YG Entertainment commented on WINNER’s allegations of neglecting military service duties.
After the unsettling issue of WINNER’s Mino military service neglect allegations, YG Entertainment had no option but to make an official announcement. On December 17, the agency stated that Song Min Ho had not neglected his military duties but couldn’t attend due to valid reasons. The agency said that Mino was on sick leave because of ongoing treatment even before his military enlistment. The agency clarified that other leaves had been granted under official regulations.
On December 16, it had been reported that Mino had failed to consistently show up at his station. According to the reports, Mini’s supervisor claimed that “it is difficult for celebrities to work properly” and “we try to keep him out of sight by hiding him in a side room”. When the supervisor was asked about Mino’s hospitalization that prompted his leave, he replied ” I heard about it from his manager. It is difficult to verify hospitalizations”. Mino will be discharged on the 23rd of this month.
—-Karen Mwenda
#WINNER #Mino #MinoofWINNER #Minomilitaryserviceneglectallegations #kcrush #koreancelebrity #militaryduties #kpop #kpopidol #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #hospitalization #neglect #YGEntertainment #SongMinHo #sickleave #ongoingtreatment #koreanmilitaryservice
NewJeans’ Danielle has become an ambassador for the OMEGA watch brand.
On December 17, OMEGA brand announced its new partnership with Danielle through its social media platforms.
The announcement was accompanied by a photo of Danielle Marsh in one of OMEGA’s luxury brand watches.
—-Karen Mwenda
#DanielleMarsh #NewJeansDanielle #OMEGA #OMEGAluxurybrandwatches #kcrush #OMEGApartnershipDanielle #kpop #koreanpopgirlgroup #koreancelebrity #OMEGAwatches #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #koreanculture
Former Exhibition member Seo Dong Wook has passed away.
On December 18, Seo Dong Wook was reported to have passed away from a chronic illness at the age of 50.
Seo Dong Wook, a former member of the Exhibition duo band, was serving as Morgan Stanley Korea Equity’s vice president. The funeral was held at Severance Hall, Sinchon on December 20.
Exhibition duo band, alongside member Kim Dong Ryul, debuted in 1993 and was known for their lyrical pieces including “Drunken Truth”.
—-Karen Mwenda
#SeoDongWook #SeoDongWookPassesAwayat50 #KimDongRyul #Exhibitionduoband #kcrush #DrunkenTruth #MorganStanleyKoreaEquitysvicepresident #legendpassesaway #koreanculture #koreanmusician #vpmorganstanleykoreaequity #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #koreannews
FNC Entertainment agency has rolled out its plans of launching a male group since 2015.
On December 20, FNC Entertainment announced that they will be launching the AxMxP (AMP) boy band in 2025. The band will mark 10 years since the agency last launched a male group.
The agency also launched AxMxP band’s official Instagram page solidifying its plans. AxMxP members were revealed to the public in February this year as they opened the stage for F.T Island’s ‘Hey Day’ 2024 Asia Tour.
AxMxP is also scheduled to participate in FNC agency’s 2024 LOVE FNC COUNTDOWN year-end party on December 31 at Sejong University.
—-Karen Mwenda
#FNCEntertainment #AxMxP #newFNCEntertainmentmalegroup #newKoreanboygroup #kcrush #kpop #koreanpop #2024LoveFNCCountdownyearendparty #SejongUniversity #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #kpopnews #hallyu #FTIslandHeyDay2024AsianTour #10yearssinceanewmalegroup #newboygroup2025 #kcrushnews #koreannews
Former Rainbow member Jaekyung has been confirmed to have walked down the aisle months ago.
According to December 16 reports, it was revealed that Jaekyung had exchanged vows with her partner months ago. It was reported that Jaekyung had a wedding last summer.
Jaekyung, a former Rainbow member and currently an actor, got married to her non-celebrity boyfriend in a private ceremony in Seoul. On December 16, Jaekyung’s agency, Namoo Actors, also confirmed that their client is now married and had a small wedding ceremony to protect her non-celebrity partner’s privacy.
The agency confirmed that Jaekyung will continue working hard as an actress to repay the support and love that fans have shown her. Since Jaekyung was wed last summer, this makes the Rainbow band’s third member to walk down the aisle.
—-Karen Mwenda
#Jaekyung #Rainbow #koreangirlgroup #Jaekyungismarried #kcrush #koreanactress #kpopgroup #kpopcelebrity #kidol #kcrushmagazine #NamooActors #walkeddowntheaisle #marriedlastsummer #noncelebritypartner #kactor #koreanculture #koreanentertainmentindustry #kcrushamerica #knews #congratulationsonmarriage #happycouple
aespa’s Winter faces backlash from fans while in China, which is linked to her rumors of dating ENHYPHEN’s Jungwon.
aespa’s Winter encountered aggressive fans in China whose provocation stemmed from the recent dating rumors between her and ENHYPHEN’s Jungwon. Winter accompanied her group members to Shanghai for the KMStation Shanghai Offline Fan Sign Event.
The aggressive fans, who seemed to have somehow gotten hold of aespa’s travel routes and hotel reservation information ambushed Winter whenever an opportunity presented itself. Both Winter and Jungwon’s agencies had already denied the dating rumors terming them groundless The aggressive hurled profanities and aggravated their behavior forcing staff members to intervene and shield members using umbrellas.
VANNER’s Hyesung was forced to quit his military service early due to health reasons.
On December 16, Kleb Entertainment announced that Hyesung had cut short his military service due to health reasons. Hyesung enlisted on November 4 and was looking forward to serving his country with pride.
The agency added that Hyesung was admitted to the Armed Forces Daejon Hospital owing to pre-existing mental and panic disorders. The agency stated that given his condition and the need for continued treatment, Hyesung was discharged from the military service.
—-Karen Mwenda
#VANNER #Hyesung #militaryservicecutshort #kcrush #mentalhealth #armedforcesdaejonhospital #preexistinghealth #kpop #kidol #wishhimwell #kcrushamerica #wellnesstohim #mentalwellbeing #supporthim #mentalhealthtalk
Here are some of the K-pop tours that have been confirmed so far.
1. KISS OF LIFE
KISS OF LIFE will be going on their first world tour titled ‘KISS ROAD’. The tour is scheduled to happen across Europe including Netherlands, France, and Germany. Further details, including the exact dates, will be communicated soon.
2. BABYMOSTER
BABYMOSTER will be holding its first world tour titled ‘Hello Monsters’. The tour is scheduled to run from January to April 2025 and will take place in Korea, Japan, and the US.
3. Lee Young Ji
Talented Lee Young Ji will be performing across Europe through the ‘All or Nothing’ tour. The tour is scheduled for late January 2025. Lee Young Ji will perform in the UK and France.
4. P1Harmony
P1Harmony will be holding the ‘P1ustage H: UTOPIA’ live tour across Europe. The tour is scheduled for January 2025 and will take place in the UK, France, and Germany among others.
5. Big Ocean
Big Ocean band, composed of hearing-impaired members, will be interacting with global fans at the Pict’ Asia 2025 concert. The concert is scheduled for February 2025.
6. W24
W24 rock band will be engaging with global fans through the W24 EUROPEAN TOUR 2025. The tour is set to run from May through June 2025. The band will visit Spain and France among others.
7. Stray Kids
Stray Kids will be touring across Europe through the ‘Dominate’ tour. The band will have performances in the UK, Spain, and France among others. The tour is scheduled for July 2025.
8. DAY6
DAY6 will be continuing its ‘Forever Young’ third world tour in 2025. The tour took off in September 2024 in South Korea. In 2025, the tour will see performances held in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, and the US.
9. ENHYPHEN
ENHYPHEN will also be continuing its ‘Walk the Lane’ third world tour in 2025. The tour commenced in October 2024 in South Korea. The tour will continue in 2025 across Japan.
10. ATEEZ
ATEEZ will be taking its currently ongoing ‘Towards the Light: Will to Power’s world tour into 2025. The tour, which began in January 2034 in South Korea. The tour will embark on the European leg starting from January to February 2025.
11. aespa
aespa’s ongoing ‘SYNK: Parallel Line’s live tour will also spill over to 2025. The tour started in June 2024 and will enter 2025 with performances across America and Europe from January through March 2025.
12. SHINee’s Taemin
Taemin will be continuing his ongoing ‘Ephemeral Gaze’ world tour in 2025. The tour commenced in August 2024. In 2025, the tour will embark with the America leg in January before taking place across several cities in the US and Europe until March 2025.
—-Karen Mwenda
#2025WorldTours #Taemin #aespa #BabyMonster #StratKids #ENHYPHEN #ATEEZ #kcrush #kpop #koreanpop #kidol #Day6 #W24 #BigOcean #P1Harmony #KissofLife #LeeYoungJi #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #koreanculture #hallyucraze #funconcert #kpoptour #worldtour #koreangroupconcerts #kpopindustry
Actor Ji Soo is steadily rebounding his career starting with the Philippines.
Actor Ji Soo’s career took a wrong turn after school violence allegations in 2021. As a result, the actor issued an official handwritten apology and terminated his contract.
Nonetheless, Ji Soo has continued to claim his innocence citing being a victim of wrong accusations. In the meantime, the actor enlisted in the military and has been steadily working on his comeback in the Philippines.
Ji Soo has so far been cast in Philippines’ ‘Black Rider’ drama and ‘Rainbow’ film. The actor has also appeared in magazine covers including VMAN South East Asia. The actor also recently received the Outstanding International Actor award at the International Asian Film Festival.
The talented singer and actor also showcased his skills through an outstanding performance at a concert in Bicol, Philippines early this month.
—-Karen Mwenda
#JiSoo #ActorJiSoo #JiSoosingerandactor #kcrush #JiSoorestartsCareerinThePhilippines #VManSouthEastAsia #koreanactor #hallyucraze #koreantalent #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #OutstandingInternationalActorAward #InternationalAsiamFilmFestival #BlackRiderdrama #Rainbowdrama #actinginthePhilippines #kpop #kpopidol
BOYNEXTDOOR band had introduced its official characters.
BOYNEXTDOOR revealed it’s animated characters by the name BBNEXDO. The characters represent each of the members and include Catbbi (Sungho), Darling (Riwoo), Myngmyng (Myung Jaehyun), Han Tatpung (Taesan), 312 (Leehan), and Woonbaby (Woonhak).
.BOYNEXTDOOR members participated in creating the characters to give each a personal touch. BBNEXDO characters are scheduled to be launched in 2025.
—-Karen Mwenda
#BOYNEXTDOOR #OfficialCharactersIntroduced #BBNEXDOCharacters #Catbbi (Sungho) #Darling (Riwoo) #Myngmyng (Myung Jaehyun) #HanTatpung (Taesan) #312 (Leehan) #Woonbaby (Woonhak) #kcrushamerica #kpop #koreankpop #kcrushmagazine #kculture #kcharacters #BOYNEXTDOORcharacters #kpopboygroup #hallyu
Park Chal Yong has signed as a trainee under MBK company.
On December 13, MBK Company announced it had signed Park Chal Yong as its trainee. Park Chal Yong will train under the agency before his debut. The company also manages other notable artists including Kim Hyun Gyeol.
Park Chal Yong was a contestant at JBTC’s ‘Project 7’ idol audition program. Chal Yong is scheduled to debut with an upcoming MBK Company’s new boy group once his debut period is over.
—-Karen Mwenda
#ParkChanYong #Project7contestant #ParkChanYongsignswithMBK #MBKCompany #kcrush #kpop #kpopidol #kpoptrainee #koreankpop #JBTCProject7IdolAuditionProgram #hallyu #kpopindustry #kcrushmagazine
VICTION’s member Seungwoo has signed with a new agency.
On December 13, AURA Entertainment agency confirmed that it had signed VICTION’s Han Seungwoo. Seungwoo will be joining notable artists including Lee Soo Ho and Kim Young Heum.
VICTION debuted under IST Entertainment in 2016. In April 2023, Byungchan, Hanse, and Subin decided not to renew their contracts with the agency after the expiration date. Seungwoo, Seungsik, and Sejun had their contract periods changed due to military service.
—-Karen Mwenda
#VICTION #Seungwoo #SeugwoosignswithAURAEntertainment #AURAEntertainment #kpop #kcrush #kpopidol #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #Byungchan #Hanse #Subin #Seungsik #Sejun #contractended #kmusic
Hyukoh’s Oh Hyuk walked down the aisle with his partner, Model Hwang Ji Min.
On December 14, Hyukoh band’s member Oh Hyuk married model Hwang Ji Min at a church in Seoul. The couple enjoyed a private ceremony surrounded by family and friends
On November 29, DooRooDooRoo Artist Company confirmed that Oh Hyuk was set to marry in December.
—-Karen Mwenda
#Hyukoh #OhHyuk #OhHyukeds #HwangJiMin #model #DooRooDooRooArtistCompany #OhHyukWedModel #kmusic #kfashion #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #weddingnews #weddingceremonyinSeoul #koreanculture
Hyerim, a former Wonder Girls member, is now a mother of two.
In an exciting post, Hyerim revealed they had welcomed their second baby. Nicknamed Kong, this is Lim’s second son. Lim could not hide her joy, especially now she is a mother of two.
Hyerim walked down the aisle with Shin Min Chul, a taekwondo athlete, in July 2020. The two welcomed their first son in February 2022.
—-Karen Mwenda
#Hyerim #WonderGirls #HyerimWelcomes2ndChild #kcrush #ShinMinChul #taekwondo #kpopgirlgroup #kpop #kidol #koreankpopidol #kpopidolwelcomes2ndchild #kcrushmagazine #kcrushamerica #LimHyerim #koreanidol
BIGBANG’s G-Dragon teamed up with producer Kim Tae Bo to create the “GD and Friends” variety show scheduled for release in 2025.
“GD and Friends” is a variety show featuring G-Dragon who will be hosting other celebrities.
According to Kim Tae Ho, the show is still in production and the ‘GD and Friends’ is a tentative title that might change.
Given BIGBANG’s recent reunion at the 2024 Mama Awards, fans are hoping that members Taeyang and Daesung will appear as guests in the show.
Some of the celebrities whose appearances have been confirmed include Im Si Wan, Jung Hae In, Hwan Jung Min, Day6, Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Go Run, aespa, and Seventeen’s Hoshi.
—-Karen Mwenda
#GDragon #GDAndFriends #GDragonNewShow #celebrityappearances #kcrush #koreanpop #kpop #kidol #kmusic #koreancelebrity #IMSiWan #JungHaeIn #HwanJungMin #Day6 #KimSooHyun #KimGoRun #aespa #hallyu #SeventeenHoshi #TaeyangandDaesung #BIGBANG #2024MAMAAwards #KimTaeHo #koreanfashion #kfashion #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #kactors #kartist
NewJeans has opened a new social media account.
On December 14, NewJeans launched a new social media account. The group chose a catchy name, Jeanzforfree, for their new journey. The 5 members uploaded a video on the new account confirming it is their real account. The account has gained over 1 million followers so far.
NewJeans held an official briefing in November confirming that they would terminate their contracts with ADOR as of November 29. ADOR later refitted the claims and even filed a lawsuit claiming the group’s contract validity. NewJeans fought back claiming that they have the right to terminate the contract if ADOR doesn’t fulfill its obligations.
—-Karen Mwenda
#NewJeans #NewJeansNewSNSAccount #NewJeansterminatedtheirADORcontract #JenzForFreeSNS #kpop #kidol #kcrush #kcrushamerica #knews #koreanculture #5memberkpopgirlgroup #kcrushmagazine #kfashion #kcosmetics
BB Girls, formerly Brave Girls, has signed a contract with GLG entertainment agency.
On December 11, GLG Agency announced that BB Girls had joined their team. The agency, which houses H1-KEY and other artists, expressed its excitement and committed to helping BB Girls band soar.
BB Girls debuted as Brave Girls in 2011 before rebranding to BB Girls in 2023. Yujeong left the group in April 2024 leaving the band with 3 members.
—-Karen Mwenda
#BBGirls #BraveGirls #3membergirlgroup #BBGirlssignwithGLGAgency #GLGAgency #kcrush #kpopgirlgroup #kpop #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #newstart #Yujeongleftthegroup #HIKEY #GLGEntertainmentAgency #hallyu
Former national defense minister Kim Yong Hyun a key suspect in the December 3 martial law case is reported to have attempted suicide.
On December 11, the Ministry of Justice’s correctional bureau head, reveals the incident during the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session. Shin Yong Hee stated that a duty officer at the control room came to know of the suicide attempt at 11:52 pm while at the waiting bay before a warrant was issued.
The duty officer indicated that Kim Yong Hyun attempted suicide using a string made from his clothes. The individual gave up his attempts owing to the officer’s immediate response. Kim Yung Hyun suffered no health issues and is currently in a protective cell.
—-Karen Mwenda
Actor Um Ki Joon will be walking down the aisle with his partner this December.
On December 12, Um Ki Joon’s agency clarified that their client would marry on December 22. The actor is set to marry his non-celebrity wife at a private event in Seoul.
Um Ki Joon made his relationship status public in May announcing the exciting engagement news. Um Ki Joon, who debuted in 1995 with the ‘Richard 3’ play is known for his acting skills in several drams including “Little Women” and “The Penthouse: War in Life” among others.
—-Karen Mwenda
#UmKiJoon #koreanactor #KoreanWedding #LittleWomenActor #Richard3play #LittleWomen #koreanbroadway #Koreanplays #ThePenthouseWarinLife #engagementannouncement #weddingannouncement #kcrush #kdrama #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #koreanentertainment #koreanentertainmentindustry #noncelebritywife #happy
South Korea’s president asserted that his martial law declaration was in order and that he would fight to the end to protect the country.
On December 12, south President Yoon Suk Yeol released a statement with regards to calls for resignation and martial law declaration. The president said that he has the legal power to declare martial law to return the country’s administrative affairs to normalcy and save it from administrative paralysis.
The president also added that perceiving an emergency act, meant to rescue the nation, as an act of treason portrays the grave danger in the country’s legal system. The president claimed that the reason behind his impeachment is that the opposition party’s representative is on the brink of being declared guilty of crimes. As such the representative is using the impeachment to outdo the current president and take over.
President Yoon added that he will fight to the end to block off this criminal organization that incites administrative disorder and breaches the constitution. He will prevent this group from seizing state power and threatening Korea’s future.
—-Karen Mwenda
BTS’ Jin and renowned chef Baek Jong Won have teamed up to launch a traditional Korean liquor.
According to reports, Jin and Baek Jong Won have already started their traditional liquor venture after co-founding the ‘Yesan Doga’ agricultural corporation scheduled to release ‘IGIN’ distilled liquor soon.
The duo’s company will also launch ‘IGIN Sweet Tonic’ and ‘IGIN Tangy Tonic’ ready-to-drink beverages. It’s also been reported that “The Godfather of Korean Traditional Liquor”, Park Rok Dam, will serve as the product development and quality advisor.
—-Karen Mwenda
#JIN #BTSJIN #launchIGIN #ChefBaekJongWon #IGINSweetTonic #IGINTangyTonic #kcrush #kpop #kidol #BTSIdol #readytodrinkbeverages #koreanculture #koreantraditionalliquor #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #ParkRokDam #TheGodfatherofKoreanTraditionalLiquor #productdevelopmentandqualityadvisor #YesanDogaagriculturalcorp #kculture #distilledliquor #koreannews #newsaboutJIN #koreanbeverages