Actor Kim Soo-hyun denies allegations of inappropriate relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun denied allegations of being involved in an inappropriate relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, in a statement released by his agency on Friday. After a brief denial, the actor said the previous day that he would come clean sometime next week, but he apparently couldn't remain silent any longer as the controversy snowballed further with more evidence surfacing about his alleged long-term romantic relationship with the actress.

March 14, 2025

Racy teaser clip stirs controversy ahead of reality show featuring kids

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes is set for release later this month. Some 59 contestants under the age of 15 from over 70 countries have been selected as finalists for "Under 15," slated to air on March 31, where they will compete for a chance to become K-pop's next big stars. But a teaser clip released on Thursday stirred unexpected controversy, raising concerns over whether it is appropriate for

March 14, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun to address accusations over relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun will publicly respond to allegations concerning his relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who took her own life last month, his agency announced on Thursday. Kim, 37 years old, is one of South Korea's most popular actors, known for his roles in hit TV dramas like "My Love from the Star.” Kim Sae-ron, who gained fame as a child star in the 2010 crime noir "The Man from Nowhere," later struggled to maintain

March 13, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun loses endorsement deals amid mounting allegations

SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing growing scrutiny after allegations about his romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron recently surfaced. The family of the 24-year-old actress revealed earlier this week that Kim had been in a long-term relationship with her, allegedly beginning when she was 15 and he was 12 years her senior. Under South Korean law, any romantic involvement with a minor under 16 is considered a criminal offense. Shortly after

March 12, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron laid to rest

SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron was buried in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Police said there is no suspicion of foul play, although no suicide note was found. Earlier in the morning, the young actress' private funeral was held

February 19, 2025

Actor Son Suk-ku most favored star in advertising

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - Actor Son Suk-ku appeared most frequently in TV commercials last year, according to an analysis released by an IT startup on Tuesday. IGAWorks analyzed about 9.5 million users of telecom KT's internet protocol television (IPTV) service and satellite subscribers to calculate data, also using its own mobile algorithm it developed. It found that Son was the most sought-after model with 6.96 billion ad exposures, followed by actress Go Youn-jung (

February 4, 2025

Actress Kim Min-hee expecting baby this spring

SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - Actress Kim Min-hee is pregnant and expected to give birth this spring, multiple online entertainment outlets reported on Friday. The actress, in her early 40s, was caught by paparazzi cameras earlier this week on her way to an ob-gyn clinic with her lover and filmmaker Hong Sang-soo. Kim has been involved in a May-to-September romance with Hong who is in his mid-60s, since 2016. The couple went public with their romance the following year and have been

January 17, 2025

Han Kang's books sell like hotcakes after Nobel Prize win

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Koreans are snapping up Han Kang's books following her Nobel Prize win last week. A throng of people lined up in front of Kyobo Book Centre, the country's largest bookstore chain in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, even before it opened early Monday morning, rushing to get their hands on her books. Best known for her surreal novel "The Vegetarian," which won the International Booker Prize in 2016, Han won this year's Nobel Prize in Liter

October 14, 2024

Han Kang: A master of lyrical storytelling

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Announcing South Korean author Han Kang as the recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy praised her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." Han's work explores the intricate connection between the body and soul, the living and the dead. Through her innovative and poetic style, she has become a leading figure in contemporary literature. Anna-Karin

October 10, 2024

Korean short-story collection longlisted for French literary award

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Korean novelist Park Sang-Young's queer novel has been longlisted for France's prestigious literary award. The French edition of "Love in the Big City," released in August this year, is vying for the Prix Médicis, one of the most prestigious literary awards recognizing works of fiction annually in France. Other included works are "Question 7" by Australian author Richard Flanagan, "The MANIAC" by Chilean nov

September 24, 2024