https://en.fannstar.tf.co.kr FANNSTAR RSS Service - All Articles copyright (c) FANNSTAR fannstar@tf.co.kr "Seoul Performance D-2" Singer Haru, Fan Concert Sold Out... Speeding Up Expansion into Japan and TaiwanBTS's Power Reconfirmed Worldwide... The 'Class' Shown by Jimin and Jungkook"Why Did It Get So Small?" The Real Reason Behind the Reduced Fan Event Size for Black Pink&TWICE[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] This week's hottest entertainment issue is undoubtedly the historical distortion controversy surrounding the movie 'Assassins'. The controversy surrounding 'Assassins', released on the 23rd of last month, has spread beyond the popular culture scene to political and social debates. The controversy has intensified, especially with the opening of the Busan International Film Festival.Initially, director Huh Jin-ho and the cast of 'Assassins' were scheduled to meet audiences at the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival and outdoor stage greetings. However, as the controversy spread, all official schedules were completely canceled. Nevertheless, discussions surrounding 'Assassins' continued among the audience who visited the film festival.Chinese master director Zhang Yimou was also asked about the matter. When asked how to view the boundary between creative freedom and truth in films dealing with historical facts, director Zhang Yimou cautiously stated, "Creation is creation, and it may not be exactly the same as the truth."He added that he had not yet seen the film but had heard about the situation, and that it was difficult to answer in a short time about the relationship between historical truth and creation. Director Jung Ju-ri also expressed her dismay, saying, "I feel so intimidated" by the situation where the controversy extends beyond the film itself to threats.The repercussions of the controversy also extended to the actors. 'Assassins' completely canceled the stage greetings scheduled for the third week of its release this week. The production company stated that the decision was made with the utmost consideration for the safety of the audience.Actor Yoo Hae-jin also did not appear in public. Although he won the Best Actor award at the Buil Film Awards, he did not attend the ceremony, and the production company representative accepted the award on his behalf. Furthermore, the controversy intensified with the suspension of movie screenings in some regions.So, what are the reactions of ordinary viewers who have actually seen the movie? Audience reviews are mixed. While there are positive responses regarding the film's artistic completeness and the actors' performances, there are also voices pointing out discomfort with the content and expression, as it is a work dealing with historical facts.Ultimately, the debate surrounding 'Assassins' goes beyond a simple like or dislike of a movie, extending to questions of how much historical facts can be reinterpreted by film, and how to balance creative freedom with historical responsibility.Attention is focused on what repercussions this controversy will leave in the film industry and how audience reviews will continue in the future."Finally, the first meeting with fans" Anticipation for the first fan concert... Launching overseas expansionSinger Haru's first solo fan concert is just two days away. This concert, where he will meet fans directly in two cities, Seoul and Busan, has already recorded sold-out tickets, proving the immense interest.In particular, starting with the first fan concert, movements to expand the scope of activities beyond domestic activities to overseas markets such as Japan and Taiwan are also accelerating, drawing even more attention.Singer Haru will hold his first solo fan concert under his name on the 10th at 5 PM at the Daehan Hall, Sejong University, Seoul. The concert is titled '2026 Haru First Fan Concert - Today, Haru: Stories Told for the First Time'. A week later, on the 17th, he will meet fans again at the Busan BEXCO Auditorium.The Seoul and Busan concerts are already completely sold out, and the anticipation of fans who have been waiting for the first solo fan concert is reaching its peak two days before the performance. This stage is not just a simple concert. It is a place where Haru's stories, which could not be fully shown on broadcast, will be told to fans for the first time.In addition to live performances of his representative songs, there will be unreleased stages, stories from his trainee days to his debut, and behind-the-scenes stories from backstage. In particular, there is a stage that cannot be missed at this concert. It is the stage for an unreleased new song that will be heard by fans for the first time before its official release. To be precise, it is a remake song.The first stage of the special remake song 'Winter Sonata' OST, which has not yet been officially released as a sound source, is also scheduled. 'Winter Sonata', the best drama that pioneered K-dramas, is an immortal masterpiece that everyone knows when they hear it. Since the recording, it has already garnered keen interest in Southeast Asian countries, including Japan. Above all, this song is considered the core stage of this concert as it will be the first song to be performed for the fans.Haru also expressed his intention, "I have always greeted fans with songs on stage, but this time I wanted to tell my story from beginning to end." This is considered the core stage of this concert, signifying the creation of the first moment with the fans. However, the reason why Haru's first fan concert is drawing attention is not only due to the concert itself.Recently, it is known that Taiwanese promoters visited Korea, followed by Japanese entertainment investment officials. In particular, interest is growing as Japanese entertainment industry investment officials are expected to visit the fan concert venue in person to present specific directions for Haru's overseas expansion.Above all, while preparing for the first fan concert, movements to expand the next stage both domestically and internationally are also gaining momentum. Haru's first fan concert, starting in Seoul and continuing to Busan, and his next move could extend beyond Korea to Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, drawing attention.Singer Haru, who is telling his story in front of fans for the first time since his debut, will be the focus of fans' attention on the first scene that will unfold on October 10th at Sejong University's Daehan Hall.From 'PERU LOVES JIMIN' to Platinum in the UK... Power ReconfirmedOne of this week's big issues is BTS, whose global influence continues to expand. BTS is currently on their South American tour, and fans' interest in the members is growing as much as the group's tour fervor.First, ahead of Jimin's first visit to Peru, local fans' birthday celebration projects are unfolding on a massive scale. BTS will hold world tour concerts at the San Marcos Stadium in Lima, Peru, on the 7th, 9th, and 10th local time. This is the first time BTS will perform in Peru since their debut in 2013.In particular, this concert is of even greater interest to local fans as it marks Jimin's first visit to Peru and his upcoming birthday on the 13th. LED advertisements celebrating Jimin's birthday have already begun in various parts of Lima, with wrapping trains decorated with photos and messages, large billboards, and street lamp banners appearing.During the concert period, LED trucks displaying videos of Jimin will be operated, and birthday celebration banners using paragliders will also appear in the sky. Notably, on the 9th, as many as 350 drones will be mobilized to adorn the night sky of the Costa Verde coast with images symbolizing Jimin.On the 10th, the final concert, an event is planned where 40,000 fans will sing together while holding birthday celebration slogans. Meanwhile, Jungkook's solo song 'Seven' has set another record in the UK music market.'Seven' has sold over 600,000 copies in the UK and received Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the single category. Following the Gold certification received after its release in 2023, it has now reached Platinum.It debuted at number 3 on the UK Official Singles Chart and remained on the chart for 14 weeks, and debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It has also continued its global influence with over 3.1 billion cumulative streams on Spotify.In this way, on one hand, Peruvian fans are making the entire city buzz to welcome Jimin, and on the other hand, Jungkook is steadily accumulating records in the global music market, including the UK, as a solo artist.In addition, with the recent controversy surrounding the careless remarks and actions of some players on the Asian Games men's football national team escalating into a debate over the abolition of military service exemptions, the presence of BTS, whose members have all completed their military service, is being newly highlighted. Of course, discussions about the military service system and the evaluation of contributions to the popular culture scene are separate matters, but the fact that all members of BTS have fulfilled their military obligations while enjoying global popularity is once again drawing attention.BTS, who have responded with music on the global stage, sincerity to their fans, and responsibility for their duties, JIMIN and JUNG KOOK's latest news once again demonstrate BTS's ongoing global presence.Blackpink 40 people · TWICE 750 people... What happened at the global group's fan event?These are representative K-pop girl groups with global fandoms. Black Pink and TWICE, but for both groups celebrating their debut anniversaries this year, fans are expressing common disappointment. The reason is the 'scale of the meeting with fans'.First, TWICE. TWICE will hold a fan party on the 17th to celebrate their 11th debut anniversary. However, it will be held three times a day, with 250 people per session, for a total of 750 people. Last year, for their 10th anniversary, they held a fan meeting that could accommodate about 6,500 people, and even then, there were discussions that the venue was too small for the size of the fandom. But this year, the scale has actually decreased significantly.It was even more so for Black Pink. Only 40 fans were invited to the 10th-anniversary event in August. The event announcement came out only two days in advance, and it was not clear whether the full group would attend at first.From the fans' perspective, it's natural to have questions. Why do teams that fill stadiums on world tours meet only a small number of fans on their debut anniversary? The biggest reason cited is that the 'structure of full group activities' has changed for both groups compared to the past.For Black Pink, members are pursuing individual activities at their respective agencies. TWICE is also entering a phase of balancing group and individual activities as members' individual activities have become more active. In other words, it has become much more difficult to align the schedules of nine or four members as before.Another important factor is the analysis that the nature of debut anniversary events itself has changed. Large-scale concerts can be planned considering ticket sales, tour schedules, and revenue structures, but debut anniversary events are relatively symbolic and event-oriented.Therefore, it is possible that they chose small-scale invitation events or special fan events. In fact, not all long-running groups choose small events.Seventeen met about 58,000 fans over two days at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium this year to celebrate their 11th anniversary, and BTS met 4,000 fans directly during their 11th debut anniversary. Ultimately, what fans are disappointed about is not just 'how many people were admitted'. This is because the debut anniversary is a special day for fans as well.Although the entertainment industry is strictly driven by business logic on a daily basis, the debut anniversary is the day when the sentiment of "We were able to come this far thanks to the fans" can be most directly expressed.That's why fans feel disappointed when global superstars who fill stadiums meet only 40 or 750 fans on their debut anniversary.Ultimately, the core of this controversy is not that the fandom has shrunk, but that the way top stars and fans meet is changing. And how K-pop's representative long-running groups will maintain their distance from fans in this era of 'together yet apart' will also be an important task going forward.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Funeral hall set up at Korea University Anam Hospital Funeral HallFilm director Cho Cheol-hyeon passed away on the 8th./THE FACTDB[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Director Cho Cheol-hyeon, who directed the movie 'Malmo: The Secret Mission', has passed away. He was 67 years old.According to the Korea University Anam Hospital Funeral Hall on the 8th, Director Cho Cheol-hyeon passed away this morning, and his funeral hall was set up in Room 303 of the funeral hall. The deceased had been battling bile duct cancer since being diagnosed in February of this year.Born in 1959, Director Cho Cheol-hyeon worked as the CEO of film production and import company Tiger Pictures, producing films such as 'Hwangsanbul', 'Pyongyangseong', 'Dalma, Let's Go to Seoul', 'The Happy Life', 'Sado', and 'The World of Us'. He also imported foreign films like 'Seven Swords', 'Perfect Wedding', and 'Crash'.In 2019, he debuted as a film director by writing and directing the movie 'Malmo: The Secret Mission', starring Song Kang-ho and Park Hae-il.Director Cho Cheol-hyeon's funeral procession will be held at 7 AM on the 10th, and his burial site will be at the Seoul Memorial Park.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 New album 'Still' to be released at 6 PM on the 8thIncludes 7 songs, including the title track 'Still'Band N.Flying will release their ninth mini-album 'Still' at 6 PM on the 8th. / FNC Entertainment[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung Reporter] Band N.Flying is back with deeper and richer emotions.Their agency FNC Entertainment announced on the 8th that N.Flying (Lee Seung-hyub, Cha Hun, Kim Jae-hyun, Yoo Hwe-seung, Seo Dong-sung) will officially release their ninth mini-album 'Still' at 6 PM on various music sites.'Still' is an album that tells the story of what remains even as time passes. It features a total of 7 songs, led by the title track 'Still', followed by 'My Dearest', 'Wake Up', 'The Way We Were', 'Hongsil', 'Our Ending', and 'Fading Away'.Lee Seung-hyub participated in writing and composing all songs, and Yoo Hwe-seung is credited on 'Wake Up'.The title track 'Still' is a rock song that stands out with its lyrical sensibility, heavy rhythm section, and guitar riffs. The lyrics convey the message of holding onto an unchanging, burning heart. This content, which began with a real conversation between Lee Seung-hyub and Seo Dong-sung, embodies the sincere feelings of N.Flying.The following is the full Q&A with N.Flying.Q. How do you feel about making a comeback with 'Still'?Lee Seung-hyub: "We're making a comeback with a mini-album after a long time. I'm happy to be promoting with our N.Fia (fandom name)."Cha Hun: "We've come back with warm songs that will comfort you in your daily lives, so please look forward to it."Kim Jae-hyun: "It feels great. I'm so nervous to be promoting on music shows again after a long time. I hope many people can rediscover their forgotten passion by listening to N.Flying's 'Still'."Yoo Hwe-seung: "I'm happy to be able to share good music with our N.Fia and everyone else."Seo Dong-sung: "This is an album that expresses things everyone can relate to with N.Flying's sensibility. I'm so happy to be back. I hope you listen to it a lot."Q. What are the highlights of this album?Cha Hun: "Since each track has its own charm, I think you'll enjoy listening to each song."Kim Jae-hyun: "The 'message' is one of N.Flying's greatest strengths. I hope you'll reconfirm your own small embers, especially in the title track 'Still'. Also, please feel the messages of each of the B-side tracks."Yoo Hwe-seung: "This album could be our story, or it could be stories that anyone can experience at least once. I think it's an album that people can relate to."The new album 'Still' includes 7 songs, including the title track 'Still'. / FNC EntertainmentQ. Please introduce the title track 'Still'.Lee Seung-hyub: "There's a line in the lyrics that says, 'The sky is red today.' I wrote the lyrics with the thought that after the moment you're feeling now passes, the hottest moment will come. I hope you fully feel the present, just like these lyrics."Cha Hun: "I'm particularly attached to 'Still' because it opens and closes with guitar solos. At first, it felt a bit melancholic, but in the end, the guitar expresses the embers reigniting. I hope it resonates well with you."Seo Dong-sung: "I hope the song 'Still' can be a catalyst for reigniting passions that have cooled down without you realizing it."Q. We're also curious about your favorite B-side tracks besides the title track.Lee Seung-hyub: "I like 'Fading Away' and 'My Dearest'. I like 'Fading Away' because of the energy the song itself gives, and 'My Dearest' because it feels like it's comforting me."Cha Hun: "'Fading Away' is my favorite song on this album. The chord progression and melody line in the chorus make it feel undeniably like a N.Flying song, which is why I like it even more."Kim Jae-hyun: "It's really hard to choose between 'Fading Away' and 'My Dearest'. This is the hardest question."Yoo Hwe-seung: "'Wake Up'. I wrote it myself, but the entire process, from working with Seung-hyub hyung to the song's release, was so much fun. The message to myself, who doesn't love myself, to snap out of it, could be empowering to me and to anyone listening to this song."Seo Dong-sung: "'Fading Away'. I love the part where Hwe-seung hyung sings alone at the beginning of the song."Q. You pre-released the title track 'Still' and the B-side track 'Fading Away' during your tour. What were your thoughts and the audience's reactions?Lee Seung-hyub: "I always get nervous when I first reveal new songs. As I sing both songs more, I feel my emotions deepening. I feel a particularly precious connection to these songs this time."Kim Jae-hyun: "There's a part in 'Still' where Hwe-seung sings 'It's embers.' When we first played it for N.Fia, even after the song ended, the silence that followed felt like everyone was holding their breath for a long time. In that moment, I thought, 'Ah, our sincerity has reached them.'"Yoo Hwe-seung: "When I sang and showed the emotions I put into the song in front of N.Fia, I felt even more overwhelmed and emotional."Q. Are there any memorable episodes from the album production process?Lee Seung-hyub: "During the production, 'Fading Away' was particularly difficult to arrange. The sounds in my head and the sounds we created kept not matching. I left it for a long time, then revisited it, and I was so happy to come up with a great idea."Cha Hun: "As always, I paid a lot of attention to the recording tone. I was especially invested in 'Fading Away' because it's my favorite song. I remember trying hard to express floating dust in space with the guitar."Kim Jae-hyun: "There were many beautiful spontaneous moments during the music video shoot. The director quickly captured them and suggested, 'Let's try to use this,' which led to the final video. I feel like this music video is a work of art created by everyone burning their own embers brightly."Yoo Hwe-seung: "For the music production, recording, and music video, all the members felt like, 'Yes, this is it. This is what we love.' So, we proceeded happily. We have many beautiful memories of the filming locations with the members."Seo Dong-sung: "During the music video shoot, there was a scene where Seung-hyub hyung was driving a classic car, and he kept failing to start it, which was funny."N.Flying plans to engage in various activities with the release of 'Still'. / FNC EntertainmentQ. What are your goals for this album's promotions?Lee Seung-hyub: "I hope we can be a source of strength and energy for N.Fia and everyone who listens to our music."Cha Hun: "Our unchanging goal is to bring comfort and happiness to many people through our music. Personally, I'd like to achieve first place, of course."Kim Jae-hyun: "I just hope people recognize the sincerity of our N.Flying."Yoo Hwe-seung: "Rather than major achievements, I want to safely and healthily build precious memories with N.Fia, one by one."Seo Dong-sung: "My goal is to become like gasoline for those who are currently in the state of embers."Q. Lastly, is there anything you'd like to say to N.Fia?Lee Seung-hyub: "Our ninth mini-album is finally out. I'm so happy to be releasing this album with you all. We'll be N.Flying that sings passionately in your hearts. Fighting!"Cha Hun: "Thank you and I love you always. You must have been looking forward to this as much as we were, so I hope this album makes your day a little happier. I love you."Kim Jae-hyun: "Thank you always, and your constant support allows me to sing and play with all my heart. Drums and drumsticks are very important to me, but without N.Fia, none of it would mean anything. You've become that important to my life. Thank you for always adding fuel to the embers within me."Yoo Hwe-seung: "N.Fia! I hope you listen to this album a lot and find comfort. Please look forward to this promotion as well."Seo Dong-sung: "Just as N.Fia is our strength, we want to be N.Fia's strength. Thank you always."[Entertainment Department | THE FACT]laugardagr@tf.co.krssent@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The Growth Story of Imperfect YouthsScript Reading Scene RevealedActors Kang Hoon, Lee Yi-dam, Yoon Ga-yi, Moon Hee, Kim Jeong-jin, and Jo Hyun-chul (from left) will work together in tvN's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Hot Goodbye'. /tvN[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Actors Kang Hoon and Jo Hyun-chul will portray the passionate growth story of imperfect youths.tvN announced on the 8th, "The new Friday-Saturday drama 'Hot Goodbye' (written by Ahn Ah-reum, directed by Jung Ji-hyun) will premiere on November 6th." Along with this, the script reading scene of the main actors, including Kang Hoon and Jo Hyun-chul, was revealed, raising anticipation.'Hot Goodbye' tells the story of a growth journey where a 'trio of unknown comedians' who were running towards their dreams meet an 'unidentified mysterious woman' and find their own tomorrows. It is expected to unfold the process of youths who have fiercely run for their dreams, overcoming failures and frustrations to move towards a new tomorrow, with cheerful laughter and deep empathy.Kang Hoon plays Kang Tae-gu, the leader and breadwinner of the comedy trio Asura. Kang Tae-gu has endured 10 years of obscurity with passion and responsibility for comedy, but he faces a reality he can no longer ignore, marking a turning point in his life.Jo Hyun-chul transforms into Kim Nam-il, the witty member of Asura. Kim Nam-il, who has been in a long-term relationship with his beloved girlfriend Lee Na-yeon (played by Moon Hee) for 10 years, struggles between comedy and love.'Hot Goodbye,' featuring actors Kang Hoon, Jo Hyun-chul, Kim Jeong-jin, Yoon Ga-yi, Moon Hee, and Lee Yi-dam (from top left, clockwise), will meet viewers on November 6th at 10:30 PM. /tvNKim Jeong-jin meets viewers as Han Jun-seo, the frugal and 'stingy' member of Asura. Han Jun-seo is infinitely kind to Kang Tae-gu and Kim Nam-il, who are like family, but he rarely opens his heart to others.Lee Yi-dam plays Go Eun-young, a passionate fan of Asura. Go Eun-young, who had lived shut off from the world, unknowingly gets drawn into the increasingly strange comedy trio Asura and undergoes changes.Moon Hee plays Lee Na-yeon, Kim Nam-il's girlfriend, and will have a romantic chemistry with Jo Hyun-chul. Yoon Ga-yi plays Go Ji-young, Go Eun-young's younger sister and a free spirit, adding vitality to the drama.The production team stated, "'Hot Goodbye' is a story of youths overcoming failures and frustrations together. The story of youths who fiercely chase their dreams, hurt wholeheartedly, and prepare for their new tomorrows in their own ways will provide unique fun and realistic empathy."'Hot Goodbye,' consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on November 6th at 10:30 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 November 13 at 2 PM, 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6' to be releasedAnnouncing the start of new musicGroup ATEEZ will make a comeback on November 13 with 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6'. The photo shows ATEEZ YUNHO SEONGHWA San YEOSANG HONGJOONG WOOYOUNG JONGHO Mingi (from left) attending the blue carpet at the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS, TMA)' held on September 19. / Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT| Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group ATEEZ will decorate the end of 2026 with a new album.KQ Entertainment announced on the 8th that ATEEZ (HONGJOONG SEONGHWA YUNHO YEOSANG San Mingi WOOYOUNG JONGHO) confirmed their comeback on November 13 by releasing a spoiler video for their new album 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6' on their official social media.The video captured attention with surreal scenes centered around a ship, the symbolic object of ATEEZ, with a skull reflected on a monitor in an frozen space and a giant ship appearing in an everyday space, creating an unfamiliar landscape and leaving a strong impression.In particular, the scenes after the crash sparked curiosity about what happened before. The image of a ship moving through giant waves then hints at the future of ATEEZ, embarking on a new voyage after overcoming upheaval.The phrase 'CRASH TO BEGIN' was also inserted into the video, adding to the anticipation for ATEEZ's new music.ATEEZ reached the top of the Billboard 'Billboard 200' chart for the third time with their fourteenth mini-album 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5', released in June. The album set a new personal record for first-week album sales in the U.S. with 223,000 copies and achieved first-week sales of 1.88 million copies.ATEEZ has announced the start of new music with 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6'. / KQ EntertainmentIn addition, the album's title track 'BAD' has been ranking high on various music charts and is continuing its long-term success, topping SBS 'Inkigayo' for two consecutive weeks in September, about three months after its release.ATEEZ will release their fifteenth mini-album 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6' on November 13 at 2 PM on various music sites.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 2nd teaser released... Confrontation surrounding the truthThe first broadcast will be on the 30th at 9:50 PM.The second teaser video for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Liar' has been released. /MBC[THE FACT|Choi Soo-bin Reporter] Actor Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin's sweet first meeting turns into a nightmare.The production team of MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Liar' (written by Baek Jae-young, directed by Jo Young-min) released the second teaser video of Min Joon-ho (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) and Kang Ji-sun (played by Seo Hyun-jin) on the 8th.'Lie' is a story about 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.The teaser video begins with Kang Ji-sun looking at the crashing waves. Then, Min Jun-ho and Kang Ji-sun enjoy their first date in a romantic atmosphere. However, the mood takes a sudden turn when Kang Ji-sun says, "I can't breathe." On the other hand, Min Jun-ho pleads, "You're trying to push all the responsibility for impulsive actions onto me," raising questions about what happened between the two.Then, the real clash between Min-jun-ho and Kang Ji-sun begins. Kang Ji-sun, with a confident tone, says, "It's all a lie," and Min-jun-ho, with unwavering eyes, insists, "I have never lied," creating a stark contrast.Min Jun-ho explodes, "What on earth do you want from me?" and Kang Ji-sun quietly murmurs, "I wanted to put everything back in its place," adding to the tension. In particular, the subtitle "The hidden truth and lies of that night, one of them is lying" appears, sparking curiosity about whose words are true."Liar," consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on the 30th at 9:50 PM.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Released new album 'file. 07' on the 14thParticipated in writing and composing all songsSinger YUJU has released concept photos for her new album 'file. 07'. /At Area[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung] Singer YUJU is heating up her comeback by showing off a completely changed visual.Her agency, At Area, released concept photos for her fourth mini-album 'file. 07' on YUJU's official social media on the 6th and 7th.YUJU maximized her visual with smoky makeup and a blue satin dress, boasting a graceful silhouette. The dark lighting and blue background created a cool yet dreamy atmosphere, delivering a powerful image.Along with this, various objects such as tangled red threads, various forms of flowers, and masks appeared in the concept photos, adding to the curiosity about the narrative contained in this new album.'file. 07' is an album completed with the theme of unfinished emotions that remain the longest and deepest. The album includes a total of six tracks with diverse moods, including the title track 'Mise' (Unresolved), 'Without Knowing How Scary It Will Be After That', 'Love Gamer', 'SOS', 'Rock Bottom', and 'P.S.'. YUJU is credited with writing and composing all songs.YUJU will release her fourth mini-album 'file. 07' on music sites at 6 PM on the 14th.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Top players from previous seasons to competeBroadcaster Jang Dong-min, actor Ha Seok-jin, Super Junior SHINDONG, and rapper Nucksal (from top left, clockwise) will appear in Netflix's new variety show 'Devil's Plan 3'. /Netflix[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] 'Devil's Plan' is returning for its third season with an even stronger lineup.Netflix announced on the 8th, "The new variety show 'Devil's Plan' Season 3 (hereinafter 'Devil's Plan 3') will be released in the fourth quarter," and revealed the player lineup.'Devil's Plan,' which premiered in 2023 with its first season, is a brain survival variety show where players from various professions live together to determine the ultimate brain. Each season has delivered thrilling entertainment to viewers with intense brain battles, as well as alliances and betrayals for victory, and unpredictable twists.This season, a total of 16 players will compete, from previous winners to strong contenders in brain survival. With the largest number of participants in the series' history and a gathering of exceptionally skilled individuals, a more intense competition is expected.First, Jang Dong-min, the 'God of Survival,' is diving back into the game. Following his record of five consecutive survival wins starting with 'The Genius: Black Garnet' and continuing with 'Betting on Fact,' there is much anticipation for his performance this season.Hong Jin-ho, who transformed from a world-class professional gamer into a top professional poker player with accumulated prize money of 3 billion won, has also thrown his hat in the ring. Furthermore, the reunion of Jang Dong-min and Oh Hyun-min, known as the 'Legendary Alliance' of brain survival, is set to heighten expectations.Players who performed well in 'Devil's Plan' are also returning to compete. Ha Seok-jin, a previous winner, along with Kim Dong-jae and Jeong Hyun-gyu, will join to prove their skills. Rapper Seo Chul-gu, a prodigy who entered university early at the age of 16, and Yuri Sa, with an IQ of 156 and in the top 1% of Mensa, will also appear.In addition, Super Junior SHINDONG, Google employee and Seoul National University Ph.D. graduate Hyun Kyung-ryeol, singer John Park, broadcaster Jae Jae, rapper Nucksal, Seoul National University alumnus and star instructor Lee Do, singer-songwriter Stella Jang, and hidden strong contender Jeong Won-young will join to engage in fierce brain battles.Director Jeong Jong-yeon stated, "We are back with the most powerful cast in the franchise's history," adding, "I hope you look forward to the performances of the players who are appearing in a survival show for the first time amidst competitors who are full of previous winners."'Devil's Plan 3' will be released on Netflix in the fourth quarter of this year.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A live-action film based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki FujimotoA story of friendship, separation, and moving forward despite it all"Look Back," opening on the 8th, is a work that depicts the beautiful friendship of two girls connected by their passion for drawing. /Megabox JoongAng(주)[Reporter Park Ji-yoon] I encountered the live-action film "Look Back" without having seen the original manga or animation. As I followed the beautiful scenery and delicate visuals, I found myself slowly drawn into the two girls as they expanded each other's worlds. Their journey, as they grow together and face an unexpected separation, then move forward while carrying the pain of loss, makes one feel why this story has been loved for so long.The film "Look Back" (directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda), opening today (the 8th), is a work that depicts the beautiful friendship of two girls connected by their passion for drawing, and is based on the manga of the same name by the genius Japanese manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto."Look Back," which was previously adapted into an animation and grossed 2.04 billion yen worldwide, now meets audiences once again as a live-action film. The work unfolds the process of Fujino (played by Nanase Furi), who serializes four-panel comics in the elementary school newspaper and is confident in her drawing skills, feeling inferiority after encountering the manga of her classmate Kyomoto (played by Okada Luka), who is absent from school, and dedicating herself to improving her drawing skills."Look Back" is based on the manga of the same name by the genius Japanese manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto, and was adapted into an animation last year, grossing 2.04 billion yen worldwide. /Megabox JoongAng(주)However, Fujino eventually quits drawing as the gap in skill between herself and Kyomoto fails to narrow. Time passes, and at the request of a teacher, she visits Kyomoto's house to deliver her graduation certificate, only to discover for the first time that her friend, who admired her but was afraid to venture out into the world, had been confined to her room.Fujino, who gets along well with friends and goes out often, and Kyomoto, who is isolated from the world and stays in her room, influence each other while working on manga together, each focusing on what they do best. Thus, the two build precious memories and grow, but Kyomoto, wanting to study art more professionally, goes to art school, while Fujino enters society, and they each walk their own paths.Then, one day, a tragic event occurs to Kyomoto, and Fujino begins to attach "what ifs" to all her actions, imagining different endings, and falls into deep loss and guilt. After briefly looking back, she accepts reality and moves forward again, cherishing the time spent with Kyomoto and the meaning of that encounter in her life.The story, centered around two budding girls, deals with innate talent and the effort to catch up, the admiration for someone, and an irreplaceable friendship.Director Hirokazu Kore-eda vividly portrays the friendship of the two girls with beautiful visuals and child and adult actors who boast an astonishing resemblance. /Megabox JoongAng(주)It explores how meeting someone can change a person's life, and it delves into the passion for one's favorite work through efforts that surpass mere jealousy of innate talent, easily handling the complex emotions that everyone has likely felt at some point in their lives.And it is director Hirokazu Kore-eda who beautifully captures this with his unique sensibility. Filming on location for a year in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, the hometown of original author Tatsuki Fujimoto, he delicately portrays the emotional lines of Fujino and Kyomoto, which are all the more brilliant because they represent the unrepeatable time of youth, with an analog sensibility. In particular, he captures the changes of the four seasons, which seem to breathe with life, quickly and vividly, completing the protagonists' brilliant yet poignant moments with a heightened sense of immersion.Furthermore, the child and adult actors who play Fujino and Kyomoto convey the characters' various emotions in detail through subtle facial expressions and deep gazes. They also boast an astonishing resemblance, naturally depicting the passage of 13 years and the changes in their relationship.Although the meaning of the title was not easily discernible at first glance, after watching the film, the meaning embedded in the title naturally resonates with the audience. "Look Back," which leaves a lasting, gentle impression even after the end credits roll, is rated for all audiences and has a running time of 100 minutes.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Best Actor Award for 'The King and the Man'... Production Company CEO Accepts on His Behalf'Assassins' Faces Historical Distortion Controversy and Threats to Personal Safety... Busan Schedule CanceledActor Yoo Hae-jin received the Best Actor Award for the film 'The King and the Man' at the 35th Buil Film Awards ceremony held on the 7th. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] Actor Yoo Hae-jin received the Buil Film Awards Best Actor trophy for the movie 'The King and the Man'. This honor comes amidst his recent decision to completely cancel his Busan schedule due to controversies surrounding historical distortion in his latest film and threats to his personal safety.The 35th Buil Film Awards ceremony took place on the 7th at Signiel Busan in Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, during the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). On this day, Yoo Hae-jin was selected as the Best Actor winner for 'The King and the Man'.However, Yoo Hae-jin was unable to attend the awards ceremony as he had canceled his Busan International Film Festival schedule due to the historical distortion controversy surrounding his current film 'Assassins' and threats to his personal safety.Consequently, the award was accepted on his behalf by Im Eun-jeong, CEO of Ondaworks, the production company of 'The King and the Man'.On stage, CEO Im stated, "Actor Yoo Hae-jin could not be here today due to his filming schedule," and expressed gratitude, "I would like to thank the Buil Film Awards jury for this precious award, Director Jang Hang-jun, all the staff and cast, and the distributor Showbox. Most importantly, I want to send my deepest thanks to the audience who loved the movie. I will deliver this award to actor Yoo Hae-jin."'The King and the Man', which brought Yoo Hae-jin this honor, is a story set in Cheongnyongpo in 1457, depicting the young King Danjong Lee Hong-wi (PARK JI HOON), who was exiled after being ousted from the throne, and the village chief Um Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), who stays by his side. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film was released in February and became a box office sensation, drawing 16.92 million viewers.Meanwhile, Yoo Hae-jin is currently facing difficulties due to external controversies surrounding the recently released film 'Assassins'. Released on the 23rd of last month, 'Assassins' is a story that traces the mastermind behind the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo on August 15, 1974. However, after its release, criticisms arose that the reconstructed events distorted historical facts, leading to a heated controversy.The controversy escalated to threats against the actors' personal safety. Starting from the 4th, a protest was held in front of Yoo Hae-jin's home by conservative groups demanding a halt to the screening, and threatening remarks followed online. In response, the Seoul Seongbuk Police, at the request of Yoo Hae-jin's agency, provided him with a smart watch and increased patrols around his residence on the 6th as part of personal protection measures.As a result of these repercussions, Yoo Hae-jin and the production staff, including the director, canceled all their scheduled events in Busan, including the opening ceremony and outdoor stage greetings of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), for safety reasons.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 '256th Note' sells 710,000 copies in the first week of releaseAlso stands out on music chartsGroup CLOSE YOUR EYES has broken its own record by selling 710,000 copies of its fourth mini-album, '256th Note,' in the first week of release. The photo shows Kenshin SONG SEUNGHO JEON MINWOOK MA JINGXIANG KIM SUNGMIN JANG YEOJUN SEO KYOUNGBAE attending the '256th Note' release showcase held on September 30. / Reporter Park Sang-min[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Group CLOSE YOUR EYES has once again broken its own record.According to its agency Uncore on the 8th, CLOSE YOUR EYES (JEON MINWOOK MA JINGXIANG JANG YEOJUN KIM SUNGMIN SONG SEUNGHO KENSHIN SEO KYOUNGBAE) sold 710,000 copies of its fourth mini-album, '256th Note,' released on September 30, in the first week of release.This surpasses the previous record of 570,000 copies sold in the first week of its predecessor 'blackout.''256th Note' is also making waves not only in album sales but also on various domestic and international charts. '256th Note' ranked 62nd on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, and the pre-release track 'Open Your Eyes' reached 35th on the Melon Latest Release Chart.The title track 'Drop That!' is also showing its power on music charts, ranking 26th on the Melon Latest Release Chart, 78th on the HOT100 chart, 3rd on the Bugs Real-time Chart, and 56th on the Daily Chart.Having achieved 710,000 copies in the first week of sales and writing a new chapter in the group's history, CLOSE YOUR EYES is set to continue its active promotions with 'Drop That!'laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Son Ho-young will release the new song ″Go Around″ through various online music sites at 6 PM on the 14th. This song is a solo new release after about five years, with Son Ho-young personally participating in the lyrics writing. On the 7th and 8th at midnight, Son Ho-young revealed two lyric posters of ″Go Around″ through official SNS. The posters included some lyrics such as ″Find my love,″ ″Finding my way again, going further,″ and ″Accustomed to the silence that has become familiar.″ This new song is a track in which Son Ho-young, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his solo debut, sincerely expresses his experiences and feelings in the lyrics. Rather than finding a perfect answer or a predetermined path, it conveys a message to find one’s own way, offering warm comfort and encouragement to those tired of everyday life. Son Ho-young captured moments of spending leisurely time away from the noise of the world in the lyric posters. With a bright smile, he took in the scenery for the camera or leaned by the window to create a calm atmosphere, delivering healing that matches the autumn season. As a member of the national group god, a solo artist, and an all-around entertainer active in various fields such as music, performances, broadcasting, and musicals, Son Ho-young plans to embody freedom and confidence in himself through music and stage after 20 years of journey. Son Ho-young is scheduled to meet fans by holding the 2026 solo concert ″HORIZON″ at KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on October 31 and November 1.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The unit JX, consisting of KIM JAEJOONG and Kim Junsu, will hold the JX 2026 TOUR CONCERT at Incheon Inspire Arena from the 9th to the 11th. JX returns with their second tour in about two years, showcasing a deeper ’JX Core’ in this concert. The two artists are preparing a concept and composition distinct from their first solo concert ’IDENTITY,’ held in 2024 to celebrate their 20th debut anniversary. They have hinted at intense visuals and chemistry through posters and pre-teasers. This tour was made possible by the continuous requests from fans, and KIM JAEJOONG and Kim Junsu are responding to fans’ expectations by expanding the scale of the performances. The Incheon concerts sold out all seats for every show, proving JX’s ticket power. JX plans to add new energy to familiar hits through live performances with a band session. The two artists will reminisce with fans through a stage that condenses their respective musical journeys and deliver unique emotions with a diverse setlist. The JX 2026 TOUR CONCERT will continue after the Incheon shows with performances in Kobe on November 3rd and 4th, Macau on the 7th and 8th, Osaka on the 14th and 15th, Taipei on the 21st, and Yokohama on December 4th, 5th, and 6th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In response to allegations of staging related to Kim Min’s episode of living in an old house on ’I Live Alone,’ both Kim Min and MBC have issued separate clarifications. The production team of MBC’s ’I Live Alone’ stated to Xportsnews on the 7th that Kim Min is indeed living in the house featured in the broadcast, and that the production team did not set up or stage any situations. They also explained that regarding questions about the use of the generator, the footage shows the actual use of the generator in accordance with the housing environment, and there was no staging for the broadcast. On the broadcast on the 2nd, Kim Min revealed his daily life living in an approximately 90-year-old old house in Dongducheon. He attracted attention by showing how he uses a generator to supply electricity and repairs the house himself. After the broadcast, some viewers raised suspicions of staging based on differences between the house seen on road view and the broadcast footage, as well as the presence of nearby utility poles. In response, Kim Min denied the allegations in an interview with Star Today on the 6th, saying, ″There was absolutely no manipulation or setup.″ While expressing gratitude for viewers’ various curiosities, he also said he felt heavy-hearted due to unexpected stories that emerged. Previously, ’I Live Alone’ also faced authenticity controversies over Jun Hyun-moo’s impromptu trip to Kazakhstan. The production team explained that although they received cooperation from the Almaty Tourism Board in Kazakhstan at the time, there was no financial sponsorship or production funding support.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Fin.K.L member Sung Yuri shared an update on social media on October 7. Sung Yuri posted a photo with the caption, ″The stick is more flexible than expected.″ The released photo shows LEE HYO RI stretching, while Lee Jin and Ok Joo-hyun are seen teasing LEE HYO RI from beside and behind. Sung Yuri added the phrase, ″Another peaceful close-up coverage scene today,″ to the photo. Fin.K.L is preparing for a full-group comeback after 21 years. Debuting in 1998, Fin.K.L is a representative first-generation K-pop group loved for songs like ″Eternal Love,″ ″To My Boyfriend,″ ″Blue Rain,″ and ″Now.″ Group activities will resume for the first time in 21 years since the release of the digital single ″Forever Fin.K.L″ in 2005.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Han Ga-in revealed the reading habits and daily life of her two children. In a video posted on the YouTube channel ’With Sean,’ Han Ga-in stated that when she creates a routine, her children follow it exactly, and that they ask detailed questions about their schedule every morning. Han Ga-in said that her hobby is checking diaries, and explained that her children also look at and check their diaries every day. Because of this, she said they live a predictable life, which is comfortable. However, she added that she does not get stressed by unexpected situations related to her children. She revealed that she talks with her eldest daughter, who is approaching puberty, like friends and that they respect each other, mentioning that there might not be a significant puberty phase. She also said that both of her children are smarter than she is, and although she did nothing special, she wanted to give them the habit of loving books. Han Ga-in explained that when her children are bored, they read books, and they also read in the morning or at night. Reading books to her children is part of their daily routine, and when she scolds them, if she says, ″I won’t read a book to you today,″ the children sometimes cry. Han Ga-in said, ″Books contain much more knowledge than I do, and the children already know that when they read books when they are bored, there are enjoyable and fun things.″ Han Ga-in married actor Yeon Jung-hoon in 2005 and has one son and one daughter. It has been revealed that both children were diagnosed as gifted in the top 1% and enrolled in a gifted education center.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 JTBC’s ″Tokpawon 25si″ showcased childhood photos of the cast members in the October 7th broadcast. In the episode, Yang Se-chan drew attention by mentioning a past photo of Jeon Hyun-moo, saying he resembled Son Ye-jin. Jeon Hyun-moo expressed confidence about his appearance, saying, ″At that time, I could compete. The girls were jealous of me. They pinched me and ran away.″ Lucky also commented that Jeon Hyun-moo’s face has changed a lot after seeing the photo. Jeon Hyun-moo joked that his face started to change when environmental pollution became a social issue in the second year of middle school, and Lee Chan-won added, ″Along with rapid economic growth and environmental pollution.″ Sun Kim’s kindergarten photo showed him wearing a tie and attending a private kindergarten. When Sun Kim asked for compliments on his childhood appearance, Jeon Hyun-moo and Yang Se-chan responded that he looked wealthy rather than handsome. When asked if the person in the photo was a bodyguard, Sun Kim explained it was a teacher. Chuu revealed a childhood photo with a smile similar to her current one. The cast members said Lucky’s appearance had changed after seeing his childhood photo, and Lucky mentioned the influence of the air in India. Kim Sook shared a photo from when she was 16, reminiscent of a horror movie poster, and confessed she had many complaints during puberty.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actors Discover a Body in a Snowstorm at Seol-o Station... Opening in NovemberThe movie 'Snowstorm' has released its first press stills ahead of its November release. /Distributor: Showbox[THE FACT | Reporter Chae-young Moon] Actors Kim Yun-seok and Koo Kyo-hwan encounter a mysterious body at a remote train station isolated by snow.Distributor Showbox released the first press stills for the movie 'Snowstorm' (directed by Hong Eui-jeong&Park Sun-woo) on the 8th. The stills capture a variety of scenes, from the first meeting of Gap-su (played by Kim Yun-seok) and Hyeon-taek (played by Koo Kyo-hwan) to the moment they discover an unknown body during the handover.The film is a mystery drama that unfolds when a body is discovered in front of Gap-su, a stationmaster nearing retirement at a rural train station isolated by heavy snow, and Hyeon-taek, his new replacement.In the stills, Gap-su is preparing for his last day at Seol-o Station, which he has managed his whole life, when he meets Hyeon-taek, a new station attendant who arrives through the snow, and begins the handover. Gap-su looks at Hyeon-taek with a sharp gaze while holding documents, and Hyeon-taek, observing his demeanor, hands over a radio.Gap-su and Hyeon-taek continue the handover on the snow-covered tracks, isolated from the outside world, with a subtle tension. However, when the two discover an unknown body lying on the tracks, an unexpected storm hits the peaceful Seol-o Station.Stills showing Chief Choi (played by Park Soo-young), who has worked at Seol-o Police Box for a long time and is close with Gap-su, and Officer Yang (played by Noh Yoon-seo), who has recently been assigned, having a serious conversation also hint at unusual changes coming to Seol-o Station.'Snowstorm' will be released in November.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Soyou recently shared daily photos and videos on social media. On October 6, Soyou posted a photo on her social media without any special explanation. The photo showed Soyou spending time alone in a swimsuit at an outdoor swimming pool. Then, on October 7, she posted a video with the caption ″Getting along well.″ In the video, Soyou was seen playing a game with an acquaintance, and the scene where the person who lost the game gets drenched with prepared water was included. The video also showed Soyou’s expression after being hit with the water bag. Considering that there might be criticism about making a mess at the location, Soyou stated that she cleaned up all the trash with the caption, ″I cleaned up neatly.″ Meanwhile, Soyou announced through her channel ’Soyougi’ last February that she had lost a total of 20 kg.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 EXO’s Suho appeared as the protagonist of rapid promotion on SBS’s ’The Listen: The Season We Stayed.’ On the broadcast of ’The Listen’ on the 7th, Lee Young-hyun, Tey, Chuu, EXO’s Suho, DK, PARK JI HYUN, ATEEZ Jongho, Shin Ye-young, and others appeared. On this day, Tey, as the entertainment deputy manager, arrived at work first and placed snacks on the employees’ desks, saying, ″Eating is power.″ Then, employee Chuu arrived and said, ″I even went to a shop in Cheongdam.″ Chuu revealed that she recently had a herniated cervical disc and moved, and she shared that she received manual therapy. Shin Ye-young, PARK JI HYUN, and DK also arrived one after another. DK mentioned Tey, saying, ″Since I am an original member, I find it annoying to see someone with a higher rank than me,″ and Tey replied, ″I’m not a strict boss; I accept everything.″ DK added, ″There is someone even more severe than Deputy Manager Tey. It feels like a super parachute.″ After department head Lee Young-hyun arrived, ATEEZ Jongho explained that he arrived later than the department head because he went to the hospital due to a leg injury. Then, when EXO’s Suho appeared with a rapid promotion, DK immediately stood up to welcome him. Seeing this, Tey said to Jongho, ″Didn’t you say your leg hurts?″ which caused laughter. Tey said to Manager Suho, ″I have something to say,″ but added, ″These are snacks I bought myself. You must have been very anxious coming here.″ The business trip destination of The Enter was the Korea Water Resources Corporation, and the cast performed a busking stage. The first stage was opened by Lee Young-hyun with ’Tukhamyeon,’ and DK admired, ″Today’s busking ended with this.″ Tey said, ″It’s been a while since I heard it, and every time I listen, I’m amazed. It’s so marvelous.″ DK performed an impromptu parody stage with ’Miracle Warning,’ and Tey performed with ’Last Love.’ Chuu expressed her feelings, saying, ″My mouth was so wide open that my jaw joint hurt. It felt like listening to a drama. It was an honor and so ecstatic,″ and Lee Young-hyun also said, ″I felt the same way. It didn’t feel like a workplace but like coming to watch a performance.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 It has been revealed that PARK JI HYUN and Jung Won-kyu, who continued their romantic relationship after appearing on the TVING dating reality show ″Transit Love 4,″ have broken up. On the 7th, PARK JI HYUN personally announced the breakup by releasing a video titled ″Tokyo 2 Nights 3 Days Vlog and a Message I Want to Share″ on her YouTube channel ″I’m Jihyun.″ In the video, PARK JI HYUN stated, ″Won-kyu oppa and I have decided not to see each other anymore.″ She said, ″It seems many people have been curious about my relationship with Won-kyu oppa in recent weeks,″ and added, ″Since there were many fans who supported us, I thought it was right to speak directly.″ She did not mention the reason for the breakup, saying, ″I believe not talking about the reason for the breakup is a consideration for the other person and a courtesy to the time we loved each other.″ Additionally, PARK JI HYUN said, ″I think we were a couple who received a lot of attention through the program ’Transit Love,’″ and added, ″I hope Won-kyu oppa does not suffer any harm or get hurt because of this video.″ She expressed, ″Although our relationship as lovers has ended, I hope he lives well, happily, and healthily as a person,″ and said, ″We won’t be together going forward, but I hope everyone supports and looks kindly upon us individually.″ PARK JI HYUN also expressed her apologies to the fans. She said, ″If I say I’m okay after breaking up, that would probably be a lie. There were difficult times and painful moments, but I will really try hard to live the rest of my life well.″ She continued, ″I want to sincerely apologize to the fans,″ and said, ″While saying this, I thought I shouldn’t cry in case it causes unnecessary misunderstandings, but honestly, my heart feels very heavy. However, I have been doing well and will continue to do so.″ Meanwhile, PARK JI HYUN and Jung Won-kyu appeared on ″Transit Love 4″ as ex-lovers and chose to reunite in the final episode. After the show ended, their relationship developed into a romantic one. They received great attention from fans as they appeared to be dating with marriage in mind, but this video officially confirmed their breakup.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Yang Chi-seung recently spoke about his experience with fraud and the support he received from those around him on a broadcast. He appeared on the 984th episode of MBC variety show ″Radio Star,″ revealing the fraud he encountered while running a gym and the resulting financial difficulties. Yang Chi-seung said that in July 2024, he took out a 400 million won mortgage loan to operate the gym but received an eviction notice from the district office. He claimed that he signed a lease contract believing Company A was the building owner, but in reality, the land belonged to the district office, and the company did not inform him of this fact. As a result, he had to close the gym on July 25 of last year, and the damages, including facility costs, refund expenses, and attorney fees, amounted to about 2 billion won. On the broadcast, Yang Chi-seung shared that after closing the gym, he has been working as a community facility manager at an apartment complex in Gangnam and also runs a restaurant. He said, ″I didn’t even receive key money. Refunding members, paying attorney fees, and all that comes to 1.5 billion won. If you include the lost revenue over the years, it’s even more. I also took out a mortgage loan on the apartment and continue to pay the interest. I even sold my car to refund the gym members.″ He added that his current income is about one-tenth of what it was before. Yang Chi-seung also revealed anecdotes about the encouragement and help he received from those around him. He said that when he visits his restaurant, some people say, ″Aren’t you the one who got scammed? You have to stay strong,″ and bring him a lot of food. He explained that although he received offers to open stores in buildings, the costs of equipment and interior work made it difficult to actually move in. On the other hand, he mentioned that some people asked him for financial help. Additionally, he confessed that he feels deeply indebted to actors Choi Kang-hee, Park Ha-na, Sung Hoon, and broadcaster Kim Sook. Choi Kang-hee prayed for him, Park Ha-na suddenly called to offer financial help, Kim Sook helped him find a gym, and Sung Hoon took care of his meals. Yang Chi-seung said, ″I feel sorry to break down like this because of such kindness. To myself and to these people. I want to succeed and show all of this to them.″ Meanwhile, Yang Chi-seung attracted attention for his changed eye appearance during the broadcast. He explained that he visited a shop after a long time, and the director applied heavy eye makeup to give a strong impression.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Yoojung personally announced her marriage news. Yoojung (34), a singer and broadcaster formerly of Laboum, revealed on her SNS channel on the 8th that she is planning to get married this winter by sharing a handwritten letter and wedding photos. She introduced her fiancé as ″a good person who cherishes me like a daughter, makes me feel every day how much I am loved, and whose presence brings comfort and reassurance.″ She added, ″Over the past year, we have been slowly and steadily preparing for our wedding at our own pace,″ and ″I am happy to share this joyful news with you all.″ She also asked, ″I would be truly grateful if you could warmly support my new life.″ Yoojung debuted as a member of Laboum in August 2014 and was active with various songs such as ″Aro Aro,″ ″Imaginary Plus,″ and ″Hwi Hwi.″ After leaving the group in September 2021, she is currently working as an MC on Defense TV’s ″慰問列車″ and TBN Traffic Broadcasting’s ″TBN Project.″ Yoojung said, ″I left a handwritten letter when I finished activities with Laboum in September 2021, and now I am writing a letter again after five years,″ adding, ″Thanks to the support of many people, I was able to courageously start a new chapter in my life. I will continue to work hard to show you a better side of myself in the future.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Rosé has continued her collaboration with global sports brand Puma, unveiling a new sneaker collection infused with her unique sensibility. Recently, Rosé posted photos on her SNS featuring the official Puma account, showcasing the Speedcat sneakers in soft tones of brown and red. The shoes in the photos stand out with thickly tied laces and the inscription ″ROSIE,″ reflecting Rosé’s identity. Notably, the flowers and butterflies placed beside the shoes create a warm and emotional atmosphere. This collection targets the fall season, harmonizing Rosé’s distinctive sophisticated mood with Puma’s sporty style. Prior to this, Rosé released her new single ″new trick″ and unveiled a music video for the Apple ″Shot on iPhone″ campaign, actively engaging in both music and fashion. Meanwhile, Rosé continues to solidify her position as a global artist by consistently communicating with fans through various projects and collaborations at home and abroad. This collaboration with Puma is also highly anticipated for showcasing her unique sense that encompasses fashion, music, and lifestyle.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Black Pink Lisa recently shared a special update on her SNS. Lisa, wearing an off-shoulder dress adorned with blue and purple floral decorations, lay on a bed and revealed several photos. In the indoor space with a bed and pillows, she smiled facing forward while holding a white rose, creating a soft and elegant atmosphere. The styling, highlighted by a necklace, added a touch of sophistication, showcasing Lisa’s calm yet refined charm. The scenes where she naturally posed in the quiet space gave fans a sense of closeness and warmth. Lisa has been actively communicating with her global fandom, ’LILIES,’ while displaying elegant charm at photo shoots and official events recently held in Paris. Notably, as the first K-pop singer to surpass 100 million followers on her personal SNS, she continues to maintain worldwide popularity through consistent self-care and a unique style. In the released photos, Lisa captivated viewers with images filled with delicate sensibility, accompanied by the ″🌹🤍″ emojis. Through her unchanging grace and beauty amid a busy daily life, she makes fans look forward to her diverse future activities and endeavors.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 After completing the four consecutive matches of the South Korean national soccer team following the 2026 World Cup, Son Heung-min shared his thoughts on social media. He said, ″Honestly, there was a lot of pressure and worry in my heart during the call-up,″ but also described it as ″a valuable time where I learned a lot while working with the new coach and teammates.″ Recently, the atmosphere of the national team has been one of continuous change and challenge. The series of matches under the leadership of coach Robert Moreno presented various tasks to players including Son Heung-min, while also providing opportunities for growth. Son reflected that although there were many shortcomings, he gained much more in return. The unwavering support of the fans also seemed to be a great source of strength for Son Heung-min. He expressed sincere gratitude, saying, ″Thanks to the fans who came to the stadium and cheered even during difficult times, it was truly a happy time.″ Meanwhile, on the 6th, in a friendly match against Uzbekistan, Son Heung-min achieved a remarkable feat by scoring his 59th goal in A matches with a free kick, surpassing former coach Cha Bum-kun, who held the record for the most goals in South Korean soccer history. That day, he started the match and played for about 71 minutes, showcasing his outstanding skills. In this way, Son Heung-min has established himself as a unique presence within the national team, leading the team. Many soccer fans are expected to continue focusing on his future performances.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Since the controversy over the release of the KTX CCTV footage, family anecdotes and past broadcast content related to Park Wi have been revisited online. Recently, the YouTube channel ’WeeRacle’s 2024 video titled ’First Chuseok Celebrated at the In-Laws’ has been gaining renewed attention on online communities and social media. The video features Song Ji-eun, formerly of the group Secret, spending the holiday at her in-laws’ home for the first time after marriage. Some netizens focused on the tableware arrangement during the meal scene. While Park Wi’s parents, Park Wi himself, and his younger sibling-in-law, actress Yoon So-hee, used the same type of tableware, Song Ji-eun was seen using different dishes. Additionally, online discussions highlighted Park Wi mentioning Yoon So-hee before Song Ji-eun during the pre-meal prayer, the family repeatedly praising Yoon So-hee, who graduated from KAIST, and Park Wi greeting only Yoon So-hee after a video call. In response, opinions such as ″I’ve always found it strange″ and ″Song Ji-eun might have felt hurt″ have emerged, sparking various reactions. A past anecdote Song Ji-eun shared on MBC’s variety show ’Radio Star’ about her mother-in-law also resurfaced. On the show, Song Ji-eun revealed that her future mother-in-law prepared pajamas for her and offered her cherished clothes to take as she wished. While this story was originally received as a warm family gesture, it has been revisited in light of the recent Park Wi controversy. Among netizens, opinions are divided between ″Wouldn’t it have been better to give new clothes as a gift?″ and ″Passing down treasured clothes can be a form of affection,″ as well as ″Criticizing the family over an issue separate from the Park Wi controversy is excessive.″ Meanwhile, last month, Park Wi faced criticism for releasing CCTV footage of an incident during his disembarkation from the KTX, raising concerns about the exposure of a social service worker’s personal information and a lack of consideration. He later issued an apology and deleted the video. He also voluntarily resigned from his position as a Seoul city ambassador.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 It has been revealed that Jihyun and Wonkyu broke up just before their wedding. The two reunited through the TVING variety show ″Transit Love 4,″ became the final couple, and had been publicly dating since then. On the 7th, Jihyun posted a video titled ″Tokyo 2 Nights 3 Days Vlog | And a Story I Want to Tell..″ on her YouTube channel ″I’m Jihyun,″ personally announcing the breakup. The video was filmed at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Sitting in front of the camera, Jihyun stated, ″I have decided not to continue dating Wonkyu oppa.″ She said she would not disclose the reason for the breakup, explaining that it was out of respect and consideration for each other. Jihyun expressed, ″Just as there are meetings, there are also farewells. We have each gone our separate ways,″ and apologized to her fans. She added, ″I hope Wonkyu oppa lives happily, and I will live well too.″ Furthermore, she said, ″Although our relationship as lovers has ended, I hope that as a person, oppa will live happily and well.″ Jihyun confessed that she had a difficult time after the breakup and said she would strive to live her life well going forward. ″I still believe I am a person full of love. In the future, whoever I meet, I want to love freely and wholeheartedly,″ she shared. She also apologized to her fans for raising hopes of marriage and showed a moment of emotional overwhelm. The two became known to the public through the ″Transit Love″ series and had revealed they were dating with marriage in mind. However, with this breakup, they have gone their separate ways.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Park Myung-soo expressed his disappointment while mentioning memories with former ’Infinite Challenge’ members on KBS Cool FM’s ’Park Myung-soo’s Radio Show’ on his birthday. On the broadcast of ’Park Myung-soo’s Radio Show’ on the 7th, the segment ’Monthly Park Seul-gi, Beat Park Myung-soo’ was held. On that day, Park Seul-gi sang a congratulatory song, and Park Myung-soo responded, ″Not that kind of thing, do something material. I really hate this kind of thing. I prefer someone who buys me even just a candy. I really hate empty talk,″ expressing his honest wish. Park Seul-gi replied, ″I will send you a gifticon as a present. Anyway, congratulations. I won’t just do it empty-handed.″ A quiz related to an episode where the members of MBC’s ’Infinite Challenge’ celebrated Park Myung-soo’s birthday was featured on the show. Hearing this, Park Myung-soo said, ″It reminds me of the old days. I want to go back to that time. I really miss our Infinite Challenge members back then.″ Regarding the recent birthday greetings he received, he said, ″Jung Joon-ha contacted me to wish me a happy birthday. The other losers didn’t contact me. Still, Jung Joon-ha’s message touched me the most.″ Park Myung-soo and Jung Joon-ha collaborate on various content through their YouTube channel ’Hawasu.’ Park Myung-soo confessed about their ’Hawasu’ activities, ″On one hand, I wondered if we were just digging up too many old memories while doing Hawasu,″ and revealed an anecdote where PD Kim Tae-ho said, ″Brother, having old memories to sell is something. People without them can’t even sell anything.″ Meanwhile, Park Myung-soo was born in 1970 and debuted as a comedian in MBC’s 4th public recruitment in 1993. On May 30th, when the production team of the channel ’Hal Myung-soo’ mentioned that his house was worth 20 billion won, he denied it, saying, ″That’s crazy talk. They always spread strange rumors. If it were 20 billion won, you should disappear.″ Currently, Park Myung-soo communicates with fans through his YouTube channel ’Hawasu,’ which has about 220,000 subscribers.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A road named after the group BTS was temporarily designated for one week in Lima, Peru. The Santiago de Surco district named Sacramento Street in the Surco area ’Avenida BTS’ from October 5 to 11 and installed signs to announce it. This event was part of the ’Road To 7’ project promoted by the local BTS fan club ’BTS Perú’ to commemorate BTS’s first concert in Peru. BTS will hold their world tour ’ARIRANG’ concerts at Estadio San Marcos in Lima on the 7th and from the 9th to the 10th. This is their first performance in Peru since their debut in 2013. Earlier, on the 2nd and 3rd, they began their South American tour at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, Colombia, attracting about 100,000 spectators. Various events welcoming BTS were also held throughout downtown Lima. The Arco Morisco, a landmark structure in Surco Friendship Park, was decorated with purple lights symbolizing BTS from the 5th to the 11th, with special light shows every day. At the Fountain Park’s Fantasy Fountain, a BTS-themed event using music, lighting, and water screens was held during the same period. ’Avenida BTS’ is located near 8 blocks of Las Nazarenas Street in Santiago de Surco and is being used as a place where fans can take commemorative photos. The official Peruvian tourism site ’Peru Travel’ introduced that BTS’s Lima concert would provide overseas visitors with opportunities to experience Peru’s food, culture, and natural scenery. It also mentioned the possibility of fans visiting other tourist destinations such as Paracas and Machu Picchu after attending the concert in Lima. Meanwhile, on the 6th, BTS released ’Run BTS 2.0,’ enjoying an autumn picnic in Toronto during their world tour, through the team’s official YouTube channel and the fan platform Weverse. Spanish media Rolling Stone en aespan described the Colombia concert as ″the concert an entire generation has been waiting for the most,″ stating, ″BTS always met expectations and even showed more than that.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 SUNG HANBIN will appear as a daily weathercaster on JTBC’s news program ’Morning&’. On the 7th, the agency The Live Label announced that SUNG HANBIN will deliver nationwide weather information directly through the broadcast of ’Morning&’ airing on the morning of the 8th. SUNG HANBIN has demonstrated stable hosting skills and witty remarks as an MC on music shows and variety programs. This broadcast marks SUNG HANBIN’s first challenge as a weathercaster. In particular, SUNG HANBIN will showcase a new challenge in daily life ahead of a solo debut. After three years since debut, SUNG HANBIN will release the first solo EP ’DEAD:ALIVE’ on the 12th at 6 PM through various music streaming sites. The album ’DEAD:ALIVE’ captures the process of ’self-transcendence,’ growing into a new self by breaking limits and not stopping in the face of fear.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Kyung-kyu expressed a critical stance on the remarks and actions related to military service by some players of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men’s soccer team. On the 7th, in a video released on his YouTube channel ’God Kyung-kyu,’ Lee Kyung-kyu said regarding the controversy over the soccer team players’ military service, ″That is something the players should discuss among themselves,″ and added, ″Even if that is the case, it should not be talked about in interviews.″ He emphasized, ″They should say they played for honor and for the country.″ Referring to player Lee Young-jun, who was discharged from Gimcheon Sangmu, Lee Kyung-kyu said, ″He was discharged but came running from Europe to win a gold medal. The pinnacle of sports is the medal.″ He also added, ″To say that players won such medals to avoid the military...″ He pointed out, ″It doesn’t matter whether they are young or old. It is very wrong.″ Lee Kyung-kyu stated, ″How do the Gimcheon Sangmu players watching the interviews feel? They are currently playing while receiving a salary of 1.5 million won in the military; how envious must they be?″ He said, ″There are several areas in our country that should not be touched. The military is a sensitive matter.″ Regarding the opinion that players should receive interview training, Lee Kyung-kyu said, ″If training worked, it would have been done already,″ and added, ″I think it is a matter of attitude. I am not qualified to say this, but attitude is the most important. The young players who played in this Asian Games made mistakes, but I hope it becomes a lesson for them to think, ’Ah, I need to be careful.’ They must be reflecting a lot.″ Earlier, team captain Lee Ki-hyuk said immediately after winning the gold medal, ″If we didn’t win the gold medal, I had only 9 days left before enlistment,″ and declared, ″I am not going to the military.″ Yang Min-hyuk said, ″Since there was a reward of military exemption, I think I played the game just focusing on that.″ Park Seung-soo posted a photo wearing a discharge cap on social media and was criticized. All three players later apologized for their reckless remarks and actions. Meanwhile, in the men’s soccer final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, South Korea defeated Japan 1-0 to win the gold medal. Following this, public opinion on the military service special exemption system for the arts and sports fields continued, and on the 7th, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul stated at the National Assembly Defense Committee audit, ″The Ministry of National Defense’s goal is to gradually reduce and ultimately abolish the military service special exemption system.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer T.O.P will hold his first solo concert in Bangkok, Thailand. His agency, TOPSPOT PICTURES, announced that T.O.P will hold ″T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 in BANGKOK″ on the 24th. This Bangkok concert is a newly added stop on the tour, marking T.O.P’s first solo performance in Thailand. T.O.P began the ″T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026″ tour last August in Hong Kong and Taipei. After the Taipei concert sold out, an additional show was scheduled. Following the Bangkok concert, he will continue meeting fans in Tokyo on November 6 and Kaohsiung on December 19. The tour poster includes the phrase ″AND MORE,″ hinting at the possibility of additional performances. ″T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026″ is designed as an interactive stage where the audience helps decide and fill the content of the performance. Fans selected the songs to be performed and fan-created works to be featured on stage through pre-voting. There is also a ″TOPSX Archive″ segment where fans can enjoy arrangements and artwork created by fans together with T.O.P. The title ″PRE-STUDIO″ reflects this style of performance. Meanwhile, on the 2nd, T.O.P officially confirmed his relationship with Nana, an actress and former member of the group After School. The two met during the filming of the music video for the title track ″Completely Crazy!″ from T.O.P’s first solo full-length album ″ANOTHER DIMENSION″ and became a couple in June. In relation to this, T.O.P’s domestic fan page, Choi Seung Hyun.com, announced on the 4th the cancellation of the ″OFF GRID: NEW GROUND″ exhibition that was scheduled. This exhibition was planned to reinterpret the 11 songs included in the album ″ANOTHER DIMENSION″ with different concepts and spaces, allowing the audience to experience them directly. According to the fan page, the event was prepared for a total of 300 people over two days, but the actual number of applicants was only about 25% of the expected scale, and as cancellation requests continued, it was deemed difficult to proceed with the event. The fan page apologized to the reservists and those who were looking forward to the exhibition, saying, ″As this exhibition was prepared over a long time, this decision is very disappointing and heavy-hearted for us as well.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In the 34th season of ″I am SOLO,″ which aired on ENA and SBS Plus, the ″Large Family Special″ featuring contestants with three or more siblings began. As a result of the first impression selection, Sunja and Hyunsook each received three votes, drawing attention among the contestants. In this 34th season, Youngsoo appeared first and revealed that he is the youngest of eight siblings with seven older sisters, sharing that there is an 18-year age gap between him and his eldest sister. Youngsoo talked about growing up in a large family, saying, ″There are seven sisters, two parents, and me, making ten people.″ He added, ″Since I was a baby, I constantly heard things like ’You have to succeed’ and ’You must be filial to your parents,’″ and ″With seven sisters and one son, I was like a servant, a servant! I worked in the fields since elementary school.″ Among the single men, Youngho is the eldest of three siblings, while Youngsik and Kwangsoo are the youngest with two older sisters each. Youngchul, who grew up between two older sisters and a younger sister, said, ″It feels like being pulled up from above and lifted from below,″ and added, ″Because I was close with my sisters, I think I understand better where women get upset or hurt.″ Sangcheol, the second child with an older brother and a younger sister, revealed that he works at an S semiconductor manufacturing company. The family backgrounds of the single women also attracted attention. Youngsook is the youngest of eight sisters, with more than a 20-year age gap from her eldest sister. She mentioned that her niece is about to get married and have a baby, saying, ″I haven’t even gotten married, but I’m going to become a great-aunt.″ She also shared a story about preparing for marriage in the past but breaking up with her partner because her parents opposed it, saying, ″You have to follow the order.″ Jungsook visited the hospital on the day of her entry due to a hand fracture but still participated in the filming. She said, ″The doctor said it needs surgery to fix it, but I really wanted to participate, so I came.″ Jungsook is the second child between an older sister and a younger brother, describing herself as ″the ’Reply 1988 Duk-seon’ position at home,″ explaining, ″I wear my sister’s hand-me-down clothes, and my younger brother gets new clothes...″ Sunja is the eldest of four siblings, with a 10-year age gap from the youngest. She shared her experience of taking care of her younger siblings, saying, ″I changed diapers and took them to kindergarten.″ Youngja is also the eldest with two younger brothers, revealing that she is a sixth-year Korean medicine doctor and has dated a college student 10 years younger. Oksun is the second child with an older sister and a younger brother, while Hyunsook is the eldest with a younger sister and brother. After all the contestants gathered, the production team announced that this season is the ″Large Family Special.″ Youngsook said, ″I said I didn’t want to participate if it was the ’Large Family Special,’″ adding, ″If the person in charge is here, I might file a slight complaint later...″ However, as dormitory life began, Youngho showed thoughtful behavior by bringing water to the single women and adjusting the air conditioner temperature, leading Youngsook to say, ″At first, I wanted to complain because it was the ’Large Family Special,’ but now that I’m here, it seems okay. I think I can try.″ In the first impression selection, Youngsoo, Youngsik, and Kwangsoo, all youngest siblings with older sisters, chose Sunja, the eldest daughter, while Youngho, Youngchul, and Sangcheol voted for another eldest daughter, Hyunsook. Meanwhile, Youngsook, Youngja, and Oksun did not receive any votes. Jungsook was absent during the first impression selection due to her hospital visit for her hand injury. Upon arriving at the dormitory, Sunja took the lead in room assignments and grocery shopping, carefully checking items and prices at the market with Youngchul and Kwangsoo. Youngho showed a caring side by bringing water to the single women and adjusting the air conditioner temperature. Toward the end of the broadcast, five single women—Youngsook, Oksun, Sunja, Youngja, and Jungsook—named Youngho as their top choice among the men they liked. The following preview showed the contestants introducing themselves and hinted at changing relationships centered around Youngho and Youngchul. Meanwhile, the broadcast recorded viewership ratings of 2.0% on the ENA channel and 1.8% (1.780%) on SBS Plus, based on Nielsen Korea’s nationwide paid platform household ratings.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWS (Shinyu, Dohun, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin) has temporarily concluded the journey of their self-produced variety show ″TWS″ and begun preparations for a comeback. On the 6th, TWS released behind-the-scenes footage of their self-produced variety show ″TWS″ on their official YouTube channel. This video includes unaired content from the show that met with fans every Tuesday since June, showcasing the members’ cheerful chemistry and variety skills. The released behind-the-scenes video introduced various moments from the filming set that were not seen in the main episodes. It featured several episodes such as the freestyle five-line acrostic poem in the ″Cy Company″ segment, mafia game deduction in the ″Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom″ segment, and flirting scenes in the ″Transfer Roommate″ segment. Through this video, TWS shared their thoughts: ″We were happy to try experiences we wouldn’t have easily attempted through ’TWS.’ We always looked forward to the moments of filming.″ They added, ″We are proud to have well-executed the concepts we wanted to try and the appearances that 42 (our fandom name) wanted to see.″ They also stated, ″We look forward to the future of ’TWS.’ We hope viewers and 42 will continue to watch over us.″ Covering various themes such as ″Flying Yoga,″ ″Personal Color Diagnosis,″ ″Short Drama Challenge,″ and ″Horror Experience,″ ″TWS″ showcased TWS’s unique style by challenging new concepts each episode, including situational skits set in a company and school, highlighting the members’ natural variety skills and chemistry. Additionally, at the end of the videos, the members participated in a campaign to find missing children, contributing to social value. Meanwhile, after spending about five months with fans through ″TWS,″ TWS will take a short break and resume music activities by releasing their second single album ″TO US″ on November 2.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS is presenting its own variety content, ’Run BTS 2.0,’ in connection with the world tour. At 8 p.m. on the 6th, BTS released the episode ’BTS in Toronto’ through its official YouTube channel and Weverse. This episode is a new video released about four months after the company dinner in San Jose, California, last June. Various behind-the-scenes stories related to the tour schedule of ’BTS WORLD TOUR ’ARIRANG’’ will be featured in ’Run BTS 2.0’ going forward. ’BTS in Toronto’ shows the members enjoying an autumn picnic in Toronto during the world tour schedule. The members shared memories of picnics in the park and spent a relaxing time eating sushi pizza, which can only be tasted locally. The members also played a game of passing a towel while singing ’Hooligan,’ ’Daechwita,’ and ’Seven (feat. Latto).’ In the balance game, they showcased their variety skills by acting out and debating topics such as ’Getting bitten by a mosquito between the eyebrows VS on the soles of the feet.’ Meanwhile, BTS began its South American tour on the 2nd and 3rd at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, Colombia, performing for about 100,000 spectators over two days.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Bak Chang Geun appeared on stage at the ’2026 Korea Geochang Garden Healing Expo’ held in Geochang, Gyeongnam. On the 7th, Bak Chang Geun posted photos of the expo performance on their SNS. The photos showed Bak Chang Geun holding a microphone and singing on stage. They performed a congratulatory stage at the opening ceremony of the expo held on the 2nd at the Geochang Changpo Garden lawn square. The ’2026 Korea Geochang Garden Healing Expo’ took place from the 2nd to the 6th at the Geochang Changpo Garden area. This expo, themed ’Re : Bloom Geochang,’ featured various contents such as the Korea Garden Show, Garden Industry Exhibition, conferences, flea markets, and garden healing programs. Meanwhile, Bak Chang Geun was the final winner of TV Chosun’s ’Tomorrow’s National Singer.’]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ATEEZ(ATEEZ, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, Jongho) will make a comeback on November 13 with their new album ″GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6.″ KQ Entertainment announced ATEEZ’s comeback schedule by releasing a spoiler video on their official SNS channels at midnight on October 8. The video attracted attention by featuring surreal scenes centered around a ship, a symbol of ATEEZ. The video showed a ship reflected on a frozen monitor, a skull placed in front of it, and a giant ship appearing in an everyday space, creating a unique atmosphere. The phrase ″CRASH TO BEGIN,″ released along with the video, was impressive. This phrase conveyed a mood suggesting that a powerful collision will lead to a new beginning. ATEEZ’s 14th mini-album ″GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5,″ released last June, achieved their third No. 1 on the US Billboard main album chart, the ″Billboard 200.″ It set a personal record with 223,000 album sales in its first week in the US and entered the ″Billboard 200″ top 10 for the ninth time overall. The title track ″BAD″ took first place without any music show appearances even after official promotions ended. Additionally, it topped SBS’s ″Inkigayo″ for two consecutive weeks in September, continuing its long-term success. ATEEZ’s new album ″GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6″ is scheduled to be released at 2 PM on November 13.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lim Young Woong and the fan club ’Hero Era’ have completed the first phase of the creation of ’Lim Young Woong Forest No. 3’ through Melon’s eco-friendly project ’Sootrimming.’ This third forest was established following Forest No. 1 on October 18, 2023, and Forest No. 2 on September 23, 2024. The first phase of Forest No. 3 was carried out from April 6 to April 10, 2026, using the second round of donations. The entire forest will be developed sequentially from the second to the fifth rounds of donations, depending on the available land area. Forest No. 3 is larger in scale than the previous Forests No. 1 and No. 2 and will be completed through the first and second phases of work. After the first phase, structures and trees will be reinforced to establish it as a representative forest.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS V is actively experiencing local culture in Peru, attracting attention from local media and government agencies. V revealed in communication with fans that ″the place I want to see the most is Machu Picchu,″ which was extensively covered by Peru’s leading daily newspaper El Comercio. V’s interest in Machu Picchu dates back to 2020 when he answered a fan’s question saying he definitely wanted to visit, and it was also mentioned in the past on the BTS reality program. Upon arriving in Peru, V interacted with local fans and posted the Peruvian greeting ″Qué fue, causa?″ on social media, drawing attention. This expression is a local greeting used among friends, and Latina Television separately reported on V learning Peruvian slang from Peruvian fans. Additionally, V tasted ceviche, seafood dishes, and Peruvian desserts, sharing that the sweet potatoes served with ceviche were especially delicious. This news was reported by Peru’s state news agency Andina and radio broadcaster RPP. Content utilizing BTS and V’s visit to Peru was also released on official SNS accounts of government agencies such as the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) and the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI). Ahead of BTS’s first concert in Peru, the Santiago de Surco district in Lima named a local road ’BTS Avenue’ until the 11th, and purple lights were turned on at major landmarks. BTS will hold world tour ’ARIRANG’ performances at Lima’s Estadio San Marcos on the 7th and from the 9th to the 10th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 SUNG HANBIN has revealed some tracks from his first solo album, ’DEAD:ALIVE.’ The Live Label showcased a highlight medley video of SUNG HANBIN’s first EP, ’DEAD:ALIVE,’ on their official YouTube channel on the 7th. The video is approximately 3 minutes and 23 seconds long and features parts of a total of eight tracks. It includes various songs such as the title track ″Undead,″ ″Killin Me,″ ″Insidious,″ and ″Flash.″ ’DEAD:ALIVE’ is an album that depicts the process of growing into a new self by breaking the limits that confined oneself despite fear. The title track ″Undead″ centers on strong willpower and conveys the message in its lyrics: ″No matter what pain and trials, if it is for you and me, I will gladly accept them.″ SUNG HANBIN’s first solo album, ’DEAD:ALIVE,’ will be released on the 12th at 6 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Seo In-young once again denied the ’IU assault allegation’ surrounding her. Recently, Seo In-young released a video on her YouTube channel ’Reformed Seo In-young’ featuring singer Baek Ji-young. In the video, Baek Ji-young mentioned the time when the two were perceived as having strong images, saying, ″We never bullied juniors.″ Seo In-young then addressed the rumor that she had taken IU to the bathroom and assaulted them, expressing her frustration by saying, ″Why would I hit them?″ She also emphasized that she was ″not close with IU,″ denying the assault allegation. This rumor has been mentioned several times in the past on various broadcasts. In 2011, on MBC’s variety show ’Radio Star,’ the host directly asked IU about the rumor, and IU replied, ″That never happened.″ IU explained that early in their career, they were shy and had trouble greeting seniors properly, which caused misunderstandings. In 2013, Seo In-young stated on MBC’s ’Knee-Drop Guru,’ ″I never called IU to the bathroom,″ adding, ″I swear I never dragged them to the bathroom, and I didn’t see IU much at that time. We didn’t have many conversations.″ She further explained, ″IU was a very young junior, and I had no reason to scold them.″ Seo In-young also denied the rumor in broadcasts in 2021 and 2022, saying, ″I never took IU to the bathroom, nor did I hit them.″ Recently, she reiterated through her YouTube channel that there was no assault incident between her and IU. Meanwhile, Seo In-young debuted in 2002 as a member of the group Jewelry and also pursued a solo career. She paused her activities after a controversy involving profanity during the filming of a JTBC variety show in 2017, but has recently been communicating with fans by sharing stories from her Jewelry days and past activities through her YouTube channel. In May, she attended the YouTube FanFest Korea event, and in August, she performed her hit songs on the stage of ’Waterbomb Sokcho 2026.’]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 CLOSE YOUR EYES(CLOSE YOUR EYES, Clua·JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, JANG YEOJUN, KIM SUNGMIN, SONG SEUNGHO, Kenshin, SEO KYOUNGBAE) recorded their highest first-week sales with over 710,000 copies of their fourth mini-album ’256th Note.’ The album entered the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart at number 62, ranking third highest among K-pop artists on the chart. The pre-release track ’Open Your Eyes’ peaked at number 35 on the Melon Latest Release Chart, while the title track ’Drop That!’ achieved a higher position at number 26 on the same chart. ’Drop That!’ reached number 78 on the Melon HOT100 chart and climbed to number 3 on the Bugs real-time chart. This marked CLOSE YOUR EYES’s first entry into the top 5 of the Bugs real-time chart since their debut. On the Bugs daily chart, it peaked at number 56. The music video ranked 24th on YouTube’s daily popular music video chart, and the dance practice video reached 28th place. Meanwhile, CLOSE YOUR EYES’s cumulative album sales surpassed 1.9 million copies according to Hanteo Chart. Currently, CLOSE YOUR EYES is continuing promotions with ’Drop That!’]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Jang Min-ho’s fan club, ’Minho Special Forces,’ donated 30 million won to Good Neighbors to support children from at-risk families in Korea. On the 8th, Good Neighbors announced that the fan club of Jang Min-ho, the MC of ’Trot Champion,’ had delivered a donation to help children from at-risk families. This donation was made following the introduction of stories about children from at-risk families in Korea during the Chuseok special episode of ’Trot Champion’ aired on the 24th of last month. At that time, Jang Min-ho said on the broadcast, ″Please show much interest and support so that children can freely dream and grow up healthy.″ Following Jang Min-ho’s message, fan club members voluntarily participated in fundraising, collecting 30 million won and delivering it to Good Neighbors. The donation will be used to support children from at-risk families in Korea, including those introduced on the broadcast. The special episode also featured Namjin, Park Ji-hoo, Choi Soo-ho, Lee Suyeon, Yoo Ji-woo, and others who participated in sharing. Park Ji-hoo supported Bo-jeong, who has a rare disease and disability, through the ’White Whale’ stage, while Choi Soo-ho performed ’Old Photo Album’ for Seong-jun. Choi Soo-ho urged viewers to ″become strong guardian angels for the children.″ Additionally, in the donation special ’Plus Stage,’ combining pre-votes from Celeb Champ and judges’ scores, Choi Soo-ho took first place, and 1 million won was donated to Good Neighbors in his name. Lee Tae-heon, Head of Sharing Marketing at Good Neighbors, expressed gratitude to Jang Min-ho’s fan club Minho Special Forces and the fans, stating, ″We will do our best to ensure that children can grow up as healthy members of society in a safe environment.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 November 26&27: Presenting Hit Songs Like 'Bonfire' and 'Endless Road'Yonsei University Concert in 2024 Sold Out... Tickets Open October 8Park In-hee will meet fans who have loved her music for a long time by holding a solo concert at Ewha Womans University ECC Samsung Hall in November. The concert, titled 'Singing Poet Park In-hee,' will be held at Ewha Womans University ECC Samsung Hall on November 26 at 7 PM and November 27 at 6 PM. /Concert Garden[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Singer Park In-hee will meet fans who have loved her music for a long time by holding a solo concert at Ewha Womans University ECC Samsung Hall in November.Park In-hee will hold the concert 'Singing Poet Park In-hee' at Ewha Womans University ECC Samsung Hall on November 26 at 7 PM and November 27 at 6 PM. This performance will feature a stage where songs and poems blend, presenting Park In-hee's representative songs such as 'Bonfire,' 'Dear Person,' 'Wanderer,' 'Endless Road,' and 'Poplar Tree,' along with her poems.Debuting in 1969 as part of the co-ed folk duo Two A Mua, Park In-hee established herself as a representative voice of 1970s Korean folk music, working as a solo singer, singer-songwriter, and radio DJ. She gained public affection under the name 'Singing Poet' by presenting songs and poems together.After leaving for the United States in 1981 and disappearing from the public eye for a long period, Park In-hee returned to the stage in 2016 after 35 years. Since then, she has continued to communicate with fans and hold performances. Her 2024 Yonsei University concert recorded a sold-out status, receiving enthusiastic attention.This concert is an opportunity to re-listen to Park In-hee's representative songs while also encountering stories of the past and present through her poems and music. Concert Garden, the organizer of the performance, stated, "This is a concert where you can experience Park In-hee's songs and poems, loved for a long time, on one stage," adding, "It will be a meaningful time for the audience who remember Park In-hee's music beyond the years."Tickets for the 'Singing Poet Park In-hee' concert will be available on October 8 at 1 PM through Ticketlink.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 in BANGKOK' AddedFirst Solo Concert in BangkokSinger and actor T.O.P will hold the brand tour 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 in BANGKOK' in Bangkok, Thailand on the 24th. / TOPSPOT PICTURES[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Singer and actor T.O.P is continuing the heat of his brand tour in Bangkok, Thailand.His agency TOPSPOT PICTURES announced on the 8th, "T.O.P will additionally hold 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 in BANGKOK' in Bangkok, Thailand on the 24th. This is the first time T.O.P is holding a solo concert in Thailand."The 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026', which began in Hong Kong and Taipei in August, is receiving high support from global fans, with the Taipei concert selling out and an additional performance being scheduled. T.O.P plans to continue this momentum by holding an additional concert in Bangkok.Furthermore, T.O.P has included the phrase 'AND MORE' on the tour poster that was released along with the announcement, raising expectations for potential performances in more countries and cities.'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026' is an interactive stage where the audience actively participates in deciding and shaping the content of the performance, rather than simply watching the artist's prepared stage as is common. The process of T.O.P and fans exchanging ideas and creating results together becomes the core of the performance.The title 'PRE-STUDIO' also reflects this direction. In previous performances, the audience directly chose the songs they wanted to hear and fan-created content to be featured on stage through pre-voting, and the 'TOPSX Archive' corner, where fans' created arrangements and artwork were appreciated with T.O.P, received great acclaim.After the Bangkok concert, T.O.P will continue to meet with fans in Tokyo on November 6th and Kaohsiung on December 19th. Details about 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026' can be found on T.O.P's official social media.Meanwhile, T.O.P began a public relationship with actress Nana, a former member of the group After School, on the 2nd. The two grew closer while filming the music video for the title track 'OMG!' from T.O.P's first solo full-length album 'ANOTHER DIMENSION' and developed into a couple.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The 'Mi' in Kyungmi, Youngmi, and Jeongmi... 'Emotional Ballad' inspired by familiar names'Jongihak' 'Amor Fati' Lyrics by Lee Kun-woo, Composition by Cocktail Sarang, Kim Sun-minJang Hanbyul is once again targeting fans' hearts with the new song 'Miya' ahead of their first solo concert. 'Miya' is a title inspired by the friendly way of calling 'Mi', the last syllable of names commonly found around us like Kyungmi, Youngmi, and Jeongmi, and it is an emotional ballad song. /THE FACT DB[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Singer Jang Hanbyul is once again targeting fans' hearts with the new song 'Miya'.Jang Hanbyul will release the new song 'Miya' at noon on the 12th. 'Miya' is a title inspired by the friendly way of calling 'Mi', the last syllable of names commonly found around us like Kyungmi, Youngmi, and Jeongmi, and it is an emotional ballad song. The new song, released ahead of their first solo concert, holds special meaning for Jang Hanbyul.In particular, this song was completed through the collaboration of a production team that raises anticipation with their names alone. Lee Kun-woo, Kim Sun-min, and Choi Jae-eun joined forces through the project team 'Magic Flute' for the lyrics. Lee Kun-woo is considered one of Korea's leading hit lyricists, having created numerous hit songs such as 'Jongihak', 'Nalgae Irheun Cheonsa', and 'Amor Fati'. Kim Sun-min was in charge of composition. Kim Sun-min is also a composer who has created hit songs, including 'Cocktail Sarang' by 'Maronnier' and recently 'Hu' by Jo Hang-jo.Above all, Kim Sun-min is known to have recognized Jang Hanbyul's potential from the time he competed on MBN's 'Moomyeong Legend'. The connection from that time eventually led to the new song 'Miya' for Jang Hanbyul, further increasing anticipation for this song.Jang Hanbyul's recent activities have been on a steep upward trend, to say the least. He garnered attention as a strong dark horse on MBN's male vocal survival show 'Moomyeong Legend', finishing in the TOP3 and firmly establishing his name and talent in the public eye.The upward trend did not stop after the competition. After expanding his presence through various broadcasts and stages, he even won first place on KBS2's 'Immortal Songs', proving both his vocal prowess and public appeal. Recently, he also confirmed his public influence numerically by ranking 10th in the singer brand reputation for September 2026.Most notably, the growth of his fandom is remarkable. His fan meeting in July sold out all tickets within one minute of release, and his first solo concert under his own name also sold out all seats within two minutes of ticket opening. 'THE STAR IS BORN', originally scheduled for two performances on October 31st, was expanded to a total of three performances, including an additional show on November 1st, due to strong requests.The dark horse who showed potential in 'Moomyeong Legend' has now grown into a star filling concert halls with his own name.At the center of this is the new song 'Miya'. Vocalist Jang Hanbyul, discovered through the competition, is now entering a phase of meeting fans and the public with his own music. Attention is focused on whether the ballad 'Miya', created by hit lyricists and composers for Jang Hanbyul's voice, will become another turning point in his musical journey ahead of his first solo concert.From a dark horse in 'Moomyeong Legend' to a star with a strong fandom, and finally the protagonist of his first solo concert under his own name, Jang Hanbyul's next chapter unfolds with 'Miya'.eel@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Announcing wedding news via handwritten letterSinger and broadcaster Yujeong, formerly of the group LABOUM, is getting married. / Yujeong's social media[THE FACT|Choi Hyun-jung] Yujeong, a singer and broadcaster formerly of the group Laboum, is getting married.Yoo Jung announced her wedding news this winter on the 8th, sharing wedding photos along with a handwritten letter on her social media.Through this, Yujeong said, "I left a handwritten letter when I finished my LABOUM activities in September 2021, and I am writing a letter again after 5 years," and "I am getting married this coming winter." In addition, the released wedding photos show her happy with her future husband, and she is receiving many congratulations from fans.He added, "I met a wonderful person who makes me feel loved every day, someone who makes me feel comfortable and secure when I'm with them. Now, I plan to spend the rest of my life with them. We've been preparing for our wedding at our own pace over the past year, and I'm happy to share this news."Yoo Jung added, "Thanks to the support of many people, I was able to bravely start a new chapter in my life. I would be very grateful if you could support my new life with warm hearts. I will also work hard to show you a better side of myself. I look forward to your continued support."Yujeong, who debuted in the music industry in 2009 as a member of the female ballad duo Avenue, rejoined the group LABOUM in 2014 after the duo disbanded, making her debut again. LABOUM also produced hit songs such as 'Imagination Plus' and 'Hwi Hwi,' and Yujeong, as a member, received much love.After his contract ended, he embarked on a solo career and is currently active as an MC on the Defense TV show 'Wimoon Yeolcha' and TBN Korea's 'TBN Project'.Yoo Jung personally announced her marriage news to fans via a handwritten letter. / Yoo Jung social mediaHere is the full statement from Yoo Jung.Hello. It's Yujeong.In September 2021, after concluding my 7-year contract and ending my activities with 'LABOUM', I left you a handwritten letter. It's already been 5 years since I'm writing to you again like this.How have you all been?Five years passed by surprisingly quickly.Since 2022, I have continued my precious connection with our soldiers by hosting the TV show 'Wimoon Yeolcha,' which is like a family program to Laboum, and I have also met listeners as a radio special DJ, released music, traveled a lot, which I couldn't do in my 20s, and had time to learn to relax by achieving my small dream of living alone.As I accumulated new experiences one by one, I was gradually building a more solid life for myself.And today, I have another piece of news to share with you all.This coming winter, I'm getting married.Now, I've met a wonderful partner with whom I'll spend the rest of my life, and I plan to move forward together.I met a wonderful person who cherishes me like a daughter, makes me feel loved every day, and makes me feel comfortable and secure when I'm with them, even though I always thought I was living bravely on my own.Over the past year, we have been slowly and steadily preparing for our wedding at our own pace, and now we are happy to share this news with you.The sincere and warm words from many of you, "I hope you meet a good person now and become even happier," have remained in my heart for a long time.Thanks to that support, I feel like I was able to bravely start a new chapter in my life.I would be truly grateful if you would support my new life with your warm hearts, just as you supported my new beginning five years ago.I will also live diligently as I am now and strive to meet you with an even better appearance. I look forward to your continued support.Wishing you good health always, and may your days be filled with happiness.Thank you.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]laugardagr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Original member of the heavy metal band that flourished in the 80sPark Young-chul, the vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Syndrome, has passed away at the age of 61. / Black Syndrome Facebook[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Park Young-chul, the vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Syndrome, has passed away at the age of 61.According to the Hanil Hospital Funeral Hall in Dobong-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, Park Young-chul passed away on the night of the 6th, and his wake has been set up in Room 2 here.Park Young-chul was an original member who formed Black Syndrome in 1986 with guitarist Lee Byung-doo, bassist Lee Sung-yeol, and drummer Kim Wook.Black Syndrome began its activities by releasing its first full-length album 'Fatal Attraction' in 1988 and led the golden age of domestic heavy metal in the 1980s along with Sinawe, Boohwal, Baekdusan, and H2O.Park Young-chul, who had left the band for a while in the 90s, rejoined Black Syndrome in 2000 and resumed his activities. He also released the ninth full-length album '9th Gate' in 2001 and the tenth full-length album 'Episode', which was also the 30th-anniversary album of the band's formation, in 2018.The funeral will be held at 2 PM on the 8th, and the interment will be at the Seoul Metropolitan Crematorium.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 2nd, 'Uncommon Girl' released.. Block B remakeExpanding 'Yena-core' smartly instead of repeatingYENA released the digital single 'Uncommon Girl' on the 2nd. It reinterpreted the song of the same name, included in boy group Block B's fourth mini-album 'HER' released in 2014. The photo shows her attending the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' in September. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] As difficult as it is to create one's own color is not to be trapped by that color. YENA completed the so-called 'Yena-core' through 'Nemo Nemo' and 'Catch Catch' this year. And the moment she showed what she does best, she took a step in a slightly different direction.The digital single 'Uncommon Girl' (Feat. Nauen Young), released by YENA on the 2nd, is therefore interesting. Compared to YENA's recent image, which seemed to have jumped out of a cartoon or animation, she has toned it down considerably. Many of the devices of 'Yena-core', which densely filled the music and visuals, have also been removed. Yet, when you listen to the song, it's strangely YENA. The familiar YENA is wearing unfamiliar clothes.'Uncommon Girl' reinterprets the song of the same name, included in boy group Block B's fourth mini-album 'HER', released in 2014. The original song was a sweet pop rap that contained a man's active courtship of an attractive woman. The YENA version flips that gaze. The person who was described as an 'uncommon girl' by someone now becomes the narrator and defines herself as such.If the original song had the male saying, "You're not an ordinary girl," this time YENA says, "I am not an ordinary girl." The chorus, which in the original song complained about being tired while looking at the attractive woman, has also changed subjects to something like, 'You're tired because I'm pretty.''Uncommon Girl' differs from the starting point of a simple remake where a man's song is sung in a woman's key. As a result, despite being a remake, there is a wide scope for YENA to play.With rapper Nauen Young, who gained attention on Mnet's 'Show Me The Money 12', participating as a featured artist, the original song's one-sided courtship has turned into a push-and-pull conversation between a man and a woman. YENA knows her charm well but playfully steps back from cheesy expressions, while Nauen Young is the younger man who actively approaches her. At this point, YENA's strengths shine.YENA's weapon is her ability to turn characters into songs. This continues in 'Uncommon Girl'. However, the difference is that while 'Nemo Nemo' and 'Catch Catch' were new worlds filled with all sorts of devices, 'Uncommon Girl' is much closer to an everyday romantic comedy. The photo shows her at the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS'. /Reporter LEE SAEROMThe most powerful weapon YENA has built up through her solo activities is her ability to turn characters into songs, more so than any specific genre. In 2022, she showed bright, playful, and confident energy with 'SMILEY' and has since explored her range across rock, pop, and emotional music. The process of this taking a clear form was 'Nemo Nemo' in 2024.Intuitive lyrics expressing the rough edges of each other discovered through love as 'nemo' (square) shapes, millennium-inspired electronic sounds, and cartoon-like visuals combined with hand gestures forming squares, all merged music and character.'Catch Catch' refined this further. Repetitive melodies, instantly memorable point choreography, high-saturation colors, and a world closer to animation than reality moved together. Thus, 'Yena-core' is not just a cute concept, but YENA's unique way of embodying exaggerated expressions, fast energy, and quirky, confident attitudes through music, performance, and visuals.This method exploded. 'Catch Catch' connected the heat generated from short-form content to the music charts, reaching a monthly high of 7th on the Circle Digital Chart, and surpassed 100 million cumulative streams on Spotify on the 30th of last month. She expanded the scale of her activities with an Asian tour that started in Seoul in April and went through Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, followed by an encore concert in August.It would have been natural to use 'Yena-core', which created this momentum, once more. However, YENA chose a B-side track from a boy group from 12 years ago. This is where the value of 'Uncommon Girl' lies.In the new version, YENA's signature bright and light tone, and her playful way of delivering words, are still present. Her cheeky attitude of declaring "I am an uncommon girl" also aligns with the character YENA has shown in 'Nemo Nemo' or 'Catch Catch'. Making cheesy lines shameless yet lovable is an area where YENA particularly excels.On the other hand, the way it is packaged is distinctly different. While 'Nemo Nemo' and 'Catch Catch' were new worlds filled with all sorts of devices, 'Uncommon Girl' is much closer to an everyday romantic comedy. Instead of a character dominating the entire screen alone, she converses and plays push-and-pull with the other person. Therefore, YENA's brightness, rather than exploding as before, works by reacting to the other person's words.What YENA needs now is not just to deepen her own color, but to confirm how far that color can spread, and 'Uncommon Girl' is a rather clever choice for that first experiment. The photo is a scene from the music video. /YH EntertainmentThe new version, compressed to 2 minutes and 29 seconds, is much shorter than the original 3 minutes and 11 seconds. While keeping the familiar chorus of the original song at its center, it quickly exchanges new lyrics and Nauen Young's parts. The arrangement using guitar, bass, and synthesizer was also re-composed to fit today's short and upbeat pop grammar, rather than restoring the original song.The music video also focuses on the relationship and chemistry created by the two people, rather than showing YENA's exaggerated world alone. The fact that she pre-released this song with Nauen Young at the encore concert in August already shows that character well. It's more of a continuation of the enjoyable synergy that began at the concert, rather than a next chapter.Therefore, the format of a digital single is appropriate. A single-song remake single allows for trying out different aspects without pressure. There is no reason to discard the color, nor is there a need to stay in it.Above all, this song conversely shows the essence of 'Yena-core'. Even when the high-saturation sets, animated settings, and relentlessly fast-paced concepts are removed, YENA's unique tone, expressions, cheeky confidence, and her ability to digest a song like a character are felt. This proves that YENA herself, not the various devices, is the center of 'Yena-core'.What YENA needs now is not just to deepen her own color, but to confirm how far that color can spread, and 'Uncommon Girl' is a rather clever choice for that first experiment. In the light format of a digital single, she took a well-known song by Block B and tried out a different tone without pressure. And she did so without losing her core strengths.Viewed in this light, 'Uncommon Girl' is a song that confirms the boundaries of 'Yena-core'. At a time when 'Catch Catch' was gaining strong momentum this year, YENA did not rush to create another 'Catch Catch', but instead showed that she can utilize her established color in different genres and relationships. It is a smart expansion of 'Yena-core'.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jang Gyu-ri, who plays Jae-in, brings vitality... delicate control of tempo from teens to twentiesNext project is occult film 'Perfect House', to be released within the yearActress Jang Gyu-ri met with and held a wrap-up interview for the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands', which ended on the 4th. / Namoo Actors[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byul] Actress Jang Gyu-ri has grown once again. In 'Four Hands', she portrayed Jae-in, who spans her teens and twenties, expressing her bright and lovely side as well as a more mature manager. The experience of playing multiple ages and emotions of one character was a new challenge for Jang Gyu-ri as well.Jang Gyu-ri recently met with at the Namoo Actors building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for an interview ahead of the finale of the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands' (written by Shin Yi-won, directed by Park Hyun-seok). In the drama, she played Hong Jae-in, who grew from a violist to a manager, and shared various stories about the work and her character.'Four Hands', which ended on the 4th with its 12th episode, is a story about the friendship, love, competition, and growth of young people who meet at an arts high school filled with musical prodigies.Jang Gyu-ri played Jae-in, who stayed by Bio's (played by Song Kang) side for a long time. While the surrounding characters acted in a realistic tone, Jae-in had a uniquely bright disposition, which made her a character that carried some pressure. Jang Gyu-ri confessed, "The fact that I was the only one standing out made it more burdensome. Everyone else was realistic, but I felt like a cartoon character."Therefore, the process of matching the tone with the director was important. She explained, "The director would tone me down if it was too much, and tell me to raise it if it needed more." She also clearly differentiated between her teenage and twenties portrayals. For her teenage self, she created a cute and bright image using hairpins, while for her twenties self, she expressed a manager-like aura with suits, watches, neat hairstyles, and subtle makeup."In my teens, I had to act with a bright tone, but as I entered my twenties, I switched to a more realistic tone. I wanted to look like I belonged in the drama rather than appearing separate. Thanks to that, I think I was able to show a variety of acting in 'Four Hands'."Actress Jang Gyu-ri played Hong Jae-in in the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands', who grew from a violist to a manager, portraying both the teenage and adult versions of the character. / tvNIn understanding Jae-in, music was important to Jang Gyu-ri. She saw Bio's music, a childhood friend, as having a meaning beyond just music for Jae-in. She filled in the character's emotions by imagining backgrounds not explicitly stated in the script.Jang Gyu-ri interpreted, "Bio's music must have been music that enveloped and comforted Jae-in," adding, "She must have wanted to make others feel the comfort she received by protecting Bio's music." She viewed Jae-in's desire to discover Jeong-yo's talent early on and publicize his potential in the same light.She also did not easily define the relationship between Bio and Jae-in. Jang Gyu-ri said, "I didn't know even while acting. I kept wondering what Bio's feelings were and what (Song Kang) oppa was thinking while acting," and added, "I think Jae-in felt the same way. She doesn't seem to know exactly what her feelings are."She saw Jae-in's reaction to Bio, who spoke of parting, as closer to avoidance than certainty. She thought, "She knew it wasn't (love), but she asked while avoiding it," and continued, "Perhaps she continued the relationship thinking Bio's feelings might change. Even until the end, it might have been a feeling of avoidance."Jae-in's feelings were most clearly revealed in the scene where she angrily tells Jeong-yo to protect Bio. Jang Gyu-ri explained, "Isn't that the only scene where Jae-in gets angry? In that situation, protecting Bio was the priority, so I thought it was an action she could take," and added, "No matter how much of a conductor Jeong-yo is, I thought, 'How much must Jae-in have been to act like this?'"Regarding the much-talked-about kiss scene between Bio and Jae-in, she also shared her interpretation. Jang Gyu-ri said, "Jae-in is a character who has liked Bio for a long time," and expressed her hope, "I wanted it to be seen more as a form of CPR than a kiss between a man and a woman." Therefore, she hoped that in their relationship, more attention would be paid to Jae-in's growth rather than Bio's regret."Regardless of whether Bio regrets it or not, I think the experience of Jae-in liking someone for a long time is precious. Jae-in will also grow in her own way, so I hope people focus on that part. Whether Bio regrets it or not, Jae-in will be the same."Actress Jang Gyu-ri revealed that in the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands', while the relationship between Jae-in and Bio was important, she tried to focus a little more on Jae-in's growth. / tvNAs Jang Gyu-ri said, Jae-in's growth is not limited to love. Jang Gyu-ri cited her process of finding her own life and work as growth, saying, "There were times when Jae-in acted as if Bio was her whole life, but now she's not like that and works harder in her management job." Regarding the ending, she smiled and said, "Personally, I like happy endings, so I'm satisfied."In this work, she also took on the challenge of playing the viola herself. Although she was initially offered a double, she had a strong desire to perform it herself. She said, "I thought a scene where I play it myself, even if it's short, was essential, so I asked to get a viola and receive lessons," and revealed that she learned everything from how to hold the instrument to playing a song naturally over about two months.Her familiarity with music was also influenced by her mother. Jang Gyu-ri, whose mother was a music teacher in high school, learned piano, violin, and guitar from a young age. She shared, "She always created an environment where I could play when I was having a hard time or needed comfort," and admitted that she has actually been comforted through music.Therefore, when she first received the script for 'Four Hands', she was drawn to the story of young people growing through music, as she believed in the power of music. Above all, she was attracted to the fact that Jae-in looked at Jeong-yo's and Bio's talents without jealousy or misunderstanding and helped them be loved by the world.'Four Hands' is also significant for Jang Gyu-ri in that she experienced the various ages and emotions of a single character. She said, "That process itself feels like I've grown a little as a person," and added, "Before, I had only shown one period or one aspect of a character, but this time I showed various sides. I think I'm doing well step by step."Actress Jang Gyu-ri bid farewell to the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands' with a three-line poem. / Namoo ActorsAlthough she is steadily rising as an actress who leads projects, Jang Gyu-ri still doesn't confidently say, "I'm ready." She confessed, "I always worry and doubt if I can do well," but added, "If I'm given a role, I seem to do my best. So I hope I'm given roles," she said with a smile.She remains open to new roles in the future. Jang Gyu-ri said, "I want to try everything I haven't done before," and expressed her desire to "challenge historical dramas and roles related to my father's profession as a soldier."Her next project is already set. The movie 'Perfect House', which was filmed early on, is scheduled to be released within the year. It is particularly drawing attention as Jang Gyu-ri's first film debut and her foray into the occult genre.Finally, Jang Gyu-ri expressed her regret at parting with 'Four Hands' and her feelings for the viewers who watched it through a three-line poem. At first, she shyly said, "It's so embarrassing. Please don't use it if it's awkward," but in the end, she directly conveyed her greetings to the viewers who loved Jae-in and the drama."When watching Four Hands, I tooHeld my breath and watched, putting down my phone.Thank you for your love until now."sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Kim Jong-kwan and actors Kim Min-ha, Ju Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Shim Eun-kyung, Jeon So-young, and Kim Dong-hwi (from left) pose at the 'Day and Night for Each Other' open talk event held at the Roof Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Director Kim Jong-kwan and actors Kim Min-ha, Ju Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Shim Eun-kyung, Jeon So-young, and Kim Dong-hwi (from left) pose at the 'Day and Night for Each Other' open talk event held at the Roof Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.'Day and Night for Each Other,' which premiered as the opening film at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, deals with the relationships of people who stay in a cafe at different times.The film depicts the chance encounter between Eugene and Hyeon-oh, the quirky and sudden reunion of middle school friends Sang-mi and Young-min, the laughter-filled, sparks-flying first meeting between web novel writer Hye-jin and film director Dong-nam, and the poignant moment between idol trainee Na-kyung and her lover Jong-soo.Meanwhile, the Busan International Film Festival will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters and 31 screens in the Haeundae area, including the Busan Cinema Center.This year's film festival will feature a total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official invited films from 59 countries around the world, meeting with audiences.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Woo Do-hwan to meet with fans at BIFF outdoor stage event on the 7thSeason 3 set in the early 1990s confirmedDirector Woo Min-ho and actors Hyun Bin, Woo Do-hwan, and Jung Woo-sung (from left) pose at the outdoor stage event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Roof Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Busan=Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] 'Made in Korea' is returning with Season 3. Director Woo Min-ho has officially announced the production of the next season, hinting that the story will continue with a backdrop set in the early 1990s. Hyun Bin, who has lived as Baek Ki-tae for about three years, also expressed his special affection for the character, saying, "I still can't let go of Baek Ki-tae."On the 7th, the second day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), an open talk and outdoor stage greeting event for the Disney+ original series 'Made in Korea Season 2' was held at the Busan Cinema Center's Roof Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Director Woo Min-ho and actors Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Woo Do-hwan attended the event to discuss the work.'Made in Korea Season 2,' which concluded its 6-episode run on the 23rd of last month, is a noir drama depicting the journey of Baek Ki-tae (played by Hyun Bin), who goes on a rampage towards greater ambition 9 years later. Season 1 was released in 2025, and Season 2 depicted a deeper and more intense story with a time lapse of 9 years.Notably, Season 1 recorded the highest number of viewers among Disney+ Korean original releases worldwide and won major awards at various ceremonies, including the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Global OTT Awards, proving both its critical acclaim and popularity.What drew the most attention on this day were Director Woo Min-ho's remarks about Season 3. Director Woo, who previously likened Season 1 to "a fight between children" and Season 2 to "a fight between adults," said, "We tried to come back with a grander scale and even bigger desires," adding, "We filmed intensely with the actors and staff, but there's still a slight sense of regret. We are continuously looking towards an even bigger Season 3."Director Woo particularly heated up the venue by officially announcing the production of 'Season 3,' which fans have been eagerly awaiting. He emphasized, "A movie ends when it's released in theaters, but a series can be created in dialogue with the public, which is quite interesting. We will definitely do Season 3," drawing cheers.While being tight-lipped about specific plot details, he did hint at the historical setting. Director Woo said, "I cannot reveal the events that will occur in Season 3," but he foreshadowed, "It seems like it will be set in the early 1990s," raising curiosity about the next installment.He also shared his thoughts on the reactions of international viewers. Director Woo stated, "'Made in Korea' deals with Korea's specific political situation, and I am grateful that international viewers understood it well and found it enjoyable," adding, "I believe the essence of human desire is similar whether in Korea or abroad. I feel proud of that aspect."Actor Hyun Bin speaks at the outdoor stage event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Roof Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolHyun Bin reflected on his time playing Baek Ki-tae for about three years. He explained, "'Made in Korea' began filming in July 2024 and finished in March of this year. For an actor, it doesn't matter if it's a series or not; the joy comes from the character itself being attractive and offering room for research, even if it's just one project."He continued, "The time spent researching and playing the very attractive character of Baek Ki-tae for nearly three years felt like a dream. I still can't let go of Baek Ki-tae. It was a time when I played a good, attractive character."He also spoke about his chemistry with the other actors. Hyun Bin said, "Because we spent so much time together, I felt much freer and more comfortable while acting. I feel like they would accept anything."Jung Woo-sung emphasized the deepened emotional connection between characters in Season 2. He said, "We entered filming Season 2 with the conflict structure between characters established in Season 1. It was a time when we could comfortably build up the density and tension in emotional communication with each other."He added, "'Made in Korea' seems to be telling a story about how much individuals sacrifice in that era, and how personal freedom and thoughts operate and are sacrificed. I tried to capture how the character Jang Geon-young's values are broken down."Actors Woo Do-hwan (left) and Jung Woo-sung (from left) pose at the outdoor stage event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Roof Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolWoo Do-hwan shared his feelings about playing the more mature Baek Ki-hyun in Season 2. He said, "I felt both pressure and anticipation, but I had fun filming, trusting the director, seniors, and staff. It's thanks to the 'Made in Korea' team that Ki-hyun could grow so much."He also expressed gratitude for the global K-content craze. Woo Do-hwan said, "I am so grateful that not only our work but also K-content in general is loved so much these days. As a junior, I am thankful for the foundation laid by my seniors. I am grateful to be able to meet more audiences."Concluding the event, Hyun Bin said, "It was a happy time to make eye contact and meet with the audience," and Jung Woo-sung added, "I am glad to have had a chance to communicate. I hope you enjoy the remaining programs of the Busan International Film Festival." Woo Do-hwan, who finished his last official schedule, said, "It was meaningful to be able to make eye contact and greet you in person," concluding the stage greeting with a sense of regret.'Made in Korea,' which has set a milestone for 'K-noir,' can be watched in its entirety on Disney+.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Seong-ryeol] Actor Hyun Bin is greeting the audience after finishing the outdoor stage greeting event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' at the Cinema Center's Roof Cinema in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Woo Min-ho and actors Hyun Bin, Woo Do-hwan, and Jung Woo-sung (from left) pose at the outdoor stage greeting event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' held at the Roof Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Director Woo Min-ho and actors Hyun Bin, Woo Do-hwan, and Jung Woo-sung (from left) pose at the outdoor stage greeting event for 'Made in Korea Season 2' held at the Roof Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.'Made in Korea Season 2' is a noir drama that depicts the story of Baek Ki-tae, who moves toward greater desires, set nine years after the story of Season 1, which was released in December last year.The Busan International Film Festival, now in its 31st year, will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters and 31 screens in the Haeundae area, including the Busan Cinema Center.A total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official invited films from 59 countries around the world, will meet with audiences at this film festival.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim So-hee, formerly of the group Alice, announced that she is pregnant with her second child. On the 7th, Kim So-hee posted on her social media account, ″I’m having a second baby! By the way, I’m already five months along. Now we are a family of four,″ along with several photos and videos. The released photos and videos showed her revealing her baby bump outdoors, enjoying golf, and daily life during a trip to Japan. She also shared a shadow photo of herself and her husband, who is 15 years older, making a heart shape. Kim So-hee announced her retirement from the entertainment industry after marrying a non-celebrity businessman 15 years her senior in May 2024. The following year, she gave birth to her first daughter, and now, two years after marriage, she shared the news of her second pregnancy. Kim So-hee gained recognition as the runner-up on SBS audition program ″K-pop Star Season 6 - The Last Chance″ in 2017 and debuted the same year as a member of the girl group Alice. She has also worked as an actress.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "Beyond Warmth, a Fiery Film"... Director Kim Ji-hyun Talks About 'Jeonggane'Calf Seller Also a Focus... Theatrical Release on December 2ndDirector Kim Ji-hyun and actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Hae-joon, Ong Seong-wu, and Lee Sang-hee (from left) pose at the open talk event for the film 'Jeonggane' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Busan=Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] An open talk for the film 'Jeonggane' (directed by Kim Ji-hyun), invited to the 'Korean Cinema Today' section at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), was held on the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. Director Kim Ji-hyun, along with actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Hae-joon, Ong Seong-wu, and Lee Sang-hee, attended and shared various stories about the work.'Jeonggane' is a story about brothers Man-su (Ryu Seung-ryong) and Byeong-su (Park Hae-joon), who have lived without speaking a word to each other for 30 years, joining forces to protect the calf seller amidst a contagious disease crisis that engulfs the village.Regarding the film, Director Kim Ji-hyun introduced it as, "Family members bicker and fight when they are together, but isn't there a nobility in living together and protecting each other's sides? It's a film that subtly captures that meaning."However, the film is not entirely calm. Director Kim said, "There is more action and spectacular scenes than expected. We filmed chase scenes throughout the winter," and added, "At first, I considered the title 'Jeonggane Ranch,' but because it's not a static film, I didn't want to limit the work with a pastoral word like 'ranch'."He continued, "The family's appearance and atmosphere shown on set are also memorable. I believe those aspects are the fundamental strength of our film," and urged, "Please look forward to the scenes within the space of home, where we eventually return."Ryu Seung-ryong plays Man-su, the older brother who is gruff towards his younger brother. He introduced the character as, "A person who lives like a brother, with a deep and steadfast sincerity despite being gruff."Ryu Seung-ryong, who recently watched the film himself, said with a laugh, "My beard is noticeable and it's mine. The actors said it looked like it was filmed five years ago."Director Kim described Ryu Seung-ryong as, "An actor who embodies both fun and wit, as well as weight and seriousness. He has played various roles, but in this film, he has few lines and is taciturn, yet his presence itself evokes curiosity and intrigue."Actor Ryu Seung-ryong (left) poses at the open talk event for the film 'Jeonggane' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolPark Hae-joon plays Byeong-su, the younger brother who is prickly towards his older brother. He said, "Byeong-su is an interesting character who holds many things within him. He's someone who has never been number one and has always been in his brother's shadow. He respects his brother but also harbors a complex because of him."He recalled, "He's good at his job and has good relationships with people around him, but he's a troublemaker who feels inferior solely because of his brother. I remember acting with a carefree attitude on set."Director Kim described Park Hae-joon's charm as "quirkiness." He said with a laugh, "The actor already had a rebellious spirit within him. I think we designed the costume together to bring out that aspect."Ong Seong-wu plays Jeong-hoon, a new veterinarian in Hoengsan-gun who is sensitive to the dynamics between the two brothers. As the only outsider in the village, he is a character who observes the unfamiliar scenery along with the audience.Ong Seong-wu introduced his character as, "The only outsider who meets the villagers for the first time. So, I think I can share the feeling of seeing fresh sights with the audience through my somewhat clumsy portrayal."He also described the film as, "When I first read the script, it felt like reading a fairy tale. It had the scent of earth, warmth, richness, and a sense of longing. It was a work that made me want to become a resident of this village and be a part of it."Director Kim described Ong Seong-wu as "like a calf in our film." He praised, "This is my first time attempting dialect acting in this film. I needed bright energy, and Ong Seong-wu handled it well. He acts as a mediator between Man-su, Byeong-su, and Gyeong-eun, and he provided that bright energy on set as well."Actors Ryu Seung-ryong (left) and Park Hae-joon smile as they answer questions at the open talk event for the film 'Jeonggane' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolLee Sang-hee plays Gyeong-eun, the younger sister of Man-su and Byeong-su, adding vitality between the brothers. She explained their relationship as, "I love my two older brothers, but in different ways. I think our relationship is like a triangle, which is why it doesn't break."Director Kim described Lee Sang-hee as "an actress I can trust and use." He said, "As a director, there are parts where expressing certain lines is difficult, but when I gave those lines to Lee Sang-hee, she returned them with surprising wit and rich texture. I felt like I wanted to work with her again as an actress I can trust."The discussion at the open talk also touched upon the calf seller in the film. Ryu Seung-ryong said, "Aren't there a lot of AIs these days? However, the calf seller in our film is a real baby cow born around the time of filming. We called Jangsu a gift-like child. He's better than most actors."Park Hae-joon also added with a laugh, "The director liked it more when Jangsu appeared than when the actors did. Seeing him caress the monitor, I naturally thought, 'I'm less than a cow.'"Director Kim also shared an update on Jangsu's well-being. He said, "After filming, we went back, and the owner and his son who raised Jangsu came. They said he's living longer than a cow's natural lifespan and is living up to his name, Jangsu (meaning longevity)."Actor Ong Seong-wu (left) and Lee Sang-hee look at the audience at the open talk event for the film 'Jeonggane' held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolTalk then moved to memorable scenes in the film. Ryu Seung-ryong said, "There's a scene where Man-su and Byeong-su, who were fighting so much, embrace each other completely naked. That scene is memorable."Park Hae-joon then piqued curiosity by saying, "Besides the scene where the two hug, there's also a scene where the senior actor is naked alone." He added, "The image of steam rising from his body in the cold weather was so cool. Of course, the senior actor must have suffered, but his bold performance of throwing himself into it and splashing water resulted in a visually pleasing scene."When asked what kind of film he hopes 'Jeonggane' will be for the audience, Director Kim replied, "I think it's a film that goes beyond warmth to become fiery. We all live in relationships, don't we? I hope that by watching the film, people will reflect on the meaning of 'companionship' with everyone around them, including their family."Finally, Park Hae-joon urged, "Some might wonder what's interesting about two brothers raising cows in the countryside, but this film is very spectacular and tightly paced. It's a film you can enjoy thoroughly, so please show it a lot of interest. Please come and see it a lot on December 2nd."Ryu Seung-ryong said, "This is a film we've been eagerly anticipating for a long time. I think many people will encounter a precious story where cows resolve conflicts that cannot be expressed in words. I believe it's a beautiful poem and a fairy tale. I hope you will definitely watch the movie and take many precious and beautiful things to heart."Director Kim Ji-hyun stated, "It's a film with various flavors. It contains bromance, cute and precious beings, fun, and meaning. I believe you can experience a variety of experiences that you can get at the cinema. We ask for your love for 'Jeonggane,' which was made with sincerity by good people."'Jeonggane' will be released in theaters on December 2nd.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Asian Cinema Competition Section InvitationDirector: "I want to discuss various forms of happiness through my work."Shuhua, who is making her screen debut with "All We Imagine as Light," said, "It's an honor to be at a major film festival with my first work. I'm curious to see how the audience will watch the film and what their reactions will be." The photo shows her walking the red carpet at the "31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)" held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 6th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Busan=Reporter Park Ji-yoon] SHUHUA visited the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) not as a member of the group (G)I-DLE, but as an actress. She is filling pages with unforgettable first moments, discussing happiness with the audience through her screen debut film, "All We Imagine as Light."A press conference for the film "All We Imagine as Light" (Director Pema Tseden), officially invited to the Asian Cinema Competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), was held on the afternoon of the 7th at the BIFF Hill of the Busan Cinema Center. Director Pema Tseden, along with (G)I-DLE member and actress SHUHUA, Jin Sun, Chae Beom-hee, producer Clipper de Miu, and Lin Han Zhang, attended the event to answer reporters' questions and share various stories."All We Imagine as Light" is a film that depicts the story of a peaceful daily life being shaken when a stray cat appears one day to two sisters with completely different personalities. Pema Tseden, who received the Best New Director Award, the FIPRESCI Award, and the Audience Award for her first feature film "American Girl" (2021) at the Golden Horse Awards, a Chinese-language film festival, directed the film.Director Pema Tseden, who visited Busan as a tourist three years ago, expressed her unique feelings about returning as a filmmaker. She continued, "The word 'happiness' appears repeatedly in the film. I paid attention when translating it into English, but there was no perfect equivalent, so I used 'joy,' 'happy,' and 'happiness.' I wanted to discuss various forms of happiness. I believe it includes not only positivity but also contemplation, fear, and bewilderment."This is Pema Tseden's second film, released five years after "American Girl." She stated, "Many women around me are contemplating whether to get married or have children. They are intelligent and excel at their jobs, but they falter when faced with important life questions. Therefore, I wanted to portray women through the two sisters." She confidently highlighted the film's unique charm, saying, "While my previous film conveyed emotions directly, this one deals with subtle and indirect emotions.""All We Imagine as Light" is a film that depicts the story of a peaceful daily life being shaken when a stray cat appears one day to two sisters with completely different personalities. The photo shows Director Pema Tseden, actresses Shuhua, Jin Sun, and Chae Beom-hee (from left) posing at an outdoor stage greeting event for the film "All We Imagine as Light" held at the Outdoor Theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolThis film is also drawing significant attention as the debut work of (G)I-DLE member SHUHUA. She expressed her excitement, saying, "I was really nervous at first, but I felt more anticipation than nervousness. It's an honor to be at a major film festival with my first work. I'm curious to see how the audience will watch the film and what their reactions will be."In the film, Kitty is the youngest daughter with a bright and innocent personality. After encountering a stray cat, she experiences various emotions in her relationship with her sister and gradually changes. Shuhua, who plays Kitty, explained her acting focus: "I think her brave personality is similar to mine. As she was a character searching for happiness, I contemplated what happiness is, with both anticipation and concern."We were also curious about what charm of Shuhua attracted Director Pema Tseden to cast her as Kitty. She, who has been asked this question frequently, replied, "Actually, Shuhua has been acting for a long time. I believe the time she has spent with cameras is longer than the time we have spent with our families. I think she chose this role herself."Director Pema Tseden added, "Most protagonists are positive, proactive, and driven, but Kitty is not. Therefore, I thought Shuhua's personal charm could offset Kitty's wandering nature." She also mentioned, "The fact that she is actually the second of three sisters also aligns well with the film."The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held until the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center and various locations in Busan. The photo shows Shuhua delivering remarks at an outdoor stage greeting event for the film "All We Imagine as Light" held at the Outdoor Theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolUpon hearing this, Shuhua said, "As the director mentioned, I have been acting for a long time. Therefore, being conscious of the camera is not difficult. However, on stage, I have to show myself, but on screen, I have to convey many emotions through subtle expressions, so I had many concerns."Jin Sun said, "I shed tears in many scenes while reading the script. The character's situation and the problems she faced were similar to my past concerns and challenges, so I could empathize with her situation." She explained her reason for choosing the project.What was her acting chemistry like with Shuhua, with whom she played sisters? Jin Sun commented, "I didn't know much about Shuhua's idol image, so I had no preconceived notions and was able to get to know her anew. We grew closer by sharing our concerns and challenges, and this relationship further developed during rehearsals. I'm grateful that Shuhua trusted me."The 31st Busan International Film Festival, where you can see Shuhua's screen debut film "All We Imagine as Light," will be held until the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center and various locations in Busan.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jungsook from the 20th season of ″I am SOLO″ revealed that she spent over 10 million won on a marriage information company. On the 6th, Jungsook posted a video titled ″Story about spending over 10 million won on a marriage information company″ on her SNS. In the video, she explained the reason for spending over 10 million won by saying, ″It’s because I did it twice. Twice, so 10 million won.″ When asked if there were many decent people, she replied, ″Surprisingly, there are quite a lot. Many people are really busy working and have no place to meet women, so they want to be introduced to women efficiently. Wealthy people find it awkward to be introduced through their acquaintances, so they join. People who have lived abroad for a long time also join a lot because they have no one to be introduced to in Korea anymore.″ Regarding her experience with the marriage information company, Jungsook said, ″The experience itself was okay, but I regret not trying other marriage information companies. (The one I used) was structured so that I had to meet mainly people introduced by the managers. It was hard to be introduced to the kind of person I wanted.″ She added, ″I think I have to use (a marriage information company) now. If this continues, I might get older and not be able to meet men.″ When asked if she had developed the ability to find good men since she had tried it before, she said, ″There are hidden gems who are hard to meet in society. I think I could say, ’Please introduce me to such people.’″ Born in 1987, Jungsook formed a love line with Youngho during her appearance on the 20th season of ″I am SOLO″ in 2024. She earned the nickname ″Kiss Girl″ by showing a kiss without caring about other contestants on the show. She became a couple with Youngho in the final selection and continued as a real-life couple but broke up after appearing together on ″I am SOLO, Love Continues After.″ Afterward, Jungsook quit the large company she had worked at for 13 years and transitioned to being an influencer. She is taking a new path by directly engaging in group purchases and working as an advertising model. In July, she attracted attention by revealing, ″I quit the large company and earned as much as LG’s annual salary in just three days with one group purchase.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jiyeonsoo revealed her daily life with her son Minsu through her channel. On the 7th, Jiyeonsoo posted several photos on her channel along with the captions ″Busy weekend holiday,″ ″Starting a new part-time job,″ ″Minsu’s long-awaited movie viewing,″ and ″Focused even on the ending credit music after everything.″ The released photos showed Jiyeonsoo holding Minsu in her arms and posing in front of a mirror. Also included was a photo of Minsu intently watching the screen at the movie theater. Jiyeonsoo recently announced through her YouTube channel that she quit the beef soup restaurant where she worked to make a living. She said that the muscles in her right arm were completely torn and that she plans to focus on treatment for the time being. Jiyeonsoo married Elly, a former member of the group U-KISS, in 2014 and had a son, Minsu, but they divorced in 2020.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group ITZY successfully concluded the finale performance of their third world tour, ’TUNNEL VISION,’ expressing special gratitude to their fans. ITZY shared their thoughts on the tour through their official SNS with the message, ″Thank you MIDZY for all the unforgettable memories+·+ ̊♡.″ This world tour was an opportunity to directly communicate with MIDZY (the fandom name) worldwide, showcasing diverse stages and performances. The members of ITZY delivered a highly polished show filled with passionate energy until the very end. In the released stage photos, ITZY delivered a powerful performance amid the enthusiastic cheers of the audience at the concert venue, reflecting on the precious memories made together with their fans. The ’TUNNEL VISION’ tour was composed of stages that confirmed the group’s growth and musical evolution, receiving high praise. Meanwhile, even after concluding this tour, ITZY plans to continue active promotions by consistently communicating with fans through various musical activities and content.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWICE is opening a pop-up store to celebrate their 11th debut anniversary with fans. The pop-up store, titled ’TWICE THE THRILL,’ will be held from October 17 to 25 at Platz 2 in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Fans will be able to experience special moments in an exciting atmosphere. TWICE member Tzuyu raised fans’ expectations through social media, saying, ″Every moment with you is a THRILL.″ Wearing a light green off-shoulder top, a white skirt, and a pink hat, Tzuyu smiled brightly and encouraged fans to visit the pop-up store, attracting attention. This pop-up store is a special event marking TWICE’s 11th debut anniversary, aiming to provide memorable experiences through direct communication with fans. Various goods, photo zones, and diverse content from the members are prepared to offer unforgettable memories to fans. Through this event, TWICE expresses gratitude to their fans and plans to continue showcasing music and performances steadily in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWICE member Momo showcased her chic fashion sense by presenting Miu Miu’s 2027 Spring/Summer collection. Recently, Momo posted styling photos on her SNS featuring a black suit paired with a brown knit and a sky-blue shirt, tagging the brand’s official account to create a sophisticated atmosphere. In the photos, Momo caught attention with her long hair naturally down, standing against a wooden panel wall with a gentle smile. Especially, the overall look harmoniously matched with the bag she was holding, perfectly capturing Miu Miu’s unique sensibility and luxurious mood, drawing attention from the fashion world. Earlier, Momo departed for Paris, France through Incheon International Airport to attend Miu Miu’s luxury fashion show, accelerating her global activities. With this collection participation, she is solidifying her position not just as an idol but as a fashion icon. Additionally, Momo’s neat yet calm makeup and distinct facial features complemented the luxurious styling, highlighting her unique charm even more. The photoshoot released through the official SNS has become a hot topic among the fashion industry and fans. Momo plans to continue showcasing diverse charms through collaborations with various fashion brands. With this Miu Miu collection, she has once again reinforced her position as a trendy style icon, raising expectations for her future endeavors.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Hwang Shin-hye recently shared updates on her daily life through SNS, sharing small moments of happiness. She revealed several photos dressed comfortably in a gray short-sleeve T-shirt paired with pink pants. Captivating scenes included her checking her reflection in a mirror indoors and leisurely spending time holding items while looking around inside a café. In particular, a scene outdoors where she wore a gray hoodie and black pants while sitting at a table using a laptop conveyed a relaxed atmosphere under the autumn sunlight. She also expressed the feeling that each day passes quickly while watching KBS 1TV’s ″Hwang Shin-hye’s Let’s Live Together.″ Meanwhile, the episode of ″Hwang Shin-hye’s Let’s Live Together″ scheduled to air on the 7th will feature family stories spanning past and present, along with a candid moment where Hwang Shin-hye openly discusses her decision to refuse life-sustaining treatment. She plans to share her feelings of not wanting to burden her family, recalling her mother’s experience undergoing stomach cancer surgery seven years ago. Hwang Shin-hye, who conveys sincere stories both in daily life and through broadcasts, is gaining viewers’ empathy with her warm sincerity.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In episode 638 of KBS 2TV’s ″The Return of Superman,″ actress Han Da-gam’s childbirth process and her first meeting with her daughter, Chaltteok, were revealed. Before giving birth, Han Da-gam said, ″My condition is 70 out of 100,″ expressing concern by saying, ″The fetal movements have decreased yesterday and today.″ Entering the operating room, she endured the pain, saying, ″Wait a moment. My right side hurts.″ A moment later, when she heard her daughter’s cry, she showed a relieved expression, and at the moment she first faced her child, she said, ″I am a mother,″ shedding tears. MC Kim Jong-min and Lalali appeared on the broadcast that day. Kim Jong-min showed signs of nervousness while watching the childbirth process and became anxious during the surgery, saying, ″Oh, this is driving me crazy.″ He became teary-eyed at the scene where Han Da-gam met her daughter for the first time. Han Da-gam was born in September 1980 and is 46 years old. She married a non-celebrity businessman who is one year older than her in 2020, and announced her pregnancy last April, six years after marriage. On ″The Return of Superman,″ she was introduced as ″the oldest celebrity mother in the entertainment industry at 47.″ This program airs every Wednesday afternoon.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 G-Dragon (real name Kwon Ji-yong) and Yang Hyun-suk, YG Entertainment’s executive producer, were accused of copyright infringement but the police concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing. The Mapo Police Station in Seoul announced that on April 7, 2024, it dismissed the case filed by composer A against G-Dragon and executive producer Yang Hyun-suk for copyright law violations, ruling ″no charges.″ After receiving the complaint, the police investigated the parties involved and conducted two raids last year at YG Entertainment’s headquarters as part of the investigation. Composer A claimed that the song ″G-DRAGON,″ which he composed and arranged, was used without permission during G-Dragon’s 2009 solo concert, and that the live performance album released the following year, Shine a Light, included the song under the title ″My Age Thirteen.″ He also stated that his name was not credited when the song title was changed. The album contains a medley titled ″My Age Thirteen + Storm + Stylish Gentleman + G-Dragon,″ where the song composed by A is listed as ″My Age Thirteen,″ and a separate song titled ″G-Dragon,″ released in 2001 by YG producer Perry, is credited separately. In response, YG Entertainment explained that during the 2009 solo concert, to distinguish between two songs with the same title, they labeled A’s ″G-DRAGON″ as ″My Age Thirteen,″ taken from the first line of the lyrics, and there was no intention of unauthorized copying of the sound source. As the investigation prolonged, A filed a complaint in November last year through the National Police Agency’s online portal, alleging that the investigation was delayed due to the involvement of a major agency and a famous singer. The police concluded that it was difficult to see any intent by G-Dragon, Yang Hyun-suk, and others to infringe copyright.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS is holding their first concert in Lima, Peru, with various commemorative events taking place locally. BTS, a group consisting of RM, Suga, Jin, V, J-HOPE, Jungkook, and Jimin, will hold ’BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG IN LIMA’ at Estadio San Marcos in Lima on the 7th, 9th, and 10th local time. This Lima concert is the first concert held in Peru since BTS’s debut. Various events welcoming them are unfolding in downtown Lima. The Santiago de Surco district temporarily named Sacramento Street ’Avenida BTS’ and installed signs from the 5th to the 11th. At the Arco Morisco in Parque de la Amistad, a purple light show for BTS is held daily from the 5th to the 11th. Additionally, at the Fuente de la Fantasía in Circuito Mágico del Agua, a BTS themed event using music, light, and water screens is held during the same period. The official Peruvian tourism site ’Peru Travel’ introduced this Lima concert as an opportunity to promote the country’s cuisine, culture, and natural scenery, guiding visitors from around the world to travel throughout Peru. Meanwhile, before the Lima concert, BTS started their South American tour at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, Colombia, on the 2nd and 3rd, meeting about 100,000 spectators over two days. Rolling Stone en Español evaluated the concert, saying, ″BTS met expectations and exceeded them at several moments,″ calling it ″the concert a whole generation has been waiting for.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Rep. Bae Hyun-jin "No reason for the state to get involved in an event by four companies"Park Jin Young "I accept the criticism, but it's a sacrifice, not preferential treatment."Park Jin Young, co-chair of the Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture, has completely denied accusations of preferential treatment for the four major entertainment agencies. Chairman Park is answering questions at the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the afternoon of the 7th. / National Assembly = Reporter Bae Jeong-han[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] Park Jin Young, JYP Entertainment's representative producer and co-chair of the Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture, has directly refuted the controversy over preferential treatment for "Phenomenon."Park Jin Young appeared as a witness at the parliamentary audit of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 7th and stated his position on the activities of the Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture and the progress of "Phenomenon."On this day, Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party pointed out, "After JYP Entertainment filed for the trademark for 'Phenomenon' in Korea in October last year, it filed for trademarks in the United States, Japan, and Mexico for six months," adding, "Even if there was urgency at first, JYP Entertainment continued to be in charge for the subsequent five months."Rep. Bae also said, "3.7 billion won was contributed to the Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture this year, and a budget of 15 billion won is planned for next year. In the future, hundreds of billions of won will be directly and indirectly supported for 'Phenomenon,' but the state will only hold 50% of the domestic shares, while JYP Entertainment will hold all overseas shares," and announced, "It was said that it would be transferred to a dedicated corporation, but that dedicated corporation is also a joint venture composed of HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment."Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party is questioning Park Jin Young, chairman of the Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture, who appeared as a witness at the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th. / Reporter Bae Jeong-hanIn response, Chairman Park Jin Young said, "That should not happen. We intend to transfer it to a dedicated corporation," and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hyun-young said, "'Phenomenon' is currently in the process of being explored in discussion with the four major agencies. I am well aware of your concerns, but 'Phenomenon' is not a case where the four major agencies have entered into an event organized by the government for their own benefit. It is a project based on the achievements of the four major agencies, and it will not be realized if any one of them lets go. Therefore, the process may differ from the existing one. Please understand this specificity."However, Rep. Bae said that the participation of the four major agencies in "Phenomenon" itself is "preferential treatment." Rep. Bae raised his voice, saying, "In fact, if the four major agencies were to create an event together, they could just do it themselves. There is no need for the government to be involved." "Coachella's revenue is 270 billion won and its economic effect is 550 billion won. 'Phenomenon' has announced an economic effect of 1 trillion won. It is preferential treatment for the state to support this and for four companies to monopolize it."In response to Rep. Bae's criticism, Chairman Park Jin Young said, "I believe all the points you raised are valid. I will check the contract properly," adding, "The four companies participating in 'Phenomenon' can generate twice or three times the immediate profit if they perform separately. However, they participated in this by making sacrifices to create a national event with long-term ripple effects. I do not think it is correct to say that they are receiving preferential treatment."He added, "It would be good to calmly review everything and prepare well, but from the perspective of those working on the ground, the changes over the past year have been too great. Too many things have happened, and I think the trademark was obtained through abnormal methods due to haste. There was no other intention."The Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture is a presidential committee co-chaired by JYP representative producer Park Jin Young and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hyun-young.The Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture announced the "Phenomenon," a large-scale music festival and awards ceremony to be held in December 2027, and HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment will participate in "Phenomenon" by forming a joint venture.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 KBS will broadcast the live performance of ’KBS Music Bank in Barcelona.’ This stage took place on September 12 at 7:30 PM (local time) at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain. Approximately 37,000 global fans gathered on-site, filling the venue with enthusiastic cheers and Korean sing-alongs. The ’KBS Music Bank World Tour’ began in 2011 and has established itself as a major K-POP festival that directly connects K-POP artists with fans worldwide. The Barcelona performance carried the theme ″Flood of Light - COLORFUL WORLD OF K-POP,″ symbolizing the spread of K-POP’s diverse colors across the globe. K-POP representative artists such as ATEEZ, Enhypen, NMIXX, xikers, NCT WISH, CORTIS, and ALPHA DRIVE ONE appeared on stage. ALPHA DRIVE ONE reinterpreted aespa’s ″Armageddon″ in their own style, and xikers performed BTS’s ″DNA.″ ATEEZ also held an event where they personally gave signed balls to fans along with a powerful performance. The event was hosted by actor Park Bo-gum. Park Bo-gum hosted ’Music Bank’ from 2015 to 2016 and has consistently participated as an MC in various world tour stages, starting with ’Music Bank in Singapore’ in 2017, including Jakarta, Chile, Berlin, Hong Kong, Paris, Mexico, Belgium, Madrid, Lisbon, and more. In this performance, Park Bo-gum also presented a sweet duet stage with Enhypen Jay. ’KBS Music Bank in Barcelona’ will be broadcast on October 7 at 9:50 PM on KBS 2TV.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWS will release their second single, ″TO US,″ on November 2nd. Pledis Entertainment announced on the 7th the news of TWS’s new single release. The album shares the same pronunciation as the team name and is said to contain sincere stories that the members want to convey. A trailer video titled ″TWS Being Together: TO US″ was released on the official YouTube channel. This video captures the members’ unfiltered sincerity through textured footage following interviews with the members before going on stage. In the video, TWS described the moment their competitive spirit ignites as ″when I realize someone else has something I don’t.″ When asked about who they rely on the most, they mentioned ″42 (the fandom name), who supports me closest,″ and added, ″I try to believe in myself. It’s still difficult, though.″ Additionally, the members spoke about their fellow performers, saying, ″I hope to see expressions I don’t know. It would be more than just happy expressions.″ Pledis Entertainment stated, ″This new release allows you to meet the sincere stories of TWS, who have become stronger after running tirelessly through 2026,″ and added, ″Please look forward to how the experiences and growth accumulated by the six members are reflected in this single.″ This year, TWS led the ″Angtal Challenge″ craze with the title track ″OVERDRIVE″ from their 4th mini-album, and their 5th mini-album ″NO TRAGEDY″ achieved million-seller status within four days of release. They also continued their overseas activities through their first Asia tour ″24/7:FOR:YOU,″ consisting of 15 shows across 8 cities, as well as various festival stages. Meanwhile, TWS is scheduled to attend ″MMA2026,″ held at Seoul Gocheok Dome on November 14th and 15th.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Group KiiiKii recently performed the opening stage at the ’2026 Gangnam Festival K-POP Concert’ held on Dosan-daero. Composed of Jiyu, Isol, Sui, Ha-eum, and Kiya, KiiiKii started their performance with ″404 (New Era)″ and followed with various songs including ″Candy Pink Magic Hole Flip Phone (What Should I Do)″ and ″Delulu.″ For the final stage, they elevated the festival atmosphere with ″Pop Off Pop Off.″ As ambassadors of Gangnam-gu, KiiiKii communicated directly with the audience from the protruding stage and introduced Gangnam’s slogan. They stated, ″In line with the slogan, we will show a stage that makes Gangnam more energetic and makes you all have more fun,″ and Kiya shared her determination for the remaining performances with family, residents, and the audience. KiiiKii, under Starship Entertainment, has been steadily engaging in communication activities since being appointed as Gangnam-gu ambassadors last July. At the concert, KiiiKii expressed, ″It is an honor to open the stage of the Gangnam Festival as ambassadors of Gangnam-gu. We sincerely thank Tiki (official fan club name), the residents, and many K-pop fans who came to the venue and cheered for us. This will remain a truly great memory for us. We will continue to show many good sides as ambassadors of Gangnam-gu.″ Meanwhile, KiiiKii’s ″404 (New Era)″ ranked first on Billboard’s ″Top 25 K-pop Songs of 2026 (So Far): Staff Picks,″ and they received ″Artist of the Year″ and ″Song of the Year″ awards at various ceremonies. On the 9th and 11th, they are scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the ″NBA China Game 2026″ at The Venetian Arena in Macau.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 7 Production Presentation Held...Kim Ji-won to Son Hyun-ju Attend"Features Weight, Catharsis, and Humor...A 'Complete Gift Set'"Actors Son Hyun-ju, Kim Ji-won, and Lee Jung-eun Kim WooSeok(from left) attended the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' at the SBS Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, sharing various stories. /Reporter Song Ho-young[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actress Kim Ji-won donned a white doctor's coat. She's not just a doctor who performs surgeries well. She's a dark hero who uncovers the massive corruption hidden behind the hospital. It remains to be seen if Kim Ji-won, returning to the small screen after two years, can steal viewers' hearts.The production presentation for SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' (written by Pyeon Seong-geun, directed by Lee Jung-rim, hereinafter referred to as 'Doctor X') was held on the afternoon of the 7th at the SBS Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Jung-rim and actors Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, and Son Hyun-ju Kim WooSeok attended the event, highlighting the unique aspects of 'Doctor X' and encouraging viewership.'Doctor X' is a work that depicts the exploits of 'Doctor X' Gye Soo-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won), who shatters immense injustice with her genius surgical skills, knowing neither failure nor compromise. It is based on the Japanese 'Doctor X' series, which achieved mega-hits when aired on TV Asahi.Director Lee Jung-rim, who is directing the series, stated, "It is a medical noir drama," and added, "Viewers will find it entertaining as they follow the various events unfolding within the vast organization of a hospital and the story of the doctor Gye Soo-jeong, who never fails."Actress Kim Ji-won is coming to viewers with SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X'. /SBSFirst, Kim Ji-won, who plays the title role in 'Doctor X', transforms into genius surgeon Gye Soo-jeong. Returning to the small screen approximately two years after the tvN drama 'Queen of Tears' in 2024, Kim Ji-won explained, "It's a nervous and exciting return," and added, "I've spared no effort to show a new side in the medical genre."Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hee-sook, the head of the doctor dispatch agency that sends Gye Soo-jeong to Guseo University Hospital. She described Jang Hee-sook, who shares the same pain as Gye Soo-jeong and is a reliable supporter, as "a character who helps doctors with great surgical skills (doctors' hand talent) to perform good medical practices."Son Hyun-ju takes on the role of Bu Seung-kwon, the hospital director who leads Guseo University Hospital, which is stained with corruption. He is a real-life power broker who manipulates the hospital's landscape with his cool charisma. Son Hyun-ju mentioned that he once played a doctor during the era when nurses were called "nurses." He said with a laugh, "After a minor role in my rookie days, I'm returning to a doctor role after a long time," and added, "I've become a hospital director after decades."Kim WooSeok plays Park Tae-kyung, a surgical intern whose hospital life is turned upside down after meeting Gye Soo-jeong. Kim WooSeok expressed deep affection for Park Tae-kyung, who is kind and ambitious but clumsy in everything. "I experience many things while following Gye Soo-jeong," he said, "and I contemplate the true meaning of being a doctor."SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM. /SBSThe core of 'Doctor X' is the catharsis that Kim Ji-won, dressed in a doctor's coat, will bring to viewers. In particular, there is great curiosity as to whether SBS, which has consistently presented dramas with the "good triumphs over evil" (saida) genre, such as 'Chief Kim', 'The Fiery Priest', and 'Taxi Driver', will succeed in this new venture.Director Lee Jung-rim was also aware of the high expectations of viewers. He emphasized, "'Doctor X' is ultimately a medical drama," and added, "We wanted to effectively convey the power struggles within the hospital organization that viewers expect, the human stories of life and death, and the catharsis provided by the eccentric doctor."However, he also mentioned efforts to create something unique for 'Doctor X'. Director Lee Jung-rim stated, "We added noir on top of the medical drama," and explained, "We focused on the fact that a hospital is ultimately a place where people gather. We wanted to illustrate the clashes of various individuals pursuing their own beliefs and desires."Finally, they revealed the viewing points of 'Doctor X'. Director Lee Jung-rim said, "It's a medical drama that suits the emotions of Korean viewers," and expressed his expectation for "a viewership rating of 9.21% in the first week." Kim Ji-won stated, "As a medical noir genre, it has weight and catharsis, but it doesn't miss out on humor."Lee Jung-rim continued, "The appearance of the hero and the moments when the game changes will be very entertaining," and confidently declared, "It's a drama that won't fail." Son Hyun-ju also mentioned, "Various actors are appearing," and described 'Doctor X' as "like a complete gift set."SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X', consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Kim Jee-hyun and actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Hae-joon, Ong Seong-wu, and Lee Sang-hee (from left) pose at the 'Jeong Ga-ne' open talk event held at the Rooftop Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Director Kim Jee-hyun and actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Hae-joon, Ong Seong-wu, and Lee Sang-hee (from left) pose at the 'Jeong Ga-ne' open talk event held at the Rooftop Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.'Jeong Ga-ne' is a film that depicts the story of brothers Mansu and Byungsu, who have lived as enemies without speaking a word for 30 years, joining forces to protect the calf Jangsu, who was born like fate amidst a crisis that has engulfed the village.The Busan International Film Festival, now in its 31st year, will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters and 31 screens in the Haeundae area, including the Busan Cinema Center.This year's festival will feature a total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official selections invited from 59 countries around the world, meeting with audiences.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "Happy birthday, Jeonghan""Happy birthday, JEONGHAN" On the 4th, a congratulatory advertisement was placed at the Yujin Building in Yeouido to celebrate the birthday of Seventeen member JEONGHAN. /FANNSTAR[THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] Jeonghan received an unforgettable gift from his fans for his birthday.FANNSTAR revealed the billboard at the Yujin Building in Yeouido on the 4th. Jeonghan's fans achieved 'Yujin Building billboard in Yeouido' by utilizing a birthday vote in the FANNSTAR project, which has been ongoing since August 21st.The advertisement will only be displayed on the Yujin Building billboard on this day.As Jeonghan's support was successful, congratulatory messages poured in on 'FANNSTAR'. Fans left comments such as "Happy birthday, Jeonghan" and "I love you."Meanwhile, on 'FANNSTAR', fans can directly open billboard support for the artist they want. The materials used for the billboard video can be freely produced by FANNSTAR or the fandom.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "Happy birthday, JINGBURGER""Happy birthday, JINGBURGER" On the 5th, a congratulatory advertisement was placed on the AM board at Airport Railroad DMC Station to celebrate the birthday of JINGBURGER, a member of Isegye Idol. /FANNSTAR[THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] JINGBURGER received an unforgettable gift from fans to celebrate their birthday.FANNSTAR released photos of the Airport Railroad DMC Station AM board advertisement last month on the 5th. JINGBURGER's fans achieved the 'Airport Railroad DMC Station AM board' in the FANNSTAR project, which began on July 24th.The advertisement will be displayed on the AM board at Airport Railroad DMC Station, as well as on the media wall at Yongsan I'Park Mall on this day.With the success of JINGBURGER's support, 'FANNSTAR' was flooded with messages of support from fans. Fans left comments such as "Happy birthday, JINGBURGER" and "I love you."Meanwhile, on 'FANNSTAR', fans can directly open billboard support for their desired artist. The materials used for the billboard video can be freely produced by FANNSTAR or the fandom.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The more Rainbow Stars are collected, the more celebratory advertisements are posted in various locations.At 'FANNSTAR', a playground for idol fandom, a birthday project for KIM SOO CHAN is underway. /FANNSTAR[THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] "Happy Su-chan Day!"The idol weekly ranking site 'FANNSTAR' is holding a surprise support event from the 7th to celebrate KIM SOO CHAN's birthday. This is a global fan project where advertisements celebrating his birthday are posted in various locations.The KIM SOO CHAN birthday celebration project's success is confirmed by the number of Rainbow Stars (points that can be collected on the site) donated by fans. If more than 25,000 stars are collected, celebratory advertisements will be displayed.If 55,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be screened on the CM board at Hapjeong Station on the Seoul subway. If 50,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on a large digital billboard in Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan. In addition, super special gifts such as Hongdae M Screen, Jamsil large digital billboards, and Seoul bus advertisements are prepared.The event runs until November 8th, and participation is available in the 'ADs.' section on the 'FANNSTAR' homepage.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 From subway electronic billboards to bus advertisements, a wealth of gifts are prepared.The idol fandom's playground, 'FANNSTAR', is running a 22nd debut anniversary project for Kim Yong Bin starting on the 7th. /FANNSTAR[THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] "Happy Yongbin Day!"The idol weekly ranking site 'FANNSTAR' has been holding a surprise support event since the 7th to celebrate Kim Yong Bin's 22nd debut anniversary. It is a global fan project where advertisements celebrating his debut are posted in various locations.The success of the Kim Yong Bin solo debut 3rd anniversary celebration project is confirmed by the number of Rainbow Stars (points that can be collected on the site) donated by fans. If over 35,000 stars are collected, congratulatory advertisements will be displayed.If 55,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on the CM board at Hapjeong Station. If 50,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on the electronic billboards in Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan. In addition, super-special gifts such as Hongdae M Screen, Jamsil large digital billboards, and Seoul bus advertisements are prepared.The event will continue until November 18th and participation is available in the 'ADs.' section on the 'FANNSTAR' homepage.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A wealth of gifts prepared, from subway digital billboards to bus advertisements.The idol fandom's playground, 'FANNSTAR', is hosting a 36th debut anniversary project for Yang Joon-il. /FANNSTAR [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] "Happy Jun-il Day!"The idol weekly ranking site 'FANNSTAR' has launched a surprise support event since the 7th to celebrate Yang Joon-il's 36th debut anniversary. This is a global fan project where advertisements celebrating his debut are posted in various locations.The success of the Yang Joon-il 36th debut anniversary project is confirmed by the number of Rainbow Stars (points that can be collected on the site) donated by fans. If over 35,000 stars are collected, congratulatory advertisements will be displayed.If 55,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on the CM board at Hapjeong Station. If 50,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will also be shown on the digital billboards in Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan. In addition, super special gifts such as Hongdae M Screen, Jamsil Large Digital Billboard, and Seoul bus advertisements are prepared.The event will continue until November 22nd and can be participated in through the 'ADs.' corner on the 'FANNSTAR' homepage.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A wealth of gifts prepared, from subway electronic boards to bus advertisements.At 'FANNSTAR', a playground for idol fandom, a birthday project for Seventeen member WOOZI is underway. /FANNSTAR [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Ju-bin] 'FANNSTAR' has launched a birthday support for Woozi.On 'FANNSTAR', a site that delivers idol ranking information, a special event is being held for Seventeen member WOOZI on the 7th. This is a large-scale advertising project for him, who celebrates his birthday on November 22nd.The Woozi birthday project's success is confirmed by the number of rainbow stars (points that can be collected on the site) donated by fans. The more stars collected, the more celebratory advertisements will be displayed in various locations.If 55,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on the CM board (square pillar) at Hapjeong Station on the Seoul subway. If 50,000 stars are collected, a congratulatory video will be shown on the electronic board in Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan. In addition, abundant gifts such as a large digital electronic board in Jamsil, Hongdae M Screen, and Seoul bus advertisements await fans.The event will run until November 8th and can be participated in through the 'ADs.' section on the 'FANNSTAR' homepage.chlwnqls@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actors Kim Ji-won (left) and Lee Jung-eun pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. /Reporter Song Ho-young Kim Ji-won and Lee Jung-eun are smiling.[THE FACT | Reporter Song Ho-young] Actors Kim Ji-won (left) and Lee Jung-eun pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th.'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' is a medical noir that depicts the process of Dr. Gye Soo-jung, who has genius surgical skills, confronting immense absurdity. Director Lee Jung-rim, who directed the dramas 'VIP', 'Revenant', and 'You Killed Me', took on the direction.Actor Kim Ji-won plays Gye Soo-jung, a genius surgeon with no room for failure or compromise, and Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hee-sook, the director of a mysterious doctor dispatch agency.In addition, actor Son Hyun-joo plays Boo Seung-kwon, the director of Seonam Hospital at Guseo University, who possesses charisma, adding to the tension. 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM.hysong@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Kim Ji-won strikes a pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. /Reporter Song Ho-young Kim Ji-won enters to attend the production presentation.[THE FACT | Reporter Song Ho-young] Actress Kim Ji-won strikes a pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th.'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' is a medical noir depicting the process of surgeon Gye Soo-jung, who possesses genius surgical skills, confronting immense absurdity. Director Lee Jung-rim, known for the dramas 'VIP', 'Revenant', and 'You Killed Me', is in charge of directing.Actress Kim Ji-won plays Gye Soo-jung, a genius surgeon with no room for failure or compromise, while Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hee-sook, the director of a mysterious doctor dispatch agency. In addition, actor Son Hyun-joo adds tension by playing Goo Seo University's Seonam Hospital Director Boo Seung-kwon, who possesses charisma. 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM.hysong@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actors Son Hyun-ju&Kim Ji-won&Lee Jung-eun&Kim WooSeok (from left) pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. /Reporter Song Ho-young Actors Son Hyun-ju&Kim Ji-won&Lee Jung-eun&Kim WooSeok strike an 'X' pose.[THE FACT | Reporter Song Ho-young] Actors Son Hyun-ju&Kim Ji-won&Lee Jung-eun&Kim WooSeok (from left) pose at the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th.'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' is a medical noir that depicts the process of doctor Gye Soo-jung, who has genius surgical skills, confronting immense absurdity. Director Lee Jung-rim, who directed the dramas 'VIP', 'Revenant', and 'You Killed Me', took on the role of director.Actress Kim Ji-won plays Gye Soo-jung, a genius surgeon who knows no failure or compromise, and Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hee-sook, the director of a mysterious doctor dispatch agency.In addition, actor Son Hyun-ju plays Boo Seung-kwon, the director of Seonam Hospital at Guseo University, who possesses charisma, adding to the tension. 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM. hysong@tf.co.krphoto&video planning team photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 7th 'Doctor X' Production Presentation... First Broadcast on the 9thHer first comeback in two years since 'Queen of Tears'Actress Kim Ji-won attended the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' held at SBS Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 7th, and said, "I want to leave behind a beloved medical drama." /Reporter Song Ho-young[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actress Kim Ji-won revealed her determination to return with 'Doctor X'.Kim Ji-won attended the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' (written by Pyeon Seong-geun, directed by Lee Jung-rim, hereinafter referred to as 'Doctor X') held at SBS Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th, and said, "I am meeting viewers after a long time," and "I want to show a new side of myself."'Doctor X' is a work that depicts the activities of 'Doctor X' Gye Soo-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won), who breaks down great absurdity with her genius surgical skills, knowing no failure or compromise, and is based on the Japanese 'Doctor X' series. Kim Ji-won plays the role of Gye Soo-jeong, a genius surgeon.This 'Doctor X' is Kim Ji-won's comeback work, about two years after tvN's 2024 drama 'Queen of Tears'. Kim Ji-won said, "I am excited and nervous to greet viewers after a long time," and "I consider the preparation period to show a new side of myself as a hiatus. There has been a lot of waiting."Regarding the reason for choosing 'Doctor X' as her next project, she said, "As an actress, I thought it would be an honor to leave behind a beloved medical drama. It's a work that will be good to look back on after a long time," and "I did my best more than ever."In particular, the fact that director Lee Jung-rim, who directed SBS dramas 'VIP' and 'The Devil' and Netflix series 'You Killed Them', took the megaphone acted as an attractive point for her. Kim Ji-won explained, "I really enjoyed director Lee Jung-rim's previous works," and "I wanted to trust and go with it."Kim Ji-won also expressed satisfaction with the cast of 'Doctor X'. She said, "As I got to know the actors I'm working with, I felt reassured. I thought I could learn a lot from the good seniors," and "Please watch the chemistry of the actors rather than my personal acting."SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X', consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on the 9th at 9:50 PM.mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 "The generator was used as it is normally used.""There was no separate intervention by the production team for filming."The production team of MBC's entertainment program 'I Live Alone' has denied allegations that the old house in Dongducheon, revealed by actor Kim Min, was staged.[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] The production team of 'I Live Alone' denied allegations surrounding actor Kim Min's life in an old house.The production team of MBC's entertainment program 'I Live Alone' told on the 7th, "The house shown on the broadcast is indeed the space where Kim Min actually lives," and added, "The production team did not make any separate arrangements or stage the situation for filming."Regarding the allegations about the use of a generator, they explained, "The house is a place without electricity, so the generator is something that is normally used in daily life," and "It was not prepared or set up separately for filming. There was no separate intervention by the production team for filming."Previously, Kim Min appeared on 'I Live Alone' and revealed his life in an old house in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. On the show, he was seen using a generator to supply electricity and repairing various parts of the old house himself.However, after the broadcast, allegations of staging began to surface on some online communities. Claims were made that the house shown on the broadcast differed from its past appearance registered on portal site maps, and that there were utility poles near the house, suggesting that some situations were set up for the broadcast.In response, Kim Min explained through Maeil Business Newspaper's Star Today, "There was no manipulation or staging at all. This place is truly a special space for me," and "It is a place that holds the precious memories of the brother and sister I consider family."Recently, 'I Live Alone' has been facing a series of controversies surrounding the authenticity of its broadcasts. Previously, allegations of prior preparation arose regarding Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu trip to Kazakhstan, and the production team initially stated that they had not received any filming support. However, they later apologized, explaining that they had received filming cooperation from the Almaty City Tourism Organization for administrative procedures and on-site operations.Meanwhile, Kim Min debuted in 2011 with the drama 'Power Rangers Samurai'. He later became known to the public through the dramas 'Casino' and 'A Shop for Killers', and recently appeared as Manager Kim in 'Four Hands'.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'FANNSTAR' Tops Trot Rankings for First Week of October with 1,236,314 VotesSinger Kim Yong Bin has secured the No. 1 spot on the 'FANNSTAR' trot rankings for four consecutive weeks. /Yoo Sun Soo Entertainment[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Singer Kim Yong Bin has showcased their unwavering popularity by ranking first on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR' trot rankings for four consecutive weeks.Kim Yong Bin easily clinched the top position in the trot rankings for the first week of October on 'FANNSTAR', which ran from September 28 to October 5, garnering 1,236,314 votes. Choi Soo-ho came in second, followed by Hwang Young Woong in third place.Along with their consecutive wins in the rankings, Kim Yong Bin's new song "You Are My Only One," released on September 21, is also receiving significant attention. "You Are My Only One" is a song that expresses deep gratitude and devoted love to a person who has silently stood by their side through a busy and arduous daily life. It sincerely portrays the heartfelt emotions one wishes to convey to a cherished person with whom they have shared a long time, with a warm sensibility. The warm piano melody and grand orchestral sound further elevate the song's emotional arc. Adding to this, Kim Yong Bin's signature soulful vocals enrich the lyrical atmosphere. Notably, the lyrics contain unspoken gratitude and apologies, along with an eternal promise to stay by their side until the end of the world. Kim Yong Bin's deep vocal tone and emotional melody harmonize to deliver a profound resonance and deep empathy to listeners.Furthermore, Kim Yong Bin is a leading trot artist who has earned recognition for both their solid vocal abilities and mainstream appeal by winning the final championship in 'Mister Trot 3'. Since releasing the winner's special song "Yesterday Was You, Today Is Also You" in July of last year, they have been actively engaging with fans through various activities including broadcasts, concerts, and music releases.The synergy between the four consecutive weeks of topping the trot rankings and the promotion of their new song is further intensifying fans' love for Kim Yong Bin. Fueled by the strong support of their fandom, Kim Yong Bin is maintaining their top position, and anticipation is high for the diverse musical activities they will present in the future.Meanwhile, following the successful conclusion of '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on September 19, 'FANNSTAR' is currently holding a vote for 'TMA Best Stage' until the 19th, allowing fans to choose the best stage in their hearts. Attention is focused on who will ultimately take home the prestigious award. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans can directly support artists through various ranking votes, billboard advertising support, and awards ceremony-linked voting.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'FANNSTAR' Tops New Star Ranking with 66,827 Votes in First Week of OctoberCORTIS ranked first on the 'FANNSTAR' New Star Ranking. /Big Hit Music[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Rookie boy group CORTIS is continuing its impressive rise, securing the No. 1 spot on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR' New Star Ranking for 11 consecutive weeks.CORTIS comfortably took the top spot in the 'FANNSTAR' October first-week New Star Ranking poll, which ran from September 28 to October 5, garnering a total of 66,827 votes. Whib came in second, followed by EVAN in third place.Previously, CORTIS secured an advertisement on a large billboard as a special reward for achieving 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the New Star Ranking. A congratulatory video for CORTIS's 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 is scheduled to be broadcast on the M Screen in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a densely populated area.Additional special rewards are also available based on cumulative votes. If CORTIS reaches 10 million cumulative votes, a congratulatory advertisement will be displayed on the billboard at Yujin Building in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. If it reaches 30 million votes, it will be displayed on the Mirae Plaza billboard in Hongdae, and if it records 50 million votes, it will be displayed on the Express Bus Terminal Triple Panorama billboard.Along with its dazzling ranking achievements, the group has also made a significant comeback on terrestrial music shows. The title track 'REDRED' from CORTIS's second mini-album ranked first on the October Week 1 'K-Chart' announced on the official website of KBS2's 'Music Bank' on the 2nd.'REDRED' had previously achieved a 'Grand Slam' by topping all five major domestic music shows. With this latest win, CORTIS has now collected a total of 12 music show trophies.This win is particularly meaningful as it comes six months after the song's release and approximately four months after its official broadcast activities concluded. The achievement of reaching the top spot solely based on digital music, album sales, social media, and K-pop fan votes, without any broadcast score, once again proves CORTIS's high public popularity and strong fandom power.Meanwhile, the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' successfully concluded at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on September 19. 'FANNSTAR' is currently holding the 'TMA Best Stage' vote until the 19th, allowing fans to choose the best stage performance in their hearts. CORTIS, who heated up the venue with an energetic performance on the day of the awards ceremony, is currently ranked third, showcasing its formidable power. Attention is focused on who will ultimately win the trophy and various special rewards. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans can directly support artists through various ranking votes, billboard advertisement support, and awards ceremony-linked voting.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'FANNSTAR' Weekly Music Vote in the First Week of October Receives 480,792 VotesSinger Lim Young Woong ranked first on the 'FANNSTAR' Weekly Music Chart. /Mulgogi Music[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Singer Lim Young Woong has showcased unparalleled digital music power by topping the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR' Weekly Music Chart for three consecutive weeks with their new song 'TtoTto'.Lim Young Woong easily secured the top spot in the 'FANNSTAR' Weekly Music Chart vote for the first week of October, held from September 28 to October 5, garnering a total of 480,792 votes. Kim Yong Bin came in second, followed by KIM KI TAE in third place. The 'FANNSTAR' Weekly Music Chart is a weekly poll for artists who have released new music, allowing fans to see the response and support for recently released music at a glance, with fierce ranking competition among talented artists every week.Lim Young Woong presented deepened vocals and a broader musical spectrum through their special digital album 'IM HERO 10'. Led by the self-composed title track 'TtoTto', the album harmoniously arranged various B-side tracks, delivering rich emotion and points of appreciation to fans. The response on music charts was also fervent immediately after the album's release. The title track 'TtoTto' and 'Moise' simultaneously ranked high on Melon HOT100, a major domestic music platform, re-proving Lim Young Woong's strong digital music influence, while the B-side tracks also received consistent love and critical acclaim.In particular, the public's interest in Lim Young Woong is growing daily, fueled by the three consecutive weeks of first place on the Weekly Music Chart and the achievements on the digital music charts. Attention is focused on what musical endeavors Lim Young Woong, who has completely captured fans' hearts with the new song 'TtoTto', will surprise us with in the future.Meanwhile, with the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' successfully concluding at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on September 19, 'FANNSTAR' is currently holding a vote for 'TMA Best Stage' until the 19th, where fans choose the best stage in their hearts. Lim Young Woong is currently leading this category with overwhelming support, proving their unrivaled popularity. It remains to be seen who will ultimately win the trophy and various special benefits. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans directly support artists through various ranking votes, billboard advertising support, and awards ceremony-linked voting.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 'FANNSTAR' ranked first in the first week of October's female star ranking vote with 135,324 votes.Singer Kim Eui Young ranked first on the ' FANNSTAR ' female star ranking. / Kim Eui Young Instagram[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Singer Kim Eui Young has proven her unwavering popularity by topping the female star ranking on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR' for four consecutive weeks.Kim Eui Young took the top spot with a total of 135,324 votes in the first week of October female star ranking poll for 'FANNSTAR', which took place from September 28 to October 5. Group NewJeans came in second place, followed by Yoona in third. With this result, Kim Eui Young extended their consecutive first-place streak in the female star rankings to four weeks. Despite fierce competition from strong candidates, they maintained their lead with a stable voting trend, once again confirming the solid support from their fans.Kim Eui Young is showcasing a unique presence on every stage with their distinctive cool tone and profound expressiveness. By combining bright and energetic stage presence with delicate emotional delivery, they are firmly imprinting their unique color onto the public. In particular, with consistent activities coupled with achieving the No. 1 spot in the female star ranking for four consecutive weeks, public interest in Kim Eui Young continues to grow. With the full support of their fans, all eyes are on Kim Eui Young as they maintain their leading momentum, wondering what dazzling moves they will show next.Meanwhile, with the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' successfully concluding on September 19th at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, 'FANNSTAR' is holding a vote for 'TMA Best Stage' until the 19th, where fans select the best stage in their hearts. Attention is focused on who will ultimately take the prestigious first place. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans directly support artists through various ranking votes, billboard advertising support, and awards ceremony-linked votes.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS, 'FANNSTAR' garnered 2,803,866 votes in the first week of October group ranking pollBTS achieved 74 consecutive weeks of No. 1 in the 'FANNSTAR' group ranking. /Big Hit Music[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Group BTS is continuing its solid long-term reign by taking the No. 1 spot for 74 consecutive weeks in the group ranking on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR'.BTS easily secured the top spot in the first week of October group ranking poll for 'FANNSTAR', conducted from September 28 to October 5, by receiving 2,803,866 votes. The popular virtual idol PLAVE ranked second, followed by AHOF in third place.If BTS achieves the remarkable record of '100 consecutive weeks of No. 1' in the future, a large-scale video advertisement celebrating this will be provided on the 9TO9 CUBE billboard located in COEX Mall, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.Along with their dazzling ranking achievements, news of their own variety content has further delighted global fans. The representative self-produced variety content of BTS, 'Run BTS 2.0', has released new episodes in line with their massive world tour.On the 6th, at 8 PM, BTS released the 'BTS in Toronto' episode on the team's official YouTube channel and the global superfan platform Weverse. This is a new video released approximately four months after the episode capturing the BTS members' get-together in San Jose, California, in June.This video features a special autumn picnic of BTS who visited Toronto, Canada, for their world tour schedule. The members gathered in a park on a leisurely afternoon, shared memories of their first picnic, and enjoyed sweet relaxation while tasting sushi pizza with local flavors.In the future, 'Run BTS 2.0' is scheduled to capture various behind-the-scenes stories closely related to the tour of 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG''. The natural and sincere moments of the members outside of their glamorous performances and the behind-the-scenes stories of the intense tour are expected to provide another source of enjoyment for fans worldwide.Meanwhile, with the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' successfully concluding at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on September 19, 'FANNSTAR' is currently holding the 'TMA Best Stage' vote until the 19th, where fans select the best stage in their hearts. Attention is focused on who will ultimately take the prestigious No. 1 spot. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans directly support artists through various ranking polls, billboard advertising support, and award ceremony-linked voting.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jin, 'FANNSTAR' received 4,211,852 votes in the first week of October solo ranking pollGroup BTS Jin achieved 49 consecutive weeks of first place in the 'FANNSTAR' solo ranking. / Big Hit Music[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Group BTS Jin has secured first place for 49 consecutive weeks in the solo ranking on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR', nearing the achievement of a 50-week special reward.Jin easily took the top spot by receiving 4,211,852 votes in the first week of October solo ranking poll on 'FANNSTAR', which was held from September 28 to October 5. BTS V ranked second, followed by singer Lee Chan-won in third place.The streak of special reward records continues. Jin had previously achieved 10 consecutive weeks of first place and 30 consecutive weeks of first place in the solo ranking, earning him a large billboard advertisement reward. If he reaches 50 consecutive weeks of first place in the future, a billboard advertisement at M Screen in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul will be broadcast.If he achieves 70 consecutive weeks of first place thereafter, a billboard advertisement at Gyeonggi Building in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul will be provided, and if he records 100 consecutive weeks of first place, a 9TO9 CUBE advertisement reward within COEX Mall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul will be given. With only one week left until the coveted 50-week special reward, keen interest from global fans is focused on the results of the next poll.The global chart performance of BTS, the group Jin belongs to, is also remarkable. According to the latest chart released by American music media Billboard on the 6th, BTS's 5th full album 'Arirang' ranked 43rd on the main album chart 'Billboard 200'. This album debuted at number 1 on the chart dated April 4th, stayed at the top for three weeks, and then showed its power by maintaining its position on the chart for 28 consecutive weeks.The title song 'SWIM' is also continuing its long-running popularity. 'SWIM' ranked 27th and 11th on Billboard's 'Global 200' and 'Global (excluding U.S.)' respectively, clearly proving BTS's unwavering global influence.Meanwhile, the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA)', where Jin shone by winning the My Star Award, successfully concluded on September 19th at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Amidst the lingering resonance of the awards ceremony, 'FANNSTAR' is currently conducting a poll for 'TMA Best Stage' until October 19th, to select the best stage in the hearts of fans. Attention is focused on who will ultimately take the grand prize. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans directly support artists through various ranking polls, billboard advertisement support, and awards ceremony-linked polls.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 PLAVE garnered 1,571,714 votes in the first week of October Global Hot Star Ranking poll.Group PLAVE ranked first in the 'FANNSTAR' Global Hot Star Ranking. /Blast[THE FACT | Reporter Son Hae-ri] Group PLAVE has proven its strong global influence by ranking first on the weekly idol ranking site 'FANNSTAR' Global Hot Star Ranking for 103 consecutive weeks.PLAVE easily secured the top spot in the 'FANNSTAR' first week of October Global Hot Star Ranking poll, held from September 28 to October 5, with 1,571,714 votes. Stray Kids came in second, followed by Nexz in third place.Previously, PLAVE secured an advertisement special on the 9TO9 CUBE billboard at COEX Mall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, by achieving 100 consecutive weeks of first place in the Global Hot Star Ranking.Along with their remarkable ranking achievements, news of their new album is also capturing the attention of fans worldwide. On the 6th, PLAVE officially revealed the tracklist image for their 5th mini-album 'HYPERDRIVE' through their official SNS channels.The revealed image was sensuously designed in a billboard format, continuing the dynamic racing mood of the previously released concept photos and visual sampler. The billboard was densely filled with song titles from the new album, further heating up the comeback atmosphere.According to the tracklist, this album will feature a total of five songs, including the title track 'Star Trace,' as well as 'The Deceiver,' 'A Timely Rain in the Blue Sky,' 'The Answer Is Yes,' and 'Rewind.'With the record of 103 consecutive weeks of first place in the Global Hot Star Ranking and the release of the new album's tracklist, interest in PLAVE is reaching its peak daily. Attention is focused on what kind of musical evolution and charming concepts PLAVE will present with this new album, as they continue their unwavering solo dominance.Meanwhile, the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA),' where PLAVE shone by winning the Global Hot Star Award, successfully concluded on September 19 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Amidst the lingering resonance of the awards ceremony, 'FANNSTAR' is currently conducting a vote for 'TMA Best Stage' until the 19th, where fans select the best stage in their hearts. It remains to be seen who will ultimately take the prestigious first place. 'FANNSTAR' operates as a participatory platform where fans directly support artists through various ranking polls, billboard advertising support, and awards ceremony-linked voting.arulhr@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Pema Tseden and actors Shuhua, Jin Sun, and Cai Fanxi (from left) pose at the outdoor stage greeting event for the movie 'Happily Ever After' held at the Rooftop Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Director Pema Tseden and actors Shuhua, Jin Sun, and Cai Fanxi (from left) pose at the outdoor stage greeting event for the movie 'Happily Ever After' held at the Rooftop Cinema of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.The Busan International Film Festival, now in its 31st year, will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters and 31 screens in the Haeundae area, including the Busan Cinema Center.This year's festival will feature a total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official selections invited from 59 countries around the world. ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong Heat Up Busan50 Minutes of Jokes and Compliments Highlight Strong TeamworkDirector Lee Chang-dong and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung (from left) pose at the "Love Without a Cause" open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Kim Sung-ryeol, Reporter[THE FACT|Busan=Kim Saet-byeol, Reporter] The outdoor stage of the Busan International Film Festival was filled with enthusiastic cheers as director Lee Chang-dong, along with actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, appeared. It was a moment that proved the great interest in "Love Without a Cause."An open talk for the Netflix film "Love Without a Cause" (directed by Lee Chang-dong), which will be unveiled in the 'Icon' section at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), was held on the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. Director Lee Chang-dong and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong attended and shared various stories."Love Without a Cause" tells the story of two couples—a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary director and his husband—who meet to produce a documentary and confront their different lives and hidden desires.The film has received critical acclaim from domestic and international media, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival and the TIFF Ebert Director's Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, among other accolades, making it the first Korean film to achieve such recognition.Fan interest was also high. In fact, when the "Love Without a Cause" team appeared, they were met with tremendous cheers and applause. Notably, many fans who had seen the film and sought them out were present, despite the film having been released for only two weeks.In response, Jo In-sung joked, "There must have been about 30,000 people," drawing laughter. Jeon Do-yeon said, "Thank you to everyone who came to hear our story.""Love Without a Cause" was actually a project conceived quite some time ago. Director Lee Chang-dong explained, "As the era shifted towards prioritizing profitability, the frustration of workers grew. A deep chasm formed between remaining and laid-off workers, to the point where they viewed each other as the living and the dead. Even among those who were laid off together, there was a collective psychological trauma where they disliked and hated each other." He added, "Witnessing this, I felt it wasn't just their problem, but a turning point in the very nature of the lives we live, and I wanted to make it into a film."However, the project fell through during pre-production, and over a decade passed. Director Lee stated, "I did research, wrote the script, and even had the casting of Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu mostly finalized. But I couldn't be sure if I had the right to tell this story, or what the meaning of presenting it as a feature film rather than a documentary would be. Ultimately, I abandoned the film, and a lot of time passed."Since then, the meaning of labor has rapidly diminished, and now, with the advent of the AI era, we are in a time where we don't even know if we will be able to work. Director Lee said, "Then, Oh Jeong-mi, who I work with, suggested we try telling the story of a documentary director. It was then that I realized the suffering of the workers might not be someone else's pain, but potentially my own story as a filmmaker. I thought that by examining the ethics and attitude with which we view them, I could ultimately tell my own story, and that's why I decided to make this film."Director Lee Chang-dong speaks at the "Love Without a Cause" open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Kim Sung-ryeol, ReporterJeon Do-yeon plays Mi-ok, the wife of laid-off worker Ho-seok, who works at a mask factory.When asked about her character development, Jeon Do-yeon said, "When I work with Director Lee, I don't try to overthink things. However, I believe we all live with anxiety, and Mi-ok is no different. Mi-ok, in particular, carries anxiety about protecting her family and her husband, and I felt a connection to that aspect of her character."Sol Kyung-gu plays Ho-seok, a laid-off worker who suffers from long-term aftereffects due to his experiences during a general strike and forced suppression.He recalled, "I acted thinking of myself as just me. When I first talked about the character with the director, he asked, 'What kind of person do you think Ho-seok is?' I replied, 'He's like me,' because I felt that both Ho-seok and I symbolized ordinary men, not special individuals. So, I started from the question, 'What if it were me?'"The "Love Without a Cause" open talk event, held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th, saw the surrounding area bustling with attendees. /Busan=Kim Sung-ryeol, ReporterJo In-sung plays Sang-woo, Yeji's husband, who interacts with the couple Mi-ok and Ho-seok, treating them warmly while remaining enigmatic.Jo In-sung shared, "It was a character that made me think a lot, so I had many concerns about how to portray him. I thought Sang-woo's approach of trying to connect with people kindly but not getting too close resembled the relationship between an actor and the audience. From that perspective, I tried to understand the character deeply."He added, "The director's films do not present characters in a binary of good and evil. I also tried not to be prejudiced. I believe that as the audience watches the film, they will gradually come to accept why Sang-woo made certain choices and the life he has lived."Cho Yeo-jeong plays Yeji, a director filming a documentary that sheds light on the lives of laid-off workers.In fact, Yeji's perspective was also Director Lee's perspective. Therefore, it must have been a burden for the actress to convey and persuade the audience with Director Lee's viewpoint. Cho Yeo-jeong said, "Even before I knew the story, it was a burdensome and difficult character. However, from the moment I read the script, I was certain that as a director filming a documentary, Yeji should remain like a shadow, only looking at Mi-ok in this film."Director Lee Chang-dong and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong (from left) answer questions at the "Love Without a Cause" open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Kim Sung-ryeol, ReporterThe four actors had emphasized the warm atmosphere on set since the previous production presentation. Indeed, on this day as well, they showcased their strong teamwork through 50 minutes of jokes and compliments.Jeon Do-yeon remarked, "Sol Kyung-gu is a very selfish and gruff person. On the other hand, Jo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong are genuinely warm people. When the two of them finish filming and head back to Seoul, I used to say, 'Two warm people are leaving, and two gruff people are staying.'"Sol Kyung-gu, overhearing this, chimed in, "I really disliked Jo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong. Because of them, Jeon Do-yeon scolded me even more," humorously justifying his own selfishness.Finally, Director Lee confessed, "This is not a film that people typically find entertaining. Nevertheless, I'm worried that today's open talk might feel like the kind of conversation you have after making a fun movie."In response, Jeon Do-yeon quipped, "It's a fun movie among the ones directed by you. There are many comments saying, 'Director Lee Chang-dong is good at comedy.' We ask for your love for our fun movie, 'Love Without a Cause.'"Sol Kyung-gu announced, "It will be released in Korea on November 6th. It will also premiere worldwide on the 23rd, so if you want to see it in theaters, please go abroad. I'm confident that 2 hours and 43 minutes will fly by."Jo In-sung shared, "Yesterday, the actors were talking about how we hope the director releases another film soon, regardless of whether we're in it. But Kyung-gu hyung said, 'I'll do it again.' So now I'll say it: I want to do it too," confessing his true feelings and bringing laughter to the end."Love Without a Cause" will be released worldwide on Netflix on November 6th.sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Tracing the operational status and non-settlement of Cha Ga-won's entertainment businessINSC "Faithfully fulfilling the media's inherent surveillance function"THE FACT Jung Byung-geun (far left) and Choi Hyun-jung reporters received the Excellence Award at the 'Reporter of the Month' awards ceremony held at the Korea Internet Press Association in the Press Center, Jung-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. /Reporter Lim Young-moo[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] THE FACT Reporters Jung Byung-geun and Choi Hyun-jung won the 'Reporter of the Month' award from the Korea Internet Press Association (INSC) for their exclusive report tracking the operational status of Cha Ga-won's entertainment business.THE FACT Reporters Jung Byung-geun and Choi Hyun-jung received the Excellence Award at the August 'Reporter of the Month' awards ceremony held at the Korea Internet Press Association meeting room on the 10th floor of the Korea Press Center, Jung-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. They received the award for their report <[TF Focus] Cha Ga-won, arrested on fraud charges, what about the countless blood, sweat, and tears?>, which persistently tracked and reported on the abnormal management practices of the entertainment agency and the resulting damages for eight months. exclusively reported on the 12 billion won financial transaction between Chairman Cha and MC Mong in December last year ([Exclusive] "Pay 12 billion to Cha Ga-won"... MC Mong, was money the reason for leaving), and then raised suspicions that the One Hundred group of companies was operating with an abnormal financial structure, such as spending 10.8 billion won on clothing expenses while relying on advance payments of up to 72 billion won ([Exclusive] '10.8 billion won for clothing, 72 billion won in advance payments'... Cha Ga-won's 'Deformed Company Operation').Subsequently, issues arose from the process of Lee Seung-gi and Baekhyun moving into the luxury villa 'La Nuovo Hannam' owned by Chairman Cha as high-priced tenants ([Exclusive] Did Lee Seung-gi&Baekhyun move into Cha Ga-won's La Nuovo with a 'shell lease'?), and it was also exclusively reported that approximately 5 billion won in settlement money was not paid to artists including Baekhyun&Taemin&THE BOYZ ([Exclusive] Baekhyun&Taemin&THE BOYZ 1 billion won each... Cha Ga-won squeezes artists and '5 billion won unsettled').THE FACT Reporters Choi Hyun-jung (far left) and Jung Byung-geun attended the 'Reporter of the Month' awards ceremony held at the Korea Internet Press Association in the Press Center, Jung-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th and received a plaque from Kim Ki-jung, President of the Korea Internet Press Association. /Reporter Lim Young-mooBeyond affiliated celebrities, the damages to employees and partner companies were also revealed. reported that the 4 major insurance premiums for employees of the One Hundred group of companies were not paid and that there were disruptions in salary payments, and also reported that various companies that had worked with affiliated artists had not received payments. ([Exclusive] Cha Ga-won threatens employees' livelihoods... unpaid 4 major insurance premiums and precarious salaries).Later, on August 3rd, the presiding judge of the Seoul Central District Court, who handles arrest warrants, conducted a suspect interrogation (arrest warrant review) for CEO Cha Ga-won, who was accused of fraud under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, and issued an arrest warrant, stating "there is a risk of evidence destruction." This came seven months after reported in January that Cha Ga-won had been sued for fraud under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes ([Exclusive] Cha Ga-won sued for alleged fraud of over 10 billion won... received advance payments and 'ran away'?).Their persistent investigative reporting was evaluated as faithfully fulfilling the media's inherent social surveillance function by not only serving as a simple accusation but also leading to practical judicial and administrative follow-up measures, including the indictment of the suspect and a comprehensive investigation into wage arrears by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.INSC stated, "We persistently tracked the unfair management practices within the entertainment industry, revealing the reality of labor and settlement damages hidden behind the glamour," and "We faithfully fulfilled the media's inherent surveillance function by leading to judicial and administrative follow-up measures through persistent reporting."Meanwhile, at the awards ceremony that day, △News Works reporter Cha Jin-hyung △Newspost reporter Lee Byeol-nim <"It's a trend, so I can't help but buy it"... Children fallen for 'Malli'> △Biz Hankook reporter Park Hyung-min <'House in the provinces, money in Seoul'... Re-examining the performance of innovative cities ahead of the second relocation of public institutions> △Yaksak Gongron reporter Kim Hong-jin, 3rd consecutive series △Insight Korea reporters Kim Dong-soo and Yoon Chan-woo's also received the honor of winning.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Director Lee Chang-dong and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung (from left) pose at the 'Possible Love' open talk event held at the Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Director Lee Chang-dong and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung (from left) pose at the 'Possible Love' open talk event held at the Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.'Possible Love' is a film that depicts the story of a laid-off worker Hoseok and his wife Miok, and documentary director Yejji and her husband Sangwoo, who meet to produce a documentary and confront their different lives and hidden desires.The film has received critical acclaim from domestic and international media, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival and the Ebert Director's Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, among other accolades, marking a first for Korean cinema.Meanwhile, the Busan International Film Festival, now in its 31st year, will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters and 31 screens in the Haeundae area, including the Cinema Center.This year's festival will feature a total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official selections invited from 59 countries worldwide, meeting with audiences. ksr@tf.co.krPhoto Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS is holding a concert in Lima, Peru for the first time since their debut, and various commemorative events are taking place locally. From the 5th to the 11th, the Santiago de Surco district of Lima temporarily renamed Sacramento Street as ″Avenida BTS″ and installed signs. The Arco Morisco, a landmark structure of Surco Friendship Park, has been illuminated with purple lights since the 5th, and a light show themed around BTS is held daily until the 11th. Additionally, the Fuente de la Fantasía at the Circuito Mágico del Agua fountain park is hosting a BTS themed event featuring music, lighting, and water screens during the same period. On the 7th, 9th, and 10th local time, BTS will hold the ″BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG IN LIMA″ at Estadio San Marcos in Lima. Peru’s official tourism site, Peru Travel, introduced this concert as an opportunity to promote the country’s cuisine, culture, and natural scenery. Previously, BTS began their South American tour on the 2nd and 3rd at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, Colombia, attracting about 100,000 spectators over two days. Rolling Stone en Español evaluated the concert, saying, ″BTS met expectations and exceeded them at several moments,″ and called it ″the concert an entire generation has been waiting for the most.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 &TEAM achieved the highest ranking ever for a Japanese boy group on the main Billboard album chart in the United States. According to the latest chart released by Billboard on the 6th (local time), &TEAM’s second Korean mini-album ’Mark on Me’ ranked 20th on the ’Billboard 200’. This is a 32-spot jump from 52nd place, which was recorded with the Japanese mini-album ’We on Fire’ last May, marking the highest achievement ever by a Japanese boy group on this chart. This chart entry is also &TEAM’s second time entering the main Billboard album chart. On the ’World Albums’ chart, ’Mark on Me’ took first place, ranking third on ’Top Album Sales’ and 18th on the ’Artist 100’. &TEAM released ’Mark on Me’ on the 8th of last month, setting a personal best with 1,357,357 copies sold in the first week of release, achieving four consecutive million-selling albums. They also ranked first on both the Japanese Oricon weekly album chart and the Hanteo weekly album chart. Their overseas activities continued as well. In August, &TEAM appeared at ’KCON LA 2026’ and the Grammy Museum’s ’Global Spin Live’ in the United States, showcasing their presence on the global stage. They also ranked fourth on the UK Official Physical Singles Chart (October 2–8). &TEAM is a group formed in Japan in 2022 and is scheduled to hold a new tour with a total of 41 performances across 18 cities in Japan starting from the 15th.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Fan Bingbing answers reporters' questions at a press conference for 'Diary of a Mad Old Man & She Said' held at the BIFF Hill of Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol] Actress Fan Bingbing answers reporters' questions at a press conference for 'Diary of a Mad Old Man & She Said' held at the BIFF Hill of Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 7th.The Busan International Film Festival, now in its 31st year, will be held for ten days until the 15th at eight theaters in the Haeundae area, including the Busan Cinema Center, on 31 screens.This year's festival will feature a total of 315 diverse films, including 246 official selections invited from 59 countries around the world.ksr@tf.co.krPhoto & Video Planning Department photo@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Caught coughing and being helped on the Busan International Film Festival red carpet"There's absolutely nothing wrong with your health."Actress Kim Hye-ja's cough on the Busan International Film Festival red carpet raised concerns among fans, but a film official stated, "There are no health issues." The photo shows her attending the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of October 6. / Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Choi Soo-bin Reporter] Amidst rumors of actress Kim Hye-ja's health issues, an official dismissed concerns, stating it was merely a common cold.An official from the movie "Still Shining" (directed by Song Il-gon), starring Kim Hye-ja, stated on the 7th, " 'Teacher Kim Hye-ja has no health issues, just a simple cold.'""We adjusted this year's Busan International Film Festival schedule considering the teacher's age and condition, and the currently set schedule will be carried out as planned," he explained.Kim Hye-ja attended the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, Busan on the 6th. On this day, she walked the red carpet with director Song Il-gon, who directed her comeback film after 9 years, 'Still Shining'.In the process, Kim Hye-ja was seen being helped by director Song Il-gon and coughing several times with her hand covering her mouth, leading to concerns about her health. However, a film official dismissed the rumors of ill health, stating it was merely a cold.Meanwhile, 'Still Shining' is a film about Sun-ok (played by Kim Hye-ja), who reunites with her best friend, with whom she shared the most brilliant moments of her life, after 60 years. It will be released in theaters on the 21st.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [THE FACT | Busan=Reporter Kim Seong-ryeol] Actor Choi Hee-seo attends the outdoor stage greeting event for the movie 'Bedford Park' held at the Cinema Center's Roof Cinema in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the morning of the 7th.ksr@tf.co.krphoto@tf.co.kr]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0900