded 308,179 copies. Although the first-week sales slightly decreased, the first-day sales significantly increased from 139,385 to 202,297 copies. And 'blackout' surpassed 570,000 copies in first-week sales. It was a moment to reaffirm their support and direction.'256th Note,' released after such growth, interestingly returns to the essence. Inspired by the 256th note, one of the shortest notes in the world, it records fleeting emotions. Drawing inspiration from the freedom and improvisation of jazz, the album's core is to respond honestly to the emotions of the moment rather than using standardized expressions.After traversing various genres, they have refocused on the pure and simple sensibility they showed at their debut, but with a much broader range of expression.'Open Your Eyes,' the starting point, exemplifies this well. Experimental piano arpeggios repeat rapidly, and the drums push the song forward relentlessly. Above it, Johan Kim's piano and Jacob Schesney's saxophone intertwine, and the vocals move fluidly between rhythms rather than forcing power. It's a way of bringing jazz instruments and textures into the grammar of hip-hop and R&B.Most importantly, the title is significant. Those who were 'Close Your Eyes' are now shouting 'Open Your Eyes.' The content, which speaks of opening one's eyes and facing one's world after passing through darkness and wounds, even incorporates the starting point where the seven members came together through a single project. It clearly revisits the past and present, and vividly reveals what comes next.The title track 'Drop That!' is expected to show growth in another direction. It reinterprets Yoon Soo-nae's 'Let's Enjoy This Night,' a precursor to Korean Jazz Funk, in a 1990s street hip-hop style. While the pre-release song interpreted the improvisation of jazz through modern R&B and hip-hop, the title track takes old jazz funk from Korean popular music and transforms it into a street sensibility.Although the concept is 180 degrees different from 'Open Your Eyes' on the surface, it is sufficiently connected within the same album in that it 'translates the freedom and groove of jazz into the language of today.'A total of 7 songs follow, including 'Vibe Check,' 'Slowly Bleed,' 'Fool For You,' 'Baby Bossa Nova' featuring R&B artist Joo Hyerin, and the final song 'Eternity,' in which all members participated in the lyrics.The composition, where '256th Note,' meaning the shortest moment, ends with 'Eternity,' meaning 'eternity,' is also characteristic of Close Your Eyes. The album's message, that fleeting emotions accumulate to become memories and ultimately form a person's story, is condensed in the titles of the album and songs, and their arrangement.CLOSE YOUR EYES's strength is in its lingering impact rather than its intensity. Although they have created powerful music and expanded their performances, they have never abandoned their sensibility. After experiencing various types of music, they more clearly confirmed what they do best and returned to the pages they had written. The anticipation for '256th Note' stems from the fact that this return appears to be a result of growth, not repetition.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A tribute song written and composed by WOODZTo be released on the 30th at 6 PMSinger Seung Chul Lee attended the music appreciation session for his 40th debut anniversary concert, 'Our Story,' held at Understage, Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 29th, and shared his thoughts. / Reporter Nam Yoon-ho[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Singer Seung Chul Lee has begun his full-fledged 40th-anniversary activities with "tears of emotion."Seung Chul Lee held a music appreciation session for his new single 'Our Story' at Hyundai Card Understage in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th, marking the start of his 40th debut anniversary activities. WOODZ, who participated in a duet for 'Our Story,' also attended the music appreciation session to grace the event.On stage that day, Seung Chul Lee shared his overwhelming feelings, saying, "I didn't feel much during my 30th anniversary, and I didn't feel anything special until my 39th. But as I prepared for my 40th, I was reminded of past events and thought, 'This day has come,' and 'Something unimaginable is happening.'"He continued, "I was able to come this far thanks to good lyricists and composers who reached out to me, and the crew who always supported me. And of course, I am truly grateful to the fans who have been by my side for 40 years."The first project to celebrate Seung Chul Lee's 40th debut anniversary, 'Our Story,' is a tribute song personally written and composed by WOODZ for Seung Chul Lee. WOODZ completed Seung Chul Lee's 40 years of journey into a single piece of music, adding the sophisticated sound of modern rock to the heavy texture of 70s classic rock.Seung Chul Lee, who introduced 'Our Story' as "a truly great song that made me cry when I first heard it," revealed the story behind the collaboration: "WOODZ's father is the same age as me and was apparently a huge fan. So, WOODZ said he thinks of his father when he sees me, and that's why I call him 'father.' He also wanted to give me a tribute song, which led to the completion of 'Our Story.'"Previously, WOODZ confessed his family history on a TV show, revealing that his biological father passed away when he was 21. WOODZ said, "When I was young, my father often took me to karaoke, and every time, he sang Seung Chul Lee's songs. I think (my father) would be envious of this moment."Given the particularly affectionate relationship between Seung Chul Lee and WOODZ, and the fact that it commemorates a long 40-year period, Seung Chul Lee was visibly overcome with emotion.Seung Chul Lee said, "I never thought this moment would come when I debuted. Back then, many seniors had already retired by the age of 30, so I thought I would too." He added, "But the fact that a junior like WOODZ has now dedicated a song to me is overwhelming. It makes me want to work even harder," shedding tears.Seung Chul Lee became teary-eyed as he looked back on the past 40 years at the music appreciation session for his 40th debut anniversary concert, 'Our Story.' / Reporter Nam Yoon-hoWOODZ also said, with a trembling voice, "I see Seung Chul Lee often in private, but this is the first time I've seen him cry. I'm grateful that he liked the song, and seeing Seung Chul Lee get emotional makes me feel complex emotions. I'm thankful that he's singing a song I made for his 40th anniversary."As 'Our Story' shares many emotions and memories between Seung Chul Lee and WOODZ, they had no doubt that this song would become a monument that most brilliantly adorns the 40th anniversary.Seung Chul Lee expressed his strong conviction, saying, "Throughout my 40 years of activity since debuting with Boohwal, there have been songs that became 'turning points in my life.' I have a strong feeling that 'Our Story' will also be a major turning point for me." He added, "Even while singing the song, I thought, 'Am I really singing this song?'"WOODZ also shared, "When I was young, I often heard people say, 'A singer needs a 'feel',' but I never understood what that meant. But when I gave the song to Seung Chul Lee and received the recording, I thought, 'Ah, this is it!'" He continued, "While writing this song, I thought a lot about the meaning of '40th anniversary.' I thought, 'If there's no one listening to my songs, I wouldn't be here,' but Seung Chul Lee has been doing that for 40 years. I hope this becomes a song that repays the fans who have supported these 40 years."Furthermore, 'Our Story' is not just a tribute to the past 40 years, but also a single that announces Seung Chul Lee's new beginning. Starting with 'Our Story,' Seung Chul Lee plans to sequentially reveal the artists for the '40th Debut Anniversary Tribute Duet Project Album.'Seung Chul Lee announced, "The 'Tribute Part 1' album will be released soon. For Part 1, many juniors like KIM JAEJOONG, Young K, Wendy, Lee Mujin, and Jannabi participated and re-recorded my songs. I am grateful for their participation."In addition, Seung Chul Lee himself plans to continue his active career. Seung Chul Lee said, "Every time I sing, I think, 'May today always be like this,' and 'Let's be a current artist rather than a legend.'" He added, "Vocally, I'm trying to sing without sounding like a 'stuck-up old man' by pursuing a 'style that discards the old Seung Chul Lee.' I'm singing simply and without unnecessary embellishments, and those things are helping me improve."'Our Story,' sung by WOODZ (left) and Seung Chul Lee, will be officially released on the 30th at 6 PM. / Reporter Nam Yoon-hoSeung Chul Lee then revealed his goal of becoming a "singer like a breath of air." He added, "I want to be a singer whose melodies people hum as naturally as they breathe. I want to be a singer who sings the songs and voices that people want to hear," signaling that the activities of 'Singer Seung Chul Lee' will continue.'Our Story,' featuring Seung Chul Lee and WOODZ, will be released on music sites on the 30th at 6 PM. Following this, Seung Chul Lee will embark on his 40th-anniversary national tour concert 'THE VOICE: LEE SEUNG CHUL' starting in Gwangju in November.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Seung Chul Lee (right) is having a photo time with singer WOODZ at the debut 40th anniversary album listening event 'Our Story' held at Understage, Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th. / Reporter Nam Yoon-ho On this day, Seung Chul Lee is teary-eyed while looking back on their 40th debut anniversary in an interview.[THE FACT|Reporter Nam Yoon-ho] Singer Seung Chul Lee (right) is having a photo time with singer WOODZ at the debut 40th anniversary album listening event 'Our Story' held at Understage, Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th.To commemorate their 40th debut anniversary, Seung Chul Lee is scheduled to release the pre-released tribute song 'Our Story' from the tribute duet project album at 6 PM on the 30th.This new song 'Our Story' is a song dedicated to Seung Chul Lee, who is celebrating their 40th debut anniversary, with WOODZ, an artist boasting a unique music spectrum, participating in writing and composing the lyrics. ilty012@tf.co.krPhoto Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Expanding fan engagement through 10-city tours and university festivalsizna has surpassed 200 million cumulative streams on the global music streaming platform Spotify. /Wake One[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] Girl group izna has consecutively surpassed hundreds of millions of streams on global music platforms.According to their agency Wake One on the 29th, izna(My Bang Ji-min Coco Yu Sarang Choi Jeong Eun Jung Sebi) recently surpassed 200 million cumulative streams on the global music streaming platform Spotify. Following their previous achievement of over 400 million cumulative streams on YouTube Music, izna has set another significant milestone on major global music platforms.Since their debut, izna has not only explored diverse concepts but also established their unique musical world by solidifying their distinct musical identity. In particular, izna has been expanding their fanbase in both domestic and international music markets with their high-quality music and performances, spearheaded by their signature 'perfectly synchronized' group choreography.To connect more closely with fans both domestically and internationally, izna is currently holding their first concert tour, 'WHO DAT GIRL?'. After successfully launching the concert tour at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, they will meet fans in 10 domestic and international locations, including Taipei on October 9th, Manila on October 17th, Hong Kong on October 24th, and Osaka on March 28th of next year.They are also receiving numerous love calls in Korea. They are continuing their trendsetting activities by consecutively performing at university festival stages, a measure of their popularity. They recently heated up the stages at Gachon University, Hanseo University, Yeoju University, and Kyung Hee University International Campus, and are scheduled to perform at various festivals including Korea University, Dongduk Women's University, Jeonju University, Myongji College, Gyeongsang National University, and Hanshin University.As such, izna is expected to continue their growth by steadily expanding their listener base on global music platforms and performing on various stages both domestically and internationally.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT|Nam Yoon-ho] Singer Seung Chul Lee (center) poses with singer WOODZ at a debut 40th anniversary album listening event titled 'Our Own Story' held at Understage, Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th. ilty012@tf.co.kr Photo&Video Production Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Nimmol Cash suspends activities due to dating violence controversyYouTuber Nimmol Cash (left) has suspended his activities due to a dating violence controversy, and Il-o-pal, who frequently collaborated with him, stated, "I am filled with disappointment and anger." The photo shows them attending the 13th Busan International Comedy Festival together in September last year. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] Influencer Il-o-pal, who collaborated with Nimmol Cash, who has suspended his activities due to a dating violence controversy, stated that he was unaware of the facts and felt disappointed and angry.On the 29th, Il-o-pal shared his stance on Nimmol Cash's controversy on his social media. He said, "I also encountered the publicly disclosed contents for the first time through this incident, and later received information about the confirmed facts from the company." He added, "It was shocking, and I am once again filled with disappointment and anger that the person involved has not taken proper action in this situation."Nimmol Cash and Il-o-pal worked as a duo creator, releasing various content. Last year, they signed an exclusive contract with NOB Entertainment and attended the 13th Busan International Comedy Festival Blue Carpet together.Il-o-pal stated, "Since Nimmol Cash and I have been working closely together for a long time, I am aware that some people may be concerned whether I knew these facts or condoned them while knowing." He clarified, "I was not aware of his words and actions in our personal relationship beforehand, and I learned about them for the first time through this incident."He continued, "This incident is something that no one should commit. It is by no means trivial. I will also approach my future actions and collaborations with a more cautious attitude. I will take seriously the concerns of those who have trusted and supported me."Previously, on the 28th, Ms. A, who identified herself as Nimmol Cash's ex-girlfriend, raised various suspicions about Nimmol Cash through social media. She claimed that after a drinking session in May, Nimmol Cash verbally abused her for about three hours, threw objects, and physically assaulted her by pushing her shoulders and forehead.On the 29th, their agency NOB Entertainment released an official statement, saying, "During the verification process, we confirmed that the individual's inappropriate words and actions mentioned in the post did occur." The statement continued, "We are taking this matter very seriously and have decided to suspend all activities in consultation with the individual," and "We apologize to the victim of the individual's actions."As a result, the release of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly web drama 'The Assemblyman is Live,' in which Nimmol Cash played the lead role, has been indefinitely postponed. Additionally, Nimmol Cash was serving as a director at NOB Entertainment, but it is reported that dismissal proceedings are currently underway.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT|Nam Yoon-ho] Singer Seung Chul Lee shares his thoughts at the debut 40th anniversary album listening party 'Our Own Story' held at Understage, Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th. ilty012@tf.co.kr Photo&Video Production Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT|Nam Yoon-ho] Singer Seung Chul Lee poses to commemorate their 40th anniversary at a debut 40th anniversary album listening event titled 'Our Own Story' held at Understage in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th. ilty012@tf.co.kr Photo&Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The production presentation for the new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies' was held on the 29th, with actors Lee Moo-saeng, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Yoo-jung, Park Jin Young, and Jin Sun-kyu in attendance."An intriguing story about a passionate and noble cause"Actors Lee Moo-saeng, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Yoo-jung, Park Jin Young, and Jin Sun-kyu (from left) attended the production presentation for tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies' at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 29th and shared various stories. /Reporter Nam Yoon-hyo[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] The period drama '100 Days of Lies,' set during the Japanese colonial era, is coming to viewers. The drama is expected to deliver thrilling suspense to viewers with the romance between actors Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin Young, as well as exciting espionage operations. Expectations are high as to whether '100 Days of Lies' can become a hit this fall.The production presentation for tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies' (written by Ryu Bo-ri, directed by Yoo In-sik&Kim Yoon-jin) was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 29th. Director Yoo In-sik and actors Kim Yoo-jung, Park Jin Young, Kim Hyun-joo, Lee Moo-saeng, and Jin Sun-kyu attended the event, highlighting the unique aspects of '100 Days of Lies' and encouraging viewership.'100 Days of Lies' is a 100-day espionage romance that unfolds as a top pickpocket in Gyeongseong becomes a spy and confronts an elite interpreter at the Government-General of Korea in the heart of the enemy. The drama offers unique entertainment with its themes of interpretation and the setting of a spy planted by the independence movement.Director Yoo In-sik, who helmed the production, introduced the drama as "a work filled with thrilling espionage, heartfelt love, and the passionate fervor of those who sacrificed for the independence of their country," adding, "We made it with all our heart."tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies,' starring Kim Yoo-jung in the lead role, is set during the Japanese colonial era. /tvNKim Yoo-jung plays Lee Ga-kyung, a former pickpocket who infiltrates the Government-General of Korea under a false identity to achieve her dream of going to America. Kim Yoo-jung said, "She is a character in her early 20s," and "I was curious about the growth of a young friend living through that difficult time. I wanted to experience it together."Park Jin Young plays Sato Hideo, the adopted son of Sato Shinichi (played by Jin Sun-kyu), the Governor-General of the Government-General of Korea, and an elite English interpreter. Park Jin Young stated, "After moving to Japan, he undergoes intense training that causes trauma. Therefore, I tried to hide my emotions as much as possible to portray a character who is unwavering."Kim Hyun-joo plays Yoo So-ran, a sniper in the armed anti-Japanese organization Gukdan. She returns to Joseon disguised as a Chinese national for revenge. Kim Hyun-joo explained, "She is a character with a painful past. Although she starts with personal revenge, she eventually fights for the independence of her country."Lee Moo-saeng transforms into Yoo Philip, a Gyeongseong correspondent for an American media company. Yoo Philip, a Korean-American, also becomes Yoo So-ran's fake husband for an operation as a member of Gukdan. Lee Moo-saeng added, "Although he cannot prioritize personal feelings for the sake of the cause, he becomes captivated by Yoo So-ran, who has a story."Jin Sun-kyu plays Sato Shinichi, the Governor-General of Joseon. He is Kim Tae-woong's adoptive father and the target of the assassination operation carried out by Yoo So-ran and Yoo Philip. Jin Sun-kyu described Sato Shinichi as "an unforgivable villain" and "a character whose desire for recognition has been distorted. I made no effort to beautify him."tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies,' featuring actors Kim Yoo-jung (top left) and Park Jin Young, will premiere on October 10th. /tvN'100 Days of Lies' consists of a total of 16 episodes, which is a considerable length. Director Yoo In-sik said, "From the initial script meetings, we felt that 10 or 12 episodes would not be enough to contain our story," and expressed confidence, "Even with the current 16 episodes, the content is overflowing. It's a rich story."Furthermore, Director Yoo In-sik pointed to the message that runs through '100 Days of Lies' as the question of "What motivated the independence activists of that era to make such choices?" He explained, "I was curious about the force that drove the independence activists," and "That was the reason I decided to direct '100 Days of Lies'."Finally, they revealed the viewing points of '100 Days of Lies.' Director Yoo In-sik said, "All the characters in our drama undergo transformation," and urged viewers, "It is a work that contains something that makes your heart race. As it deals with a noble cause, it is full of intriguing and fun stories."Kim Yoo-jung also shared, "It is a work that captures the process of individuals becoming 'us.' Before us, there are no individuals. It's a message that exists everywhere, regardless of the era. I hope many people will be able to think deeply after watching our drama. We ask for your interest and love, as we have put our best effort into filming."tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies,' consisting of 16 episodes, will premiere on October 10th at 9:10 PM.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Attended the production presentation for '100 Days of Lies' on the 29th."Put in a lot of effort... rewarding because it was difficult."Director Yoo In-sik attended the production presentation for tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies' held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall on the 29th and said, "It was technically difficult, but we did our best to adhere to historical accuracy." / Reporter Nam Yoon-ho[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Director Yoo In-sik stated that he put in a lot of effort to maintain historical accuracy for '100 Days of Lies,' which is set during the Japanese colonial period.Director Yoo In-sik attended the production presentation for tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies' (written by Ryu Bo-ri, directed by Yoo In-sik&Kim Yoon-jin) held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 29th and said, "We did our best for historical accuracy," adding, "I feel rewarded for it."'100 Days of Lies' is a 100-day espionage romance that unfolds as the best pickpocket in Gyeongseong, who becomes a spy, and an elite interpreter for the Government-General of Korea face each other in the heart of the enemy. The drama offers unique entertainment with its themes of interpretation and the setting of a spy planted by the independence army.As a work set during the Japanese colonial period, Director Yoo In-sik said, "Of course, historical accuracy was a great burden," and confessed, "It was a technically very difficult task, especially since there are almost no old buildings or locations left in Korea."However, he added, "There are a few people who remember that era, and some who have been inside the Government-General of Korea," and "We put in a lot of effort with the art team to ensure it wouldn't deviate too much from their memories." He also said, "I felt rewarded for the effort," and "I hope viewers will see it that way too."The tvN new Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies,' consisting of a total of 16 episodes, will premiere on October 10th at 9:10 PM.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900