Singer Kim Ho Joong Loses Lawsuit Against 180 Alleged Anti-Fans Singer Kim Ho Joong, who is serving a prison sentence over a drunk-driving hit-and-run case, has lost a damages lawsuit he filed against 180 alleged anti-fans seeking about 700 million won. The Seoul Central District Court ruled at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the case Kim brought against Kang, identified only by the surname, and 179 others. Kim filed the lawsuit in June 2021, seeking 764 million won in damages from the 180 people over negative posts about him online. They were reported to have raised issues related to his military service. Kim was indicted after prosecutors said he crashed into a taxi while driving after drinking in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam District, in May 2024, then fled and had his manager make a false confession. The court sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges including dangerous driving causing injury and fleeing after causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. He is serving his sentence at Somang Prison in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and is scheduled to be released in November.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 16:03:00

Fantagio Says Cha Eun-woo’s Family Not Tied to Eel Restaurant Amid Tax Evasion Allegations ASTRO member Cha Eun-woo has been linked to allegations of 20 billion won in tax evasion, and attention has turned to an eel restaurant previously operated by his mother. Fantagio said Tuesday that the currently operating “Eojeoyeon Cheongdam” is “a completely separate corporation” from “Eojeoyeon Charcoal-Grilled Eel” on Ganghwa Island. The agency said Eojeoyeon Cheongdam is run by Fantagio M, a wholly owned Fantagio subsidiary, and “has no connection to Cha Eun-woo’s family.” Earlier, Cha’s parents operated Eojeoyeon Charcoal-Grilled Eel in Ganghwa, Incheon. A corporation set up by his mother, identified only as Choi, listed the restaurant as its address, but the National Tax Service viewed it as a paper company that did not provide actual services to Cha. The Ganghwa restaurant closed late last year, but Fantagio took over the name and reopened the business as Eojeoyeon Cheongdam. Some have speculated the move was tied to the tax-evasion allegations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 11:12:00

Min Hee-jin Teases Feb. 5 Announcement as OK Records Launches Amid NewJeans Dispute Min Hee-jin, who was removed as CEO amid a management dispute with HYBE, has signaled an independent move tied to her recently established entertainment agency, OK. On Feb. 3, Min posted a photo on social media with the message, “20260205 10AM Coming soon.” The image shows a satin shirt bearing the OK Records logo. It also includes the label’s website and social media addresses. Visitors to the website see an animation in which images shaped like eyes, a nose and a mouth change as a whistling sound plays. Min-produced group NewJeans held an emergency news conference on Nov. 28, 2024, saying their demands for corrective action were not accepted and declaring they would leave ADOR. The members said their exclusive contracts would be terminated as of 12 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2024. They later prepared to promote independently under the new name “NJZ,” but the plan fell through. During the dispute, the members compared ADOR to “a dad who committed domestic violence” and HYBE to “a school bully,” underscoring the rift. A court later granted an injunction to preserve the agency’s status and bar advertising contracts, halting the group’s independent activities. Min established a new corporate entity, OK, on Oct. 16 last year and completed formal registration, making her independent path clear. OK Records later posted a nonpublic audition notice in December and began work on producing an idol group; Min has also said she plans to produce a boy band. Since then, members Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR first, and Hanni also decided to work with ADOR. Minji is in talks with ADOR, but Danielle’s exclusive contract has been terminated. ADOR says Danielle’s mother is a key helper in suspected tampering involving Min. Earlier this month, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking a total of 43.1 billion won in penalties and damages against Min, Danielle and Danielle’s family. Min has denied the “NewJeans tampering” allegations that sparked the legal fight. At a news conference on Jan. 28, Min’s side claimed a family member of one of the NewJeans members was involved in the suspected tampering and said Min bears no responsibility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 08:54:00

Chef Lim Seong-geun Denies Restaurant Opening Was Canceled After Sale Banner Photo Chef Lim Seong-geun, who appeared on Netflix original series including 'Culinary Class Wars 2,' has denied reports that he canceled plans to open a restaurant after it emerged he has six prior convictions, including for drunk driving. OSEN reported Tuesday, citing a person close to Lim, that the restaurant is still scheduled to open in March. The person said a banner reading "For Sale" seen in a widely shared photo was for a neighboring lot, not Lim's restaurant property. Photos circulating on online communities showed the banner hanging on a building near Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where Lim had previously said he planned to open a restaurant. Some commenters questioned whether the opening had been delayed or canceled. Lim rose to prominence after winning tvN's 'Korean Food Battle 3' in 2015. Last month, he said on a YouTube channel that he had three drunk-driving convictions, but it was later confirmed he had four. He was punished for drunk driving in 1999, 2009, 2017 and 2020. The report said Lim was sentenced in 1998 for violating the Road Traffic Act to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined 300,000 won, and was punished again for drunk driving the following year. An assault conviction also surfaced, and he halted his broadcast activities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 15:24:00

Veteran Actor Park Geun Hyung Reflects on Colleagues’ Deaths in KBS Interview Veteran actor Park Geun Hyung spoke about fellow actors who have recently died. On Tuesday’s KBS 1TV talk show “Morning Yard,” Park appeared as a guest. Park said it was his first time on the program in 10 years. He recalled previously greeting viewers on the show while appearing in the play “Father” with the late Yoon So Jung. After Park added that he had also appeared on the show when Lee Geum Hee and Lee Sang Byeok were hosts, presenter Um Ji In said, “This winter, we said goodbye to many teachers we loved. That’s why your presence feels so significant.” Park replied, “Now that they’ve all gone, it feels like my turn may be coming,” adding that the empty seats left behind make it seem as though he has stepped into their place. “I should work even harder for those who have passed,” he said. Meanwhile, “The Dresser,” starring Park and Oh Man Seok, is set in a provincial town in Britain during World War II and follows a theater troupe preparing a production of Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The play runs through March 1 at the National Theater of Korea’s Daloreum Theater.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 14:42:00

Lee's approval rating inches up to 61% SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has inched up to 61 percent, up 2 percentage points from two weeks ago, a fresh poll showed on Thursday. Some 29 percent of respondents disapproved of Lee's performance, down 3 percentage points. But Lee gained support across the country overall except in the traditional conservative stronghold of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, where his approval rating stood at 49 percent. This was attributed to more respondents shifting to a favorable view. In particular, among people in their 20s and younger, opponents outnumbered supporters two weeks ago, with 48 percent versus 31 percent, but the figures have now reversed, with 41 percent in favor versus 32 percent opposed. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) garnered 39 percent of support, down 2 percentage points, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) edged up slightly to 23 percent, up 3 percentage points. The minor Reform Party and Rebuilding Korea Party each earned 3 percent of support. The joint poll, conducted fortnightly by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research International, and Hankook Research, surveyed about 1,005 people aged 18 and older earlier this week. 2026-01-08 15:43:05

Former Bigbang member to release solo album SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - T.O.P, a former member of now-almost-defunct K-pop boy band Bigbang is expected to release a new album later this year. The rapper hinted at the release of his solo album in a post on social media with a message "A new album is on the way. Once released, it will be his first solo album since 2013. The disgraced star received a two-year suspended sentence in 2017 for smoking marijuana with a young starlet at his home in Seoul the previous year. But he drew renewed attention in December 2024 after appearing in the second season of Netflix's hit South Korean series "Squid Game." 2026-01-02 17:32:37

IU donates 200 million won to charities SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Singer and actress IU has donated 200 million won (about US$ $139,000) to charities, sharing holiday joy with the underprivileged. According to her management agency EDAM Entertainment, IU made the donation to several charities, which will be distributed to support single mothers facing economic hardship and social prejudice, children and youth in poverty, individuals with hearing disabilities, and the elderly at risk of going hungry during the cold winter. IU has donated on numerous occasions including her birthday and other anniversaries. 2025-12-31 15:50:19

Cooking show returns to top spot as most-watched non-English series on Netflix SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The second season of Netflix's hit South Korean series "Culinary Class Wars" has remained at the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive week since its release earlier this month. According to the global streaming giant's ranking website Tudum, the series garnered 4.7 million views last week, the highest among non-English TV shows overall. The previous season also claimed the top spot for three consecutive weeks when it was released in September last year. With the first three out of 13 episodes released on Dec. 16, the survival show features an intense culinary battle between lesser-known chefs, referred to as "Black Spoons," and celebrity chefs known as "White Spoons." 2025-12-31 14:07:05

Man arrested for making hundreds of prank calls SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - A man in his 50s has been arrested for making more than hundreds of false reports with the police over several months. According to police authorities, the man allegedly made 750 false reports and prank calls to emergency hotlines from March until last month, claiming incidents such as finding a weapon linked to an unsolved case and a bus driver operating under the influence. He also reportedly committed theft at local businesses and threatened store owners who reported him. He is expected to face charges of obstructing official duties and committing theft. During questioning, he reportedly said he had no specific reason for his actions. A police officer said, "These habitual false reports have wasted administrative resources. We will continue to rigorously investigate false reports and prank calls." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 15:04:11