Actor Yoo Ah-in released with suspended sentence for habitual drug use by appellate court

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Actor Yoo Ah-in was released on Tuesday after an appellate court handed down a suspended sentence for habitual drug use. The 39-year-old had been sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial and had been detained. The Seoul High Court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison on Tuesday, with a two-year suspension, along with a fine of two million won ($1,385). The court explained that the severity of the sentence in the first trial was excessive and un

February 18, 2025

INTERVIEW: Chinese unit from K-pop global project set sights high with ambitious goals

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - The Chinese unit of K-pop girl band Bling One, consisting entirely of six Mandarin-speaking members, with no South Korean members, made their debut with a showcase in central Seoul last week. They aim to combine K-pop with Chinese cultural elements on the global stage, with a vision to localize their unique fusion genre in one of the world's most populous countries. As their aim suggests, their title track, "Bubble Gum," unveiled at the Wo

February 17, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron, known for her role in the South Korean action-thriller film "The Man from Nowhere," was found dead at her residence in Seoul. The police received a report at 4:54 p.m. on Sunday that the 24-year-old had been found unresponsive in her home in Seongsu, eastern Seoul. According to a police official, a friend who had planned to meet her made the discovery and alerted authorities. Kim gained prominence as a child actress in 2

February 16, 2025

Stray Kids' Felix misses fan meeting after car accident injury

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Felix, a member of K-pop boy group Stray Kids, missed a fan meeting scheduled for Sunday after sustaining a fracture in a minor car accident the previous day. The group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said the incident took place shortly after a fan meeting ended, when Felix's vehicle was slowly moving through a parking lot at the Inspire Arena in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. It collided with a shuttle bus that had been traveling at a low speed, strikin

February 16, 2025

BLACKPINK's Jisoo revs up with new solo album

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - Jisoo, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, is releasing her solo mini album on Friday, according to her agency Blisoo. The album "AMORTAGE" marks her first solo album in nearly two years since her single "ME" in March 2023. To convey the album's themes of love and breakups, the word was coined by combining "amor," the Spanish word for love, with "montage," a cinematic technique of juxtaposing different sce

February 14, 2025

Netflix's hit dating show to return for fifth season

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - Netflix's popular reality dating show "Single's Inferno" will return for a new season, according to the U.S. streaming giant. "Thanks to the immense interest from viewers, we decided to produce its fifth season. The next season will be even more exhilarating," Netflix said during a press event on Thursday. While the exact release date for the upcoming season has not been decided, the hit dating show has become the first South

February 14, 2025

G-Dragon to embark on world tour with gig in Goyang next month

SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - G-Dragon, a member of K-pop boy band Big Bang, will embark on a world tour with a concert here next month, the concert's organizer Coupang Play said on Wednesday. The concert, part of his tour, is slated for March 29 and 30 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, but specific details about his upcoming tour remain under wraps. Expectations are already building among his fans, as it will be his first solo concert since his world tour in 2017, when he drew over

February 12, 2025

Hollywood stars to visit Seoul for promotional events of Bong Joon-ho's upcoming film

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - A couple of Hollywood stars starring in director Bong Joon-ho's latest film will visit Seoul next week, according to its distributor Warner Bros. British actress Naomi Ackie, American actor Mark Ruffalo, and Korean-American actor Steven Yeun will meet fans, while participating in a slew of events to promote Bong's "Mickey 17," which is set for release here on the last day of this month. The sci-film is Bong's first movie in several

February 10, 2025

Second season of 'Squid Game' wins gong at Critics' Choice Awards in US

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" has won Best Foreign Language Series for its second season at this year's U.S. Critics' Choice Awards held last week. After being delayed twice due to massive wildfires in Los Angeles along the coast of Southern California, the awards ceremony was held in Santa Monica last Friday. Considered one of the major awards shows in North America, alongside the Golden Globes and the Screen

February 10, 2025

NewJeans change name to NJZ amid dispute with agency

SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NewJeans on Friday unveiled their new name as they are about to start their independent activities. On a post on social media, the quintet shared that their new name is NJZ and that they will perform at a concert in Hong Kong, which is part of "ComplexCon," a cultural festival scheduled to be held in the city from March 21 to 23. Their brand-new name was coined after they accepted proposals from fans late last month, although d

February 7, 2025