Freesia vows legal action over 'groundless' rumors spreading online

Freesia (real name Song Ji-a), a YouTuber and influencer known from Netflix's "Single's Inferno," has announced plans for strong legal action against malicious rumors circulating online. Kinda Entertainment, her agency, issued an official statement Thursday saying it had reviewed content about its creator Freesia that is "being indiscriminately spread online" and declared the claims "entirely false and clearly without basis." The agency said spreading unverified falsehoods and repackaging malicious rumors "constitutes a clear violation of the law that seriously damages the character and reputation of our artist." It added that it is "continuously monitoring online communities and social media to protect our artist" and will pursue "strong legal measures, including criminal complaints and reports, without any leniency or settlement" against anyone who spreads unverified false information or posts and distributes malicious content. Meanwhile, Freesia rose to prominence after appearing on the Netflix original reality show "Single's Inferno" in 2021.

Nov. 5, 2026

Oh Yun-a's mother-in-law confesses she was 'nervous' at first impression of actor

The mother-in-law of actor Oh Yun-a opens up about her candid first impression of her daughter-in-law — and the affection that has grown ever since. In Thursday's episode of the KBS 2TV variety program "Sinssang Chulsi Pyeonstorang," a restaurant-themed food show, Oh visits her parents-in-law at their home with her son Min-i. Earlier, Oh had revealed that she had no room in her life to think about marriage, but changed her mind after seeing how warmly her parents-in-law cared for Min-i. The moment Min-i steps through the door, the grandparents pull him into a hug and greet him affectionately with "our baby." Oh then spends time cooking alongside her mother-in-law. Throughout the cooking session, the mother-in-law praises Oh for everything she does, exclaiming, "Oh, well done — that's it!" Oh responds with bashful delight, saying her mother-in-law always finds something kind to say no matter how small the gesture. When the production team asks the mother-in-law about her first impression of Oh, she offers a surprising answer. Recalling their first meeting, she says, "I was a little nervous at first. How should I put it — she seemed a bit haughty, I suppose?" She then describes how her opinion changed once she got to know Oh's true character, offering warm praise for her daughter-in-law.

Nov. 5, 2026

Retired Go legend Lee Se-dol tackles high-rise window cleaning 51 meters up

Lee Se-dol, the retired Go champion, is set to take on a new challenge — cleaning the exterior of a high-rise building 51 meters above the ground. Transformed into a rope-access technician, Lee will be shown keeping his composure and focus at a dizzying height as he tackles the unfamiliar work. According to MBC Entertainment, "Baeksu Lee Se-dol" — a variety show directed by Lee Myeong-seop — follows the real-life analog survival story of Lee Se-dol, who stepped away from the world of Go after his legendary single victory against AlphaGo in 2016. The program documents Lee throwing himself into various jobs that cannot be replaced by machines, gaining new experiences along the way. The show has continued to draw wide attention across generations, even amid the recent fervor over fall baseball broadcasts. In episode three, airing Friday, Lee takes on exterior window cleaning at a high-rise building. The location is the KBS Busan headquarters — 11 stories tall and about 51 meters high. The task requires Lee to strap on a descender, entrust his body to a rope and rappel down the building's outer wall, wiping each pane of glass one by one. Lee has long said he has no fear of heights, but when he actually stands at the railing 51 meters up, he hesitates and cannot bring himself to step forward right away. He soon steadies himself, however, and moves forward step by step, successfully clearing what is considered the hardest part — crossing over the parapet. Once ready to descend, he even takes a moment to take in the Busan skyline while hanging from the rope. Viewers are left in admiration as Lee waves and smiles from the side of the building high above the ground. His co-worker Han Sang-jin, by contrast, cannot hide his fear. With his legs trembling, Han grips the railing and watches Lee, repeatedly muttering, "Se-dol is incredible." Lee's trademark concentration shines through once the cleaning work begins in earnest. The job demands that he maintain balance on a rope at height while deftly handling multiple cleaning tools — and at first he struggles. But he actively asks his mentor questions and picks up the techniques for managing the rope and equipment one by one. As time passes, he grows more adept, wiping the windows quickly and accurately. His rope-work mentor is impressed. "A lot of people come in confident, take one look down and go straight home," the mentor says. "But Se-dol seems like no ordinary person. He's grade A." "Baeksu Lee Se-dol" airs every Friday at 8:30 p.m. on KBS 2TV. However, this week's broadcast time may be subject to change due to live coverage of the 2026 Korean Series.

Nov. 5, 2026

Rapper Siva, son of comedian Kim Ji-sun, lashes out at online trolls

Siva, a 20-year-old rapper and the son of comedian Kim Ji-sun, has spoken out against a wave of malicious online comments directed at him. On Wednesday, Siva posted a message on Instagram saying, "Why is everyone so eager to tear me apart when I'm just trying to live my life? I don't really follow what's being said about me, but enough is enough — from the articles to the comments, please know when to stop." The post came amid a string of hateful comments directed at him in recent days. The backlash followed Kim Ji-sun sharing photos on her own Instagram of a family dinner to celebrate her eldest son's military leave. In the pictures, Siva — Kim's second son — drew attention for appearing to have gained some weight. Although the post offered a simple glimpse into ordinary family life, it quickly drew a flood of malicious comments targeting Siva's appearance, prompting him to address the trolls directly. Kim Ji-sun has previously spoken about the toll that vicious online comments about her son have taken on her. In February, she appeared on the YouTube channel Yangnakil Beonji and expressed outrage over a YouTuber who had posted a provocative video captioned "Kim Ji-sun failed as a parent," referencing a photo of Siva with piercings. "I was absolutely dumbfounded and furious," she said. Siva, who made his debut in the music industry in 2024, has also opened up about suffering from social anxiety disorder and panic disorder stemming from negative public perception. To work through those struggles, he took on a part-time job, saying he works "four days a week, seven hours a day, and spends the rest of his time focused on music" — a disclosure that earned him wide support.

Nov. 5, 2026

Actor An Jae-wook speaks out after noise complaint filed over school sports day

Actor An Jae-wook, 55, has shared how a noise complaint was filed while he was serving as emcee at his elementary school-aged daughter's sports day. An appeared Wednesday on MBC variety program "Radio Star," where he spoke about devoting much of his time lately to raising his children. He became a father for the first time at 45 and welcomed a son at 50. He is now raising a fourth-grade daughter and a 6-year-old son. "I feel so keenly how precious my relationship with my children is," An said. "Because I started making memories with them so late, I have less time left with them than younger fathers do. During any break from work, I try to spend as much time with them as possible." An said he actively takes part in school events, including reading to students and emceeing the sports day. He then carefully brought up an unexpected complaint he received while hosting the event. "I'm not sure if I should say this, but what saddened me was that near the end, I was told complaints had come in from the neighborhood — that the children's cheers and the music were too loud," An said. "So I said, 'The sports day only lasts a few hours a year — how can that possibly be considered noise?'" He added, with undisguised bitterness, "Don't we all have memories from elementary school? Why would a handful of adults try to take away something so precious from these children?" Musical actor Jeong Yeong-ju, who appeared on the same episode, expressed sympathy, saying, "I actually moved to a place near a school on purpose — I wanted to hear those sounds."

Nov. 5, 2026

Jeon Hyun-moo, juggling 9 shows, says he has no plans to share programs with juniors

Broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo has made clear he has no intention of handing over any of his programs to younger freelance announcers. On Wednesday's episode of JTBC's "Tokpawon 25si," announcer-turned-broadcasters Kim Dae-ho and Jo Jeong-sik appeared as guests. Welcoming the two juniors, who are both working as freelance announcers, Jeon reflected on his early days, saying he had followed a path blazed by his sunbae Kim Seong-ju but felt lonely doing it alone. During the episode, cast member Lee Chan-won asked Jeon whether, given how many programs he was hosting, he had any thought of sharing some with his juniors. Jeon shot back without hesitation: "Not even a little," drawing laughter from the cast. He went on to explain his thinking. "If you start giving away programs, the kids get soft," he said. "Everyone has their own lane." Jeon also drew another laugh when he described Kim Dae-ho as "the hermit of the announcer world."

Nov. 5, 2026

Singer Seo In-young, who once spent W200m a month, says her bank balance is now 40,000 won

Singer Seo In-young, who once spent 200 million won ($149,000) a month, has revealed the bank account now holds just 40,000 won. In an episode of E Channel's variety program "Seo In-young's Yuhaengkkondae" airing Thursday, singer and broadcaster Gree (real name Kim Dong-hyun) appears as a one-day student and joins Seo In-young and Mimiminu for a conversation about money. Seo In-young opened up about expectations for learning better money management, saying, "I thought there was nothing left for me to learn in life, but it turns out there is still plenty." Seo In-young was visibly surprised when Gree, who is about to turn 30, revealed having saved about 20 million won from a military savings plan after completing Marine Corps service and used the money to buy a car. Gree also shared that he had once achieved a return of up to 300 percent on stocks, disclosing that he had bought shares now asking 1.2 million won for as little as 60,000 won in the past. In response, Seo In-young candidly shared details of the singer's own finances, stunning the rest of the cast by admitting that while once spending 200 million won in a single month, Seo In-young now receives a monthly allowance of 1 million won and has just 40,000 won left in the bank account. Meanwhile, Seo In-young debuted in 2002 as a member of the girl group Jewelry and married a non-celebrity businessman in 2023, but the couple divorced in 2024. Seo In-young is set to wed Choi Ji-hoon, CEO of content creative company NP and six years senior, on Dec. 26 this year.

Nov. 5, 2026

Park Yoo-chun charges 450,000 won a ticket for Japan dinner show

Dinner show set for Feb. 13 next year Singer promotes event in kimono, drives reservations Singer and actor Park Yoo-chun, who is active in Japan, has drawn attention for the steep price of an upcoming dinner show. Park will hold "Park Yoo-chun Dinner Show 2027" at a hotel in Osaka, Japan, on Feb. 13 next year, according to the music industry Thursday. The event — Park's first dinner show in Osaka — will be held with fully assigned seating and is open only to paid fan club members. Tickets are priced at 52,000 yen ($328) each, rising to 53,500 yen once delivery fees and service charges are added — the equivalent of about 450,000 won. That far exceeds the average price range of 200,000 to 300,000 won for hotel dinner shows by top-tier domestic acts. Some observers note the price is not far off what Japan's biggest local artists charge for similar events. In a promotional video for the show, Park appeared in formal attire draped with a kimono. Park's team also promoted a perk for ticket buyers: two commemorative photos taken with Park, along with a gift prepared by the singer. The planning and approach are squarely aimed at capturing the Japanese fandom. Earlier, Park posted photos on social media in October wearing a train conductor's uniform aboard a Shinkansen bullet train, a move seen as an appeal to Japanese fans. Park has in effect been shut out of the domestic entertainment scene. In 2019, Park was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of using methamphetamine. At the time, Park denied the drug allegations and announced retirement from the industry, only to reverse course and shift activities to Southeast Asia and Japan. In 2023, the National Tax Service listed Park among habitual high-amount tax delinquents. However, Park's representatives said in July that all related litigation had concluded and that the outstanding taxes would be paid in full by the end of the year.

Nov. 5, 2026

Jeon Do-yeon wins best actress at 46th Korean Film Critics Association Awards for 'Possible Love'

"Possible Love" took home best picture and best actress at the 46th Korean Film Critics Association Awards. The ceremony was held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Korean Film Archive's Cinematheque KOFA Hall 1, according to News1. The event was livestreamed simultaneously on the Korean Film Critics Association's YouTube channel, with actors Jo Han-cheol and Jang Sun serving as hosts. The association had announced the winners by category and its selection of the top 10 Korean films of the year on Oct. 19. At the ceremony, winners and guests gathered to share their acceptance remarks and celebrate. Director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" claimed best picture, while Jeon Do-yeon took best actress, giving the film a double honor on the night. "I think the last time I received this award was for 'Miryang' — it feels like I'm standing here again after 20 years," Jeon said. Jeon added: "I always come back with a new character in every project. Whether I receive awards or not, I will always return with new works and new characters." Jeon also expressed gratitude to director Lee Chang-dong and the rest of the cast and crew of "Possible Love." Director Na Hong-jin swept three awards with "Hope," with Jo In-sung winning best actor and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo taking the cinematography prize. Ye Su-jeong won best supporting actress for "People and Meat," while Oh Jung-se took best supporting actor for "Wild Thing." In the newly established OTT series category, Shin Hye-sun won best actress for "Lady Dua" and Hyun Bin took best actor for "Made in Korea," while Jang Young-nam claimed best supporting actress for "Donggung" and No Jae-won won best supporting actor for "Made in Korea."

Nov. 5, 2026

Comedian Kim Ki-su stuns fans with feminine look in latest social media post

Comedian Kim Ki-su has drawn attention after sharing photos on personal social media showing a dramatically transformed appearance that many say makes him look like a woman. On Tuesday, Kim posted on his personal social media account alongside the photos: "Before weighing the pros and cons, focus on the story in your heart. That's the answer — or so someone told me. Is it really the answer?" In the photos, Kim sports a short-cut hairstyle and gazes into the camera with flawless, blemish-free skin. Particularly striking are his neatly arched eyebrows, subtle makeup and a slender jawline that together give him an appearance easily mistaken for a woman's. Kim made his debut as a comedian in 2001 through KBS's 16th open recruitment class before later transitioning into beauty content creation. In 2024, he completed a hair designer course at a hagwon and obtained a cosmetology license. He currently runs a one-person hair salon in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Nov. 5, 2026

'Thank you' — Kim Hye-soo thanks mourners after bidding farewell to the late Choi Bool-am

Actor Kim Hye-soo has expressed gratitude to those who came to pay their respects at the funeral of the late Choi Bool-am. On Wednesday, Kim posted a portrait photo of Choi on her Instagram and wrote, "To everyone who came to see him off on his final journey, and to all who mourned him — I am sincerely grateful." Though brief, the message drew renewed attention to the bond between the two. Kim had spent all four days at the funeral hall, staying by the side of Choi's wife, actor Kim Min-ja, and offering comfort throughout. Kim first visited the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center on Friday, the day it opened, and remained through the funeral procession and Mass — four days in all — greeting mourners as they arrived. Particularly notable were moments when Kim personally escorted senior actors, including Youn Yuh-jung and Ko Doo-shim, as they left after paying their respects. Her attentive care for Kim Min-ja also drew wide attention. She was also spotted tidying the shoes mourners had left at the entrance, a gesture many took as a sign of her deep affection for the late actor. At the funeral Mass held Monday at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Kim stayed close to a grief-stricken Kim Min-ja, supporting and embracing her. The two share a bond that began with the 1987 KBS drama series "Samogok." Kim, then a first-year high school student, played the daughter of Kim Min-ja's character in the series. The role brought her close to Choi Bool-am and Kim Min-ja, whom she has since treated as her own parents. Kim spoke publicly about her affection for the couple in 2021, when she appeared on a 10th-anniversary special of the KBS 1TV program Korean Dining Table. "Kim Min-ja and Choi Bool-am are like a mother and father to me," she said at the time. "When a great emptiness opened up in my heart, they truly embraced me warmly, as if I were their own child." She added, "Our connection was special from the very beginning, but it seems to grow more precious with each passing year." Choi died Oct. 29 at the age of 87 after receiving treatment for deteriorating health. He married actor Kim Min-ja in 1969, and the couple had a son and a daughter. The government posthumously awarded him the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of his contributions.

Nov. 5, 2026

Singer Seo In-young to remarry Dec. 26 in small church ceremony: 'Cut everything that brought bad memories'

Seo In-young, 42, a former member of the girl group Jewelry, will remarry on Dec. 26 in a small church ceremony, she announced, drawing attention for her decision to keep the occasion intimate after a disappointing first marriage. Seo made the announcement herself in a video posted Wednesday to her YouTube channel, "Gaegwacheonson Seo In-young." While sharing a meal with the production crew ahead of making kimchi with her family, Seo casually dropped the news, telling them, "I'm getting married on the 26th." The surprised crew asked, "What do you mean — November?" to which Seo replied matter-of-factly, "December. Clear your schedules." Seo's mother, who was present, welcomed the news, saying, "I told her if she was going to do it, do it quickly." Unlike her elaborate first wedding, Seo plans to keep this ceremony simple, holding it at a church with a small guest list. She said she decided to forgo a congratulatory performance and floral decorations, explaining, "I cut out everything that brought bad memories." Her mother echoed the sentiment, saying, "All that pomp and show is pointless. What matters is living well," cheering on her daughter's new beginning. Guests are expected to include fellow Jewelry members and close colleagues and friends, among them singer Lyn. Lyn performed at Seo's first wedding and, upon hearing the remarriage news, had already pledged her support, saying, "I'll sing for you this time too" — only to learn the ceremony will have no such performance. Meanwhile, Seo married a non-celebrity businessman in February 2023 but divorced by mutual agreement the following year. She later found a new partner and announced in June that she planned to remarry in the second half of this year. Her groom-to-be is Choi Ji-hoon, 48, chief executive of content creative firm NP.

Nov. 5, 2026

'My daughter works at Meta, my son at Nvidia': Actor Kim Bo-yeon reveals children's careers

Actor Kim Bo-yeon has drawn attention after sharing an update on her two children, both of whom work at leading global tech companies. A video posted Wednesday to the YouTube channel "Jjin Yeobaeudeur" showed actors Kim Yeong-ran, Lee Gyeong-jin and Ahn So-yeong meeting fellow actors backstage at a fashion show. During the event, the group ran into Kim Bo-yeon, whom they had not seen in some time, and asked how she had been. Kim said her two children, who live in the United States, had recently visited South Korea together. "One came from New York, one from Seattle — they all came at once," she said, adding that they had accompanied her to the fashion show. The conversation naturally turned to the children's jobs. When Ahn So-yeong asked where her daughter worked, Kim replied, "Facebook — Meta. And my son is at Nvidia," drawing surprised reactions from the group. Her fellow actors joked, "So do they give their mom an allowance?" Kim quipped that her children give her "only $10,000 a year," then added with evident pride, "Now that I don't have to worry about the kids anymore, I feel like I can finally breathe" — expressing satisfaction at seeing her children build independent lives. Kim made her debut in 1976 as part of the eighth class of MBC's open talent recruitment program, quickly becoming a popular young star known for her looks, acting and singing. She divorced her first husband and remarried actor Jeon No-min in 2004, but the two ultimately separated in 2012.

Nov. 5, 2026

4Minute's Jeon Ji-yoon to wed Nov. 22, second member to marry after HyunA

Jeon Ji-yoon, 36, a former member of the K-pop group 4Minute who has since become a web-novel writer, will marry Nov. 22. Jeon announced the news on Instagram. "I'm getting married in November," Jeon wrote, adding, "It feels a little embarrassing — and exciting — to finally say the word 'marriage' out loud in my own life." The partner is a non-celebrity Jeon has been in a relationship with for some time. "My partner has a warmer and more wonderful heart than I do," Jeon wrote. "Going forward, I want to keep writing hard as an author and become someone who knows how to give love." Fellow 4Minute members Heo Ga-yoon and Nam Ji-hyun were among those who left congratulatory comments on the post. Jeon is the second 4Minute member to marry, following HyunA, who wed singer Yong Jun-hyung in October 2024. Jeon debuted with 4Minute in 2009 and won fans with hits including "Hot Issue" and "Mirror Mirror." After the group disbanded in 2016, Jeon pursued a solo music career before transitioning to web-novel writing in recent years.

Nov. 4, 2026

'Swordsman II' star Brigitte Lin celebrates 72nd birthday on social media

Brigitte Lin marks 72nd birthday on Weibo Brigitte Lin, the actor who captivated South Korean audiences in the 1990s through the Hong Kong film "Swordsman II," is drawing attention after posting a birthday celebration on social media at age 72. Lin shared the post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Tuesday, marking her 72nd birthday. "Happy birthday to me. All the blessings you send will come back to you," she wrote, sharing several photos alongside the message. In the photos, Lin beams in a red dress, posing in front of a large bouquet of red roses arranged in the shape of a birthday cake. Lin was born on Nov. 3, 1954, in Taiwan. She made her debut in 1973 at age 19, and rose to widespread fame when the 1992 martial-arts film "Swordsman II" became a major hit — Lin played the cross-dressing female lead to great acclaim. She visited South Korea in 1993 for a fan signing event to promote the sequel. After wrapping director Wong Kar-wai's "Chungking Express" in 1994, she married a businessman that same year and in effect disappeared from the screen. The birthday post spread across several South Korean online communities, drawing a wave of reactions. "It was the first time I felt my heart flutter for a woman — because of 'Swordsman II,'" one user wrote. Others chimed in: "She's 72 and her beauty hasn't changed a bit," "An actor is always an actor, no matter the age," "Still beautiful," and "Aging so gracefully — the eternal 'Swordsman II.'"

Nov. 4, 2026

Actor Lee Min-jung reveals dismal high school grades, cringes at eyebrow-shaved yearbook photo

Actor Lee Min-jung, 44, once known as one of the top five beauties in Gangnam during her school days, has shared her high school report card and yearbook photo. A video titled "Visiting my high school for the first time in 25 years" was posted Tuesday on Lee's YouTube channel, "Lee Min-jung MJ." In the video, Lee visited Hyundai High School in Gangnam, Seoul, where she graduated. When the production crew said they would reveal her yearbook photo, Lee pushed back. "My friends shaved off my eyebrows before the photo was taken," she said. "I really hate that picture." Eventually coaxed into opening the yearbook, Lee appeared in the pages looking younger and fresher than she does today. When the crew remarked that she looked the same as now, Lee was unconvinced. "I do look similar, but I really don't like the eyebrows," she said. "My expression looks unhappy, and my cheeks look even chubbier. I'm really not feeling great about this right now." Lee also shared her school record. Her first-year entry read: "Bright and cheerful, gets along well with classmates, but tends to be somewhat easily distracted." Her third-year entry read: "Has an interest in music and writing, has a clear sense of self, and made efforts in her studies in the third year with improved grades, though greater diligence is required." Her second year, however, was a different story. Lee received the lowest possible grade in French — the equivalent of an F under the old five-tier grading system once used in Korean schools — and described that period as the hardest of her school life. "Second year was the worst time for me," she said. "I was in such extreme turmoil that I asked my mom if I really had to keep going to school. I stopped studying and my grades just kept falling and falling, but I pulled myself together in third year."

Nov. 4, 2026

Choo Sung-hoon's surprise marriage question prompts An Jae-hyun to reveal divorce

Actor An Jae-hyun addressed his past divorce from actor Goo Hye-sun after being caught off guard by an unexpected marriage question from Choo Sung-hoon during a broadcast. The Tuesday episode of SBS Plus and MBN's travel show "Sangnamja's Way of Travel in Manado" followed Choo Sung-hoon, Kim Jong-kook and An Jae-hyun on a trip to Manado, Indonesia. During a meal, Choo reached for a wet wipe, and An handed him one he had brought along. The gesture prompted Choo to suddenly ask, "Are you married?" — catching everyone off guard. Flustered by the question, An quickly changed the subject, saying, "Hasn't the coconut come out yet?" and stepped away from the table. Kim Jong-kook, watching the exchange, stepped in to smooth things over. "Jae-hyun, it's fine — this guy just doesn't know," Kim said. Choo, still unaware of the situation, looked puzzled and asked, "Why?" An ultimately addressed it directly. "I've been through it once," An said, acknowledging the divorce. Choo, finally understanding, reacted with surprise — "Oh, you've been through it?" — before responding calmly: "That can happen." Choo then apologized, saying, "There's a lot I don't know. I just didn't know. Sorry, sorry." An responded warmly, deflecting the awkwardness. "It's because I didn't introduce myself yesterday. That's my fault," An said, wrapping up the moment on a light note. An married actor Goo Hye-sun in 2016 but agreed to a divorce settlement in July 2020, ending roughly four years of marriage.

Nov. 4, 2026

Cha Ye-ryun's agency hints at legal action over school bullying, character allegations

The agency of actor Cha Ye-ryun, 41, has dismissed school bullying allegations and a character controversy as "groundless" and hinted at legal action. HB Entertainment issued an official statement Wednesday expressing "deep regret for the concern caused to fans and the public by the ongoing controversy surrounding Cha Ye-ryun online." The agency reaffirmed its earlier position, saying it had already conveyed that the claims circulating online about Cha's past were "groundless." It added that it was taking "the current situation very seriously," noting that unverified, anonymous claims and speculation had continued to spread and that criticism had extended to the actor's family. "We will thoroughly secure relevant materials and pursue legal review to hold those responsible for the malicious spread of false information and personal attacks accountable," the agency said. "We will take strong measures to prevent further harm caused by the spread of false information." The controversy began Thursday, when a post appeared on an online community forum alleging school bullying. The author claimed to have been physically assaulted and harassed in classrooms, restrooms and on playgrounds during middle school, and said a gym uniform borrowed by another student was never returned. While the post did not name Cha directly, internet users identified Cha based on the author's stated age and middle school. The controversy grew further when a former golf caddie claimed to have encountered Cha at a golf course and alleged that Cha had been dismissive and rude. The claims have not been verified, and Cha's agency maintains they are not true. Cha married actor Joo Sang-wook in 2017 and gave birth to a daughter the following year.

Nov. 4, 2026

Choi Su-jong says he's worn just 2 pairs of shoes for 30 years

Actor Choi Su-jong, 63, has revealed an unusually frugal lifestyle — including owning just two pairs of dress shoes for the past 30 years. Choi and his wife, actor Ha Hee-ra, appeared on KBS2's "Okdapbang's Problem Children," which aired Tuesday, where the couple talked about their everyday habits. Choi mentioned singer Kim Jong-kook, who is well known for his thriftiness, and said he similarly makes a conscious effort to cut unnecessary spending. As one example, Choi said he goes around the house turning off lights and the boiler whenever he finds them left on. "Yesterday I got scolded by Ha Hee-ra," he said. "It was raining and the house was pretty cold, but the boiler was set to 25 degrees, so I turned it down." Ha, feeling the chill, told him to leave it alone — and Choi said he immediately replied "Yes" and turned the heat back up. Choi added that he also holds on to belongings for as long as they remain usable. "I have two pairs of dress shoes — one black, one brown. They're 30 years old," he said. "I just keep replacing the soles, and they're still perfectly fine." Ha chimed in, saying, "Whenever I offer to buy him new ones, he absolutely refuses."

Nov. 4, 2026