Journalist

LEE KEONHEE
  • ChungjuMan’s Kim Seon-tae Launches New YouTube Channel After Leaving Public Service
    ChungjuMan’s Kim Seon-tae Launches New YouTube Channel After Leaving Public Service Kim Seon-tae, known as "ChungjuMan," has opened a new YouTube channel. Kim launched the YouTube channel "Kim Seon-tae" on March 2. The channel description says it will "promote everything in the world." In just one day, subscribers topped 2,000. Kim retired from public service in late February. After that, speculation circulated about his next move, including reports of an offer from Cheong Wa Dae, a possible entry into politics, and recruitment by a major company or an entertainment agency. Kim instead chose to pursue work as a YouTuber. After retiring, he visited Chungju City Hall and told colleagues he planned to work as an independent YouTuber, saying he would live in Chungju and wanted to take on a new challenge in the YouTube field, according to reports. Kim joined the civil service in 2016 as a ninth-grade public official and led Chungju’s official YouTube channel, "ChungTV." ChungTV became the first local government channel nationwide to surpass 900,000 subscribers. After he left, ChungTV’s subscriber count fell sharply.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 15:46:46
  • Singer Yoon Jong-shin Says Red Sox Outfielder Masataka Yoshida Resembles Him
    Singer Yoon Jong-shin Says Red Sox Outfielder Masataka Yoshida Resembles Him Singer Yoon Jong-shin has pointed to a baseball player he says looks like him.  On Monday, Yoon posted photos and video on social media, writing, “Every time I see him, I feel like he looks like me when I was young.”  The player was Masataka Yoshida, a Japan national team member and an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball, known for his hitting. Yoshida batted .266 last season, but hit .289 in 2023, his first year in MLB, and .280 in 2024. His career MLB batting average is .282. Yoon and Yoshida also share a similar height: Yoon is 168 centimeters (5 feet, 6 inches) and Yoshida is 172 centimeters (5 feet, 8 inches).  2026-03-03 14:27:18
  • BoA Launches New Agency, Baypal Entertainment, After Leaving SM
    BoA Launches New Agency, Baypal Entertainment, After Leaving SM Singer BoA, who recently ended her long relationship with SM Entertainment, has announced the launch of a new entertainment company. BoA posted photos on social media on March 3 showing herself and acquaintances with bags pulled over their heads. She tagged both her own account and the Baypal Entertainment account. Baypal Entertainment also posted photos with BoA, adding the caption “???” and hashtags. Baypal Entertainment said BoA “chose a new structure to more clearly realize her musical direction.” The company said Baypal Entertainment is an agency BoA founded herself. The name combines “BoA” and “pal,” meaning friend, and it aims to be a company built together by BoA and her fans. BoA’s side said, “The precious memories and valuable experiences built over a long time are the most important assets that made BoA the strong artist she is today,” adding, “Based on what we have learned, we will further strengthen the substance of her music.” BoA ended her 25-year partnership with SM Entertainment in January.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 13:48:17
  • Director Jang Hang-jun to Return to SBS Radio as Film Nears 10 Million Viewers
    Director Jang Hang-jun to Return to SBS Radio as Film Nears 10 Million Viewers The film “The Man Who Lives With the King” is closing in on 10 million moviegoers, drawing attention to whether director Jang Hang-jun will walk back a joking pledge he made earlier this year.  Jang will appear with BA Entertainment CEO Jang Won-seok on a recorded broadcast of SBS PowerFM’s “Bae Seong-jae’s Ten” on March 4. The episode is scheduled to air March 8.  Interest is focused on how Jang will address his so-called “10 million pledge,” made during a January appearance on the program. At the time, he said, “It won’t happen, but if it does, I’ll change my phone number, change my name, get plastic surgery so no one recognizes me. I’m even thinking about changing my nationality. I hope no one looks for me. I’ll have to throw a party on a boat.”  That joke is now closer to becoming reality. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office system on March 3, the movie drew 2,479,933 admissions from Feb. 27 to March 2, a holiday period, bringing its cumulative total to 9,213,368.  Online, users have teased Jang for speaking too soon while cheering the film on toward the 10 million mark.  2026-03-03 11:36:18
  • Tiffany Young Sparks Ring Speculation After Registering Marriage to Byun Yo-han
    Tiffany Young Sparks Ring Speculation After Registering Marriage to Byun Yo-han Girls' Generation member Tiffany Young, who has registered her marriage to actor Byun Yo-han, has drawn attention after posting photos that appear to show a ring.  Tiffany Young on March 2 uploaded several photos to her social media account with the caption "HMA." She said the post looked back on last month’s Hanteo Music Awards, which she attended.  One image focusing on her hand drew particular notice. A flashy ring is visible on her middle finger. Some online commenters speculated it could be a proposal ring.  Tiffany Young and Byun completed their marriage registration on Feb. 27. In December, reports said the two were dating with marriage in mind. A wedding date has not been set.  2026-03-03 10:45:14
  • TV Host Choi Eun-kyung Says She Gave Up on Becoming an English Teacher
    TV Host Choi Eun-kyung Says She Gave Up on Becoming an English Teacher TV personality Choi Eun-kyung, who began her career as an announcer, has explained why she abandoned her plan to become an English teacher. Choi appeared on the Tuesday guest segment of KBS 1TV’s current affairs and culture program “Morning Forum” on Tuesday. She said she studied English education at Ewha Womans University but ultimately chose a different path, first joining a foreign company and later switching to broadcasting. “I didn’t go to a teachers college because I wanted to be a teacher,” Choi said, adding that she majored in English education at her mother’s suggestion because she needed to find a job. She said her student-teaching assignment at a boys’ middle school made her realize she was not suited to the classroom. “I really couldn’t teach,” she said, recalling that instead of stopping students from fooling around, she would go along with them. She said students asked to dance and sing, and she let them, praising them for doing well. Choi said a principal later reprimanded her, telling her she could not run a class that way. She said the experience made her feel she was not good at teaching and that she even caught herself thinking some students might be fine without studying, leading her to give up on becoming a teacher. Choi said she turned to a foreign company because hiring conditions were better at the time. “Back then it was different from now, and it was easier to get a job,” she said. She said she graduated in 1994 and was hired right away after taking an exam. Although the job offered a favorable five-day workweek, she said she found it boring and quit to prepare for announcer auditions. Choi said she had never imagined appearing on TV, believing only “doll-like” people were on screen. She said she began to consider broadcasting as training academies started to open and she realized that announcers delivered the news. She said she enrolled and began to pursue the goal of becoming an announcer. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 10:24:21
  • Actress Ji So-yeon Apologizes for Posting Japan Trip Video Ahead of March 1 Holiday
    Actress Ji So-yeon Apologizes for Posting Japan Trip Video Ahead of March 1 Holiday Actress Ji So-yeon has apologized after drawing criticism for uploading a Japan travel video to her personal YouTube channel a day before the March 1 holiday. On March 2, Ji wrote on social media that she was taking “the many opinions” about the Japan trip video posted in late February “very seriously.” She said the video documented a trip taken on Feb. 11, but added, “It was entirely my fault that I did not think deeply enough about the meaning of the timing of the post.” Ji also said she felt heavy-hearted that criticism had extended to Yang Mira, who traveled with her, stressing that the upload schedule and the decision to make it public were “entirely my decision.” She added that the incident made her realize she must act with greater caution and responsibility, and said she would more carefully consider social context and timing in planning and releasing future content. Ji uploaded the video on Feb. 28 under the title, “Starting today, I’m a free woman!! (Japan trip with Yang Mira).” It shows the two traveling in Takamatsu, Japan. Some online commenters criticized the post as inappropriate ahead of the March 1 holiday.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 09:15:15
  • Lee Sang-min Recalls Past Plagiarism Uproar Over R.ef’s Song
    Lee Sang-min Recalls Past Plagiarism Uproar Over R.ef’s Song Broadcaster Lee Sang-min, a member of the co-ed group R.ef, has recounted an incident tied to a past uproar over alleged song plagiarism. In a video posted March 2 on the YouTube channel “Jjanhanhyeong Shin Dong-yup,” titled “Can this even air? Tak Jae-hoon, Lee Sang-min, Kim Jun-ho,” Lee addressed reports that he caused a commotion after R.ef’s third-album title track “Cheonsang Yuae” was accused of plagiarism. “I got angry and hit glass, and I was slightly hurt,” Lee said, adding that he learned then that “everything has to be fact-checked.” The song, released in 1995, was previously swept up in controversy over claims it plagiarized “Omasuri Ninja” by the Japanese six-member group Ninja. Lee has also said in the past that there were separate composers for “Cheonsang Yuae,” but that he still felt guilty for singing it. Tak Jae-hoon, reacting to Lee’s account, said he “ran to the hospital crying” and told him, “Even I’m living with just 1,000 won, so why would you die?” He added that when the bandage came off, “a scab had already formed,” suggesting the injury was not serious. Lee said he had pushed the members to practice and finished recording because he liked the song so much, but the plagiarism dispute erupted before promotions even began. “I was shocked, too,” he said. “There was a singer who sang the exact same song I sang. If it had been a remake, nothing would have happened, but it really hurt my pride.” Lee again stressed that he was not suicidal at the time, saying, “I didn’t want to die.” 2026-03-03 08:24:28
  • Koyote’s Shinji Shares Wedding Photos Ahead of May Marriage to Singer Moon Won
    Koyote’s Shinji Shares Wedding Photos Ahead of May Marriage to Singer Moon Won Koyote member Shinji has released wedding photos. Shinji posted several images on social media on Feb. 27 with the caption, “Wedding photo.” In the photos, she poses in a wedding dress and other outfits. Comments included “Bless you,” “A goddess, literally,” and “It’s a full-on photo shoot.” Shinji is set to hold a wedding ceremony in May with singer Moon Won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 16:51:15
  • Actor Im Ju-hwan Confirms He Previously Worked at a Coupang Logistics Center
    Actor Im Ju-hwan Confirms He Previously Worked at a Coupang Logistics Center Actor Im Ju-hwan has acknowledged that he previously worked at a Coupang logistics center. A representative of his agency, Basecamp Company, said on the 27th that Im "has experience working at a Coupang logistics center in the past." The comment followed online posts and social media chatter in which people claimed they had seen Im at a Coupang logistics site. One user wrote that they worked alongside him and posted, "Maybe he was bored because he didn’t have a project." Others also circulated accounts saying Im worked hard on site. Online reactions ranged from, "I guess it’s true actors have to take part-time jobs when they don’t have work," to, "What’s the problem if he’s earning money in a healthy way?" * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 10:30:20