Controversy continues to brew over Actor Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A sordid saga involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron deepens as fresh evidence surfaces one after another, met with repeated denials and conflicting accounts. The story began to unfold shortly after the 24-year-old actress, who had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in eastern Seoul last month, reportedly struggling with financial difficulties. With the rumor mill grinding even more over what l

March 24, 2025

NewJeans members announce hiatus after court ruling

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NewJeans, now renamed as NJZ, will halt their activities following last Friday's court ruling, which banned them from engaging in independent activities amid a legal dispute with their agency. "We won't be able to perform for a while, as we have been suspended from our own activities," the quintet said during their concert in Hong Kong last Sunday where they revealed their new song "Pit Stop." Despite the court&

March 24, 2025

Reality show featuring kids faces uncertainty over airing amid growing controversy

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes encountered an unexpected stumbling block over its airing, shortly after its racy teaser was revealed earlier this month. "Under Fifteen," which is supposed to air on March 31, now faces uncertainty about whether it will be postponed or canceled altogether as MBN gave in to mounting controversy over whether it is appropriate for young kids to appear on the show. "We

March 24, 2025

Court rules to ban NewJeans' independent activities amid dispute with agency

SEOUL, March 21 (AJP) - A court on Friday ruled in favor of K-pop girl group NewJeans' agency, banning them from engaging in independent activities. The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court came about two months after ADOR filed a lawsuit against the group's five members, insisting that the contract remains valid and cannot be unilaterally terminated. Last month, NewJeans changed their name to NJZ and began their own independent activities, such as ad endorsement de

March 21, 2025

Jennie's first solo album debuts at No. 7 on Billboard 200 chart

SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Jennie, a member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with her first full-length solo album. The impressive entry on the chart for the week ending March 13 makes her the quartet's third member to land in the chart's top 10 as a solo artist, following Rosé and Lisa. Jennie became "the third member of the chart-topping quartet BLACKPINK to notch a solo top 10 – and all three have come in the l

March 17, 2025

LE SSERAFIM return with new album

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - K-pop girl band LE SSERAFIM released their new album on Friday. Their fifth mini-album "HOT" consists of five songs with the theme of love, with the title track delivering a message about diving into what you love without holding back. The quintet held a showcase for fans the previous day, kicking off their promotional activities for the album. They will also embark on their first world tour in April, with stops in Japan and Taiwan.

March 14, 2025

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