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  • Actor Kim Seon-ho denies alleged tax evasion
    Actor Kim Seon-ho denies alleged tax evasion SEOUL, February 2 (AJP) - Actor Kim Seon-ho has denied allegations of tax evasion after claims that he set up a corporation with family members as executives, paid fabricated wages, and used a corporate credit card for personal expenses. In a press statement through his management agency Fantagio on Sunday, the actor said he is fully complying with all required legal and tax procedures. The allegations come amid his regaining popularity recently with his Netflix hit series "Can This Love Be Translated?" after a break he took several years ago due to a controversy involving his ex-girlfriend. But Kim explained that the family-run company was established for his theater-related activities with no intention of "tax reduction or tax evasion." Since the business has been inactive for about a year, he is now closing it in accordance with relevant regulations. He then vowed to continue complying with all relevant laws and procedures so he can continue his work without "unnecessary misunderstandings. Separately, it was previously revealed that singer-turned-actor Cha Eun-woo, who also belongs to the same agency, allegedly evaded taxes worth 20 billion won (US$13.6 million) by diverting taxable earnings through a company established by his mother, which reportedly had little to no actual business activity. Fantagio said it is cooperating with an investigation by tax authorities and will take necessary action. 2026-02-02 15:44:37
  • BTS’ Jung Kook’s ‘Seven’ Extends Long Run on Spotify Weekly Global Charts
    BTS’ Jung Kook’s ‘Seven’ Extends Long Run on Spotify Weekly Global Charts BTS’ Jung Kook is extending a long run on Spotify’s weekly global charts with his solo debut single “Seven” and his first full-length album, “GOLDEN.” “Seven” ranked No. 77 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs Global chart for the Jan. 16-22 tracking period, with more than 12.12 million streams for the week. Released on Nov. 3, 2023, the song has remained a steady presence on the global chart for more than two years. The track has logged 132 consecutive weeks on the global chart, a first and the longest run for a song by an Asian solo artist. Its cumulative streams have surpassed 2.7647 billion, also a first for a song by an Asian artist, and it is nearing 2.8 billion. Spotify recently also ranked it No. 1 among the most-streamed songs released in 2023. “GOLDEN” also continues to chart. It ranked No. 81 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global chart for the same period, marking 116 consecutive weeks on the chart — the first and longest run for an album by an Asian solo artist. The album has surpassed 6.6 billion cumulative streams on Spotify, the highest total for a full-length album by an Asian artist. On Jung Kook’s Spotify profile, his cumulative streams across all credits have topped 10.3 billion, the fastest such milestone for an Asian artist and a first for a K-pop solo artist. “Seven” has also charted for 129 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Global 200 and 131 weeks on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S., setting first and longest runs for a song by an Asian solo artist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 08:12:29
  • Lotte Cinema Unveils February Exclusive “Lottepick” Animation Lineup
    Lotte Cinema Unveils February Exclusive “Lottepick” Animation Lineup Lotte Cinema has announced its February lineup for “Lottepick,” a series of exclusive theatrical releases. With animation emerging as a major draw at the box office, the chain said it curated three themed titles aimed at both families on school break and dedicated animation fans. “I Am Star! X Pripara The Movie -Miracle of Encounter!-,” a collaboration marking the 10th anniversary of “I Am Star!” and “Pripara,” will open exclusively on Feb. 4. The two franchises are long-running staples of girls’ animation, and the film brings to theaters a crossover project fans have sought for years. The children’s series “Octonauts” returns with a new season, “Land Creature Rescue Operation,” opening Feb. 12. Lotte Cinema described it as an adventure education animation in which the Octonauts and their agents set out to rescue land animals, expanding their missions beyond the sea to land and sky. “Baby Tyranno Devo: It’s OK to Be a Herbivore!” opens Feb. 25. The coming-of-age adventure follows Devo, a baby carnivorous dinosaur raised among a herd of herbivores, as he navigates mishaps and friendships. Set in the Cretaceous period, the film features Devo, his family and a range of colorful dinosaur characters. Lotte Cinema said, “To match the school vacation season and holidays, we selected three animated films that all generations can enjoy together. We will continue to introduce outstanding content across genres each month through ‘Lottepick.’”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:36:21
  • ADOR Says Min Hee Jin’s NewJeans Tampering Claims Should Be Settled in Court
    ADOR Says Min Hee Jin’s NewJeans Tampering Claims Should Be Settled in Court ADOR distanced itself from a news conference held by former CEO Min Hee Jin’s side over allegations of “tampering” involving K-pop group NewJeans. After the news conference on Tuesday, ADOR said, “If they have claims, it’s something to be argued in court.” Earlier Tuesday, a news conference titled “The truth about tampering by former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and the Dabolink stock price manipulation case” was held at the Kyowon Jonggak Building in Seoul’s Jongno district. Kim Sun Woong, an attorney at law firm Jiam representing Min, attended. Min did not. Kim said the event was meant to “set the record straight” on the “NewJeans tampering allegations” raised during ADOR’s damages lawsuit and in contract termination and damages suits involving some NewJeans members. Min’s side argued the tampering allegations were orchestrated by a stock price manipulation group and were unrelated to her. They also raised the possibility of involvement by members’ families and a specific businessman, and claimed there were signs ADOR’s management and its largest shareholder knew of it but sought to use it in legal disputes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:27:00
  • Lee Jun Hyuk Cast in SBS Occult Drama Awakening as an Exorcist Priest
    Lee Jun Hyuk Cast in SBS Occult Drama 'Awakening' as an Exorcist Priest Actor Lee Jun Hyuk has confirmed his casting in SBS’ new drama “Awakening.” SBS’ “Awakening,” written by Jang Yoon Mi and directed by Oh Jun Hyuk, is an occult drama set in an exam-driven high school that has become a playground for evil spirits. An exorcist priest fights to save students. SBS, which expanded interest in Korean-style occult dramas with its 2023 series “Revenant,” is developing the new project with a goal of airing it in 2027. Lee will play Antonio, a new head priest assigned to Holy Spirit High School. Though he stirs students’ curiosity and anxiety, Antonio is an exorcist priest ordained by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Behind his detached exterior, he is portrayed as perceptive and empathetic. The character has endured terrifying situations alone and repeatedly prevailed in battles with evil spirits. Dispatched to the school to investigate, Antonio confronts a series of strange incidents and vows to risk everything to track down whoever is pulling children into a deadly race. SBS’ “Awakening” is scheduled to air in 2027.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:12:00
  • BTS Comeback D-52: Jins solo run draws renewed spotlight in Mexico
    BTS Comeback D-52: Jin's solo run draws renewed spotlight in Mexico SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - BTS’ Jin has been named “2025 K-POP Artist” in Mexico for the second consecutive year, underscoring his rising solo profile in a country where even the president has publicly appealed for additional BTS concert dates on behalf of young fans. The title was awarded by House Radio, Mexico’s leading digital pop music station, as Jin’s solo work continues to gain momentum ahead of BTS’ full-group comeback. Jin’s global reach has been led by “Don’t Say You Love Me,” which has amassed 795.56 million streams on Spotify, marking the strongest international performance of his solo career and signaling sustained long-term listener engagement rather than a short-lived spike. The song’s impact extended beyond streaming platforms. At the BreakTudo Awards 2025 in São Paulo, it won “International Hit of the Year,” drawing heightened attention from Latin American fans and industry observers. Beyond charts and trophies, “Don’t Say You Love Me” has been widely noted for its emotional depth. International reviews have pointed to its exploration of relationship uncertainty and the difficulty of letting go, with Rolling Stone India highlighting the track’s melancholic tone and K-drama-style narrative in its music video. House Radio’s year-end rankings further reflected Jin’s presence in the Mexican market. He placed three songs on its list of the “50 Most Important Songs of 2025,” led by “Don’t Say You Love Me” at No. 4, followed by “Running Wild” at No. 5 and “I’ll Be There” at No. 19. 2026-01-28 11:55:06
  • BTS Comeback D-52: Jimins Who earns double platinum in Canada
    BTS Comeback D-52: Jimin's 'Who' earns double platinum in Canada SEOUL, January 28 (AJP)-BTS member Jimin’s solo single “Who” received a Double Platinum Single certification on January 19, according to a music chart in Canada. Music Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), grants certifications based on combined figures from digital downloads, streaming and physical single sales. For singles, Music Canada awards Gold certification at 40,000 units, Platinum at 80,000 units and Double Platinum at 160,000 units. Released on July 19, 2024, “Who” surpassed 80,000 units within approximately six months, earning Platinum certification in January. The track has since exceeded 160,000 units in Canada, qualifying it for Double Platinum status. On the same day, “Set Me Free Pt.2,” a pre-release track from Jimin’s first solo album FACE, received Gold certification. Earlier, on January. 16, “Filter” was certified Platinum, while “Lie” earned Gold certification, further highlighting Jimin’s strength as a solo artist in the Canadian market. Jimin had previously made a history with “Like Crazy,” the title track of his first solo album, "FACE," which became the first Korean-language solo track to receive Platinum certification in Canada since PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” With “Who” also reaching Platinum-level certification, Jimin is the first and only Korean artist to earn multiple Music Canada Platinum certifications with non-collaboration solo tracks. 2026-01-28 10:28:34
  • Park Chan-wooks No Other Choice fails to make BAFTA final nominees
    Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' fails to make BAFTA final nominees SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's film No Other Choice failed to make the final list of five nominees competing for next month's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. Among the five final nominees, announced on Tuesday about a month ahead of the annual awards, were Iran's "It Was Just an Accident," Brazilian historical thriller "The Secret Agent," Norway's "Sentimental Value," Spanish-French co-production "Sirât," and Tunisian-French co-production "The Voice of Hind Rajab." Earlier last month, expectations had been building after Park's 139-minute thriller was longlisted, along with nine other films, for the award recognizing the "Best Film Not in the English Language." Previously, "No Other Choice" did not win any awards at the U.S. Golden Globes earlier this month despite earning three nominations, and it also missed out on the final nominees for the prestigious Academy Awards, scheduled to be held in March. But "Bugonia," a remake of director Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 film "Save the Green Planet!" is vying for awards after earning five nominations. The 79th BAFTA ceremony will be held in London on Feb. 22. 2026-01-28 10:17:14
  • BTS world tour triggers global travel surge, boosting Korea tourism
    BTS world tour triggers global travel surge, boosting Korea tourism SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - Global excitement is building ahead of BTS’s first full-group world tour in more than four years. Fans are moving quickly to secure flights and accommodation to Korea, helping turn “tour tourism” into a major growth driver for the local travel industry. According to global travel platform Hotels.com on January 21, searches for inbound travel to Korea surged in the 48 hours following the announcement of BTS’s new world tour, BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’, on January 13. The spike reflects how global fans’ desire to see the group’s comeback in person quickly turned into travel plans. The surge in interest was also seen in ticket sales, with all BTS shows in North America and Europe selling out. Stadium venues in each region saw seats snapped up shortly after ticket sales opened. The world tour will begin on April 9 at Goyang Sports Complex. All presale dates were sold out. The tour will then move to the Tokyo Dome on April 17. The North American tour will start at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on April 25, 26 and 28, before moving on to cities including El Paso, Mexico City, Stanford and Las Vegas. In total, BTS will perform 31 shows across 12 cities. BTS will perform 31 shows in 12 cities, with extra dates added in Tampa, Stanford and Las Vegas due to strong demand. The Europe tour will begin at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 26 and 27. BTS will then perform in cities such as Brussels, London, Munich and Paris, with 10 shows in five cities. The North American tour will be another milestone, with BTS becoming the first Korean artist to hold solo concerts at major U.S. stadiums such as Sun Bowl Stadium, Stanford Stadium, Gillette Stadium, M&T Bank Stadium and AT&T Stadium. The world tour will include 82 shows across 34 cities, marking a record for a single K-pop tour. With more regions yet to open ticket sales and additional dates planned in Japan and the Middle East, the scale of the tour is expected to expand further. Meanwhile, BTS will release their fifth full-length album, ARIRANG, on March 20 at 1 p.m. The 14-track record captures “BTS today,” weaving together themes of identity, love and longing — and marking the start of their long-awaited return. The group's first comeback stage is set for an open urban space at Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul on March 21, although the details including the time are still being negotiated due to safety issues. 2026-01-27 09:03:33
  • Pinkfong signs deal with US entertainment firm to develop family stage shows
    Pinkfong signs deal with US entertainment firm to develop family stage shows SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - The Pinkfong Company said on Tuesday it has signed a partnership with U.S.-based live entertainment and touring firm Terrapin Station Entertainment to jointly develop new stage productions for family audiences. Terrapin Station Entertainment has produced and toured live shows based on family-oriented intellectual property, including Disney Junior, Peppa Pig and Gabby’s Magic House, and has operated large-scale tours across North America. Under the agreement, the two companies will plan and develop a K-pop concert-style family show featuring the Pinkfong Company’s intellectual property, including Pinkfong, Baby Shark and Bebefinn. The Pinkfong Company said it has staged performances in more than 200 cities across 16 countries, attracting a cumulative audience of over 1.5 million. It said the partnership is designed to move beyond one-off events toward repeatable, large-scale touring formats and to expand global revenue streams. The new production will target families and adopt a K-pop concert format built around the concept of “a child’s first concert.” The companies said the show will combine music, dance and visual effects with audience-participation segments to recreate the energy of a K-pop performance. Pinkfong and Baby Shark will headline the show, alongside Bebefinn. Jeong Yeon-bin, head of the Pinkfong Company’s U.S. operations, said the partnership provides a “new springboard” for expanding the company’s live entertainment business globally. “We will continue to broaden our engagement with fans worldwide through high-quality performance experiences,” Jeong said in a press release. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-20 10:14:48