Lee Ji-hye shares eldest daughter's sweet gesture after younger sibling breaks cherished gift

Singer and broadcaster Lee Ji-hye, a former member of the mixed-gender group Shop, shared a story about her eldest daughter's attempt to make up for her younger sister's mishap. Lee posted on her Instagram account Sunday that her younger daughter had broken a gift she had recently received. "It was a cherished gift — I had told her not to touch it," she wrote. The photo she shared, however, was not of the broken gift but of a carefully written letter and a 1,000-won bill. The letter, written by her eldest daughter, read: "Mom, please don't be too upset. You must be so sad that your gift is broken. Instead, I'll be your gift." Lee said the letter and the "gift" had been left on her dressing table by her eldest daughter. "She gave money as a gift — 1,000 won. So cute," she added. The post drew comments including "This is worth 10 million won" and "What a thoughtful heart." Lee debuted with the mixed-gender group Shop and has since appeared on numerous broadcast programs, winning fans over with her vocal talent and wit.

Sept. 14, 2026

Super Junior's Choi Si-won shares pointed remarks while recommending history book

Choi Si-won, a member of K-pop group Super Junior, shared his views while recommending a book on modern Korean history. On Sunday, Choi posted on Instagram, opening with the Latin phrase "Facta sacra sunt" — "Facts are sacred." "This is a book that cross-references multiple historical sources and research to make us look anew at modern history we thought we knew," he wrote. "If we seek only comfort and self-congratulation through false fantasies, that cold and bitter history will ultimately repeat itself. No matter how uncomfortable or painful, we can only move forward by confronting history as it truly was." He added: "The reason to look squarely at the past is not to dwell in it, but to keep future generations from repeating the same history. That was the thought that stayed with me most throughout this book." Choi also urged followers to pick it up. "This book contains stories that are hard to find in textbooks. I strongly recommend it to anyone who loves history," he wrote, calling it "a must-read." This is the second time Choi has recommended a book by the same author. On Aug. 23, he posted his impressions of the first volume in the same series, writing that it left him "increasingly dismayed and angry" and calling it "a must-read." The author, Park Jong-in, is a senior reporter at the Chosun Ilbo. Choi has been using social media to speak out on social and political issues. When former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison at his first trial on insurrection ringleader charges related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration on Feb. 19, Choi posted a four-character Chinese idiom meaning "the unjust will surely perish, and their foundations will crumble." Born in 1987, Choi debuted with Super Junior in 2005 and has since worked as both a singer and actor.

Sept. 14, 2026

T-ara's Ryu Hwa-young shares wedding gratitude, receives congratulations from Luna

Ryu Hwa-young, an actor and former member of the girl group T-ara, has shared her thoughts on getting married. On Sunday, Ryu posted on her Instagram account to thank the team behind her wedding. "These are the precious people who, at every moment of wedding preparation, worried alongside me, moved things forward and made everything perfect — all from behind the scenes," she wrote. "From the dress my oppa and I visited walk-in to try on, to the hair and makeup, the photo shoot and the wedding day itself — each person's touch came together to turn the day I had dreamed of into reality. They are my Avengers team." "Looking back after the wedding, what I am most grateful for is that I got to create this day with such wonderful people," Ryu added. "Thank you sincerely for being with me through such a long time. Thanks to you, it became a day I will remember beautifully for a long time." Luna, a member of the girl group f(x) who also works as a musical actor, left a comment on the post reading, "Gongju, congratulations." Ryu had announced her marriage in April. At the time, she wrote on Instagram, "Adding certainty on top of excitement, I now want to walk the same path together. We decided to go beyond love and become everything to each other." Ryu joined T-ara as a new member in 2010, marking her entertainment debut. After leaving the group in 2012, she transitioned to acting and built a presence across films and drama series, including "Goo Hara Club," "Come Back Ajeossi," "Father Is Strange," "Mad Dog" and "Saisori."

Sept. 14, 2026

Singer Kim Bum-soo, single for 5 years, recalls fellow singer Gummy asking if he was gay

Singer Kim Bum-soo shared an anecdote about being misunderstood regarding his sexual identity. The episode of SBS variety program My Little Old Boy that aired Sunday featured a look at Kim's daily life, with the singer revealing he has been taking a break from dating for five years. During a visit to his regular hair salon that day, Kim was chatting with his hairstylist when he brought up a past request: "I asked you to set me up with someone, and didn't you introduce me to a man?" The hairstylist then revealed what some customers had been asking about Kim. "I've been doing your hair for so long that all my clients know you. At first they asked if you were against marriage, and then they started asking if you liked men," the stylist said. Kim said he had heard similar speculation more than once and went on to share an anecdote involving fellow singer Gummy. "Gummy worries about me a lot. One day she came to me with a serious expression and asked, 'Oppa, you're not into that, right?'" Kim said, sending the studio into laughter. He added that the comment gave him pause. "After hearing that, I started reflecting on my life. I wondered if I come across as too much of a loner, or if my long hair makes some people see me that way," he said with a sigh. Actor Joo Sang-wook, watching the footage on a monitor, could not hide his surprise. "In the middle of watching, I caught myself thinking, 'Wait — from what I knew, he definitely wasn't, but did I have it wrong?' and kept rewinding," he said. Host Shin Dong-yup stepped in with a firm correction, drawing more laughs: "Kim Bum-soo is very much into women."

Sept. 14, 2026

Actor Lee Ji-yeon to marry 'I Am Solo' cast member Yeongcheol

Actor Lee Ji-yeon is set to marry Yeongcheol, a cast member from Season 21 of the reality dating show "I Am Solo." On Saturday, Lee announced the news on her social media, sharing wedding photos and writing that she had "met a wonderful person and is embarking on a new beginning together." In the photos, Lee wore a sleeveless dress with ribbon-detailed shoulder straps and a full, softly beaded wedding gown, striking an elegant figure throughout. Yeongcheol cut a dependable figure in looks ranging from a beige suit to a sharp black tuxedo. Another set of photos showed the couple in playful matching outfits — jeans, white tops, scarves and sunglasses. Lee said she had hesitated to reach out to everyone individually, worried about imposing on them, and acknowledged that some may not have heard the news directly from her. "If anyone feels hurt by that, I sincerely hope you will understand," she wrote. She added, "If you reach out to me, I will gladly and gratefully share the news with you. I will hold every word of congratulations close to my heart and live beautifully." Lee previously represented South Korea at the international beauty pageant Miss Globe. Yeongcheol works in pipe sales in the steel industry.

Sept. 14, 2026

Former announcer Kim So-young: 'I started with W30m in severance — now I run a W7b company'

Kim So-young, 38, a former MBC announcer turned entrepreneur, has opened up about her business journey — crediting her husband, Oh Sang-jin, 46, as the driving force behind her success. Appearing on JTBC's "Knowing Bros" on Saturday, Kim described herself as "the CEO of a company that has received 7 billion won ($5.23 million) in investment," adding that her cosmetics brand had recently launched in the United States and was gaining attention after being featured in European magazines. Cast member Lee Su-geun responded with a laugh, saying, "Sang-jin really married well — congratulations." Kim reflected on what led her to entrepreneurship, saying she was not naturally inclined toward business. "I became an announcer because I thought from a young age it was a good job, but I kept feeling like something was off," she said. She added that her husband had been her backbone. "He told me to quit the stable broadcasting job, trust myself and do what I wanted to do," she said. Kim also said that while her business struggled in the early days, Oh never stopped cheering her on. "I started my first business with 30 million won in severance pay, and my husband kept telling me to keep chasing my dreams — and that's how 10 years passed," she said. "I don't think I could have done any of this without him." She also revealed that Oh has taken charge of the household, handling childcare and cooking on top of daily chores. Over the past eight years, Kim has launched four brands: an offline bookstore called "Chaekbaljonso" in 2017, an e-commerce platform called "Bronte" in 2020, and in 2024, a self-developed wellness and healthcare brand called "Seren" and a skincare brand called "Curved." Her brand-building company, Beplant, secured 7 billion won in sole Series A funding from Altos Ventures in July 2025. Kim and Oh first met as senior and junior announcers at MBC. The couple married in 2017 and have a daughter, Sua, and a son, Suho.

Sept. 14, 2026

Koo Hye-sun goes bold with solo self-cut: 'I made a mess, all by myself'

Actor and venture company CEO Koo Hye-sun has revealed a dramatic new look after cutting her own hair into a bold short style. On Sunday, Koo posted several photos on her social media with the caption, "I made a mess, all by myself." The photos show her transformed into a short crop. What drew particular attention was a pile of cut hair on the floor beside an eyebrow razor — making clear she had pulled off the entire style change at home using nothing but the small blade. She then turned the camera on herself, wearing a faint, satisfied smile. The short bob and straight bangs gave her a noticeably chic edge, while her signature fresh-faced charm remained intact. Koo has built a career spanning acting, directing and writing, and has recently extended her reach into entrepreneurship by launching a product she personally invented and patented.

Sept. 14, 2026

Singer says obsessive fan secretly filed marriage registration without his knowledge

Singer Kim Beom-ryong has shared how an obsessive fan turned him into a married man without his knowledge. Appearing on MBN's "Sokpuri Show Dongchimi" on Saturday, Kim said he discovered the situation after pulling a copy of his household registration by chance, only to find that a marriage had been filed in his name to a woman he had never agreed to marry. A fan who had been following him around had secretly filed the marriage registration on his behalf. Kim said that in the late 1980s, when the incident occurred, either spouse could complete a marriage registration alone — the other person's presence was not required. When Kim told fellow singer Jeon Young-rok about the situation, Jeon immediately recognized the woman, saying, "That sounds just like her." The matter did not end as a minor incident. When Kim later married, his wife ended up listed as his second spouse in the official registry. Kim said he subsequently went through a trial and obtained a ruling annulling the marriage, allowing him to clear his registry. He added that the fan's obsession only ended after he married. Actress Im Ye-jin, also on the program, sympathized with Kim's story, saying it had been a common headache for actresses of that era as well. Kim debuted in 1985 with "Baram Baram Baram" and went on to score hits including "Cafe wa Yeoin" and "Gyeoulbineun Naerigo." He remains active, most recently releasing a new song, "Yeonjeong," recorded with singer Joo Hyun-mi.

Sept. 14, 2026

Photo purportedly from assault scene draws attention as Seungri denies charges

A photo purportedly taken at the scene of an alleged assault involving former Big Bang member Seungri has drawn attention, amid reports that he faces aggravated assault charges stemming from an incident at a bar. On Sunday, a social media account belonging to a self-described overseas fan of Seungri posted a photo of the singer said to have been taken in August. In the image, Seungri — wearing a black cap — is seen smiling broadly alongside three others at what appears to be a bar. A birthday cake, snacks and bottles of alcohol are visible on the table. Speculation emerged that the photo was taken at the scene on the day of the alleged incident. Fans left comments such as "He was celebrating a birthday — why does someone always have to bother him?" and "A drunk person came to Seungri's table and harassed him, right?" However, it has not been confirmed whether the photo was actually taken at the scene of the incident. It recently came to light that a man in his 30s, identified only as A, filed a complaint against Seungri on aggravated assault charges on Aug. 26. A claims Seungri assaulted him at a restaurant in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Seungri, however, told Ilgan Sports that he was wrongly accused. He said he had been having a meal with two acquaintances at a sundaeguk restaurant in Gangnam on the morning of Aug. 8 when A, drunk, approached from another table and abruptly demanded to join them. Seungri said he refused multiple times, but A would not leave, insisting that Seungri hear out his business ideas. "Eventually he ended up joining us — we talked, drank together, and even exchanged numbers to stay in touch," Seungri said. "A even walked me to the door when I was heading home," Seungri said. "A few hours later, he texted saying he would bring a business plan the following week — so I was baffled when, for some reason, he changed his mind and filed a complaint saying he had been harmed." On the aggravated assault charges specifically, Seungri acknowledged that he had picked up a bottle during the exchange over whether A could join the table, but denied using it threateningly. "I picked it up — that's true — but I never swung it or threatened anyone with it," he said. Seungri said he is considering filing a counter-complaint against A for false accusation. Seungri, a former member of Big Bang, was implicated in the 2019 "Burning Sun" scandal and was sentenced by the Supreme Court to one year and six months in prison on nine charges, including habitual gambling, prostitution, arranging prostitution, incitement to aggravated assault and embezzlement. He served the sentence.

Sept. 14, 2026

'Not a premarital pregnancy': Actor Ji Ye-eun opens up about Bata proposal, December wedding

Actor Ji Ye-eun addressed rumors of a premarital pregnancy ahead of her December wedding to choreographer Bata, sharing her excitement about the marriage on Sunday's broadcast. The episode of SBS variety program "Running Man" that aired Sunday featured fellow cast members celebrating Ji's upcoming nuptials. Ji said that day that she had already decided to marry Bata by the time she publicly announced their relationship last April. Responding to speculation that the sudden wedding announcement pointed to a premarital pregnancy, she said, "People around me say the marriage is too soon and ask if I'm pregnant before marriage — I find that unfair. I don't have a child." She added, "We don't have plans for children yet," saying she wanted to enjoy married life a little longer before thinking about it. Ji explained why she decided to marry Bata, saying, "He is such a warm person. Even when we argue, he speaks kindly, and he was a great source of strength when I was sick." She went on to say, "I think the best kind of person is someone who stands firmly by your side when you're unwell," expressing her affection for him. Ji also appeared to have already grown close to Bata's family. "His parents adore me. They always watch 'Running Man,'" she said, adding, "My in-laws farm in Chungju, and I went there to see his mother, which is why I couldn't make it to oppa Jong-guk's concert." The broadcast also revealed details of Bata's proposal. "It had been a worn-out day with a lot of filming, and when I got home there was a path of balloons and candles," Ji recalled. "I thought he had hired an event company." She continued, "He read me a letter and gave me a ring — it was Tiffany. My first Tiffany. After the proposal, we hugged tightly and cried." The two were both born in 1994 and grew closer through religion before becoming a couple. Bata contributed choreography to "Milkshake," a song by the project group Chungju Ji-ssi formed by Ji and Ji Seok-jin, and the two also shared the stage at Waterbomb Seoul 2025. Ji and Bata are set to wed on Dec. 12.

Sept. 13, 2026

Actor An Eun-jin opens up about facial paralysis during filming, casting controversy

Actor An Eun-jin has spoken candidly about developing facial paralysis during a drama shoot and the emotional toll of a miscasting controversy. An appeared as a guest on the YouTube channel Yojeong Jaehyeong, published Sunday, where she looked back on the most difficult moments of her career. Recalling the 2023 JTBC drama series "Bad Mother," An said she developed facial palsy. "I was washing my face and brushing my teeth on a shoot day when I noticed water leaking from one side of my mouth," she said. She initially dismissed the symptom, but as it worsened she went to a hospital and was diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis. "I thought a few days of rest would fix it, but I kept getting worse. I was so depressed and heartbroken at the time," she said. An halted filming to undergo treatment, but recovery proved difficult. "My face moved with a time lag, so they could only shoot my side profile," she said. "I got acupuncture every day at a traditional medicine clinic and strong steroid injections at a Western medicine clinic, but I still didn't get better. I ended up finishing the drama while my face was still swollen." The hardship continued into her next project. An went on to achieve breakout success with the MBC drama series "Lover" that same year, but in the early stages of production she faced a cold public reception over a miscasting controversy. "The pressure on 'Lover' was so heavy — I was scared and had no confidence," she said. "I agonized endlessly over whether I could actually perform well on set." Rather than hide her weaknesses, she chose to confront them head-on. "The answer is always the direct approach. I thought there was no other way than to lay myself bare and be honest," she said, adding that she asked the director for help. She told the director: "I can't act if I don't feel loved on set. If you don't show me that love, my self-esteem won't build up. Please help me." The director responded by personally working through the script with her. Host Jeong Jae-hyeong expressed admiration for her candor. "That's something most people couldn't bring themselves to say out of pride," he said. "The direct approach — that's truly impressive." An is currently starring alongside Seo Kang-jun in the KBS2 weekend drama series "A Love Other Than Yours."

Sept. 13, 2026

Hong Seo-beom spotted in good spirits amid son's infidelity controversy

Singer Hong Seo-beom, who has been at the center of controversy over his son's alleged infidelity, has been spotted in good spirits. Broadcaster Kim Gu-ra shared a recent encounter with Hong on his YouTube channel "Geurigura" in a video titled "Neighborhood Public Sentiment Report, Part 3 — Yongin Suji-gu," posted Friday. In the video, Kim mentioned a real estate segment he had released the previous week and recounted a chance meeting with Hong. "In the last episode, we covered home prices in Siksa-dong, Ilsan, and it got 200,000 views," Kim said. "I ran into sunbae Hong Seo-beom at a neighborhood community center while working out, and he gave me a thumbs up, saying the Siksa-dong episode was really good." Kim added that comedian Jo Mun-sik also owns an apartment in Siksa-dong and had reached out to say he enjoyed the video. "He owns a place there — seems like he has it on jeonse — and messaged me to say he liked it," Kim said. "Getting 200,000 views, I think it reflects the hopes of all those residents who love their neighborhood but are frustrated that home prices just are not going up." The earlier video, posted Friday, featured Kim and real estate expert Kim In-man analyzing apartment market prices in Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Kim In-man noted that some apartments in the area had peaked in 2021 and seen prices fall since, and offered the view that current market prices are relatively undervalued. Kim Gu-ra, who said he bought an apartment in Siksa-dong in 2011, expressed frustration. "Someone who sold their apartment in Daechi-dong and moved here regrets it, and actor Lee Gye-in also lamented moving after selling his Yeouido apartment," he said. "The residential environment is excellent, but it is hard to accept that prices are still hovering around the pre-sale level." Meanwhile, Hong has been embroiled in controversy after his son's alleged infidelity came to light. A woman identified only as A, the former common-law wife of Hong's son, identified as B, filed a lawsuit seeking damages, claiming their relationship broke down in September 2024 when B had an affair while she was pregnant. A trial court ruled last September that B was liable and ordered him to pay 30 million won ($22,400) in consolation money and 800,000 won in monthly child support. A appealed the ruling in October of that year, and the appellate court issued a partial ruling in her favor. A has since filed a further appeal, and the case is now before the Supreme Court. As the controversy grew, Hong and his wife Jo Gap-gyeong issued an apology, saying they had refrained from intervening in their son's divorce proceedings out of respect for his privacy and autonomy as an adult, but acknowledged they had fallen short as parents by failing to keep a closer watch over his conduct. "We sincerely reflect on our failure to set a proper example as public figures," they said, adding that they would ensure their son fulfills his legal obligations, including child support and consolation payments, as soon as possible. Hong is set to perform at a commemorative concert honoring former President Park Chung-hee on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

Sept. 12, 2026

Actor Jeon Won-ju says fee dispute, not health, drove YouTube hiatus

Actor Jeon Won-ju, who has been the subject of health rumors, has spoken out about why she recently stepped back from YouTube. A video titled "My 63-year friend Jeon Won-ju is still doing fine" was posted Friday on fellow actor Sami-ja's YouTube channel, showing the two friends and Sami-ja's husband sitting down for a conversation. During the meeting, Sami-ja asked Jeon why she had decided to pause her YouTube activities for now. Jeon said she planned to start again, adding that a dispute over money had been behind the break. Making a hand gesture to indicate money, she said, "When I said I wanted to raise the fee a bit, they said they would quit, so I just told them to go ahead." She added, "I was going to quit too, but I thought I shouldn't be too hung up on money." Sami-ja's husband, Kim Gwan-su, offered some advice in response. "It's about time you stopped worrying about that sort of thing," he said. Earlier, the production team behind Jeon's YouTube channel "Jeon Won-ju-in-gong," which has about 120,000 subscribers, announced at the end of August that they were departing the project. "We have produced and operated the channel since its launch, but we will no longer be producing the 'Jeon Won-ju-in-gong' channel," the team said. "We are deeply grateful for all the support and attention you have shown us." The sudden departure of the production team prompted some to speculate that Jeon might be facing health problems. Her agency, Sky People Entertainment, drew a line under the health rumors, saying the change was "simply part of a process to reorganize the channel" and that Jeon's health was "perfectly fine with no issues whatsoever with her broadcasting activities." Meanwhile, Jeon revealed in April on TV Chosun's "Perfect Life" that she had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment — sometimes described as a precursor to dementia — during a health checkup. Mild cognitive impairment refers to a condition in which memory, language and judgment are below average but daily functioning remains possible, and it is distinct from dementia.

Sept. 12, 2026

Catteyes member Megan speaks out about being groped during Paris concert

Megan, a member of the global girl group Catteyes, has spoken out about being sexually assaulted by an audience member during a concert, urging fans to respect proper etiquette at performances. According to multiple entertainment outlets, Megan shared her experience Friday through Weverse, a fan communication platform. The incident occurred Wednesday at the Accor Arena in Paris during Catteyes' world tour "THE WILDWORLD TOUR." The members had stepped into the audience area during their performance of "Timelapse" to interact with fans up close. "I love going down to the audience because I get to see your faces up close and hold your hands," Megan wrote, "but on Wednesday someone grabbed my chest and I was a little surprised and flustered." She added that she understood fans' excitement but asked them not to touch the members inappropriately. "I hope we can all respect each other so that everyone can share these beautiful moments together safely," she said. Catteyes is a six-member multinational girl group created by Hybe in partnership with US label Geffen Records. The group includes Korean member Yoonchae, American member Daniela, Indian-American member Lara, Swiss member Manon, Singaporean Chinese-American member Megan, and Filipino-American member Sofia. The group has drawn global attention after their third mini-album "WILD" topped the Billboard 200. The world tour kicked off Sept. 2 in Dublin, Ireland, and is scheduled to visit 27 cities across 10 countries in Europe and North America. Following the Paris show, the tour continues Oct. 11 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Sept. 12, 2026

Song Chang-sik speaks out on being branded a traitor in 1970s marijuana scandal

Singer Song Chang-sik has spoken out about being wrongly branded a traitor during the marijuana scandal that shook South Korea's music industry in the 1970s. Song and fellow singer Jeong Mi-jo are set to appear on episode 42 of MBN's "Day and Night with Kim Ju-ha," airing Saturday, continuing from last week's appearance. The two will share behind-the-scenes accounts of the marijuana incident and their abrupt retirements. "When the marijuana scandal broke, investigators came to me first," Song said. "Rumors had spread that I was using marijuana." Song said he had actually been wary of marijuana at the time, knowing it caused pitch instability and was therefore harmful to a singing career. He said he found it deeply unfair that investigators still came to him first despite that. Making matters worse, Song recalled that after he was the first to be taken in and then released, other singers began entering for questioning one after another. "A lot of people misunderstood that I had tipped off investigators and that a list of names had come from me," he said. The scandal Song described refers to a 1975 case in which nearly 120 musicians were detained on charges of marijuana use. Comedians, actors and directors were also penalized alongside musicians. Song was born in 1947 and formed the duo Twin Folio with Yun Hyeong-ju in 1967, making his debut the following year with the album "Twin Folio Vol. 1." He went solo in 1970 and won wide public affection with songs including "The Piper" and "Why Do You Call."

Sept. 12, 2026

Hong Jin-kyung, 49, travels to US for brain scan after noticing sharp memory decline

Broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung, 49, traveled to the United States for a comprehensive brain examination after noticing a marked decline in her memory. Hong posted a video Thursday to her YouTube channel, titled "Is Hong Jin-kyung's memory OK? Results from a full examination by medical staff at a prestigious US university." In the video, she visited a hospital in San Francisco and was examined by neuroscientist Professor Lee Jin-hyung. "It's frustrating that my memory is clearly deteriorating significantly, yet MRI scans keep coming back normal," Hong said. "I wanted to get a proper brain examination done, and if there's a problem somewhere, get treatment before I leave." A neurologist who conducted the brain tests said signs of depression were detected. "Depression can affect memory as well, and if it worsens, it could lead to more serious problems," the doctor said. Professor Lee said some readings fell slightly outside the normal range. "It's not very serious, but there are abnormal signals in the circuits related to memory," Lee said, noting that Hong showed mild depression and some memory issues. Hong decided to stay an additional week to undergo treatment. After five days of treatment and a follow-up brain scan, Hong said she felt clearer-headed and reported that her condition had improved considerably. Hong married a businessman five years her senior in 2003 and gave birth to a daughter in 2010. She was later diagnosed with ovarian cancer and recovered after about two years of treatment. In August 2025, she announced she had divorced after 22 years of marriage.

Sept. 12, 2026

Actor Kim Ga-yeon, who sues every troll, made one exception — here's why

Actor Kim Ga-yeon, 54, who has waged a decade-long campaign against online trolls, revealed that she made a single exception — dropping charges against one person — and explained why. A video titled "The reason Kim Ga-yeon, who never settles with trolls, withdrew her complaint against just one person (ft. Lim Yo-hwan)" was posted Friday on the YouTube channel "Kim Ga-yeon and Lim Yo-hwan's Game Couple." Kim has long suffered from malicious online comments and began filing complaints against trolls more than a decade ago. She has taken legal action against nearly 100 people, earning her the nickname "Queen of Lawsuits." She said hateful comments directed at her daughter were what first pushed her to act. "As a mother, I was filled with rage — I thought, 'I really have to destroy them,'" she said. Kim's standing rule was no settlement, regardless of the troll's age. But she said there was one person she chose to forgive, and she shared the story. "The detective told me the suspect's parents really wanted to meet me in person," she said. "It was the first time parents had ever asked to meet. I felt like I had to go." She went to the police station. "One of the two parents came in on crutches. Then a middle school student walked in behind them, looking absolutely terrified. I thought to myself, 'This kid is the one who posted those comments?'" she said. The student, it turned out, had not posted the comments entirely of his own free will. Kim explained that there was a website popular among boys at the time, and students who did not participate risked being ostracized at school. The site was anonymous but displayed rank badges — the more posts or comments a user made, the higher their rank climbed. The student was the top academic performer in his school and had joined the site to avoid being bullied. Unable to bring himself to write original posts, he had copied and reposted others' content as a stopgap. "Out of all those posts, he happened to get caught because of me," she said. "He was speaking in a trembling voice — it wasn't an act," Kim said. "I never drop charges, but after hearing his story, I understood why he had no choice." That, she said, was why she withdrew the complaint. Even after dropping the charges, Kim said she kept the story private for several years to protect the student. "He's probably old enough to have graduated from university by now," she said. "I believe he's living a good life — one I won't regret having given him a chance." Kim married in 1995 and has an elder daughter, now 30, from that marriage, which ended in divorce in 1998. She later married professional gamer Lim Yo-hwan, 46, eight years her junior, in 2011, and the couple have a younger daughter, now 11.

Sept. 11, 2026

Ex-baseball star Hwang Jae-gyun opens up about back-to-back cafe failures in Seongsu-dong

Former baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun has shared the story of how he launched a cafe business — and watched it fail. In a video posted Friday to his YouTube channel "Illu Hwang," Hwang visited Seongsu-dong in Seoul to talk about fashion. While eating ice cream on the streets of Seongsu-dong, Hwang opened up about his painful experience trying to break into the food and beverage industry in the neighborhood. "About three years ago, I opened a bagel cafe in Seongsu-dong," he said. "It went under in five months, so I switched to a salad cafe — and that one failed in three months." The two ventures combined did not even add up to a full year of operation. Hwang opened a franchise bagel cafe in Seongsu-dong with friends in April 2022, just before his marriage to Ji-yeon. It was a time when bagels were sweeping the food industry — London Bagel Museum had opened near Anguk Station in 2021 to wide popularity. Fellow baseball players and celebrities rallied behind the venture, and word of mouth drew fans to the shop, but it closed before long. Hwang recently made headlines for a different reason: his monthly electricity bill at his solo residence had climbed as high as 1.5 million won ($1,120). He said he had been using a refrigerator he bought for post-workout ice baths every day, and ultimately unplugged it when the electricity costs became too much to bear. Hwang married T-ara member Ji-yeon in 2022 but divorced in 2024. After retiring from professional baseball last year, he has been expanding his public presence through television appearances and YouTube.

Sept. 11, 2026

Park Myung-soo quietly supported 'Halmeongsu' crew during production halt

Comedian Park Myung-soo quietly gave financial support to the production crew of JTBC's web variety show "Halmeongsu" during a two-month filming halt, it has emerged. A new video titled "Guess who's back from prison??? Thought we were done for? Halmeongsu is back in business" was posted Friday to the show's YouTube channel. "Halmeongsu" had suspended filming in July after JTBC filed for court receivership in June amid a financial crisis. The show resumed production roughly two months later. Reuniting with the crew on camera, Park said he was deeply disappointed when filming had to stop. "I'm so happy that things are back to normal and we can broadcast again," he said. "I'm sorry we couldn't see our subscribers for two months." When told that many viewers had worried about the crew's livelihoods during the hiatus, Park brushed it off with a joke. "Don't worry about broadcasters and entertainers," he said. It was the crew who revealed that Park had been worrying about them all along — and had given them money. Visibly embarrassed to have his good deed exposed, Park opened up about it. "When everything stops, you still have credit card bills to pay and rent to cover," he said. "I sat at home thinking it over, and I felt it would be shameful of me, as an adult in this society, to just sit still. So I gave a little to each of them." Park then joked that he never received a single text in response, but a crew member rebuffed him, saying they had all been so moved that they cried and sent him messages. One crew member, apparently overcome by the memory, teared up on set. Park offered the crew some words of encouragement. "The crew are all young — in their 20s and 30s — so I was not especially worried," he said. "At that age, you need to experience failure too. That becomes your asset."

Sept. 11, 2026

Mother of singer Jang Yun-jeong sentenced to prison amid claims daughter tried to send her to remote island

The mother of singer Jang Yun-jeong, identified as Yuk, 70, has been sentenced to prison in a first-instance ruling on investment fraud charges — amid resurfaced claims that she once alleged her daughter had tried to send her to a remote island in the Jeolla region. A video titled "Jang Yun-jeong's mother, who spent the money on credit card bills, ultimately detained… the reason she cannot be forgiven" was posted Thursday on the YouTube channel "Entertainment Behind-the-Scenes — Lee Jin-ho." Lee Jin-ho, a YouTuber and former entertainment reporter, recounted past episodes involving Yuk in the video. "At the time, I visited Yuk's home, and she brought out a map and pointed to a barely visible island in the Jeolla region, saying that was where they had tried to send her," Lee said. "Yuk claimed she had been dragged away but managed to escape dramatically." Citing those claims, Lee said he believed Jang had ultimately cut ties with her family after a prolonged series of conflicts. "Jang Yun-jeong was under constant attack from her family, so she severed all ties and walked away entirely — she ran away from them," he said. Yuk was sentenced Thursday to 10 months in prison after being convicted of defrauding an acquaintance of 31 million won ($23,200). The court took into account that Yuk had previously received a summary order for fraud and criticized her for "poor conduct." Yuk shed tears in silence as the ruling was read. Yuk is accused of invoking her daughter's name as a famous singer to collect 31 million won from an acquaintance in three installments between September 2024 and August of the following year, under the guise of investment. In June, Jang said she had no connection whatsoever to the allegations surrounding her mother. Jang's representatives said she "has had absolutely no direct contact with her mother for over a decade," adding that "the text messages and investment-related content her mother is said to have presented are not true and have nothing to do with her," drawing a clear line between herself and the matter.

Sept. 11, 2026