Aespa sells only 75% of seats at Brazil concert despite 60% ticket discounts

K-pop group Aespa fell short of a sellout at a nearly 29,000-seat solo concert in Brazil, even after the promoter slashed ticket prices by as much as 60 percent. Aespa performed Friday (local time) at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu in São Paulo as part of their world tour. According to Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, Aespa sold 21,652 of the venue's 28,732 available seats — roughly 75 percent of capacity. After the show, photos of the partially empty arena spread widely across online communities and social media both in South Korea and abroad. Live Nation Brazil, the concert promoter, had moved to boost sales by cutting some ticket prices by up to 60 percent — from around 140,000 won ($103) down to the 50,000-won range — but still could not sell out the venue. Aespa held their first solo concert in Brazil in September 2023 at Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, filling a venue of about 8,000 seats. Buoyed by that success, the group set their sights on a stage more than three times larger this time around. While South America remains a smaller K-pop market compared to Japan, China and the United States, Korean acts have been making inroads there in recent years. Stray Kids became the first K-pop act to headline a major stadium solo concert in São Paulo in April, drawing a total of 120,000 fans over two nights — a second date was added after the first sold out. Enhypen also drew 40,000 fans in São Paulo in July.

Sept. 7, 2026

Super Junior's Kim Heechul reveals he put gold sale proceeds into stocks — now worth 1,000 won

Super Junior member Kim Heechul has revealed that he poured the proceeds from selling his gold into the stock market. The update came Sunday on SBS variety show My Little Old Boy, which featured a glimpse into singer Lin's daily life. That day, Lin visited a jewelry store with Kim Heechul to sell some gold items. Kim Heechul recalled the experience, saying he had put all the money from selling gold into stocks. "My mom scolded me, and that's how it went," he said. "Everything is in the red. It's down to 1,000 won." When Seo Jang-hoon asked Kim Heechul's mother whether she had known about the state of his stock portfolio, she said she had only seen it when it was going up. Kim Heechul also shared memories from when the market was rising. "When the stocks were shooting up, I was handing out pocket money to the staff left and right," he said. "But now I can't exactly ask for it back — I don't know what I was thinking." Lin brought several gold items to the store, including her trophy from the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards, two golden keys she had received from SBS, and her father's gold necklace. The jewelry store owner, examining the golden keys, said gold had been cheap at the time they were given as gifts and asked Lin if she had any idea how many don — a traditional Korean unit of weight for gold — each one weighed. When Lin guessed one don, the owner said she was way off. "These are 10 don each. Two of them — that's 14.6 million won ($10,800)," he said, drawing a surprised reaction. Lin's father's gold necklace also weighed 20 don and was valued at 14.6 million won. A silver spoon with gold plating was appraised at around 510,000 won, and a gold bracelet came in at 3.65 million won.

Sept. 7, 2026

Lee Ji-hye catches daughter seeking AI comfort in bathroom after scolding: 'Cute, but somehow scary'

Singer and broadcaster Lee Ji-hye, a former member of the group Shap, discovered that her daughter had turned to an AI chatbot for comfort after being scolded. Lee shared a screenshot on her Instagram account of a conversation between her daughter and an AI. "I scolded her in the morning, and she went into the bathroom to chat with AI," she wrote. In the exchange, the daughter told the AI, "Mom never understands how I feel." The AI responded with empathy, saying, "That must really hurt," and added, "Especially when the person you most want to understand you is your mom — if it keeps feeling like she doesn't get you, that disappointment runs so much deeper." The daughter also confided that her younger sibling kept kicking her in bed but would claim to be stretching whenever their mother appeared. After acknowledging her frustration, the AI offered a suggestion: "How about trying to tell your mom something like this: 'Mom, it already hurts that my sibling kicks me, but it hurts even more when it feels like you believe them over me. I'm not lying, so I wish you'd believe me too.'" Lee described her eldest daughter as "both adorable and heartbreaking," then added, "But somehow it's a little scary." Commenters responded warmly, with reactions including "So cute" and "I felt for her as the oldest daughter — a mix of sympathy and pride."

Sept. 7, 2026

Ahn Jung-hwan donates W500m but says good deeds still draw criticism: 'I feel empty'

Ahn Jung-hwan, a former professional footballer turned broadcaster, has spoken candidly about his feelings after his charity project reached a cumulative donation total of 500 million won ($369,000). A video announcing the milestone was posted Monday on his YouTube channel "Ahn Jung-hwan 19." In the video, Ahn thanked everyone who had been part of the effort. "I want to thank the viewers, subscribers, companies, associates and all the guests who joined us in reaching our five-year goal of 500 million won," he said. According to figures released alongside the announcement, the funds were distributed as follows: 116 million won to support children preparing for independent living and orphanages; 50 million won to low-income households and grandparent-headed families; 264 million won for medical expense assistance; and 70 million won in football scholarships for youth players and university students. Having reached his goal, Ahn reflected on what comes next and spoke candidly about the toll the project has taken. "I'm wondering what to do going forward, whether to keep doing YouTube," he said. "The football world has left me feeling quite bitter. I've come this far doing good things, but I still get criticized and it wears me out. I have no energy. I feel empty." Kim Nam-il, who was present at the announcement, said Ahn deserved credit for seeing it through. "We wouldn't have made it here without Jeong-hwan's perseverance," he said. Ahn said he and those around him needed time to heal. "We've been hurt too, and we need time to recover," he said. "I still want to keep doing good things. I'm thinking about what direction to take next."

Sept. 7, 2026

Ko Young-wook takes aim at celebrities who watched fireworks festival from home

Ko Young-wook has posted a pointed remark targeting celebrities who watched the fireworks festival from their homes. On Monday, Ko shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account a news article about celebrities who posted photos of themselves watching the Seoul International Fireworks Festival from their residences, writing, "Living in smog — what's there to brag about?" The article featured comedian Kim Ji-min, actor Hwang Jung-eum and influencer Choi Jun-hee. Kim posted a photo on social media on Friday showing the view from the living room window of her newlywed home, the day before the festival, writing, "Watching the preview like it's the main event? Hanwha scale." Kim and her husband Kim Jun-ho are reported to live in the LG Han River Xi apartment in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The asking price for a 203-square-meter unit runs between 5 billion and 6 billion won ($4.43 million), with jeonse prices at around 2.6 billion won. Kim revealed the newlywed home on a YouTube channel last year, saying, "We each put in half to cover the jeonse deposit." About 1 million people were estimated to have gathered for the main event of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, held Saturday along the Yeouido waterfront. Actor Hwang Jung-eum shared photos on social media of herself watching the fireworks from the rooftop of a detached house with her two sons, while influencer Choi Jun-hee — daughter of the late actor Choi Jin-sil — posted a photo of herself watching from her bedroom with the caption "Prime spot at Juni's home." Ko has recently made a series of public jabs at various celebrities, including Gong Hyo-jin, Park Ha-sun, Lee Min-jung, Seo Jang-hoon, Lee Ji-hye, Lee Chan-won and Lee Sang-min. Ko debuted in 1994 as a member of the group Rula. In 2013, the Supreme Court handed down a final ruling of two years and six months in prison, three years of electronic monitoring and five years of public disclosure of personal information on charges of sexually assaulting and molesting a minor. He currently shares updates about his life through social media.

Sept. 7, 2026

Comedian Kim In-seok reveals he was assaulted by an older junior — speculation runs rampant online

Comedian Kim In-seok has revealed that he was once physically assaulted by a sunbae who was older than him but entered the industry later. A video titled "Scammed out of 3 million won ($2,210) by a famous chef, and the first comedian to get hit by a junior!" was uploaded Sunday to comedian Mickey Gwangsu's YouTube channel "Namu Mickey Heungsinso." Kim said that day, "I was the sunbae, but I got hit," prompting Mickey Gwangsu to react with shock, saying he had never seen a comedian get struck by someone junior to them. Fellow guest Yoon Seong-ho offered a clue about the person in question, saying, "He's older than In-seok but entered later, and the two of them worked together as amateurs." When Mickey Gwangsu asked whether the two had previously been close as friends before Kim became his sunbae first, Kim confirmed it. "It felt uncomfortable receiving a 90-degree bow from him, so I tried not to accept it — I pretended not to notice," Kim said. "He misunderstood that as me ignoring him." Kim then described what happened next: the man pulled him aside in an alley and said, "Are you ignoring me? Why aren't you accepting my greeting? Accept it properly." Kim said he responded, "Yes, I'll accept your greetings properly. I'm sorry." When Mickey Gwangsu pressed for a name, saying he would bleep it out, Kim replied, "Who else could it be but that guy?" Asked about their relationship afterward, Kim said the man "doesn't seem to remember it." When Mickey Gwangsu suggested it was perhaps because he had done it so many times, Kim opened up further. "It was such a shock to me. I couldn't forget it because I was so ashamed and humiliated that I had nearly been beaten by someone junior to me," he said. When Mickey Gwangsu asked whether Kim had ever seen the same person act that way toward other sunbae, Kim said, "As far as I know, the others probably couldn't say anything either. He was so aggressive that there was no one who could keep him in check." After the video was released, the comments section was flooded with speculation about who Kim was referring to. Many users directly named one individual or used expressions that pointed to him. Commenters left remarks such as "It's that guy again," "When are you going to bring him on?" and "With a story this detailed, you don't even need to search," suggesting the clues Kim provided were enough to identify the person.

Sept. 7, 2026

Broadcaster Seo Jeong-hee says she has lived with same condition as Lee Sang-soon for 50 years

Broadcaster Seo Jeong-hee has revealed that she has been living with vagal dysfunction — the same condition recently disclosed by singer and guitarist Lee Sang-soon — for the past 50 years. Seo wrote on her Instagram account Monday that she frequently collapsed during middle school. "Back then I had severe anemia and often fainted on my way to school," she said. "After I grew up, the anemia was gone, but I would collapse once or twice a year — sometimes more — for no reason at all," she wrote. "One day I fainted while taking a half-body bath and chipped a tooth." She added that she has no memory of the one to two minutes surrounding each episode. "When I open my eyes, I have no idea what happened — I only know that I'm lying on the floor," she said. "That has repeated itself for 50 years. Doctors just told me to rest." Seo said it was someone she called "Dongju" who finally gave her condition a name. "Going through the symptoms one by one, he eventually put a name to what my body had been doing — vagal dysfunction," she wrote. She said that on Monday, Dongju sent her a news article about Lee Sang-soon describing symptoms similar to her own. "I read the article and thought about it for a long time. I was not the only one," she wrote. "Something about my body that I alone could not understand for 50 years was apparently showing up the same way in someone else." Seo said she now pays close attention to even the smallest signals her body sends her. "If my vision blurs, I stop walking. If I break into a sweat, I stop moving. If nausea hits and my body goes weak, I lie down without question — lying down before I fall, putting myself somewhere safe before I can hit something and get hurt," she wrote. "That is the most realistic prescription I can give myself right now." Lee Sang-soon: 'I will take enough time to fully recover' Meanwhile, Lee Sang-soon has suspended his activities, including hosting a radio program, after being diagnosed with vagal dysfunction. His agency Antenna said on its Instagram account Sunday that Lee had recently received hospital treatment following a sudden decline in his condition. "On the advice of medical staff that he needs rest due to vagal dysfunction, he is currently taking a break from hosting his radio show," the agency said. Antenna said it would actively support Lee so he could focus entirely on his recovery, adding that his future schedule would be adjusted flexibly based on his overall condition. The agency said it would do its best to ensure Lee could return in good health. Lee also posted on his own Instagram account, saying that doctors told him gradual recovery was possible with sufficient rest. "I will take this opportunity to spend enough time getting my health back properly," he wrote. "I will check my overall physical condition thoroughly and make sure I am fully recovered before I return."

Sept. 7, 2026

Comedian Lee Su-ji returns to YouTube a month after re-election protest controversy

Comedian Lee Su-ji has resumed activity on YouTube about a month after stepping away amid controversy over an alleged dig at re-election protesters. Lee recently posted a video on her YouTube channel "Hot Issue Ji" titled "Health tips that have nothing to do with health, from your fit older sister," in which she plays a pharmacist dispensing health information. Earlier this month, she also uploaded a video titled "Driving lessons with Yeonju / Specialist in forgotten licenses / Beginners welcome / 30 years of experience," in which she plays a middle-aged woman giving driving lessons. The two videos mark her return to the platform after roughly a month-long absence. The controversy began in July, when Lee posted a video satirizing unreasonable complaints made to civil servants. In the background of a scene depicting a civil servant — played by Lee — being harassed by a difficult member of the public, chants calling for a "re-election" could be heard. Critics argued the video was a veiled attack on re-election protesters, likening their demonstrations to nuisance complaints. Others pushed back, saying that showing up at an unrelated community center to stage a re-election protest could itself be considered unreasonable behavior, and that a social climate intolerant of even mild political satire was itself a problem. On Aug. 1, Lee issued an apology, saying she was "truly sorry for the disappointment and discomfort this has caused many people" and that she would "take sufficient time to regroup before returning in a more careful and responsible manner." Her comeback has drawn a mixed response online, with some users welcoming her return and others continuing to voice criticism.

Sept. 7, 2026

Singer Lee Ru reveals torn knee meniscus after returning to TV following drunk-driving hiatus

Singer and actor Lee Ru has shared a health update, revealing he is dealing with a torn meniscus in his knee. On Sunday, Lee posted a short video of himself running on social media, accompanied by the caption: "Torn knee meniscus, but nothing can stop me." The clip showed Lee jogging in workout clothes. He also shared his running record alongside the post. Then on Monday, he marked his 21st debut anniversary with a message to fans. "It's already been 21 years since my debut. Time flies so fast. The older I get, the more sorry I feel," he wrote. "I am merely grateful to all those who have cheered and encouraged me to the end. I will work even harder going forward to repay that love. Thank you." In September 2022, Lee was indicted on charges of drunk driving and switching drivers to avoid detection. A court sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and a fine of 100,000 won ($74). He subsequently withdrew from a drama series he had been set to appear in. After staying out of the public eye for about four years, Lee returned to television in July, appearing in a fifth-anniversary special episode of the TV Chosun program Joseon's Romantics. He performed his signature song "Kaman Angyeong" — his mother's favorite — and shared the stage with Tae Jin-a for a rendition of "Okgyeongi." He also revealed that his mother had been diagnosed with dementia, drawing tears from the audience.

Sept. 7, 2026

Sandara Park's agency vows zero-tolerance legal action against malicious commenters

Sandara Park's agency has announced it will pursue legal action against those who post malicious comments targeting the singer. ARADNAS posted a notice on its official Instagram account soliciting tips and stated that it "will see all necessary legal procedures through to the end, under the principle that those who infringe upon the artist's dignity and rights will be held accountable without exception." "We have secured substantial evidence related to malicious posts and rights-infringing acts targeting our artist Sandara Park," the agency said, adding that it is "currently proceeding with criminal complaints and civil damages claims through legal counsel." The agency said it "will use every available legal means, across domestic and international platforms alike, to identify and hold accountable those who repeatedly spread false information or post insulting content under the cover of anonymity." It added that "even if posts are deleted or accounts are closed, legal proceedings will continue based on evidence already secured," and that it "will respond with a zero-tolerance policy — with no leniency, settlement, or withdrawal — not only for cases already received but for any future rights-infringing acts as well." The post drew comments expressing relief and gratitude, with responses including "Finally," "Well done," and "Thank you for doing this." Meanwhile, Sandara Park first rose to prominence as a member of the girl group 2NE1 and is currently active as both a singer and actor. She has also appeared on numerous popular variety programs.

Sept. 7, 2026

'I Am Solo' director Nam Kyu-hong to launch 'marriage experiment' reality show 'Contract Marriage'

Nam Kyu-hong, the director behind "I Am Solo," is set to debut a new dating reality show built around the concept of a "marriage experiment." MBC Every1 and KBS Joy announced Monday that they will air the first episode of the marriage-simulation show "Contract Marriage" on Sept. 28 at 10:30 p.m. The program will follow men and women eager to marry as they enter a contractual arrangement to experience married life in advance, exploring what marriage truly means along the way. Participants will live as a couple under the terms of their contract, navigating lifestyle habits, values and conflicts that rarely surface during ordinary courtship. Through this process, they will get a concrete sense of the kind of spouse and married life they are looking for. The unpredictable situations that arise from pairing different personalities are expected to deliver tension and entertainment distinct from conventional matchmaking shows. Nam, a former SBS entertainment division producer, has built his career directing matchmaking-style dating reality programs. He gained popularity directing "Jjak" during his time at SBS and currently helms "I Am Solo" and its spinoff "I Am Solo: Love Continues." Among fans, his shows have earned a reputation not merely as matchmaking entertainment but as something closer to a documentary observing the full spectrum of human nature — or even a social-anthropology experiment.

Sept. 7, 2026

'I Live Alone' drops from 5th to 10th in brand reputation amid staging allegations

MBC's variety show "I Live Alone" has fallen from fifth to 10th place in a monthly brand reputation ranking for entertainment programs, amid allegations that broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo's trip was staged as a spontaneous journey. According to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute's September entertainment program brand reputation analysis, released Sunday, "I Live Alone" dropped to 10th place this month after ranking fifth in August. MBC's "Hangout with Yoo" claimed the top spot, rising from third place last month. SBS's My Little Old Boy and tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" followed in second and third. "I Live Alone" became embroiled in a staging controversy after episodes that aired Aug. 14 and 21 depicted Jeon's trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan, as a spontaneous decision — even though the production team had allegedly prepared for it in advance. The allegations were fueled by several details: Jeon rented a car just 40 minutes after landing without going through the translation and notarization of his Korean driver's license required under local law, and it was considered implausible that a large film crew could have secured flights and accommodations on the spot without prior planning. Questions also arose over whether the show had received support from the Kazakhstani government to promote tourism. The production team's response only deepened the controversy. Despite the Kazakhstan Tourism Authority stating on its website that it had provided filming support, the team initially denied receiving any assistance from the Kazakhstani side, then reversed course, saying there had been no financial support but that it had received cooperation from the Almaty city tourism office. As criticism mounted, the production team issued a further explanation: Jeon's decision to travel to Kazakhstan was made spontaneously, but the crew had reviewed various circumstances in advance, anticipated he would choose Kazakhstan as his destination, pre-purchased staff airline tickets and arranged for local filming cooperation ahead of time. Many viewers remain unconvinced by the claim that the team had predicted Jeon would pick Kazakhstan before he made the decision. The brand reputation survey analyzed about 66.15 million big data items related to 50 entertainment program brands from Aug. 6 to Sunday.

Sept. 7, 2026

Yoo Seung-jun, barred from Korea for 24 years, says 'I'm a happy person' ahead of visa ruling

Appeals court set to rule Oct. 2 on singer's third visa lawsuit; Yoo reflects on life in social media post Singer Yoo Seung-jun, who has been barred from entering South Korea for 24 years over a military service evasion controversy, shared a reflective message on social media ahead of next month's court ruling on his latest visa lawsuit, saying "I'm a happy person." Yoo posted a photo of himself on his social media account Sunday (Korean Standard Time), writing: "Worth risking it all for …." He added: "It would be a lie to say I have no regrets in life. But having precious values and people by my side that I would not trade for anything in this world — that alone makes me a truly happy person." The post reflected on both his past and present. In the photo, Yoo is seated in a vehicle, smiling at the camera. The post appeared to express his gratitude for his family and contentment with his current life. He set Bruno Mars' "Risk It All" as the background music for the post. Yoo has been banned from entering South Korea since 2002 over his decision to avoid mandatory military service. He married in the United States in 2004 and lives there with four children — two sons and twin daughters. Since 2015, he has been pursuing legal action against the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles to obtain a visa. Meanwhile, the Seoul High Court is scheduled to deliver its appeals ruling in Yoo's third visa lawsuit on Oct. 2. The court's Administrative Division 8-2 had initially set Sept. 4 as the ruling date in Yoo's appeal against the consul general in Los Angeles over the refusal to issue him a visa, but postponed it to Oct. 2 just one day before the originally scheduled date. Yoo had previously won two Supreme Court victories in related administrative litigation. Despite those wins, the consulate again refused to issue him a visa in June 2024, concluding that granting Yoo an overseas Korean F-4 visa could send the wrong social message regarding military service obligations. Yoo filed his third administrative lawsuit in September of that year, and a first-instance court ruled in his favor in August last year. The court found that the disadvantage imposed on Yoo was disproportionately large compared with the public interest served by denying the visa, ruling that the refusal constituted an abuse of discretionary authority in violation of the principle of proportionality. The court clarified, however, that its ruling did not amount to an endorsement of Yoo's past conduct.

Sept. 7, 2026

EXO-CBX members seek injunction to suspend exclusive contracts with agency

Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin — the three members of EXO subunit EXO-CBX — have filed for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with their agency, INB100. The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 50, presided over by Judge Lee Sang-hoon, held a hearing Monday on the injunction application filed by the trio against INB100, according to Yonhap. INB100 was founded by Baekhyun in June 2023 and was absorbed the following May into Cha Ga-won's One Hundred Label. EXO-CBX notified Cha's side in April of their intent to terminate their exclusive contracts, citing unpaid settlement funds among other reasons. The agency's failure to respond to those demands appears to have prompted the injunction filing. Cha was indicted in custody last month on fraud charges involving 30 billion won ($22.1 million), with the first trial hearing set for Oct. 13. A former real estate development company chairman, Cha co-founded One Hundred Label with singer MC Mong in 2023. MC Mong departed after a falling-out in July last year, leaving Cha to run the company alone. One Hundred Label has also faced contract termination notices from Lee Seung-gi, The Boyz, Viviz and broadcaster Kim Dae-ho, all of whom cited unpaid settlement funds. EXO-CBX marks 9th debut anniversary this year EXO-CBX debuted in October 2016, marking their ninth anniversary this year. They were EXO's first subunit. EXO, which debuted in April 2012, remains one of K-pop's most popular groups with a strong fandom. The group later launched EXO-SC, featuring Sehun and Chanyeol, as its second subunit, and also formed EXO-K and EXO-M as additional subgroups. EXO resumed group activities with a fan meeting at the end of last year after completing a lengthy hiatus caused by members' mandatory military service. Members had enlisted one by one starting in 2019, with Sehun becoming the last to finish his service in September last year.

Sept. 7, 2026

Jonathan gifts sister Patricia a car — with a twist: she's paying the installments

Broadcaster Jonathan said he gave his younger sister Patricia a car as a gift — only for Patricia to reveal she is the one paying the installments, drawing laughs from the audience. The siblings appeared together on Sunday's episode of the JTBC variety program Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, sharing a range of stories with the hosts and chefs. Jonathan said he had recently given Patricia a car. The hosts and chefs were impressed by the generous gesture, but the mood quickly shifted when Patricia made her disclosure. "If you only hear that much, he sounds like a really great oppa — but I'm the one paying all the installments," Patricia said. "He bought me a car on an installment plan, and I'm covering every payment myself. I'm not sure this counts as a gift." Jonathan pushed back, saying, "This is a gift. I really don't like Patricia getting lazy. If I just buy her everything outright, she'll get spoiled." When Jonathan added that he could not reveal how many months' worth of payments he had covered, Patricia quipped, "At this point, he basically just went and signed the paperwork for me," drawing more laughter.

Sept. 7, 2026

Singer Chungha says her grandfather was an independence activist who fought in the Korean War

Singer Chungha, whose real name is Kim Chan-mi, said her maternal grandfather was the late independence activist Kim Yeong-geun, expressing admiration for him. Chungha appeared as a special MC on SBS variety show "My Little Old Boy," which aired Sunday. During the episode, cast member Seo Jang-hoon asked, "Is it true that your grandfather was an independence activist?" Chungha replied, "He took part in the independence movement, served in the Korean War and also participated in the May 18 pro-democracy uprising." Her maternal grandfather, Kim Yeong-geun, refused to participate in Shinto shrine worship during the Japanese colonial period, joined the anti-Japanese resistance movement and was imprisoned for his activism. After Korea's liberation, he volunteered to serve in the Korean War, and during the May 18 pro-democracy uprising he sheltered students who had been placed on a wanted list. Chungha also shared that she had earned a Level 1 certificate in the Korean History Proficiency Test during a hiatus from her career. "My mother encouraged me to learn Korean history so I could better understand our past, so I studied for about two months," she said. Her remarks drew wide attention online, coming amid a separate controversy involving actor Ha Young, whose great-grandfather's pro-Japanese colonial-era record had recently come to light. Earlier, Ha Young had appeared on KBS2 variety show "Problem Child in House" on Aug. 7, saying her great-grandfather had opened the first Western-style medical clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong, and that her family had produced doctors across four generations. After the broadcast, controversy erupted when it emerged that her great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho. According to historical records, Ahn was listed as a council member of the "Daejeong Chinmok-hoe," a pro-Japanese organization formed in Seoul in 1916, and was among the medical staff who treated Lee Wan-yong after he was seriously wounded in an attack by independence activist Lee Jae Myung. As the controversy grew, a promotional interview for Ha Young's Netflix project was canceled and calls mounted for her to be dropped from a drama she had been confirmed to appear in. She ultimately withdrew from the Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call."

Sept. 7, 2026

Actor Baek Jin-hee to wed Canada-based partner in January

Actor Baek Jin-hee, 36, is set to marry next year, her agency announced Monday. Management AM9 said Baek will hold a wedding ceremony on Jan. 23. The event will be private, with only family members in attendance. Her husband-to-be is an older professional living in Canada. After the wedding, the couple plans to split their time between Canada and Seoul. The two met while Baek was studying English in Canada last year and began dating, eventually deciding to marry after a long-distance relationship. Baek made her debut in the 2008 film "Looking for a Friend" and gained wider recognition through the 2011 sitcom "High Kick! Revenge of the Short Legged." She has since appeared in a range of productions, including "Ding Dong Gold," "Empress Ki," "Pride and Prejudice" and "My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol." Earlier this year, she played a justice-driven reporter in the MBC drama series "The Judge Returns."

Sept. 7, 2026

Ko Young-wook spotted on walk, face hidden by hat and mask

Ko Young-wook, a former member of the K-pop group Rula, has shared a glimpse of his daily life. On Saturday, Ko posted a single photo on his social media account without any caption. In the photo, Ko photographed himself using a road reflector mirror while keeping his face hidden behind a mask and hat. Also on Saturday, he shared posts showing himself cycling to a grocery store before enjoying salmon and beer at home. He added two messages: "Faithfully fulfilling the ordinary duties of each day may be the most noble way to live" and "Good work, Sunday — another day done." Ko has recently drawn attention with a series of posts that appear to take aim at well-known celebrities. "The fact that my return to broadcasting is impossible given what the world knows about me is unlikely to change unless something extraordinary happens. I'm just an ordinary person going grocery shopping and cleaning up after my dogs at home," he said, adding that his social media posts simply reflect his own thoughts. Ko was previously indicted on charges of sexually assaulting and molesting minors and was sentenced to two years and six months in prison along with three years of electronic monitoring. He has since served his sentence and been released, and is currently sharing updates on his life through social media.

Sept. 6, 2026

Nam Bo-ra recalls hardship as eldest of 13 siblings: 'Water, electricity, gas all cut off at once'

Actor Nam Bo-ra opened up about the financial hardships she experienced growing up as the eldest of 13 siblings. Appearing on MBN's variety program "Sokpurisi Show Dongchimi," which aired Saturday, Nam reflected on her childhood. "When I was young I didn't know because I was just a kid, but looking back as an adult, I realized our family had it really tough," she said. "My parents were never home," she added. "When I grew up I realized it was because they were always out trying to earn money. I figured that out late." She went on to describe how the family's utilities were sometimes shut off. "Even though they worked hard to cover living expenses, there were just too many of us and it was never enough. There was a time when the water, electricity and gas were all cut off at once — when bills pile up and pile up, they get cut," she said. Nam recalled not understanding why the family cooked with a portable stove when there was a gas range, and described how her mother would boil water so the children could wash their faces by mixing it with cold water. Asked what the family did when the electricity was cut, she said, "Streetlights are brighter than you'd think." Nam said the lack of bathrooms meant everyone had to wash up quickly and get out, but added that she had no sense of unhappiness as a child. "I thought our family just lived like we were camping. I'm really grateful for that," she said, and went on to say she had almost no negative memories from childhood. "I just took things as they were and moved on." When fellow guest actor Baek Il-seop remarked that her parents were remarkable for raising 13 children and noted how much that must have cost, Nam said, "I didn't understand it either. I wondered why they had so many kids, and whether it wasn't hard on my mother." "But now that I've had a child myself, I used to just think my mother must have had a hard time and feel sorry for her," she said. "Now I think — my mother got to feel this happiness 13 times. That must have been wonderful."

Sept. 6, 2026

Actor Ban Min-jung marries older businessman: 'We will laugh a lot and love a lot'

Actor Ban Min-jung, 46, has married. On the 6th, Ban announced on her Instagram that she was getting married that day. "Autumn has crept up on us before we knew it," she wrote. "Today, I am getting married." "As this is a love that came to us late, we will cherish each other dearly and live happily, with healthy bodies and minds, laughing a lot and loving a lot," she said. She added: "I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has shared so many moments of my life and always cheered me on and given me strength. I will not forget the warmth you have shown me, and I, too, will always cheer for you with all my heart." Ban asked her followers to "bless the two of us as we begin this new chapter with warm hearts." Wedding photos released alongside the announcement showed her in an all-white dress. The ceremony was held Sunday at an undisclosed venue in Seoul. Her husband is a businessman outside the entertainment industry who is one year her senior. Born in 1980, Ban studied at the Korea National University of Arts and completed a master's degree at Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Arts. She made her debut in the 2001 film "Address Unknown" and has since appeared in the drama series "Dong Yi," "Gaksital," "Good Doctor," "Neongkuljjae Gulleoon Dangsin" and "Yeon Gaesomun," as well as the films "Yoga Hakwon" and "Chioe Gwonbeon." She also runs a performance academy.

Sept. 6, 2026