Chie Izuno works full time at an office Branch. Though she’s 30, she’s very young at heart and kind of innocent. She tries hard to go into the dating field but finds herself struggling due to her weight and self-esteem issues. She meets up with one of the company’s investors, Jin Harada, a super sucessful and young business man. However Jin has a severe lack of social skills. Chie strives to make a deal with Jin in order to aide her in her goal to lose weight and gain confidence, she tells Jin she can help him with his own flaws. Where will this agreement lead them to, and can two total opposites and flawed individuals overcome their personal demons?
A photo of Psy from his Instagram account @42psy42.
Crazy about music, dancing & performing
Park Jae-sang, better known under his stage name Psy, stormed into the international music charts in 2012 with his worldwide hit single ‘Gangnam Style’. Although previously unknown outside South Korea, he was already a 12-year veteran of the domestic South Korean music industry at the time.
His signature unconventional appearance coupled with bizarre dance moves and explicit lyrics have been titillating South Koreans since his debut in 2001 with the aptly named album ‘Psy from the Psycho World!’.
Coming from a wealthy background, Psy initially had the means to release his own music but this changed in 2010 owing to financial difficulties and as a result, he joined YG Entertainment for the release of his fifth album ‘PsyFive’.
Putting K-pop on the world map
A screenshot of Psy from his music video for single ‘New Face’ released in 2017.
Little did he know that his follow up sixth album ‘Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1’ released in July 2012 featuring the song ‘Gangnam Style’ would become a worldwide sensation drawing attention not only to himself but to the Kpop genre itself.
He has mentioned in interviews before of how unexpected and surreal he found the whole experience to be and how the single’s popularity was beyond his wildest imaginings.
Nevertheless, the natural entertainer quickly capitalized on the opportunity to spread his music and Kpop in general to international audiences, making numerous appearances on American television and even signing with Scooter Braun of Schoolboy Records, the man behind superstars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Understandably, he has described his performance on stage alongside Madonna at New York City’s Madison Square Garden as the highlight of his career.
Building an empire
A photo of PNation’s stable of artists. From left: Hyuna, Psy, E’Dawn and Jessi.
After the phenomenal success of ‘Gangnam Style’, Psy released more music in the intervening years, including the single ‘Hangover’, a collaboration with Snoop Dogg in 2014, all of which attained commercial success, though nowhere near the scale of ‘Gangnam Style’.
He released a further two albums while under YG Entertainment before officially leaving the company in May 2018 and forming his own label PNation early this year.
Since then, he has signed established artists Jessi, Hyuna and E’Dawn with further plans to debut a Kpop group in the near future. According to the singer’s own words, he wishes to share the things he’s learned as his own producer, director and manager for the past 19 years to create a playground for passionate talents chasing their dreams.
Current activities
A promotional poster of Psy’s upcoming ninth studio album.
Currently, tickets are on sale for his upcoming series of concerts – Summer Swag 2019 – so Korean fans will be able to see him perform in a city closest to you.
To coincide with the annual concert, covering seven cities, the singer has also announced the forthcoming release of a ninth studio album this July.
As for future plans, the singer has put it succinctly in his own words during a candid interview with Billboard.com which we’ve shared the excerpt below:
“Next year is my 20th anniversary. When I debuted in 2000, at first people were laughing, secondly, they were watching, and then third they were participating. Every first of January, I’m thinking about announcing my retirement because the word I really like is ‘Good bye.’ Not just ‘bye,’ but ‘good bye.’ I made my appearances as a singer very happily, very energetically and with laughter. I want to leave in the same way. I want to make a ‘good bye’ eventually, and if I want to make a good bye, then I really got to be good until I say bye. That’s my goal — that’s the only goal. I want to be good until I say bye.”
—-Fie Fed
Following an alleged suicide attempt and a subsequent apology, Goo Hara has been released from the hospital. Following her release, Hara departed Korea for Japan to be under the care of her Japanese agency.
In January 2019, Hara’s contract with her Korean agency, Contents Y, ended.
Hara’s decision to head to Japan offers her more privacy as her Korean home was exposed to the public on the news. Those close to the former-KARA member fear for her safety if she remained home.
Hara’s alleged suicide attempt occurred May 26, 2019. However, Hara was saved due to a manager who decided to perform a wellness check on her. She regained consciousness while at the hospital May 28, 2019.
While hospitalized, the ongoing court battle between Hara and her ex-boyfriend, Choi Jong-Bum, regarding assault cases occurred. However, Hara was unable to attend due to her condition. However, another hearing is coming, and Hara will be prepared according to her representatives.
We hope Hara’s condition continues to improve and that she has the help and support system she needs.
—-Olivia Murray
On June 20, 2019, B1A4’s Jinyoung will report for his mandatory military service as a public service worker. In May, his agency, LINK8 Entertainment, initially denied he would be enlisting but later confirmed his upcoming service soon after when he received his service card.
“[Jinyoung] has received his draft notice from the Military Manpower Administration. He will be entering a recruit training center on June 20,” a representative from LINK8 said.
After news broke about his service, Jinyoung left a message on B1A4’s fan café:
Hello. This is Jinyoung.
It’s really hot these days, right? Are you all healthy and well? You know I’m always looking at what you send me, right? Thank you for always supporting me.
I received my draft notice earlier today, and I’ll be enlisting soon. I think you’ll be very surprised and worried. Still, I want to tell my fans directly first. I’ve been so grateful for all the undeserved love you’ve given me. I wanted to show you better sides of myself before I enlist, but it’s a shame that my health didn’t allow it. Whenever I saw the words of my fans who were waiting for me to do a lot of things, I felt so sad and apologetic.
You know what I always say, right? Let’s meet a lot for a long, long time. I’ll be leaving your side for a little while, but let’s be together for even longer than we have been until now.
Don’t worry too much. I’m sorry for worrying you. Let’s meet when we’re even happier. Everyone, promise that you’ll bravely eat a lot of delicious things and be well. I’ll definitely do that as well. Let’s be together for a long, long time while dreaming of even more things together.
I’ll become someone who always shows better sides of myself. Let’s meet again. Thank you!
Jinyoung’s service as a public service worker is due to a torn labrum in his shoulder. He received Grade 4 in the Military Manpower Administration’s physical examination which ruled him unfit for active duty. He will be the second B1A4 member to enlist. CNU enlisted January 22, 2019.
Since he wishes to enlist quietly, Jinyoung’s reporting time and location have not been revealed.
While Jinyoung is still considered a B1A4 member, he and Baro left B1A4’s label, WM Entertainment, June 30, 2018. However, while they are not performing with the group now as they are now signed with different agencies, Jinyoung and Baro along with WM Entertainment have not ruled out full-group promotions in the future.
Good luck to Jinyoung as he quickly approaches his enlistment date!
—-Olivia Murray
This past week, a new hashtag has joined the call-for-change movements in the US media; however, this movement started to march forward January 2019.
Born in Japan, #KuToo came kicking into the world as a protest regarding wearing high heels in the workplace. The petition, which was started by 32-year-old funeral parlor worker Yumi Ishikawa, has collected over 20,000 signatures.
“I’m hoping to get rid of the custom that someday women have to wear heels and pumps at work,” Ishikawa said in her tweet.
The #KuToo is a play on the words kutsu and kutsuu which mean “shoe” and “pain,” respectively.
Ishikawa’s campaign started when she posted on Twitter regarding her workplace’s 2-to-3-inch heel-requirement for women’s shoes how the height makes her feet hurt. The petition calls for high heels to not be required in the workplace due to health issues among other problems while sparking debates on gender equality in the workplace.
“It seems like men don’t really understand that wearing high heels can be painful and lead to injuries,” Ishikawa told Reuters. “But even if women aren’t hurt, I’d like such expectations to be considered power harassment.”
“It’s hard to move, you can’t run, and your feet hurt. All because of manners,” she added.
Kanako Otsuji, a member of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and an LGBT rights activist, agreed with Ishikawa, calling the dress code and forcing women to wear high heels “outdated” and equal to harassment.
Many people who support the petition agree with Otsuji’s assessment and consider the high-heel rule as an “abuse of power” toward women. Some signers liken the practice to “modern foot-binding,” while others have asked for dress codes to be loosened for both genders.
According to Reuters, high heels are not an explicit requirement for women working at Japanese companies, but due to social expectations and tradition, wearing high heels is a given for female workers.
“It’s the view that appearances are more important for women at work than for men,” Ishikawa told The Japan Times.
When it comes to workplace equality, Japan hardly has a leg to stand on as the country lands 110th out of 149 nations in the latest World Economic Forum rankings on gender equality regarding the treatment of women based on educational attainment and health hazards.
In response to Ishikawa’s petition, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Takumi Nemoto opposed a potential dress code change.
“It is socially accepted as something that falls within the realm of being occupationally necessary and appropriate,” Nemoto said. “Whether the employers’ requirement to wear high heels is an abuse of power or not depends on whether the requirement goes beyond the social understanding of what is necessary and appropriate.”
“It’s abuse of power if a worker with a hurt foot is forced [to wear high heels],” he added.
Echoing some of Nemoto’s statements, there are naysayers to Ishikawa’s campaign.
“I’ve been asked why I need to make such a big deal about this – can’t I just work this out with your company?” Ishikawa said. “Or that I’m selfish, that this is just part of etiquette.”
She also points out the international media pays more attention to her campaign than domestic media.
“Japan is thickheaded about gender discrimination,” she told Reuters.
Ishikawa hopes her campaign will cause fashion designers to create more practical and comfortable business-acceptable shoes.
“Shoes are so every day,” she said. “People can more directly see the issues of people’s dignity and rights, and so shoes may lead to a better world.”
Of course, she ads that because she’s not a fan of high heels at her job, she says others should have the right to choose if they are appropriate for them.
“Of course, if you want to wear them, please go ahead,” Ishikawa said in a tweet.
—-Olivia Murray
The Voice of Vietnam is a reality television singing competition, creating opportunities for singing enthusiasts to shine on a professional performance stage. It spent five seasons and the sixth season began on April 14, 2019. All four coaches from the previous season did not return, leaving the panel to be renewed with Ho Hoai Anh, Thanh Ha, Tuan Ngoc and Tuan Hung.
The Battles Episode 8 of The Voice 2019 on June 2, 2019, officially returned with the team of coach Ho Hoai Anh including 15 contestants divided in 5 repertoires. But the act of Four Princes, Vu Duc Thinh – Ðinh Nho Khoa – Hoang Dinh Quan – Nguyen Tung Hieu burned their hearts out on the stage. With the mash-up of four songs “Tinh Don Phuong – Cham Day Noi Dau – Tra Sua – Qua Lau”, four talented boys made the whole cinematic stage excited because of their good-looks and the ability of attractively performing. The handsome quartet brought a lively and fun mash-up repertoire that made the coaches, on hot seats, dance.
As the only woman in the coach panel, coach Thanh Ha praised: “I really like this performance, you all do very well, really satisfy both my ears and eyes.” Coach Tuan Ngoc also stated that this is a song that makes him very happy. Coach Tuan Hung shared: “One more time you make this auditorium jubilant. The hardest part is finding your own point, then finding a common song so that you all can perform together. I am sure that this act will receive a lot of girls’ admiration after the broadcast. ” This male star also predicts: “Who knows after The Voice of Vietnam program, our four princes can become a boy band loved by the audience.”
Sharing about training with the group of four hot boys, coach Ho Hoai Anh said that this is the group that he let them be most free, he just puts up the form of the song and teaches some more ways on how to sing, there are many parts they made by themselves.
As coach Ho Hoai Anh said, Nho Khoa is able to write his own music. By choosing Tra Sua (Milk Tea) song, composed by him and his friend Orange (Khuong Hoan My on X Factor), he also wants to introduce the ability of composition of another group member (group Quyt & Nho)
“You need to try to write more, maybe it hasn’t reached the maturity as your nature, but try not to lose it’’, said Ho Hoai Anh.
About Duc Thinh, coach Ho Hoai Anh said: “Duc Thinh, you have passed the experience of a group, so all of your performances are calculated very accurately. That’s why I don’t have to worry about you much, but it is also the thing that I worry about because you have to do something unexpected, unexpected for yourself and for me”. Dinh Quan is considered by coach Ho Hoai Anh that he is normally quiet and gentle but today he is really cool on the stage. And Tung Hieu still retains his good form, the verse is very firm and clear but the biggest obstacle is that his mouth shape when singing needs more time to adjust.
There are no successful stars without talent and hardship. Therefore, all contestants in the program will have to go through a lot of challenges to be able to achieve the highest position. These are people who have real ability and convey enough elements to pursue a professional path. After broadcast, these contestants have received positive feedback from TV viewers. Most viewers give compliments for Four Princes’ good voices and youthful performances.
Is it that these four guys will go on or will they have to stop? Let’s follow the track The Voice of Vietnam 2019, to get many surprises.
—-Hu Yen
BROOKLYN has just announced a live show in Lyon, France! He will be performing as the main guest at Korea Days 2019 on May 11th. BROOKLYN will showcase new music and do a fan signing at the event.
BROOKLYN – Live in FRANCE [Announcement]: https://youtu.be/lwpl8_YRU8g
About BROOKLYN:
BROOKLYN started making waves in K-Pop throughout 2018 with his much loved debut single Nothing I Won’t Do. He started making appearances in Seoul, South Korea and went on to perform in North America with two sold out nights in Vancouver, including a headline spot at Vancouver’s first ever K-Pop Con. BROOKLYN’s personally penned music has already amassed millions of streams worldwide. As a solo act, his voice stands out as one of the most refreshing and promising updates to the K-Pop music scene. Fans can look forward to BROOKLYN’s Spring 2019 comeback, plus a lot more this year!
Here’s hoping that he has a great show!
—-Denise Coley
A still of Kwon Sang Woo from the 2018 Kdrama ‘Queen of Mystery 2’.
Riding the Hallyu wave
Best known across Asia for his lead role in the Kdrama ‘Stairway to Heaven’, South Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo first started out as a model in the ‘90s, before landing acting roles and finding success with his starring role in the romantic comedy ‘My Tutor Friend’ in 2003.
He epitomized the ‘mom-zzang’, i.e. ‘great physique’ trend which was popular at the time and enjoyed regional popularity following the success of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ but suffered through a slump during the years after as his subsequent movies and dramas failed to win over audiences.
Mr. Tears comes full circle
Promotional poster featuring Kwon Sang Woo from his movie ‘The Accidental Detective’.
In 2010, the actor known as ‘Mr. Tears’ – a fan-given moniker due to his many crying scenes from ‘Stairway to Heaven’ – finally regained box office success with the Korean War film ‘71: Into the Fire’. The revival of his career was further cemented with the commercial success of his ensuing works such as Kdramas ‘Daemul’, ‘Queen of Ambition’ and ‘Medical Top Team’.
He also solidified his presence as a Hallyu star with his participation in cross-border productions such as the 2012 romantic comedy ‘Shadows of Love’ which co-starred Chinese superstar Cecilia Cheung and action film ‘CZ12’ with mega star Jackie Chan.
The content family man
Photos of the actor with his wife and kids from a 2018 pictorial in Marie Claire magazine.
Last year, the 42-year old actor celebrated the tenth anniversary of his marriage with fellow actress Son Tae-young. The happy couple commemorated the milestone with a beautiful pictorial which included their two children, a son and a daughter, in Marie Claire magazine.
After weathering vicious comments and scandals over the years from when his marriage was first announced, the actor now seems contented and at peace, revelling in the joy of fatherhood and the stability of his acting career.
Add to that the financial security from his growing business interests – the actor has a cafe, a cosmetics firm and owns substantial properties – it’s no wonder that the actor has become more comfortable in his skin over the years, reflecting a hard-won maturity from his years in the entertainment industry.
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Current activities
A still of the actor with his co-star from ‘Queen of Mystery 2’ in an interview on KBS World.
Kwon Sang Woo’s recent works have featured the actor reprising his comedic, crime-busting roles in the movie ‘The Accidental Detective 2’ and drama ‘Queen of Mystery 2’ in 2018. Both works were spawned from the box office and tv ratings success of their first installments and were received well by audiences.
Fans will soon have the pleasure of watching him on the big screen as he is currently in the midst of filming the movie ‘Hitmen’. The action comedy tells the tale of a special agent, played by Kwon Sang Woo, taking on a vastly different career direction as a webtoon writer in the next stage of his life.
The movie boasts a stellar cast, which includes actors Lee Yi Kyung – known from his starring role in the drama ‘Welcome to Waikiki 1 & 2’ and ‘Sky Castle’ actor Jung Joon Ho, and is set to delight audiences with a blend of comedy and realism.
—-Fie Fed
The Japanese female vocal group Kalafina officially disbanded March 13, 2019.
The group, which consisted of Keiko Kubato, Wakana Ōtaki and Hikaru Masai, reportedly planned on disbanding in May 2018 following their 10-year anniversary celebrations, but instead, Kubato departed the group and their company, Spacecraft Produce. Spacecraft Produce, in turn, announced Kalafina would continue as a duo, but Masai eventually left the company in October 2018.
Prior to Masai and Kubato’s departures, composer Yuki Kajiura left the company in February following contract disputes.
The fourth member, Maya Toyoshima, left the group in 2009.
In August 2018, Ōtaki announced she would be working on her solo career with plans to debut in 2019. She began her solo concert tour September 24, 2018. Her first solo album, Wakana, was released March 20, 2019.
According to the statement Spacecraft Produce released, the company tried to relaunch the group and examined the possibilities to create a unit, but then ultimately decided to announce the group disbanded.
Following the disbandment news, Kubato and Masai released a joint statement on the FictionJunction website (translation provided by chibalein on Tumblr).
To our important fans,
We are very sorry that we didn’t take the responsibility last year, when we passed our 10th year, to express our feelings that needed to be expressed in our own words and ended up addressing the issue this way.
In the 10 years of Kalafina, there was a harmony only the three of us could create, there was the musical world spun by Kajiura-san… moreover, because you were waiting for us, we could keep on going.
Furthermore, thanks to the many outstanding works we encountered, we were able to deliver our music in various places. Each and every accumulation will never disappear, and we couldn’t ever forget them. Last year, our one big decision was to “stop walking [as a group] for a while in order to pursue our own individual music careers”. We feel very sorry that this information had this kind of timing, but we want you to please watch over the paths we chose.
To everyone who have supported us until now, we appreciate it from our hearts… Thank you.
March 14th 2019
Keiko. Hikaru
Kajiura also chimed in to express her surprise over the disbandment.
About the report of Spacecraft’s “Regarding the disbandment of Kalafina”:
Yesterday, Spacecraft released a report about “the disbandment of Kalafina”, although it was very sudden and somewhat surprising that they haven’t used “hiatus” but the strong word “disbandment”, the three members undeniably have stopped their activities a long time ago. Above all else, as the former producer of Kalafina and as an individual person, I continued to feel very sorry for being unable to properly address the issue to everyone who supported Kalafina until now.
As for the former Kalafina members Keiko and Hikaru, when I reached out to them, they felt the same way after all and since they wanted to use the opportunity to greet everyone, therefore I gathered their messages and provided a temporary* place on my website.”
After the news of the disbandment came down, speculation for why Kajiura left Spacecraft and why Kalafina ultimately disbanded began.
According to Weekly Bunshun Digital, Kalafina dissolved due to management issues. The publication shared information from an “anonymous industry insider” that said the group broke up thanks to their company’s president who “began showing favoritism to a Takarazuka Revue member and was trying to put her into a higher position at the company. In doing so, he tried to lower Kalafina founder Yuki Kajiura’s position.”
Bunshun continued by saying, “One of the men involved in Kalafina’s management, referred to in the article as ‘Mr. M,’ had Kajiura’s respect. He tried to object to Ōnishi’s actions, which turned Ōnishi against him. One day, Ōnishi became furious at Mr. M and accused him of being a ‘spy.’ Mr. M left the company in June 2017. After that, the Takarazuka Revue member whom Ōnishi had been favoring was put in charge of managing Kalafina at the studio.”
The favoritism and the fact that Kajiura felt that the Takarazuka Revue member didn’t know what she was doing was the rumored reason Kajiura left the company.
The source also stated that there was discord between the Kalafina members: “Keiko was the most popular and became stuck up because of it, which Hikaru and Wakana resented. But Kajiura and Mr. M held the group together.”
Regardless of what the truth is in the matter, Bunshun did share that there may be hope for a Kalafina revival. The source shared that Kubato and Masai have showed interest in working with Kajiura again. Bunshun was tentative about Wakana as she is still under contract with Spacecraft Produce.
While it would be nice for Kalafina to come together again, rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. Meanwhile, fans of the group will continue to hope for a return.
—-Olivia Murray
SJ Label announced that Super Junior’s upcoming comeback will feature nine members; Kangin and Sungmin will not be part of the group promotions.
While SJ Label did not announce when they plan to release their ninth studio audience, they did announce that Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Siwon, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun will participate while adding that Kangin and Sungmin will participate in their own individual activities through a statement.
Hello, this is Label SJ.
We are giving a notice regarding Super Junior’s group activities that are scheduled to take place in the second half of this year.
After a discussion with the members, we have decided that nine members including Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Siwon, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun will be participating in upcoming promotions for Super Junior’s ninth studio album.
Kangin and Sungmin, who will not be participating in group activities, plan to promote with individual activities in the future.
The exact comeback date for Super Junior is currently being discussed. Since this is their first studio album in a long time after all of the members have completed their mandatory military duties, we ask that you show a lot of interest and support. Thank you.
Each Super Junior member completed their mandatory military service. Kyuhyun completed his service this past May.
Kangin’s absence from group promotions is due to a variety of scandals that have plagued the star over the years including two DUIs and an alleged assault (the charges were dropped). However, he is set to appear in the Web drama What Happened to Mirae? With each scandal, ELF, Super Junior’s fandom, has asked for him to be removed from the group.
Sungmin has not promoted with Super Junior since getting married in December 2014. Some of the criticism stems from him getting married when Super Junior was holding concerts in Japan and that he deceived fans leading up to his marriage announcement. His marriage has been a sore spot for fans, and those fans have called for his removal since.
Since Super Junior’s comeback announcement, however, some fans have called for a boycott of the group until Kangin and Sungmin are officially removed from the lineup. These fans uploaded a “boycott manual” that people should follow in hopes of having their demands met.
“We demand Kangin and Sungmin’s departure… Kangin and Sungmin damage Super Junior’s image as a whole. Kangin and Sungmin’s departure should no longer be delayed and we agreed there needs to be stronger action taken,” the statement reads in part. “We announce to indefinitely boycott Super Junior and all members’ activities until the agency release a clear statement.” The list of demands state:
1.YouTube, Instagram V App: Cancel subscriptions, do not view. Cancel SUMTOWN subscription and don’t watch any of their videos.
2. Twitter: Unfollow all members and the group account, don’t participate in any events connected to the official accounts, and no using hashtags related to group members.
3. Twitch: Cancel subscriptions and don’t watch any live broadcasts.
4. Freezing Communities: No posts and comments allowed.
5. Music: Stop streaming on Melon, Genie, Bugs, etc.
6. TV: Do not watch any TV programs with Super Junior members in them.
7. Albums: Do not buy any albums.
8. Offline Events: Don’t attend any events or shows related to the group.
9. Goods & Merchandise: Do not buy any goods or merchandise.
Those in support of removing Kangin and Sungmin have spread their petition and boycott manual through various social media platforms including Nate Pann, Twitter, Facebook, and KakaoTalk among others.
SJ Label or SM Entertainment have yet to respond to the demands or confirmed any removals or plans to remove the singers from their rosters.
In other Super Junior news, the group will perform in Saudi Arabia July 12 and 13 at Al Johara Stadium in Jeddah. It will be the group’s first-ever performance in the country. The news was announced on Jeddah Season’s official Twitter page.
أهلًا بـ @SJofficial في #موسم_جدة ? pic.twitter.com/TvOP9uDepI
— موسم جدة | Jeddah Season (@JED_SEASON) June 2, 2019
—-Olivia Murray
On June 1, 2019, Chinese-born Spanish YouTuber Kanghua Ren, who goes by the name ReSet, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison following a prank he filmed for his YouTube channel. In addition to the prison term, he was also ordered to pay a fee of $22,300 USD, and he was banned from YouTube for five years.
In a now-removed video shared on YouTube January 2017, Ren filmed himself removing the cream from Oreo cookies and replacing it with toothpaste. Ren then fed the toothpaste Oreos and gave the equivalent to $25 USD a homeless Romanian man in Barcelona, Spain. Ren said he recorded the prank as part of a “challenge.”
The man, identified as 52-year-old former pastor Gheorghe L., vomited after eating the Oreos. Ren filmed the man vomiting while commenting, “Maybe I’ve gone a bit far, but look at the positive side: this will help him clean his teeth. I think he hasn’t cleaned them since he became poor.”
Ren, who is a gamer, has 1.2 million YouTube subscribers. His video sparked outrage in Spain, but it didn’t stop the video from being watched “thousands of times” while Ren raked in nearly $2000 USD from the video’s advertisements.
After public outcry, Ren didn’t help improve his public image by showing further detachment in recognizing why the prank was wrong. He returned to Gheorghe’s location the next day to ask how the cookies “went down” and followed the comment by saying, “People exaggerate over jokes in the street (played) on a beggar, when surely if it’s done to a normal person they wouldn’t say anything.”
After more outrage from the videos, Ren and a friend returned to the man again and offered to sleep with him on the streets. At this point, authorities were called to prevent Ren from harassing the man again.
During this period, video viewers created a Change.org petition in hopes of getting Ren’s videos removed.
In 2018, authorities caught up with Ren and charged him with a “crime against moral integrity.” Spanish prosecutors wanted Ren to serve two years in prison and pay restitution to the victim. Prosecutors and Spanish police also revealed that Ren tried to pay off the victim so he wouldn’t speak of the incident.
In a seemingly unrelated incident, Ren was also ordered to return to China in 2018 as well.
Spanish police also said that Ren has targeted other “vulnerable people” in the past, and that the prank featuring Gheorghe L. was not an isolated incident. Investigations revealed that Ren also tried to give sandwiches made with cat feces to the elderly and children.
“I do things for showmanship, people like anything morbid,” Ren said in court.
According to the South China Morning Post, Ren will likely not serve prison time. Two-year sentences are generally not implemented in Spain for first-time offenders in non-violent crimes.
As of June 3, 2019, Ren’s YouTube pages are still online. Following the sentence, Ren has yet to comment.
—-Olivia Murray
Chansung will soon be joining fellow 2PM members Wooyoung and Jun.K when he enlists for his mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier June 11, 2019.
Chansung and the MCs for MBC every1’s Video Star hinted that his military service will be soon during the May 21, 2019 episode. On the show, the MCs wished him luck during his service, and Chansung relayed a message to fans wishing them well while he is away.
“I didn’t go to the military yet and will go soon,” he said. “Miss me always, smile, and don’t cry just because I’m not here. To talk about small things—I hope your bus comes quickly on your way home from work, I hope the balance on your transportation card is always enough, and I hope you get a taxi right away on your way home from a work dinner.”
On May 31, 2019, JYP Entertainment confirmed that Chansung will enlist in June through an official statement.
Hello.
This is JYP Entertainment.
This is an announcement regarding 2PM’s Chansung.
2PM’s Chansung will be enlisting active duty into the army on June 11 and will diligently carry out his military duty. Respecting his wish to enlist quietly, his enlistment time and location will not be revealed.
Thank you.
On June 1 and 2, 2019, Chansung held his second solo fan meet, “TMC: Too Much Chanformation,” at the Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul. During the fan meet—an event that featured his solo song “Treasure,” a surprise appearance by Nichkhun, and performances of select 2PM hits along with stories about Chansung’s activities and life— he shared a letter with fans regarding his upcoming military service.
I sincerely thank you,” he began. “All of you made me into a shining person. I’m going to continue to be thankful. Meeting the 2PM members is my life’s biggest blessing, and meeting all of you is my biggest joy. I want to hurry up and promote as a whole group with 2PM. I hope you guys won’t be sad. I hope you’ll smile.”
With Chansung’s enlisted June 11 and Junho expected to enlist later this year, all of the 2PM members will be finished with their mandatory service. Nichkhun is not a Korean citizen, so he will not enlist. Taecyeon was discharged from his service May 16, 2019.
We wish Chansung the best during his service.
—-Olivia Murray
Budapest, Hungary: Seven seconds was all it took for The Mermaid (Hableany) to sink into the Danube River according to the police investing a boat crash that killed seven South Korean tourists and left 21 missing May 29, 2019 at 9:05pm local time (3:05pm EST).
According to the seven survivors—all of them South Korean—their tourist boat, The Mermaid, was struck by a river cruise ship, Viking Sigyn, while both watercrafts were traveling in the same direction heading toward a bridge.
“I saw that big cruise ship coming closer to us, but I had never imagined it would ram our boat,” Ms. Jeong, a 31-year-old survivor, said. “The people plunged into the river in the darkness and shouted `Help me!’ while floundering in the waters. But I couldn’t do anything for them.”
The Mermaid, a small sightseeing boat, was about to wrap up it’s nighttime tour of the Hungarian capital of Budapest. CCTV footage reportedly shows that the Viking Sigyn hit the smaller ship, causing it to capsize and sink.
“The (Mermaid) for some reason, turns into the way of the Viking. And the Viking, as it bumps into it, pushes it… and within seven seconds … (Mermaid) sinks,” Pal Gyorfi, a spokesman for the Hungarian national ambulance service said.
“Our boat was turned over in an instant and began sinking,” a survivor, Ms. Yoon, said. “All those on the deck fell into water and I think those staying in the cabin on the first floor couldn’t probably get out of the ship swiftly.”
Survivors said about 20 people where on the boat’s deck while the rest were waiting in the cabin area.
Police said that the seven victims they found in the murky waters weren’t wearing life vests and that the seven victims they rescued had hypothermia but are in stable condition. Police said there are 19 South Koreans including a child and two Hungarian crew members still missing. Hope has faded they will be found alive.
“I wouldn’t say there is no hope, rather that there is a minimal chance [of finding survivors],” Pal said. “This is not just because of the water temperature, but [also] the strong currents in the river, the vapor above the water surface, as well as the clothes worn by the people who fell in.”
Yoon said that the ship that struck them continued to sail by without stopping to rescue people. A 60-year-old victim, Ahn, said rescuers were only able to save those clinging to objects or holding hands with people clinging to lifeboats.
Rescue and recovery efforts have been hampered by heavy rain, murky waters, and swift currents.
“We have to say that circumstances are working against us,” Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said.
Because of the currents and flooding that’s not predicted to go down until June 4, 2019, Hungarian authorities contacted Serbian authorities to help them search the length of the Danube River in hopes of finding remains.
A floating crane has been called in to lift the tourist boat from the bottom of the Danube River. The rough and muddy waters have made this task difficult. Szijjártó said that zero visibility has made it “impossible to get near the wreck.”
“Those who were trapped in the hull or were stuck underneath can be lifted only once the wreckage is pulled out,” a Hungarian police statement said.
So far, out of the seven deceased victims, two have been identified, and fingerprint experts are working on identifying the remaining five according to Yonhap News.
64-year-old Yuriy C. from Odessa, Ukraine has been identified as the captain of the Viking Sigyn. Yuriy was taken into police custody and questioned and preliminarily charged for reckless misconduct in waterborne traffic leading to mass casualties. Yuriy is described as an experienced captain. Authorities added that he is still under investigation.
South Korean and Hungarian authorities have been cooperative with each other as search and recovery efforts continue.
For South Korea, this latest boating accident is a painful reminder of the Sewol Ferry accident five years ago that killed 304 people, many of whom were students.
—-Olivia Murray
W24 is a Korean 5-member band, signed under JARMY Entertainment. The band’s name is an abbreviation for World 24 Hours, which can be interpreted that they’ll produce and cater music to the world, at all times. W24 made their debut on March 8th, 2018, with their first mini-album Singing Dancing, and their second digital single SOSIME was released in October in the same year.
W24 might not be familiar to many of you as of yet, but they currently have a very solid fan base in South American countries, mostly due to the fact that Howon was born in Chile (and grew up in Peru) and able to interact with the fans in Spanish – while the rest of the members Jong-gil, Aaron, Yunsoo and Jiwon were all born and raised in Korea. Jong-gil was the one mostly responsible for putting the band together.
We were lucky to able to attain an interview with the boys who are currently extremely busy, since their album’s to be released out very soon, so we hope this would be a great opportunity for our readers to get to know W24 better. We would also like to express a massive thank you to the members of W24 and their management for offering their precious time for the interview.
*Thank you very much for taking the time out for an interview with KCrush America. Please briefly introduce yourselves to our readers.
Jong-gil: Hello~ This is Kim Jong-gil and I am the team’s drummer.
Howon: I’m Jeong Ho-won, and the main vocalist of W24.
Aaron: This is Park Aaron, the keyboard player of the team.
Yunsoo: Hello, this is Kim Yunsoo and I am the guitarist!
Jiwon: Hi ~ I am Park Jiwon and I play the bass.
*Tell us how you were formed as members of W24.
Jong-gil: I knew our CEO since I was young, and he said that he wanted to start a band that made fresh music and offered me to join. I agreed, since the company’s vision and idea for the band and music was what I had envisioned.
Howon: I was just attending college like everyone else during the summer of 2017, and was offered to take an audition to join the band by a senior. I took part in the audition and became the last member to join.
Aaron: When I was a freshman at college, I helped Jong-gil on his graduation project and then was asked by him to join the band. I made the decision to join because the team’s musical direction fit my vision.
Yunsoo: When I was serving in the military, I was introduced to the band through an acquaintance of mine. I made the choice to join the band without hesitation, since the band’s vision matched my own.
Jiwon: I was asked to audition by Aaron, who was my colleague at my uni. I went along and did the audition because I thought it would be fun, and got in the band, just like that.
(Main Vocal: Ho Won)
*When and how did you start music? Which artists or musicians were you the most influenced by?
Jong-gil: I first got interested in drumming when I was younger, after seeing an older bro playing drums at my church because he looked so cool. The artist that inspired me is Drummer Lee Sang-min. While I was growing up, I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson’s music.
Howon: My hobbies and interests have always been singing. I’ve never learned how to sing professionally but I began getting vocal and music lessons when I got admitted to our company. Since we’re a band, I think I enjoy listening to bands like The 1975 and DNCE.
Aaron: I taught myself to play the piano and got to play at the church service when I was in my last year of middle school. I loved playing piano so much which naturally got me into music. In the beginning, I was heavily influenced by Black Gospel acts like Israel New Breed, Kirk Franklin and Jazz pianist Keith Jarret. These days, I listen to a lot of Synth-pop bands.
Yunsoo: I started learning the guitar from a teacher who taught an afterschool program, when I was in my first year in middle school. Thanks to the teacher, I got interested in playing the instrument and still at it to this day. The artist that influenced me the most would be Stevie Ray Vaughan. Watching him perform for the first time had a huge impact on me, which enabled me to study and play blues music. Most recently, watching a lot of John Mayor’s musicality and live performances have been an influence on me.
Jiwon: I began music when I got into a school band in my third year of middle school, because I thought it’d be great to become popular. I officially started doing music when I got admitted to High school and preparing to get into college. I would listen to bassist Marcus Miller’s music a lot, and was very influenced by him. I am currently listening to a lot of songs by The 1975 and Imagine Dragons.
*Which W24 song are you the most attached to, and why?
Jong-gil: The song that will be released soon, is something that I like the most. You’ll know why when you hear it. LOL.
Howon: I like Sosime the most out of all our songs. It took us quite a long time to produce the song, and spent vast effort into it, which makes it all the more special for me.
Aaron: Make a Fuss! When you’re feeling down, this can quickly get you in a great mood when you either listen or play it. Our second mini album that is due to be released, has a few tracks that I am attached to, in a different way than the previous stuff we’ve done.
Yunsoo: The single that is to be released. Ha ha. I think it’s because the more we work on the music, we feel ourselves gradually improving and developing. Please wait and anticipate other songs that we haven’t been able to reveal to you yet.
Jiwon: Nowadays, I like Beyond Measure – 무수히 the best. It’s uplifting to perform the song and I feel rewarded when I watch the crowd scream and jump to the tune.
(Drums: Jong Gil)
*Which album or song do you listen to the most frequently?
Jong-gil: Milky Day’s album OOL and Lauv’s albums are what I’m listening to the most these days.
Howon: I’m listening to Henry’s Untitled Love Song a lot, because I really love its rhythm and lyrics.
Aaron: Map of Soul: Persona by BTS, along with albums by Lauv and Jannavi.
Yunsoo: Zedd, Grey – The Middle, Lauv- Drugs & The Internet, and records by The 1975.
Jiwon: I listen to Sincerity is Scary by The 1975, and the album the song is listed in.
*Tell us your charm, in just one word.
Jong-gil: When I converse with people, I tend to react well and concur what they have to say, as well as expressing my own thoughts.
Howon: Since I’m a bit of an introvert, I express my thoughts, only after I look at smallest detailed things. At times, I hear people make remarks that I am intensive, but there are others who like my attention to details.
Aaron: I have a cheery and positive personality, and tend to stay that way in any kind of situation.
Yunsoo: I am kind of sensitive when it comes to both my music and how I live my life. However, I find there are people who actually understand that about me and approve of it too.
Jiwon: I’m normally very shy and quiet, but when I get in the midst of the fans who like me, I tend to act cute, at times.
(Guitar: Yun Soo)
*Do you have any habits that you’d want to fix?
Jong-gil: I want to fix the habit of frowning my nose.
Howon: I tend to shake my legs when I feel nervous or uneasy. I want to fix that.
Aaron: I sleep all the time!!! I’m not sure if this would be classified as a bad habit but I sleep so much and well just anytime, anywhere.
Yunsoo: I’m too sensitive. And because I am this sensitive, I tire myself out sometimes. So, it’s a tendency that I want to get rid of.
Jiwon: When I’m in front of the camera, my facial expression becomes uneasy and my speech gets slightly slurred, most probably due to nervousness. I want to become less nervous and more natural.
*What is your favorite food or beverage?
Jong-gil: Samyang ramen, Braised short ribs, Gamja-tang, Tteok-bokki… How can I choose just one?
Howon: Lomo Saltado, which is a Peru cuisine, is my favorite. It has meat, rice and potatoes all in one. And I like Fruit Ades the best, for beverages.
Aaron: Steak and ice Americano.
Yunsoo: It’s so difficult to select my fav food, because I generally eat anything and don’t have anything that I dislike. I do like an Americano, for beverage though.
Jiwon: For food, my fav is Tteok-bokki. And for beverage, Cold brew!
(Keyboard: Aaron)
*Who do you respect the most in the world?
Jong-gil: My dad and Dr. Lee Guk-jong.
Howon: Jesus! I respect Jesus Christ the most!
Aaron: Jesus for me too!!
Yunsoo: My mom, dad and our CEO.
Jiwon: My father. I grew up watching him putting his all into everything that he does, and I’ve always wanted to be like him.
*Where do you think is the best place to travel or visit in Korea?
Jong-gil: Banpo Hangang Park at sunset.
Howon: I’ve never been yet, but I heard that Jeju Island would be the best. Even on screen, it looked so cool.
Aaron: I personally love the city, so I reckon Seoul is great for travelling.
Yunsoo: I haven’t been able to do much travelling, ㅠㅠ so I’m not too sure… Where would be the best location?
Jiwon: Jeju Island! Because of its mountains, ocean and scenery ~ the food is great too, so it’s perfect for a trip.
*What kind of a person is your ideal type?
Jong-gil: A woman who is able to make wise decisions, respects her elders and loves babies.
Howon: Someone who’s easy-going, expresses her opinions well and honest.
Aaron: A person who doesn’t clash with me, and knows how to adjust to my personality.
Yunsoo: First, someone who is strong enough to lead me. And has pretty eyes.
Jiwon: Someone who has a nice smile, and works hard at what they do.
(Bass Guitar: Ji Won)
*Outside of Korea, which country or venue would you most wish to perform?
Jong-gil: We would love to perform starting from North America to South America.
Howon: I want us to perform at the music festival Lollapalooza in Brazil.
Aaron: There are just too many to mention: South America, China, the States, Europe, Japan…
Yunsoo: Want to perform in the U.K and America, and would love to watch other artists perform there too – not only to learn from them musically but learn their overall attitude to music.
Jiwon: We want to be on stage at rock festivals abroad, since I think it’s so cool to watch my fav bands perform in major venues by interacting with the audience.
*Share with us your hopes and plans for the future. Please leave a comment for your fans too.
Jong-gil: It’d be meaningless for us to work hard to create music and perform if there is no audience there for us. So, we’re so very appreciative of your love. The members of W24 will never take that for granted and will do our best to work to make you proud with great music. Thank you!
Howon: We’d like to thank all of our lovely fans who have supported us and loved us until now. We are currently recording our next album and will film our music video very soon so we hope you guys are excited! Thank you!
Gracias a todos nuestros fans por esperarnos y amarnos hasta el dia de hoy. Estamos grabando nuestro siguiente album y estamos muy ansiosos y emocionados por eso. Esperamos verlos muy pronto otra vez en nuestro siguiente concierto. Gracias!
Aaron: Hello ~~ everyone. Thank you for supporting us while waiting for so long for our next album to be released! Soon, we will be back with great news on new material! Please watch this space and we ask for all your support and prayers please ~ We want to stay around and make good music that connects with people, for many days to come. Ha ha. Thank you so very much!! And for our fans in South America, we have a tour planned there in the near future, so please be patient ~! Gracias~!
Yunsoo: We still have a long way to go, but we’re so grateful to have fans who support and love what we do! We’ll definitely be back with fab music, and strive to become a band that encourages and provides healing to our listeners. In return, we will be energized by them too!
Jiwon: We’d like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who shows love and support. Please watch us become better as a team, as we work harder to achieve our goal to bring you better music. We want to perform in front of all of you, all around the world. Thank you!
— J. Chung.
Berry Good’s Daye is the latest alleged perpetrator of bullying in a week that’s seen Hyolyn and Jannabi’s Yoo Young Hyun experiencing the same accusations (Yoo later admitted to the claims and departed his group).
In an online message on Nate Pann, Netizen A claimed the Daye (Kim Hyun Jung) assaulted and sexually harassed her while they were in the sixth grade together.
“I am a school violence victim of Kim Hyun Jung, currently active as Daye in Berry Good,” Netizen A wrote. “During that time, I was thirteen years old and in my sixth grade. It wasn’t just me that Kim Hyun Jung harassed and bullied but others as well. And it also wasn’t just in physical ways that she hurt people, but also but also sexually degrading language as well.”
Netizen A continued, “Just because of the fact that I was close with the guy that she liked, she first began to make me into an outcast. She tripped me, hit the back of my head and laughed during class, used a broom to brush through my hair, pulled my underwear and encouraged other male students to do the same, and even fondled my breasts.”
JTG Entertainment, Berry Good’s agency, released a statement denying the claims.
“We checked directly with Daye regarding the post that described her as school bully, and we found that it is not true at all,” the agency said. “We are going to take strong legal action against this anonymous post about Daye and school violence.”
“I don’t know in what mindset they are saying that ‘it’s completely false,’” Netizen A retorted. “If you can’t remember anything, I can explain more in thorough detail.” She also posted an image as proof she and Daye may have known each other.
Following JTG’s statement, Netizen A took her story to the May 31, 2019 episode Entertainment Weekly (begins at the 14:00 mark) and provided more details about the alleged bullying.
“In 2012 when I was 13 years old, Daye and 7 others surrounded me after calling me over. They even sneered after examining the photos my friends and I took together. My friends have also been cursed at by Daye for no reason,” Netizen A said.
I wanted to hide it and forget it, but I thought about it and got angry after seeing the headlines that Daye is going to take legal action after the first victim post. I really would like for her to apologize. Rather than come to a settlement and give me money, I’d like her to apologize and reflect,” Netizen A said about why she posted her allegations.
Another alleged victim also came forward with claims as well.
Daye, who is currently on hiatus due to health issues, released her own statement regarding Netizen A’s claims and the claims of the other alleged victim. In her statement, she denies the allegations.
Hello, this is Berry Good’s Daye.
Firstly, I’ve been searching several times each day for every malicious comment, article, reply, and post on Nate Pann written by those claiming to be a victim, and I read them and have thought a lot.
Above all, many people have been hurt by these incidents, including my family, friends, and those around me. It even made me wonder if I was a perpetrator worthy of evoking such serious criticism. So, because of my various thoughts, I wasn’t able to do anything or say anything.
I am writing this to quickly acknowledge what is true and to correct what is unfair and false.
In regards to the first person who claims to be a victim, I have never committed violence towards them, and I have never even joked with them to the point that they might feel sexual humiliation, as they said.
It’s true that at the time in the sixth grade, the person who claims to be a victim and I had a fight over something trivial. As I was angry about that, I went to their home to try to come to a solution about the incident, and I received an apology.
We even reconciled about this while we were in elementary school. Also, it wasn’t a case where I one-sidedly approached and tormented her; there was a clear context. Due to our conflict with each other we got in a verbal argument over something trivial. After this incident was resolved, I never one-sidedly tormented or was violent towards the person claiming to be a victim.
In a few posts, there are people saying that I transferred schools a lot, and that the reasons were that I was forced to transfer or that it was to clear my image. However, I can say that my student record is clean.
I frequently changed schools because we moved or because of my father’s work since the time I was in kindergarten, and while I was in high school, I transferred due to situations related to my life as a trainee such as the dorms and training.
The claims of the poster are to the level that there would have had to have been a committee held about school violence. And a part that raises doubt is why they didn’t come find me before and request an apology if they have so angry with me for 10 years, as they write in their post. I feel that what they truly want to achieve through criticizing me with others through this kind of post is not an apology for the pain they’ve experienced, but rather to just negatively affect my activities and bring pain.
As they wrote the post anonymously and hid their personal information, I have not been able to make any apologies or ask any questions. If they really desire an apology and want to straighten out the things they remember from elementary school, I respectfully request that they at any time send me a message and personally reveal their identity.
People have even gone to the personal social media accounts of people who have written posts for me to explain and protect me. They have uploaded screen captures and written ‘Even the friends of Kim Hyun Jung are low class’ and revealed their names, faces, and identities. I think the act of uploading this, and also of adding false information in posts based on one-sided memories and claiming they’re the truth, is undeniably another crime.
In regards to the second person who wrote an additional post claiming to be a victim, this is something I have a clear memory of as well.
To explain everything, my friend’s younger sibling was bullied severely by the person claiming to be a victim. They committed violence and also filmed offensive videos and threatened them by saying they would erase them in exchange for money. Their money was taken several times. The things the writer claimed in their post to have been a victim of are the exact things they did themselves.
It was an incident in which my close friends, who could not stand seeing their friend suffering so much psychologically, went together to retaliate in the same way in order to help their friend.
I wasn’t there when the violence happened, and I remember that there was a report filed about the incident so a committee on school violence was held. At the time, the people who committed violence each admitted to their mistakes and received strict punishments and disciplinary actions, and the incident came to a close.
I can say that I don’t even know the face of the person who wrote this, as I wasn’t there at the time, and my school record is also clean. Due to this post by someone who claims to be a one-sided victim, people around me who are working hard in their lives have had their identities exposed and family members are being hurt.
I will take strong legal action against posts written with the intention of causing harm instead of hoping for a sincere apology by publicizing things that have not been confirmed to be true. As for the people who are claiming to be victims, I said this above but I respectfully request that you share your contact information and personal information through a private message. Through a conversation, I will quickly acknowledge and apologize in regards to the parts that are to be apologized for. I express my apologies to the many people who were hurt through this, including my family, colleagues, the staff at my company, and members, as well as apologize for evoking criticism and causing concern.
I hope that there will be no further harm done through such use of societal pressure and a lack of going through legal procedures. Also, as I said above, if there is further damage, I plan to respond strongly through legal action.
베리굿 다예입니다. pic.twitter.com/Th5C6C7U5F
— 베리굿(BerryGood) (@BerryGood2014) May 31, 2019
The alleged victims have not responded to Daye’s comments publicly as of June 3, 2019.
Meanwhile, Berry Good recently came back with the single “Oh Oh” off their single album Fantastic. Promotions for the single were cut short due to Taeha’s departure and the company not being able to rearrange the music to allow for her absence.
As a reminder, all parties are innocent until proven guilty.
—-Olivia Murray
Soloist and former SISTAR member, Hyolyn, was recently accused of bullying classmates when she was in middle school. The alleged victim posted about her experiences online, and her posts went viral in South Korea. Along with her allegations, the alleged victim asked for an apology from the singer.
In her statements, the alleged victim, who is identified as “A” in the media, stated the Hyolyn (Kim Hyo-jeong) bullied her for three years throughout middle school. In addition to the alleged bullying that occurred in school, the accuser states that Hyolyn also harassed her at a playground.
“She would regularly steal my clothes, money, etc., and would find any reason to attack me on the apartment playground,” “A” said along with sharing pictures showing Hyolyn’s yearbook pictures and a graduation certificate to show she went to the same school as the singer.
“Hyolyn would make my friend meet her at a karaoke room and hit her head with the mic. When she hit her, she always made sure [my friend] would hit her back, so that it became mutual,” “A” continued. “Hyolyn bullied me because my boyfriend had the same name as her boyfriend at the time.”
“I’m amazed at myself for not having committed suicide during those three years and enduring it. I used to wish I could get into a traffic accident on my way to school just so I wouldn’t have to be the target of her anger,” “A” continued.
“A” claims that she is still haunted by the memories of the bullying incidents even though they occurred 15 years ago. She states that seeing Hyolyn brings back the memories.
“At the time, I was scared of retaliation, so I couldn’t tell [the police], and I just waited for graduation,” “A” said.
She also revealed a personal DM she sent to Hyolyn asking for an apology. The statement reads,
Ten years have already passed since you tormented me, and I still feel pain every time I see you on TV. I guess there is no justice in the world since the attacker is living well and all the victim can do is watch their success grow. It’s unfair. Just apologize for the things you did to me. I want to hear an apology from you before I die. You ignored the last message I sent you all those years ago and now I hope there comes a day where you get what you deserve.
Bridg3 Company, Hyolyn’s agency, released a statement responding to the allegations.
Hello, this is Hyolyn’s agency Bridgʒ.
We have seen the online post about Hyolyn, and we are confirming the facts as Hyolyn’s memory of the incident from 15 years ago is unclear.
In addition, we are planning to personally meet the person who uploaded the post and claims to have been a victim, and we will do our best to resolve the issue.
We apologize for causing concern.
Following the agency’s statement, victim “A” said, “The article about her agency’s position has been released. I heard that she’s coming to see me. I don’t have the confidence to see those scary eyes. It will suffice to receive an apology through a phone call and for her to personally release a statement and reflect on herself. I sent her another message through social media, but I haven’t gotten a response. Please sincerely apologize through a call.”
Soon after “A” posted her story, another alleged victim came forward claiming Hyolyn bullied her as well. “B” said:
I am also a victim of the happenings mentioned on this post. Hyolyn used to curse at us in every which way, and she’d ask to borrow our bags, clothes, and shoes for one day but wear it around for days. She didn’t want to return it, so she’d lie that an upperclassman stole it from her.
If I asked for her to return it, she’d curse me out by saying ‘I said I’ll give it to you, you XXX’.
At the playground, she would make us cower in fear by asking, ‘Who do you want to get beat up by today?’ We were assaulted without any reason. My eyes would get bloodshot and bruised from the beating, and my lips would swell up and bleed.
My mom once rushed to the school after seeing my eyes.
Hyolyn also sent a message to the victim asking if they could meet personally. However, the victim says Hyolyn could not be reached. During this time, Bridg3 Company announced they would be taking legal action against “A.”
This is Hyolyn’s agency Bridgʒ. We are releasing an additional statement regarding the online post about Hyolyn, which was reported on by the media today.
First, we would like to express our deep regret at the media reporting on the victim’s claims without confirmation.
All of the posts titled Hyolyn’s school violence were deleted a short while ago without any notice. We are deeply upset by this situation, which was caused by someone who brought about all kinds of speculation and controversy in a space where it could spread to a large number of unspecified people, then, after deleting the posts, insists on simply receiving an apology.
Due to these unconfirmed, one-sided claims, the image and reputation of an artist who has walked the same path for the past 10 years have been immensely damaged, and her promotions in the entertainment industry have been severely disrupted.
Hyolyn will not avoid these matters related to her, and the agency will hold the person who made the posts in question accountable for the unbearable insult and defamation [to Hyolyn’s character]. Additionally, if she continues to exploit the fact that our agency’s artist is a celebrity and attempts to mislead public opinion, we will not sit back and watch, but take even stronger action instead.
We apologize once again to those who care about Hyolyn for causing unwanted concern.
On May 26, 2019, the posts “A” shared were deleted from Nate Pann. “A” then claimed Nate Pann IP blocked her.
I’m the person who posted on Nate Pann. A few hours after the articles [about my posts] were published, I received a DM [direct message] from Kim Hyo Jung [Hyolyn’s given name]. She said, ‘I just arrived at the airport after wrapping up my overseas schedule… I’m sorry, I contacted you late. If it’s alright, I want to meet up and talk with you now… could you send me your contact information?’ I haven’t heard from her in six hours. I heard from some of our middle school classmates that she was asking around about my contact information, so I directly gave her my number through DM, but I’ve heard nothing since. Nate has blocked my IP address. After saying she wanted to meet and talk, she’s changed her stance without contacting me and is now saying that she’ll sue.
SK Communications, the company that operates Nate Pann, stated that the IP address used to post the messages was IP blocked previously.
The IP address that ‘A’ used [to post] was blocked on May 6 in accordance to the internal policy for sharing illegal promotional posts.” The source continued, “If ‘A’ was trying to upload the post at a PC Bang (internet cafe), she would have succeeded had she moved to a different seat.
SK Communications also stated that “A” deleted the posts herself.
Finally, on May 28, 2019, News1 reported that Hyolyn and the alleged victim settled the issue.
“After a long conversation, the two sides have reached a peaceful resolution,” a Bridg3 Company representative said.
Both parties agreed that the incident was mutually detrimental and that they didn’t want the story to drag on any further.
After all the build-up, the resolution seems abrupt without further word from either party. However, a settlement does not prove innocence or guilt, so assumptions should not be made in the case. However, it will be interesting to see what happens with Hyolyn’s future now that these allegations loom.
Meanwhile, Hyolyn recently made a comeback with “Youknowbetter.”
Hyolyn is the third celebrity to be accused of bullying.
Earlier in May, Produce X 101 contestant and now-former JYP Entertainment trainee Yeon Seo Bin was accused of bullying classmates and engaging in underaged smoking and drinking during his school tenure. He was later dropped from Produce X 101 and his contract with JYP was canceled despite the bullying allegations being proven untrue; he did admit to underaged drinking and smoking.
Yoo Young Hyun, the keyboardist from Jannabi, departed his group after confirming the bullying allegations against him were true.
—-Olivia Murray
Just in time for Pride Month in June, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage in May 2019.
On May 17, Taiwan’s legislature voted to fully legalize same-sex unions. According to the Washington Post, “the law — which allows for same-sex couples to apply for ‘marriage registration’ as part of ‘exclusive permanent unions’ — came a week before Taiwan’s codes barring same-sex marriage would have been automatically dropped by court order.” The news comes following a November 2018 referendum vote that showed 67 percent of Taiwanese voters opposed same-sex marriage. However, these votes do not override Constitutional voting.
In 2017, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled that an existing law stating marriage is between a man and a woman is unconstitutional. Prior to the final vote, lawmakers debated three different bills regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage. According to the BBC, the most progressive bill—which passed by a 66-27 vote backed by lawmakers from the majority Democratic Progressive Party— and it was the bill that the LGBTQA+ community and its supporters would accept. The accepted bill was the only one that used “marriage” instead of “same-sex union.”
Following the vote, several Taiwanese officials and celebrities celebrated the move.
“Love has won over hate, and equality has won over discrimination,” acting director of Amnesty International Taiwan, Annie Huang, said in a statement. “This is a moment to cherish and celebrate, but it has been a long and arduous campaign for Taiwan to become the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.”
President Tsai Ing-wen, whose 2016 Presidential campaign rallied for Gay Rights, tweeted, “We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country.”
On May 17th, 2019 in #Taiwan, #LoveWon. We took a big step towards true equality, and made Taiwan a better country. ?️?
— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) May 17, 2019
Taiwanese singer, Jolin Tsai, who has long been a supporter of the LGBTQA+ community and proudly shows her support in her music, stated in a Facebook post, “Congratulations!! Everyone deserves happiness!”
While the news has been received warmly by many, there are people who do oppose the action.
A Facebook commenter said, “This is the death of democracy. Seven million people voted against same-sex marriage in the referendum and their votes meant nothing. Is same-sex marriage that important and urgent?”
Taiwan’s stance may help other Asian countries moves toward a more open stance toward same-sex unions and marriage. Already, some countries have made strides toward accepting same-sex pairings, but even with some changes, tensions remain.
In September 2018, India’s Supreme Court ruled that gay sex is no longer a criminal offense. Israel recognizes same-sex civil unions, but they do not have legislation for same-sex marriage. In 2018, Hong Kong courts ruled that “committed same-sex couples living in the city had the same rights to spousal visas as married heterosexual couples” according to the New York Times. While marriage is still illegal in China, in 1997, the country decriminalized homosexuality. In 2000, China removed it from the country’s list of mental illnesses even though there are reports that the country still tries to use conversion therapy. Vietnam decriminalized gay marriage in 2015, but it still does not legally recognize same-sex marriages or unions.
Meanwhile in Brunei, while the country states it won’t enforce the death penalty for same-sex relations, those caught engaging in same-sex activities will be subjected to lashings, stonings, or prison time.
In Japan, 13 same-sex couples filed a lawsuit in February 2019 saying the country’s rejection of same-sex marriage violates their constitutional rights. While there is nothing in Japanese law that prohibits same-sex marriage, the government has interpreted the law as meaning marriage is between man and a woman.
“The constitution gives you the right to pursue happiness and equality before the law,” said Yoshie Yokoyama, one of the group’s lawyers, according to the South China Morning Post. “Not recognizing same-sex marriage violates this.”
Specifically, the lawsuit argues that article 24 of The Constitution of Japan needs to be reinterpreted. The article states, “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes and it shall be maintained through mutual cooperation with the equal rights of husband and wife as a basis.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said same-sex marriage “affects the foundation of how families should be in Japan, which requires an extremely careful examination.”
In opposition, Japan Today wrote, “Historically, Japan was broadly tolerant of homosexuality, with documented cases of samurai warriors during feudal times having male lovers. But as Japan industrialized and modernized from the late 19th century, Western prejudices against homosexuality were increasingly adopted.”
On May 24, 2019, the first wave of same-sex marriages occurred in Taiwan on the day when the law barring same-sex marriage was discontinued. In Asia, perhaps this occasion will mark a time for change.
—-Olivia Murray
It’s been a few months since we last shared a look into our beauty bags. So, what finds do we have for June? Let’s have a look!
Hera Rosy Satin Cream
Hera products are favorites around here, so it’s no surprise another Hera product earns a mention for this month’s recommendation.
The rosy satin cream, while pricy, is a top-notch product that delivers a nice amount of moisture while leaving behind a dewy, rosy finish in its wake. After cleansing, apply the moisturizer to your skin like any other moisturizer. What’s nice about this cream is that it has a subtle highlighting ability that enhances the glow on your cheeks, so it’s an optimal choice for days where makeup’s optional.
The cream itself is a nice dense-but-whipped texture that feels amazing as it melts into the skin. It’s not heavy, making it a perfect cream. When it absorbs into skin, your skin will have a matte, satin finish that will work as a canvas for makeup application if you choose.
The product does have a rose scent, so it may not be the best product for those with certain allergies or scent sensitivities. However, I have many allergies and was not bothered by this product.
The Hera rosy satin cream is one of our pricier choices at $66 on Amazon or $90 on YesStyle, but it’s a nice product for the person who wants to splurge.
MaxClinic Rose Vitamin Cleansing Oil Foam
MaxClinic has a solid line of cleansing foams, but the rose vitamin oil foam is a nice choice for anyone who wants to try this company’s products. The rose vitamin foam has lingonberries, cloudberries, chokeberries, blueberries, and bilberries infused in its ingredients, and it has soap berry, coconut, papaya and yucca in it as well. MaxClinic also boasts that the cleanser has 12 vitamins in it as well.
This oil foam is extremely light, but don’t let its lightness fool you as it does a great job cleansing skin. This product works well with just water and using your hands, but it does work better with a sonic cleanser or a cleansing brush. The oil does a fantastic job breaking down makeup, especially waterproof mascara! With a cleansing brush, it does an even better job breaking down makeup in pores, eyebrows, and lashes while making it seem like you never wore makeup that day. It truly is one of those impressive cleansers that does it all when double-cleansing isn’t on the docket.
For this cleanser, a little goes a long way. You do not have to keep pumping the cleanser into your hand or pump: One or two pumps will be enough to cleanse your face and neck. Plus, it has a brightening quality, so you can rest assured you will put your best face forward!
The rose vitamin cleaning oil foam is another product that has a rose scent to it, so please be aware of this if you are someone sensitive to certain scents. There are also notes of berry infused in the rose scent.
You can find the cleanser for $18 on YesStyle or Amazon.
Elizavecca Cer-100 Protein Treatment
In a longer review, we already sang the praises of Elizavecca’s cer-100 protein treatment; however, it deserves another mention due to some things we forgot in the longer review. For example, if you’re a swimmer or if you spend a lot of time in the sun during the summer, we found that is product does help prevent hair from drying out due to chlorine and other harmful chemicals. However, when it comes to the sun, we did discover that it does enhance highlights caused by the sun, so if this is a look you want, this product can help.
Another perk we discovered is that is helps lock-in color. The treatment was applied following a dye-job that involved teal highlights, and three weeks later, the color has not faded. The protein treatment has been applied once a week, which seems to be plenty.
While we are in love with this product, it should be noted that it smells like wet paper towels, so we do recommend a light shampoo after using this product.
You can find the protein treatment for $9 on Amazon or $10 at Walmart.
Plu Prestige Silk Body Scrub
Finally, exfoliating is an important step in any cleansing routine, so the Plu prestige body scrub will pamper you while leaving behind silky-smooth skin.
The body scrub is free of sulfates and parabens, and it is silicone and gluten-free. The product has grapeseed oil, vitamin C, rose extract, collagen, silk, and green tea that promise to brighten skin and enhance its appearance. Since it is a scrub, it is gritty. While it’s suggested to not use this product on your face, with gentle pressure, we found that it can be used to cleanse the face without damage.
The scrub works just like regular body wash: Wet your skin, then cleanse it with scrub in a circular motion to whisk away dead skin cells. Then, rinse the product off. Do not rub hard, though, as you do not want the abrasives to damage skin.
This scrub does a great job in revealing brighter, healthier skin. It is recommended to not use it every day, but every other day to two-to-three times a week depending on your skin sensitivity will be enough.
This product is available on Amazon for $17.
Do you have any products you love that you want us to try? Send us a message below or on our Facebook page!
Products that are reviewed and/or recommended are purchased by us. We do not receive kick-backs or samples from companies in exchange for reviews. All reviews are 100 percent based on our experiences and perceptions.
—-Olivia Murray
Another Korean artist has signed with an American agency as Monsta X now has an exclusive contract with America label Epic Records.
Epic Records is home to Camila Cabello, DJ Khaled, Chevelle, Busta Rhymes, Fifth Harmony, French Montana, Fiona Apple, Maria Carey, Ozzy Osbourne, Meghan Trainor, Sara Bareilles, Sade, and many others.
Monsta X’s representatives confirmed the signing May 28, 2019. Epic Records, which is based in Los Angeles, will handle the group’s English-language recordings and global distribution for countries outside of South Korea.
[#MONSTA_X]
We are unbelievably excited to share that we have officially joined the @Epic_Records family! #MONSTAX #EPICRECORDS pic.twitter.com/Dx4KkRTQSD— 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) May 29, 2019
In a statement, Monsta X said, “We are thrilled to join the Epic Family alongside some of the artists we admire the most. This is like a dream come true and we still can’t believe that this is happening to us. We can’t thank our Monbebe enough for their endless support and for making everything possible.”
“K-pop has indelibly impacted the global conversation and influenced culture everywhere,” Epic Records Chairman and CEO Sylvia Rhone said. “At the top of that conversation, you’ll find Monsta X. They’re ushering the genre into the future with an original style befitting of their experience, passion, and diverse influences. We’re honored to welcome them to the Epic Records family.”
“The boys are super-excited,” Monsta X’s US manager Eshy Gazit said. “They are so modest and incredible human beings. They truly deserve the world. I’m beyond excited. This is a major part of a bigger plan that we’ve been working hard on for over a year now.”
The Epic Records-signing is one of the many positive turns the group has experienced in the non-Korean market. On Saturday June 1, 2019, Monsta X will leave Korean soil to embark on the international leg of their third world tour with several stops in the US along the way. On May 27, 2019, the group also featured on the US cartoon series We Bare Bears, making them the first K-Pop group to be animated for a US TV show. They’re also the first K-Pop act to perform at the iHeart Music Festival this coming September in Las Vegas.
Monsta X have also hinted at more music coming soon. Perhaps fans could look forward to some English tracks soon as the Epic Records signing indicates?
“Many surprises are prepared for Monbebes from Monsta X. They genuinely do everything they can to give back the love to fans. It’s probably the most amazing and symbiotic relationship in the world,” Gazit said.
—-Olivia Murray
On July 1, 2019, D.O. will become the second EXO member to enlist for mandatory military service.
D.O announced he will voluntarily enlist to serve his country after discussions with SM Entertainment and his fellow EXO members. The 26-year-old singer could have waited two years to enlist but decided he wanted to complete his service as soon as possible.
“D.O. received a summons for mandatory service for this July 1, and he plans to enlist accordingly,” an SM Entertainment representative said.
The representative continued, “With Xiumin’s enlistment on May 7 and with the process of military enlistments now starting for EXO, D.O. expressed his will to fulfill his military duties as soon as possible and applied after fully discussing it with the agency and his members. He hopes to enlist quietly, so we will respect his wishes and not reveal the time and location of his enlistment as well as hold any separate events on the day.”
Following the announcement, the singer and actor shared a message on EXO’s fan café. He wrote:
Hello. This is EXO’s D.O.
EXO-L, you were really shocked with the sudden news, right?
My heart is heavy, because I wanted to tell you first but I’m a little late.
I am leaving a message like this because I wanted to tell you all that I will do well and return safely and healthily, as I came to this decision after much thought. I am always truly thankful toward EXO-L for your unending support, and I hope that your days are only full of things that make you smile, and that you are always healthy.
I will take care to return healthy and greet you once again. Thank you.
Previously, fellow EXO-member Xiumin enlisted as an active-duty soldier May 7, 2019.
Following his announcement, EXO announced they would be embarking on their fifth solo concert starting in July. The two-week EXO Planet #5 – ExplOration event will begin in Seoul July 19-21 and July 26-28 at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park. There will be a total of six shows. General public tickets for the concert go on-sale June 4 at 8pm KST. Tickets can be purchased on Yes24.
We wish D.O and Xiumin good luck during their services, and we hope EXO has a great concert series!
—-Olivia Murray
Super Junior’s Kangin is making steps toward a comeback as he is set to appear in the Web drama, What Happened to Mirae starting May 31, 2019.
The embattled singer has been on hiatus following a DUI hit-and-run accident in May 2016. The 2016 case was Kangin’s second DUI hit-and-run; his first incident was October 2009. In September 2009, he was also involved in an assault case which was later revealed that he acted in self-defense during a bar fight. In 2017, he was accused of allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Kangin refuted the claims and no charges were filed.
YouTube’s tentatively titled What Happened to Mirae follows a college student, Han Mi Rae (played by Han Yi Soo), who meets a man named Dong Joon (Kangin) during the final night of her Japanese trip.
While it’s Kangin’s first appearance in the entertainment industry in three years, SJ Label clarifies that his role in the drama is not an official comeback.
“The producers sent a casting offer, so he’s appearing. Currently, he has no new project planned, and there’s no other official comeback activity planned,” SJ Label said.
Kangin’s appearance may provide hope to Super Junior fans who have been anxiously awaiting a full-group comeback for some time. Now that all members have completed their military service, a comeback is in the realm of possibility. Super Junior has hinted that a comeback is in the works, but they will not state if it will be a full-group comeback as fans hoped.
“Though we’re planning a new comeback album for the second half of the year with Super Junior as a whole. The exact comeback time and number of members have yet to be decided,” SJ Label said.
However, Kyuhyun stated a full-group comeback is happening during an interview discussing his single, “The Day We Meet Again.”
“As Super Junior is finally back as a complete group this year, we will be focusing a lot on our group activities,” Kyuhyun said.
In other Super Junior news, Yesung will make his solo comeback in June. According to SJ Label, his album is complete, and he is currently filming an MV.
“Yesung is preparing to make a solo comeback in June. He will film his new music video today [May 30, 2019],” the company said.
The new album will be Yesung’s first since 2017’s Spring Falling.
Are you excited to see Kangin return to the industry? Are you looking forward to Yesung’s comeback?
—-Olivia Murray