Perfect Imperfection

 

Seungri’s scandal continues to get uglier, since another female is now claiming that she was raped by one of the men in question.

A reported on “SBS 8 O’Clock News”, on April 19, the woman who only goes by her surname Lee, visited Korea from abroad to give her testimony.

Lee made a statement that she was invited to a get-together overseas in 2016, to join Seungri, Roy Kim and former Yuri Holdings CEO (and Seungri’s business partner) and other unnamed members of their clique. She didn’t know any of the males but accepted the invitation, because her female friends were invited and they were promised separate sleeping space from the men. The SBS news broadcast also shared a chatroom conversation where Seungri said, “Eight have been recruited”, around the time of the event.

Lee revealed that she blacked out after having dinner and drinks with the men in the living room. By the time she woke up the next day, she was unclothed in bed in a room adjacent to the living room. She said, “My friends found me in another room connected to the bathroom but on the other side from where they originally left me. They were yelling at me to wake up and open my eyes. Apparently, they had been trying to wake me up for over 30 minutes. I’m known for being able to hold my liquor when I’m with friends, so I knew there had to be a different reason.”

When Jung Joon-young’s chat logs were released to the public, only then Lee realized what had happened to her, 3 years ago.

At the time, Kim had posted a video of her in their Kakao chatroom, where actor and former boyband member Choi Jong-hoon replied that it was too short. Jung got into the conversation that “(You) raped her”, and added laughing characters.

 

Kim: shares video file

Choi Jonghun: “What is this. It’s so short”

Kim: shares another video file

Choi Jonghun: “What is this. She is passed out”

Kim: “What if she is”

Jung Joon Young: (Lol) you r*ped her

 

When questioned by the police, Kim just claimed that the sex was consensual. As usual, Seungri’s representative also stated that the former Big Bang member was not aware of the incident. And like nothing ever happened, these men remained in contact with Lee until now. Lee commented, “I was always thought that I’d never have something like this happen to me. But anyone can become a victim. I don’t want there to be any more victims, I want them to be punished, so I thought I made the decision to come out.”

The police confirmed that Lee is the female in the video, Kim was then charged for engaging in sexual intercourse with someone unconscious or unable to resist, which would be categorized as rape.

——————————————————-

Many of you would totally agree that these reprehensible scandals have gone on long enough. It has just been reported that the authorities will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant on Seungri, by the end of this week. He’ll be facing a list of charges including, soliciting sex, usage of drugs, distribution illegal videos, issues surrounding Burning Sun nightclub and more.

The police have announced that they own enough evidence to prove all these charges, and that they are currently at the last stages of the investigation.

 

— J.Chung.

 

NATURE is a Korean girl group, consisting of nine members from Korea, Japan and China – the group has three sub-units – Charming, Twinkle, and Cutie. The name of their fandom is LEAF, which is a natural complement to the group’s name.

NATURE was formed by n.CH Entertainment in August of 2018, and the company’s founder is the former SM Entertainment executive Jung Chang-hwan. On August 3, 2018, NATURE made their debut with the single album Girls and Flowers, Allegro Cantabile, which is a remake of the opening to Nodame Cantabile, a Japanese anime. 

In August, NATURE won their first ever award, “New Artist of the Year” at Soribada Best K-Music Awards.

We would very much like to thank the members of NATURE and their staff for making this interview happen, as we wish them all the best in their future endeavors. As always, we wish that KCrush readers would enjoy reading and learning more about NATURE and their music.

 

Thank you for taking a time out for a KCrush Interview. Please introduce yourselves to our readers…

Aurora: Hello, this is Aurora of Girl group, NATURE. I’m 22 years of age, from Xi An, China.

Saebom: Hello, I am Saebom. Hope you all have a Happy Spring!

Lu: Hello, this is Lu ~ I am the leader of NATURE!

Chaebin: How are you? This is Chaebin from NATURE’s sub-unit Twinkle!

Gaga: Hello, everyone. I’m Gaga from NATURE.

Haru: Hello… This is the cutie powerful dancer, Haru!

Loha: Hello! I am NATURE’s Aloha ~ Loha, the happy virus!

Uchae: Hello! I am Uchae, the youngest blooming flower of NATURE!

Sunshine: Hello, I am Sunshine, the real “maknae” of NATURE ~

(*Uchae and Sunshine were born a month apart.)

 

What were your childhood dreams, while growing up?

Aurora: I wanted to be a comedian when I was in elementary school, and a teacher. I currently want to start my own business, selling board games.

Sae-bom: Musical actor, singer and kindergarten teacher, since I loved to dance, dance and also, children.

Lu: I wanted to be a singer or a celebrity.

Chaebin: I had vocal lessons since I was in elementary, so I wanted to become a professional opera singer. But I gradually got immersed in mainstream pop music that later enabled me to pursue a career in pop music.

Gaga: My childhood dream was to become an actor.

Haru: A dancer or a celebrity for me.

Loha: I always wanted to be an idol singer since the age of 5, and that dream never changed. I’ve always loved to dance and sing in front of an audience since I was really young.

Uchae: I had so many dreams while growing up. I wanted to be a singer, but also wanted to become a flight attendant, a vet, a police officer and many others…

Sunshine: I used to dream of becoming a firefighter, a chef and a flight attendant!

 

 

How did you form as a band?

Aurora: I was having a meal in Beijing, when I got a call from my dance teacher who told me to come for an audition.

Saebom: When I was at college, I wanted to learn how to sing, so I visited a music academy. The teacher there recommended that I should try out to be a singer; that is how I came to be a part of this company and debut as Sae-bom, a member of NATURE.

Lu: My voice coach recommended that I should take an audition at our company and that’s how I got to join this group.

Chaebin: After I sat for a college entrance exam, I was on my way home with a friend, and was casted by the team manager at our company.

Gaga: I was recommended to take an audition at my current company, and then started my training.

Haru: I was in Korea to study dance and then got casted.

Loha: I was a trainee at a different company for a while, then I made a decision to leave and returned to my hometown in Gwangju. I attended an academy there and started training. Our CEO had watched one of my K-pop cover videos, and asked me to come and take an audition. I got to join the group after passing the audition.

Uchae: I took part in a dance competition when I was a member of the dance club while I was in my third year of middle school. A staff at our company cast me, and I got in after taking an audition. I was trained for a while and became a member of NATURE.

Sunshine: In April of 2018, I went to watch an open audition held by various different talent agencies, and I was contacted by my current company. After about a month of talking to the people involved, I was made a member of NATURE straight away.

 

What has changed the most for you personally, since your debut as a group?

Aurora: My personality seems to have changed.

Saebom: There isn’t anything substantially different for me, but I can search myself on Naver, YouTube, Melon and anywhere else online now.

Lu: I’ve become more responsible of my performances.

Chaebin: Before, I wasn’t that interested in taking care of myself, but after we debuted, I see myself putting in the effort, so I think that has changed a lot for me.

Gaga: My way of thinking and dealing with problems has changed a lot. I think I’ve become more mature.

Haru: I’ve become more confident.

Loha: Firstly, I think my overall life has changed. Before debut, I had a more or less consistent lifestyle and routine. But now, we follow the given schedule which differs each day.

Secondly, I can look up “Kang Ye-jin” or “Loha” on the internet to find my photos, which is quite thrilling for me and my parents too.

Uchae: I would’ve normally been at school on weekdays, but I get to perform at broadcast stations now. Previously, I’d have been watching other people perform on TV, so this has changed the most.

Sunshine: I think my hairstyle has changed. I used to have long hair but since debut, I got it cut short into a bob.

 

 

Which song by Nature, are you the most attached to?

Aurora: 기분 좋아 (Girls and Flowers).

Saebom: I’m equally attached to all of our songs, but it would have to be 썸 (You’ll Be Mine) for me. I think we attracted the most attention when we had that single out, and the song was very unique from the usual style and concept. And since the choreography was very diverse, it felt more special. 

Lu: 기분 좋아 (Girls and Flowers). The lyrics sound confident and the song gives you a really great feeling.

Chaebin: 꿈꿨어 (Dream About U) for me! I love all the songs by NATURE, but I think that this one is very addictive. The people I know have also told me that they’ve listened to this song the most.

Gaga: “You’ll Be Mine” is the song that I’m the most attached to, the rhythm and style of this song are really to my liking and matches my style well.

Haru: ‘꿈꿨어 (Dream About U)’ which is about telling your boyfriend that you’ve dreamt of him.

Loha: NATURE – 썸 (You’ll Be Mine), since I made my debut through this song when I joined the group, and because I normally like to have parties and do exciting things, this goes well with a party girl theme. The beat and the rhythm sound so fun too.

Uchae: I like all the other songs, but I think Allegro Cantabile (너의 곁으로) is the one I like best, because it’s a debut single and the first ever music by NATURE.

Sunshine: NATURE – Hey Jude (OST from K-drama Spring Turns to Spring)

 

 

What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Aurora: I have breakfast.

Saebom: Uhm… first I look at my phone. And drink water and then shower…

Lu: I go for a run.

Chaebin: I turn all the alarms off.

Gaga: Open my eyes?

Haru: I wash my face.

Loha: I yawn loudly and check the time from my phone. Then I watch two to three music videos that I like and lie around for a bit more, before I go and wash.

Uchae: I get up and wash up, then eat have an apple.

Sunshine: I yawn and turn the alarm off.

 

Tell us about your current hobbies or interests.

Aurora: I like spending time on the phone, watch animations, play games, and read novels.

Saebom: These days, I watch one or two movies (regardless of the genre), before going to bed. I also read books and write lyrics down on a note pad. I just write random things that come to my mind at night/dawn, and since I didn’t really learn it professionally, I’m just doing it as a hobby for now.

Lu: Crush is my favorite singer and I love to play the guitar. Crush makes music that I want to take after, while my guitar is my ambition and a lifetime companion.

Chaebin: My hobbies are going to the movies, the Coin Karaoke, and coffee shops to have iced Americano when my work for the day is over. I guess, it’s all about singing, watching movies and taking rest for me.

Gaga: I like watching dramas and movies in my free time, especially English and American dramas. Also, I love to travel and taste food with my friends all over the world.

Haru: Cooking.

Loha: I love watching American TV series and movies so much that I watch at least one episode before heading off to bed. I also enjoy doing decorating and interior designs. These days, I like to make my own choreography to some of my fav songs, or enjoy freestyle dancing with the music on. I also like interpreting lyrics to pop songs, which is a form of studying English as well.

Uchae: Since there are so many good songs out right now, I like to work out or read mystery novels with the music on. In the past, I used to like going out to movies and shopping a lot, but these days, I enjoy just sitting around and listen to songs.  

Sunshine: My hobby is listening to music, by looking closely into the meanings and emotions behind the lyrics! At times, I put a song on repeat to concentrate on the drums, base and piano.

 

Tell us which songs or albums you normally enjoy listening to.

Aurora: 徐佳瑩 (Lala Hsu) – 失落沙洲

Saebom: I love hip hop, old pop, country, and just about any type of pop music. The song I am into these days is Joji’s Slow Dancing in the Dark, which I listen to frequently.

Lu: Michael Jackson – Rock with You. Because it’s so up-to-date and trendy, that I can’t believe it was produced 40 years ago. I love the melody and the back chorus of the song.

Chaebin: I tend to listen to a variety of songs, instead of just sticking to one song, but I listen to Ariana Grande’s breathin, a lot.

Gaga: I listen to different kinds of music and it’s hard to tell which I like the most. However, if I had to pick just one, I would say Highschool musical. Cuz it’s the theme song of the movie I liked most when I was a student.

Haru: NATURE’s ‘썸(You’ll Be Mine)’! I hope you all check it out!

Loha: The song that I listen to the most often is, Anne-Marie’s 2002. Because I’m a romantic, I find the lyrics extremely romantic and it makes me feel like a main character from a romantic movie. The album which I listen to the most is Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next.

Uchae: I usually listen to a lot of R&B and ballads. I especially like listening to Baek Ye-rin and Crush sunbaenim the most.

Sunshine: Kim Kwang-seok – 잊어야 한다는 마음으로 (With A Determined Heart To Forget You), Kim Hyun-sik – 내 사랑 내 곁에 (My Love, Next To Me), Vinxen – 전혀 (Not at all), SF9 – Fall in Love, BTS – Rain, DALJOHNBAM 달 좋은 밤 – Liar, Taeyeon – Fine, and Apink – Wishlist.

 

 

What kind of food or beverages do you like the most or dislike?

Aurora: I like meat and dislike creamy foods.

Saebom: There aren’t any kinds of food that I dislike. I especially like anything made of flour, anything sweet, spicy and rich. I love tteokbokki and cheese balls, and I’ve been eating a lot of that lately. I also love pizza, sujebi, pasta, macrons, chicken and all kinds of meat! I love noodles too. Love it all.

Lu: I like sushi and ice cream. I don’t really have any foods that I dislike. 

Chaebin: I love chicken and pasta. I hate veggies. For beverages, I like them all, except for anything bitter. 

Gaga: For drinks, I like avocado milkshake the best. For food, it is definitely hot pot! I don’t think there is food that I don’t like.

Haru: I love macarons and cheese. There is no food that I can’t eat.

Loha: I really love pizza and pasta the most. I also like soda, sikhye and fresh strawberry juice. I dislike green bell pepper, paprika and broccoli. 

Uchae: I really don’t have any foods that I don’t like. I can eat just about anything so well. I love sushi the most. I’ve actually had a hundred of them when I went to a sushi buffet, the other day. 

Sunshine: I love coke the best. I dislike to eat peas, bananas, shellfish and cucumbers.

 

 

In your opinion, which color suits your personality the most?

Aurora: I don’t know which color suits my personality the best, but I like yellow and white because it’s clean and fresh that represents hope.

Saebom: Black or red! I chose these colors, since red seems fierce, strong and glam, while black has both calm and peaceful aspects to it.

Lu: White and red. 

Chaebin: White suits me the best! And it goes well with my personality as well. I am a pro-peace person and that may be the reason why.

Gaga: Light blue because it symbolizes freedom for me.

Haru: Pink.

Loha: The rainbow colors! I have extremely cheerful and eccentric personality and charm; which makes me very unpredictable and I suit all colors so well. 

Uchae: I like it’s indigo, for me. When I asked the other members, they said indigo suits me the most because of my quiet and calm personality. 

Sunshine: I think, purple goes well with me and my personality. The other members all said purple suits me too!!

 

 

Who do you admire/respect the most in the world?

Aurora: My mother!

Saebom: I don’t think I have one, as of yet.

Lu: No one.

Chaebin: Actress Jun Ji-hyun. I find it ever so fascinating that anyone can emit such natural and aura while acting.

Gaga: My parents. I am the only child in my family. My parents raised me for 18 years. Now, I’ve grown up but I had to leave and cannot accompany or look after them. They still support and inspire me a lot.

Haru: I don’t have anyone.

Loha: My parents and BTS sunbaenims for me! My parents are whom I admire and respect so much, purely by their existence. I love them more than anyone.

I admire BTS for working so hard and for still being able to focus and stay true to when they first got started. I admire and want to take after them, since they shine so much on stage and in everything they do.

Uchae: The emotional laborers. I recently saw a video about the subject, and I was very moved and cried when I saw how they handled and completed their required tasks, despite having to deal with people who were mad and rude to them.

Sunshine: The Korean poet Yun Dong-joo. I admire how he had his own way of doing independence movement.

 

 

 

What do you do to release stress and tension?

Aurora: I’m still searching for a way. 

Saebom: I take walks while listening to music. Or I find something that I can concentrate on, so I can forget about the issues that I am dealing with at the time. I also watch movies or find a book to read. 

Lu: I work out, play the guitar or watch movies.

Chaebin: I go out to watch movies with my friends to release stress, which helps a lot. 

Gaga: Eat. The best and fastest way to release stress is to keep eating delicious food with my friends.

Haru: I go for a run. 

Loha: I talk to my parents on the phone, or do a lot of energetic dances. I also go to sleep while listening to my fav songs, watch American drama series or movies.

I play with my dog, Wendy too!

Uchae: To release stress, I listen to music, while taking walks down Han River, meet up with family members or friends and have a nice meal or something. 

Sunshine: I listen to music or watch a movie. 

 

Do you have any habits that you’d like to fix?

Aurora: I tend to forget or lose things easily.

Saebom: I make a peculiar noise when I sneeze, and it’s pretty funny. I want to fix it to a more lady-like sound.

Lu: Want to stop being clumsy.

Chaebin: I don’t really have any.

Gaga: I like playing games so much that I sometimes forget to sleep, so I wanna change this habit.

Haru: I draw my eyebrows when I have free time.

Loha: I bite my nails, eat food any time I get hungry, and I have to watch a movie before falling asleep, even if I’m really fatigued.

Uchae: I want to stop having useless thoughts and stop worrying about things that will never happen.

Sunshine: I have a habit of continuously scratching my forehead when I’m in the waiting room.

 

 

Which country or venue would you most like to perform at?

Aurora: China.

Saebom: South Eastern countries, because I love the hot climate. I want to experience the passion from the crowds, and show our passion in return.

Lu: Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Chaebin: I can’t select just one place, and I’d love to go anywhere to perform.

Gaga: Definitely a world tour. But I want to perform in China the most. Since it’s my home country, and the best stage is a place where my family can see me doing what I do best.

Haru: Tokyo Dome.

Loha: My biggest goal is to perform at the Billboards Awards or the Grammy’s.

Uchae: If we can get our name out there, I’d love to go to perform anywhere!!! If we can get more people to become LEAF, then I would love to do a concert in Tokyo Dome! 

Sunshine: I want to perform at Seattle, in the States. My brother is there for his studies, and he has never seen me perform before. 

 

 

Tell us about your plans and wishes for the future – please say something for the fans too.

Aurora: For the fans that we haven’t gotten to meet yet – we are waiting and working ever so hard for the day when we can all meet. See you all, soon.

Saebom: Our goal is to show much more enhanced performances for our fans, LEAF, and be an inspiration to them. We’ll be working on our album so, see you all soon! Miss you lots!

Lu: We’ll be back with more to showcase. Don’t forget about us and we all look forward to our return ~

Chaebin: We’ll be back very soon! If given the chance, we want to show LEAF that we can act too. We’ll be back in no time, so please wait, love you LEAF. ♥.

Gaga: I will practice more to make further progress. For those who love me and support me, I will work harder become better, and not disappoint them.

Haru: Our goal is to let the world know about us. And we’re always so grateful for your support! We exist because of you, LEAF. Stay with us forever. ☺️

Loha: Our biggest goal is for NATURE to become successful, and my future plans would be to work hard to achieve and expand into acting and feature in commercials.

NATURE’s biggest ambition is to work hard to further develop ourselves, and go on to win a billboard or a Grammy award in the future.

We love you, LEAF, we’ll do our best to develop and grow so your time spent on giving us your love and support would not be wasted. Please stay with us in the future, as you’re doing now. Love you.

Uchae: We spent quite a long time promoting SOME and Dream About U – we managed to pull it off, thanks to all the people who came to see and support us. We aren’t certain when we’ll be back as of yet, but we’ll make sure to showcase a better version of NATURE that we can be proud of! I love you, LEAF! ♥ We hope that we can become a global group, and get to do what we want as individuals as well!

Sunshine: We’ll do our best to improve and enhance in various ways, so we’ll be back with great music for our fans in the future. We’ll also communicate with our international fans, a lot more too!!

 

 

 

— J. Chung.

 

Earlier, it was reported that HELLOVENUS would disband when their contracts end in May. Originally, Fantagio Entertainment denied the group would disband, but on April 26, 2019, Fantagio finally confirmed the female group will no longer be a group in a statement.

Hello. This is Fantagio Music.

First of all, we express sincere gratitude to the fans who have cherished and loved the group Hello Venus for a long time. The exclusive contracts of some members of Hello Venus (Alice, Nara, Lime, Yooyoung, Seoyoung, Yeoreum) with Fantagio Music will expire on May 8, 2019. After much discussion with the members about Hello Venus’s future activities, we came to the agreement to show support for each other in each individual’s desired activities in various areas for the futures of the members. Although the Hello Venus members still have a special relationship, we would like to cheer them on for each other individual paths.

Seoyoung and Yeoreum, who joined as Hello Venus members in 2014, will continue activities under our agency, and we are positively discussing with Yooyoung and Lime about contract renewals. Lastly, Alice and Nara made final decisions to [leave] on a positive note to chase their new dreams, and we have decided to respect those decisions. We express our gratitude to the six members of artist Hello Venus, who have always shown their best from their debut until now. In addition, we will cheer on and support the desired individual paths of each of the members, and we will do our best to help so that they can grow in the future. We express our sincere gratitude to the many fans who have sent constant love and support to Hello Venus over the past seven years, and we ask for your warm interest and support for the members who are awaiting new beginnings.

Thank you.

On April 27, Nara posted a letter to fans on her Instagram.

Hello. This is Hello Venus’s Nara.

It’s been a long time since I say hello with a handwritten letter. I am going to write this in a calm and orderly way with a heavy heart. You probably heard the news yesterday through the media. Alice and I will be starting fresh after leaving Fantagio, who we have been with for nine years. With the contract ending on May 8, even while working on my project, I made this decision after thinking it over a lot with the members and the agency. Although I am sad and also upset, this is the decision we made to show you each of our own dreams and to do our very best. Hello Venus’s debut on May of 2012 seems like yesterday and is still vivid in my mind. All Hello Venus members made many promises to fans, but I am sorry that we couldn’t keep them all.

 

All this time, I’ve wanted to do my best as Nara, and I’ve wanted to keep the promises I made to fans, but my heart aches because I don’t think I kept them all. Instead of thinking of it as the end of Hello Venus, I will think of it as another beginning to show my best to fans and will continue trying to show my best at all times. Please continue to watch over not only me, but also Alice, Lime, Yooyoung, Seoyoung, and Yeoreum, as we will do our best to show our best. So, I hope Hello Cupids are not too hurt. Also, I sincerely thank the people in Fantagio, who have been with me for nine years. All this time, I felt a lot of support when thinking about the love Hello Cupids gave to Hello Venus, and I was able to work while developing wonderful dreams.

Although I won’t be able to repay you as Hello Venus, I will work even harder to repay the love that you have given me so far as former member of Hello Venus, Kwon Nara. I hope you are always healthy and happy.

Hello Venus’s Nara. April 27, 2019.

 

 

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안녕하세요. 헬로비너스 나라입니다. 오랜만에 손편지로 인사드리네요. 무거운 마음으로 차근차근 써 내려가 보려고 합니다. 어제 기사를 통해 이 소식을 접하셨을 텐데요. 저와 앨리스 언니는 9년 동안 함께했던 판타지오의 품을 떠나서 새로운 시작을 하려고 합니다. 계약이 5월 8일 종료되어 작품을 하는 중에도 멤버들과 회사 분들과 함께 많은 고민을 하고 내린 결정입니다. 속상하기도 하고 슬픈 마음이 크지만 개개인의 꿈과 더 좋은 모습들을 보여 드리기 위해 내린 저희의 결정입니다. 2012년 5월 헬로비너스가 데뷔한 게 엊그제 같고 아직도 생생하네요. 헬로비너스 멤버 모두가 팬분들께 약속한 게 많았지만 다 지키지 못해서 죄송합니다. 그동안 나라로 정말 최선을 다하고 싶었고, 팬분들께 약속드린 걸 지키고 싶었는데 다 못 지킨 것 같아서 그게 제일 마음이 아픕니다. 헬로비너스로 끝이라는 생각보다는 더 좋은 모습을 팬분들께 보여드릴 수 있는 또 다른 시작이라 생각하고 어디 있든 언제나 좋은 모습 보여드릴 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다. 저뿐만 아니라 앨리스 언니, 라임, 유영, 서영, 여름 또한 더 좋은 모습 보여드릴 수 있도록 최선을 다할 테니 지켜봐 주셨으면 좋겠습니다. 그러니 헬로큐피트 너무 마음 아파하지 않으셨으면 좋겠어요. 그리고 9년 동안 함께해주신 판타지오 식구들 정말 감사합니다. 그동안 저는 헬로비너스를 사랑해주신 헬로큐피트 생각에 항상 든든하고 힘이 되었고 멋진 꿈들을 키워가면서 활동했습니다. 헬로비너스로 보답해드릴 순 없겠지만 헬로비너스였던 권나라로서 그동안 주셨던 사랑 보답해드릴 수 있도록 더욱 열심히 활동하겠습니다. 항상 건강하시고 행복하시길 바랍니다. – 헬로비너스 나라 올림- 2019. 4 . 27

A post shared by kwonnara (@hv_nara) on Apr 26, 2019 at 10:53pm PDT

 

As Fantagio’s statement suggests, the members will pursue their own individual activities. We wish the soon-to-be former HELLOVENUS members luck in their future activities.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

Dallas BLINKs will now only have one chance to see BLACKPINK in concert as the May 9, 2019 concert has been canceled without an explanation.

While there was speculation the show may be canceled following Ticketmaster’s removal of the May 9 ticketing page, confirmation came April 27 from both Ticketmaster and AXS that the show has been canceled.

 

 

YG Entertainment has yet to provide a reason for the cancelation, but an explanation may be provided soon. AXS and Ticketmaster will be providing refunds to fans in the coming days.

The May 8, 2019 concert in Dallas/Ft. Worth will still go on according to AXS. The concert will be performed at the Forth Worth Convention Center Area at 8pm local time. On Ticketmaster, tickets are available for resale for various locations across the area. Tickets are not available on the AXS site.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK successfully performed at Coachella and wrapped up their shows in Los Angeles and Chicago.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

May’s already looking like an exciting month for comebacks!

On April 26, 2019, Oh My Girl (OMG) and Weki Meki both announced that they will be making comebacks in May.

OMG released a teaser image April 26 showing the girls dressed as dancers in an oil painting. WM Entertainment states the new album—OMG’s first full album—will be released May 8. The album, titled The Fifth Season, will be OMG’s seventh overall release and the first since Remember Me in September 2018.

“Oh My Girl has officially set their comeback date for May 8. As this will be the group’s first full-length album since their debut, the members are working harder than ever to prepare for it. Please anticipate Oh My Girl’s comeback,” WM Entertainment said.

News of OMG’s comeback was released April 10 when WM Entertainment said, “Oh My Girl are currently preparing a new album with aims to release in early May. Please look forward to it.”

 

 

This past January, OMG successfully completed a U.S tour. Their first U.S Tour visited Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Indio, and San Jose.

Meanwhile, Fantagio Entertainment announced that Weki Meki will also return in May, but an official comeback date has not been released.

Weki Meki’s comeback will be their first in seven months. In October 2018, they released their first album, Kiss, Kicks, and the single “Crush.” The group debuted in 2017.

Are you excited for the returns of OMG and Weki Meki?

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

K-Drama fans had a chance to rejoice this week as actor/singer Lee Minho and actor Ji Chang-Wook have been discharged after completing their mandatory military service.

Lee, who served as a social worker at the Suseo General Social Welfare Center in Gangnam, was discharged April 25, 2019. He began his service May 2017. Lee was unable to enlist as an active duty soldier as past injuries kept him from doing so.

During his last day of service, fans from around the world greeted him with signs and well wishes. On Twitter, #WelcomeBackLeeMinho trended.

After his final day, Lee took to Instagram and posted a picture of his dog alongside gifts from fans and expressed his gratitude with a simple “thank you.”

 

 

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고마워요

A post shared by L (@actorleeminho) on Apr 25, 2019 at 4:19am PDT

 

On April 27, 2019, Ji Chang-Wook was discharged from the Cheorwon Artillery Brigade in Gangwon Province after serving his mandatory duties. The Empress Ki actor warmly greeted fans as he left the base on his last day of service.

“It still hasn’t hit me, so I don’t quite feel like I’ve been discharged yet. I think it may finally sink in tomorrow or so,” Ji said when asked about his discharge. “I feel nervous greeting [fans] for the first time in in a long while. I’ve finally been discharged, and I will greet you again with good things and even better projects in the future. Please look forward to it a lot. Thank you.”

Upon his discharge, Ji has already received casting offers. He’s currently in talks to star Jang Jin’s City of Stars and tvN’s upcoming romantic comedy Please Melt Me.

Are you excited to see the return of Lee Minho and Ji Chang-Wook? What were your favorite dramas from these two actors? Let us know!

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

Korean R&B artist and rapper, DΞΔN, will be releasing an English single in the United States this coming May!

DΞΔN (Kwon Hyuk) posted the news in his Instagram story April 24, 2019. The post, which is written in Korean and English, states “new U.S. single in May. Keep yo eyes on me.”

Details about the upcoming single have yet to be released, but fans will be anticipating the 26-year-old’s latest track.

This isn’t DΞΔN’s first U.S track as he’s had a few since 2015. He debuted in the U.S. with “I’m Not Sorry,” a track he performed with Grammy winner Eric Bellinger.

DΞΔN recently made his Korean comeback March 26 with the track “dayfly” featuring Sulli. He’s also been touring with You Will Knovv (Rad Museum, Juseon, 2xxx! and Reone) for their Dean x You Will Knovv World Tour. Over the weekend, the tour landed at The Bataclan in Paris, France.

Are you excited for DΞΔN to make his U.S. comeback?

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

TXT (Tomorrow X Together) announced their official fan club name on April 25, 2019.

Big Hit Entertainment’s rookie group chose “Young One” as their fan club name after looking over fan name submissions provided by their fans.

The name “Young One” means “we were nothing and then we became one.” “Young” means “zero” in Korean according to the official release on their international fan cafe, and when paired with “one” (Young-won), the name also means “forever.”

 

 

However, while the name and meaning may be cute, controversy arose soon after the name’s announcement.

Fans took issue with the fan club name as it is also Tiffany Young’s official fan club name. Tiffany announced “Young One” as her official solo fan club name in September 2018 during her Bangkok, Thailand  Over My Skin concert.

 

Not to be possessive but ‘Young One’ belongs to us heres a receipt pic.twitter.com/VfO3eCujxQ

— ᴀɴᴊ ? (@titaeny) April 25, 2019

 

In addition to the “forever” meaning (Young-won), the fan club name also symbolizes her stage name (Tiffany Young) and her birth name (Miyoung).

“Young Ones because it means forever, and you guys are my forevers,” Tiffany said during the announcement. “I used to always write MY SONEs, [meaning] Miyoung SONE. Young One has this connection to SONE, and together, we’re forever. I mean because we’re always going to be forevers. So, I decided to go with Young Ones!”

On TXT’s fan café, fans have asked for the fan club name to be changed. One fan wrote “Big Hit robbed a 12-yr senior.”

The K-Pop side of Twitter shares the same sentiment as many feel TXT’s use of “Young One” is disrespectful to Tiffany and her longevity in the K-Pop industry. Some fans even feel the use of the name is disrespectful to SONE as a whole.

 

 

However, while some do take issue with the name, overall, discussions have been amicable regarding trying to solve the issue and wanting TXT’s fandom name changed. Fans have called on other fans to contact Big Hit Entertainment to try to solve the fandom name issue.

 

Please YoungOne & Sone send your emails to community@bighitcorp.com to clear up the misunderstanding of them using it for another artist. Both artists deserve better & @tiffanyyoung deserves so much more & it means a lot to her! ?? @holleratmeboo @BigHitEnt @TXT_bighit @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/PyTYFgBmLy

— YoungOne is for Tiffany Young ? (@ohmygoshsoshi9) April 25, 2019

 

What are your thoughts about the name issue? Should TXT and Big Hit change the name since Tiffany had it first? Share your thoughts!

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Current JYJ and former TVXQ member Yoochun announced his retirement from the entertainment industry after testing positive drugs. C-Jes Entertainment released a statement regarding Yoochun’s departure from the industry.

Hello, this is C-Jes Entertainment.

We have been following the investigation with trust in Park Yoochun’s claims that he was innocent, but yesterday, we learned through news reports that the National Forensic Service results showed positivity.

Despite waiting for good results in the investigation with trust in our artist, we were faced with such news reports, and feel miserable. After concluding that we cannot reestablish a trustful relationship with Park Yoochun, we have decided to cancel our exclusive contract with the artist.

As previously stated, Yoochun will retire from the entertainment industry, canceling all future schedules from today forward in order to submit to the court’s official decision.

We are aware of the severity of this situation and feel great responsibility; we will make sure that such disconcerting events do not happen again through strict regulations and changes in policy.

Once again, we bow our heads in apology for causing concerns.

On Monday April 22, 2019, South Korean National Forensic Service stated that Yoochun’s drug test came back positive for methamphetamines (reportedly Philopon, a Japanese methamphetamine). Testing occurred April 16, 2019. Initially, urine samples turned up negative, but according to The Korea Herald, a hair sample led to the positive result.

The news comes after video surfaced allegedly showing Yoochun picking up a package after he purportedly wired money to a drug dealer’s bank account.

Yoochun denied these allegations during a press conference.

“There was evidence that supports his purchase of drugs, but there wasn’t enough verification to prove his drug-taking. This result will corroborate Park’s drug use,” a police officer said when the CCTV footage was released. “We asked for an arrest warrant because of concerns that Park, who has denied any wrongdoing so far, might attempt to get rid of evidence.”

The police have also asked for Yoochun’s pre-trial detainment as they fear Yoochun may try to destroy evidence. He is also banned from leaving the country.

Yoochun has been under investigation for drug use following claims by his ex-fiancée, Hwang Hana—the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy’s founder—that he used drugs with her.

 

 

Hwang Hana, in a related case, has been accused of drug trafficking in addition to using them.

In Hwang’s case, Sports DongA reported on March 31, 2019, that her name came up several times as a drug distributor in a drug case involving a college student. The student, identified as Cho, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison along with a three-year probation sentence. Cho’s court case occurred in 2016 for his 2015 charges, and Hwang did not receive punishment despite being named as the person who allegedly bought and sold meth and used it along with Cho.

In 2011, she also had another drug case against her for marijuana usage, but the prosecution dropped the case.

Recent accusations started to come forward against Hwang and Yoochun after Hwang took to Instagram and threatened to “expose” Yoochun for sexual abuse and animal abuse among other claims.

Around the time of the post, the Burning Sun controversy started to explode, so nothing came of the allegations until April when both Hwang’s and Yoochun’s alleged drug use, buying, and selling came to light. However, Hwang’s drug allegations have been under investigation since October 2018.

According to police, Hwang provided a statement saying she and Yoochun did drugs together at the beginning of 2019. In her statement, Hwang said they did drugs together “two to three times,” an allegation Yoochun denied at the time.

In relation to the usage claims, SBS 8 O’Clock News reported that Hwang and Yoochun may have used drugs together more than five times. Yoochun has stated the two parties did meet at  hotels and at Hwang’s home, but they did not use drugs together during those meetings.

At his press conference April 10, 2019, Yoochun said, “I was afraid that the media will think I did drugs when I’ve never done such a thing. After the break up, I was threatened by Hwang Hana but because she’s someone who stood by me during a difficult time, I felt responsibility and was sorry to her. But I have nothing to do with drugs.”

On April 22, 2019, Yoochun’s legal representatives filed a lawsuit against MBC for “reporting false facts” regarding Yoochun’s involvement with drugs, specifically in relation to the CCTV footage of him allegedly picking up drugs.

“Today, at the Seoul Western District Court, we filed a lawsuit for compensation of damages against MBC and requested for them to make corrections to their MBC Newsdesk report on April 18, News Today report on April 19, and the 12 MBC News report. We have also filed a lawsuit for compensation of damages against the reporter that reported the contents,” lawyer Kwon Chang Bum said.

As of April 24, 2019, it’s not clear if Yoochun and his representatives will continue with the lawsuit.

Hwang has been linked to the controversies surrounding Burning Sun and the celebrities involved in the scandal. MBC reported that Hwang was a frequent visitor to the club and is allegedly friends with Burning Sun MD Cho.

Cho, who was arrested for using meth, marijuana, and ecstasy while working at Burning Sun, has stated he used drugs with Hwang.

 

 

In relation to her purported drug allegations, Hwang reportedly has not been cooperating with police. In some instances, prosecutors have dropped allegations leading to the belief that she has been receiving favorable treatment due to her chaebol connections, which has caused police to open a probe into these allegations. Fueling suspicions that Hwang’s chaebol connections have been working in her favor, after news broke that she failed her recent drug test, news about Hwang disappeared across different Korean media, leading Knetz to believe her connections paid off the media to have content removed.

Investigations into Yoochun and Hwang are still ongoing. A hearing is expected to take place April 26, 2019 to determine the validity of a pretrial detention order request for Yoochun.

This is not the first time Yoochun has been involved in legal trouble. In 2016, allegations surfaced suggesting Yoochun abused and sexually assaulted women on multiple occasions. Those charges were later dropped. However, one of the alleged victims filed a recent lawsuit against him stemming from an alleged incident between the two.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, a wave of bombings killed over 300 people and injured dozens in what authorities consider an organized act of terror even though a group has yet to come forward claiming responsibility. Eight suicide bombings occurred across Sri Lanka in Kochchikade, Negombo, Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, and Batticaloa. The attacks are considered the country’s worst since the civil war ten years ago.

At around 8:45am local time, the attacks occurred at churches and hotels on the Western part of the country apart from Batticaloa to the East. In three of the cities, the attacks occurred during Easter services at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, St. Sebastian’s Church Negombo, and the evangelical Zion Church in Batticaloa. The Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La Hotel, and The Kingsbury in Colombo were also attacked during the simultaneous explosions, while a seventh blast occurred at a hotel in front of the Dehiwala Zoo in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. During a police raid, another blast occurred at a private house in Mahawila Gardens, Dematagoda. During the raid, three police officers were killed.

“When crime division officials started questioning the people in the house, two explosions occurred,” police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said. “One sub inspector and two constables of police have been killed.”

On Sunday evening, a large pipe bomb was found on a road leading to Colombo’s airport’s main terminal and defused by the Sri Lankan air force.

“It was a homemade bomb, with explosives put into a pipe,” a Sri Lankan police source said.

“It was a crude six-foot pipe bomb that was found by the roadside,” an air force spokesman said. “We have removed it and safely defused it at an air force location.”

As of this writing, police still do not know who carried out the attacks, but 24 people have been arrested in connection to the bombings based on intel received during the investigations. Among those arrested include a driver that allegedly took suspects to the Colombo area to carry out the attacks; the driver’s van was also seized.

“There is also information that these have been suicide bombings carried out,” Manisha Gunasekera, high commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom, said.

According to The New York Times, Sri Lankan officials received intel that church attacks may occur. In an advisory sent by the Sri Lankan police, police warned government officials.

“You should instruct all personnel to pay strict heed to this report and be extra vigilant and cautious of the V.I.P.s and locations coming under your purview,” wrote Priyalal Dassanayake, the deputy inspector general.

The report, received ten days prior to the attacks, named a radical Islamist group, National Thowheeth Jama’ath, as the possible suspects to carry out the attacks. However, it is unclear if safeguards were in place. Sri Lanka’s prime minister pointedly said he had not been informed of any intel regarding the potential for attacks.

 

 

Christians and tourists appear to have been the targets of the attacks according to police. Christians make up 7.4 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, making it the minority religious group. According to census data obtained by CNN, 70.2 percent of Sri Lankans identify as Buddhist, 12 percent Hindu, while 9.7 percent identify as Muslim.

“This is an attack against the whole of Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka is (a) multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural country, and the whole country comes together in celebration of Easter Sunday,” said Gunasekera.“These are certainly acts of terror.”

“We mourn the loss of innocent lives due to extremist and violent elements who wish to create divides between religious and ethnic groups to realize their agenda,” the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said in a statement.

In a statement, the Minister of Finance, Mangala Samaraweera, said the attacks are “a diabolical attempt to create racial and religious tensions in this country yet again, thereby pulling the country backwards.”

As the death toll continues to rise, police already confirmed that at least 30 foreigners were victims of the attacks as well. Among the dead, two were Chinese citizens, while others include five British nationals, two victims that had dual citizenship for the United States and the United Kingdom, two Turkish nationals, three individuals from Denmark, and three people from India.

As investigations continue, the Sri Lankan government opted to block social media access in order to prevent the spread of false information. Among the social media blocked included WhatApp, Instagram, Facebook, Viber and SnapChat.

“I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation,” prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

In addition to the social block, officials have instilled a country-wide 6pm curfew that is expected to last until Monday.

 

Clarification on curfew: to kick in from 6 p.m. this evening till 6 a.m. Monday, according to president’s office reports @Meerasrini ��https://t.co/fwEEywAuAY

— Devjyot Ghoshal (@DevjyotGhoshal) April 21, 2019

 

Amidst the chaos, Sri Lankans are coming together to help those in need as volunteers rushed to donate blood.

“Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim & others are donating because we are humans with the same blood & same spirit of compassion. Nobody can deny our common humanity,” the Minister of Finance, Samaraweera, said.

The investigation is rapidly developing with information coming out hourly. We send our thoughts to the victims and to Sri Lanka, and we wish for peace for all people so senseless tragedy and hate will stop.

Photo Credits: Getty Images

 

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

MustM Entertainment’s seven-member rookie group, MustB, was involved in a car accident April 21, 2019 at around 3:40am KST.

The accident, which claimed the life of the group’s manager, occurred on Seoul’s Olympic-daero  between the Seoulgyo and Yeouigyo bridges heading toward Jamsil. The group was returning to their dorm following a performance in Daegu. The van MustB rode in struck a guard rail.

The group’s manager—identified as a 36-year-old male with the surname Son—was the driver of the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries in the crash and was transferred to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Four of the MustB members suffered minor injuries, though police have not identified which of the members sustained injuries.

Police are currently investigating the accident by questioning MustB members and examining the vehicle’s black box to help determine the cause of the crash. One theory police have come up with is drowsy driving.

This isn’t the first time a K-Pop group has been involved in a car accident as several groups over the years have been in crashes. However, one of the most tragic instances occurred September 2014 when Ladies’ Code was involved in an accident that claimed the lives of members EunBi and RiSe.

MustB debuted January 30, 2019 with the song “I Want U.” The group consists of members Taegeon (formerly of M.Crown and Challenger), Hawoon (formerly of N.T.B and Challenger as Jeeho), Sangwoo (formerly of Pure Boy, Blast, Underdog, and Hi5), Wooyeon, DoHa (formerly of Underdog and Hi5), Soohyun, and Sihoo.

We wish MustB members a speedy recovery. We send our condolences to the family of manager Son.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On May 7, 2019, Super Junior’s Kyuhyun will be discharged from his mandatory military service (he served as a public service worker), and it looks like he prepared to get back to work!

 

 

SM Entertainment, in conjunction with Dream Maker Entertainment Limited, announced on April 17 that Kyuhyun will host his “We Meet Again Today!” fan meet May 19 at 6:30pm KST at Peace Hall in Seoul’s Kyunghee University. Tickets for the fan meet go on sale April 22 at 8pm KST for fan club members. For the general public, tickets go on sale April 24 at 8pm KST.

Upon his release from his public service, Kyuhyun may also return to his MC position at MBC’s Radio Star. Kyuhyun has been an MC on the show since October 2011 and held the position until his enlistment in 2017.

“Kyuhyun received an offer to return as the MC of MBC’s ‘Radio Star.’ We are currently discussing [the offer], but nothing has been confirmed,” Label SJ said.

In addition to the possibility of MCing Radio Star, Kyuhyun’s in talks to return to New Journey to the West. A Label SJ representative confirmed the news along with a TvN representative.

“Kyuhyun is currently in talks to appear on the next season of tvN’s New Journey to the West after his discharge,” the Label SJ representative said.

“It’s true that Kyuhyun is currently in talks to appear on New Journey to the West 7,” the TvN representation said.

Kyuhyun was part of the cast in the third and fourth seasons of the show. During the show’s fourth season, Kyuhyun won a chance to ask producing director Na Young Suk for a wish, and he wished to return to the show after his military discharge.

Kyuhyun is also in talks to join another TvN show, Salty Tour, as a member of the fixed cast according to Label SJ.

Label SJ said, “Kyuhyun has received a casting offer for Salty Tour, and he is currently in the midst of discussing [the offer].”

“It’s true that Kyuhyun is currently discussing the possibility of appearing on Salty Tour with a favorable outlook,” TvN representatives said.

Salty Tour has been in the news recently due to their creative editing while removing now-former cast member, Jung Joon Young, out of the show following his KakaoTalk controversy. Kyuhyun’s addition to the show will be a welcome change.

Finally, on April 15, Super Junior confirmed a full-member comeback is in the works.

“Our maknae Kyuhyun is getting discharged next month. We’re planning on making a full-member comeback with a new album,” Eunhyuk said.

However, it is not clear if this includes Sungmin, Kangin, and Heechul, but “full member comeback” suggests they, too, are part of the group’s tentatively scheduled second half comeback. Sungmin received hate from fans following his marriage, and fans have demanded his removal from the group. In addition to serving his military duty, Sungmin has been inactive following the so-called “controversy.” Kangin has been inactive following his second DUI charge and sentencing as well as claims that he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Heechul sat out during Super Junior’s recent “One More Time” (featuring Reik) promotions at the end of 2018 due to injuries. However, Heechul will be making his solo debut April 24, 2019.

Are you looking forward to Kyuhyun’s return? How excited are you for Super Junior’s full group comeback? Let us know!

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On April 24, 2019, Super Junior’s Heechul will release his solo track “Old Movie,” Label SJ said.

While Heechul has been a member of sub-units, specifically M&D with TRAxX’s Jungmo and Universe Cowards with Buzz’s Min Kyung Hoon, he has yet to release his own solo material. “Old Movie” will be his solo review.

The single, which is said to be a rock ballad, will be a digital single that will be accompanied by an MV starring Heechul and SKY Castle star, Park Yoo-na.

Fellow Super Junior member Donghae composed the track; Heechul wrote the lyrics.

On April 19, the teaser video for the track was released.

 

 

The song drops April 24 at 6pm KST. Heechul will also perform his track during his talk show, HEETalk, on May 4 and 5.

Are you excited about Heechul’s solo debut?

 

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

The K-Pop world may have lost another group as HELLOVENUS allegedly agreed to disband following the end of their contracts in May 2019.

HELLOVENUS, which originally consisted of members Alice, Nara, Yoonjo, Lime, Yooara, and Yooyoung, initially formed as a joint-venture between Fantagio and Pledis Entertainment under Tricell Entertainment in 2012. In 2014, Pledis and Fantagio abandoned the joint-venture. HELLOVENUS would still promote under Fantagio, but members Yooara and Yooyoung returned to Pledis and were no longer members of the group. In October 2014, Fantagio added two new members to HELLOVENUS: Seoyoung and Yeoreum.

 

 

The group officially debuted May 9, 2012 with their debut mini album Venus and the song with the same name. On July 4, 2012, they released the digital single “Like a Wave.” Later in the year on December 12, the EP “What Are You Doing Today?” was released, followed by “Would You Stay for Tea?” on May 2, 2013. While their debut album failed to chart, What Are You Doing Today? and Would You Stay for Tea? landed at 92 and six, respectively, on the Gaon Charts.

 

 

HELLOVENUS gained notoriety in 2014 when “Sticky Sticky” was released on October 31. The MV featured the girls—and new members Seoyoung and Yeoreum—showing a sexier side. However, the group’s January 2015 comeback with “Wiggle Wiggle” gained HELLOVENUS some viral success as the video, which many viewed as low-quality, featured the girls semi-twerking. The MV was a controversial turn for HELLOVENUS due to its 19+ rating, but it helped them gain attention, including a spot on the U.S Billboard charts when it peaked eighth on the World Digital Songs chart.

In July 2015, HELLOVENUS released “I’m Ill,” which stands as one of their most popular tracks internationally. It peaked at number seven, one spot below their highest charting mini album, Would You Stay for Tea?

 

 

Since “I’m Ill,” HELLOVENUS released four more tracks including 2017’s “Mysterious” which showed a return to HELLOVENUS’ fun, feminine, and funky sides. However, it failed to chart even though the album, Mystery of Venus, peaked at number 12 on the Gaon Music Charts.

Following a mildly successful career, reports initially indicated the members have opted to disband with each member hoping to pursue acting or solo careers.

However, on April 18, Fantagio stated the disbandment rumors are not true and that the members are currently discussing renewal with the company.

We wish the HELLOVENUS members success in whatever they pursue. Will they break the seven-year curse and remain a group? Stay tuned!

 

—-Olivia Murray

Former Korean TV personality, Amy (real name, Lee Yoon-Ji) potentially opened the doors to another celebrity-related drug and sex scandal due to an Instagram post shared April 16, 2019.

Amy, who is Korean-American and was deported from South Korea in 2015 following her second drug charge, discussed incidents where she and a fellow celebrity, identified as “A” at the time, took propofol and Zolpidem together and that she covered up for him. In the now-deleted post, Amy said:

Today is such an upsetting day, and my heart aches a lot. Even though it’s late, I’ve been reflecting on myself for the past few years, thinking and feeling regretful about my past. I’ve been trying to improve myself every day and remembering the days I received love but also made mistakes.

I used to have a friend whom I really liked. He was like a soulmate to me, a person I was proud of. And then, I made a mistake and ended up going to the police station. When [the police] asked me who I used propofol with, not a single word came out of my mouth. I begged them to only punish me.

Before I was arrested, when words on the street said I was going to be arrested, I suddenly received a phone call. And I heard some unimaginable things that [someone suggested], “Amy might tell the police about me. Let’s meet up with her to film sexual videos and photos [of her] so that she won’t be able to tell on me.”

The person who suggested that was my friend. The person who received the suggestion only told me because they could not go through with it. It was shocking.

As soon as the investigation started, my friend, who was in the military at the time, called me every morning and made excuses like, “Please help me. I’m sorry. It’s nothing like that.” He may have used me since I’m soft-hearted. He would call me everyday at dawn asking me to take the fall and said things like, “My life as a celebrity could end,” or he would die.

Even though he denied about making plans to film videos and photos of sexual activity, there is a recording [of him saying it]. I at least expected him to contact me on the day he was discharged from the military. To know that he returned safely. However, there was no call from him.

So, I called him. When I asked him if he knows how much effort I put in [to protect him], he said something along the lines of, “When did you ever help me?” The person who used to beg me was avoiding me now that the matter has settled. It would have been enough if he said thank you. There’s a small part of me that cannot forgive him.

What’s more upsetting than keeping my loyalty [to him] like a fool and going to the detention center alone is that I got to know the true nature of my most cherished friend. That makes my heart ache the most, and I will not be able to forget his betrayal.

I was with “A” for every propofol [injection]. Same goes for Zolpidem. I’m still asking for forgiveness and being punished for the crime I committed, while you are smiling so brightly on television. You shouldn’t have done that to me!! You pretended like you did not know and ran away from the things you did. And you still instigated someone to do such a thing to me. Am I supposed to forgive you? That makes me sad.

Since the posting, rumors circulated that Wheesung is the celebrity that was using drug alongside Amy. Wheesung’s agency, RealSlow Company said, “We need to confirm with him directly with regard to his name being mentioned in the current situation. We are currently verifying the facts.”

 

 

This is not the first time Wheesung’s name has come up in relation to Amy and her drug scandals. In 2013, he was under investigation for propofol usage while serving in the military. During the investigation, there were allegations that Wheesung used his breaks in the military to seek out clinics that illegally provided propofol and valium between 2011 and 2013. Wheesung denied the allegations and was later cleared of wrong-doing.

“We testified that he did not receive injections of the psychotropic drug illegally,” a representative for Wheesung said in 2013 following the investigation. “Even the doctor who is in trial for administering illegal doses of propofol testified that Wheesung did not use the drug illegally.”

Fast-forward to April 17, 2019, and Wheesung’s name surfaced again due to Amy’s allegations. RealSlow Company denied the claims in a statement.

Hello, this is Wheesung’s agency, RealSlow Company.

We are clearly stating that the suspicions regarding Wheesung that were brought up via social media on [April] 16 are completely false. Wheesung has definitely not done [such actions], and if there is an audio recording as claimed by the other party, he will receive appropriate punishment accordingly.

In addition, Wheesung was already ruled not guilty regarding charges of injecting propofol in 2013 during his military service. He received a highly intensive investigation from the military police at the time, and we once again state that he was cleared of charges as it was proven that the doctor’s diagnosis was given normally for medical treatment purposes. Afterwards, he was also investigated for the use of sleeping pills, and this indictment was suspended, as well.

It is very painful for him to even release a statement to deny that it is true, and it has been a difficult decision to relay this statement. We once again express apologies for causing trouble due to past incidents.

 

 

Amy then took to Instagram again and posted a now-deleted response that simply read “can you handle it?”

Following Amy’s Instagram post and Wheesung being identified as the alleged celebrity friend, the joint concerts he was to hold with K.Will were ultimately canceled due to “an inevitable situation.”  The concerts titled The Bromance Show were to be held May 4 and 5.

Spring Entertainment, the company producing the concert, said, “We sincerely apologize to fans who were happy and excited, and for the inconvenience and disruption of plans due to the sudden concert cancellation.”

However, on April 19, 2019, Wheesung took to Instagram in an attempt to clear his name. In a lengthy post, Wheesung explained the situation and also shared an audio recording with Amy—which was recorded with her consent—that discussed the situation. A third-party, identified as “X,” was also part of the conversation.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

https://youtu.be/PDCsOdzq-Vg 휘성입니다. 4월 17일 밤 에이미씨에게 연락이 왔고, 통화 녹음본 공개는 에이미씨와 합의 하에 진행되었음을 말씀드립니다. 그러나 공개를 결심하기까지 고민이 정말 많았습니다. 에이미씨 역시 피해자일 수도 있다는 생각은 처음부터 지금까지 변함이 없기에, 공개하는 것에 대해 수도 없이 망설였습니다.하지만 저를 둘러싼 의혹 해소 및 사실관계에 대한 팬 여러분들의 객관적 인지를 위해서는 녹취록을 공개하는 것이 불가피하다는 판단을 했습니다. 에이미씨는 저에게 언론 매체를 통해 공식적으로 사과하겠다는 의사를 명확히 밝혔습니다. 하지만 저는 사실관계에 관한 확인 없이, 감정만 앞선 성급한 내용으로 사과문이 만들어져 논란이 될 것을 염려했습니다. 그래서 먼저 에이미씨에게SNS의 허위 사실 게시물을 내려달라고 했고, 본인을 인터뷰했던 기자분께 사실을 전달해달라고 했습니다. 에이미씨는 이를 받아들였으며, 추가적으로 저는 성급한 행동을 자제해달라고 부탁했습니다. 이 녹취록에서 현재 쟁점이 되는 내용과 관계가 없는 부분들은 부득이하게 편집하였습니다. 이미 거의 모든 것을 잃었다고 느껴집니다. 그럼에도 이후 에이미씨의 사과는 당사자의 자유라는 생각입니다. 다만 사과를 한다면, 진심이 담긴 내용이기를 바랄 뿐입니다. 1. 대응이 늦을 수밖에 없었던 이유 에이미씨가 실명을 거론하지 않았고, 심신이 미약해 보이는 정황이 있는 상황에 제가 섣불리 나설 수 없었습니다. 사실에 근거한 입장문은 이미 사건 발생 당일 작성이 끝난 상태였고, 반박 증거 자료 역시 제출 준비가 되어 있었습니다. 2. 법적 대응에 대한 부분 아직까지는 가수 휘성만으로 매출을 기대하고 있는 소규모 법인 기업으로서 치명적인 타격이 아닐 수 없는바, 이미 법적 효력을 발생시킬 수 있는 허위사실 유포 및 인신공격을 한 언론과 악플러들에 대한 고소장이 작성되고 있습니다. 이 부분 만큼은 총력을 기울여 강력처벌로 이어지게 될 것을 미리 말씀드립니다. 3. 합동 콘서트 취소 모든 법적 조치가 끝나 정리가 된 일을 다시 쟁점화한 것은 제가 아니지만, 현재 상황에서 원만한 공연이 이루어지기 어렵다는 모두의 입장을 받아들여 ,케이윌 휘성의 합동콘서트를 취소하기로 합의하였습니다. 현재 이 부분이 가장 아쉽습니다. 이 모든사태가 정리가 되고 나서 훨씬 완성도 높은 브로맨쇼를 개최할 수 있도록 공연기획사측과 협의할 계획입니다. 이찌되었든 제가 끼어있는 상황때문에 피해를 입은 스프링엔터테인먼트와 스타쉽엔터테인먼트 친구 케이윌군에게 깊이 사과의 말씀 올립니다 4. 놓치지 말아야 할 본질 이 사건에 등장하는 주요인물 모두가 피해자일 수도 있습니다. 이 사건이 언론을 통해 불 난 듯이 번졌을 때, 어느 누군가에게는 실질적 피해가 이루어질 수 있습니다. 상황을 이해하기보다는 감정에 치우치는 시선이 아닌, 중립적인 입장에서 온전한 사실만을 바라봐 주시길 간곡히 바랍니다. 현 상황이 조속히 마무리되길 바라며 저를 응원해오셨던 분들께 심려끼쳐드린점 죄송합니다. ***** 현재 앞다투어 저에게 많은 분들이 응원과 함께 악성 허위 댓글 추측공격글 등등을 발췌하여 보내주시고 있습니다 반드시 처벌하겠습니다 이미 너무 많은걸 잃었기에 좌시하지 않겠습니다 당사자가 저지른일은 당사자가 책임을 지어야하겠지요 저는 저의 책임을 지을테니 원색적으로 근거없이 저를 비난하신 분들 언론관계자분들 각오하시길 바랍니다. 아무 준비없이 드리는 말씀이 아님을 인지 하시길

A post shared by 휘성 (@wheesungnym) on Apr 19, 2019 at 3:03am PDT

 

As translated by Soompi, the post reads:

This is Wheesung. I received a phone call from Amy on the night of April 17, and the following recording was made with Amy’s permission.

Nonetheless, I thought a lot about whether I should release it. From the very beginning, and even now, I believe that it is possible that Amy was also a victim in this case. I hesitated for a long time as to whether I should release this recording. However, I judged that it was better to release it so that the fans can learn the truth behind all the suspicions that have been cast over my name.

Amy has clearly stated to me her intention to make an official apology. However, I was uneasy that without any evidence of checking for the truth, an apology made out of emotion would only further the controversy. That is why I asked Amy to first remove the post on Instagram and to tell the truth to the reporters who interviewed her.

Amy has accepted these requests and in addition, I asked her not to take any more rash actions from now on.

Out of necessity, the recording has been edited to remove parts that have nothing to do with the case.

I feel like I’ve already lost everything. Nonetheless, Amy’s apology should be considered as an action of her free will. If she does apologize, I only hope that it is sincere.

(1) The reason I was late to respond to the issue

Amy did not use any specific names, and it was not possible for me to intervene in a situation where there was no strong sense of identification. But our statement about the facts and the proof behind our denial had already been prepared by the time the situation had broken out.

(2) Legal response

As a small business that depends solely on the business of the singer Wheesung, it’s obvious that we would make a tempting target. We are preparing lawsuits against malicious commenters who have initiated personal attacks and spread false information to the point of requiring legal force. We intend to pursue strong punishments in this matter.

(3) Cancellation of concerts

It was not I who chose to bring up this incident again after everything had been settled [six years ago], but I recognized that it would be difficult to hold a concert in this situation and agreed to cancel the joint concert between me and K.Will. I am very regretful about this. After everything has been settled, we plan to consult with the concert agency in order to put on an even better concert.

In any case, I’m deeply sorry to my friend K.Will, Spring Entertainment, and Starship Entertainment for having to get involved in this case.

(4) The essential thing

It is possible for all of the major players in this case to have been victims. When this case was picked up by the media and spread like wildfire, it became possible for anyone to have been victimized. Rather than understand the situation, I ask that we not get carried away by the influence of our emotions but stand neutral in order to seek out the whole truth.

I hope that this situation is quietly resolved. I apologize to all of the people who have supported me until now.

The post also links to a video that contains the phone call between Wheesung and Amy. The third voice in the video is “X,” and the person’s voice is obscured to protect his identity.

 

 

In the phone call, a misunderstanding between X and Amy was revealed, and Amy and Wheesung discuss it. RealSlow Company also provides commentary. Allkpop translated the conversation:

 Amy: “It took me a lot of courage to make this phone call [to Wheesung]”

[Audio in the next part of the conversation is removed]

 

[Agency Text Message in the video – “We’re discussing who of their acquaintances told Amy that Wheesung is the one that suggested blackmail using the sexual photos. Wheesung already knew the identity of acquaintance ‘X’ that told Amy about the blackmail because of the allegations Amy had made in 2013 because it was ‘X’ that was concerned about it at the time].

[Wheesung calls ‘X’ whose voice is distorted to hide his identity]

Wheesung: “I had no reason to say those things to her [Amy], no reason to even want to do it. First it was death threats, then sexual assault…it just keeps changing. Anyways, is it Amy that is saying this or did you tell her that, because she’s saying its you.”

X: “Why would I tell her something like that?”

Wheesung: “Did I say those things? Did I really ever say those things about her??”

X: “There’s no way you would’ve said that stuff. You were really close to Amy. When I said bad stuff about her you got mad and we fought over it.”

[Recording returns to conversation between Amy and Wheesung]

Wheesung: [tells Amy what X said to him in the call. Amy doesn’t respond verbally but you can hear her sigh] “I recorded the conversation with him. What am I supposed to do. How am I going to live now?

[Agency Text Message in the video – “Wheesung has been put under suspicion because of the misunderstanding between Amy and X. If anyone has any recordings about the situation, please release it to the public.”]

Wheesung: [Gets emotional] “What am I going to do??”

Amy: “I feel like trash. After listening to you today I realize I was wrong” [starts crying]

Wheesung: “Even if you say sorry right now, I won’t believe you anymore. They cancelled my concert and terminated all my contracts. How am I going to live? Do you think I can sing now??

Amy: “Forgive me. Even if people swear at me, I promise I’ll take it all back.”

Wheesung: “Why do you only think about yourself? What about me?”

Amy: “I’ve always felt like I’m inferior to you.”

Wheesung: “But why do I have to pay for that with my life. MY livelihood.”

[Then audio fades out and the recording ends there. Another agency statement follows]

[Agency Text Message in the Video – “After the call, Amy removed the post she wrote on Instagram. We made this recording with permission from all parties. It wasn’t pre-arranged or anything and Amy was the first one to call Wheesung on April 17th at 10:00pm KST.

We want to reiterate that it’s not true at all that Wheesung ever threatened anyone with sexual assault. This whole thing happened because Amy heard something from a third party and thought Wheesung actually said it. In the phone call Wheesung told her about the misunderstanding. We plan to take strong legal action to prevent any of these rumors from spreading. Also, Amy is claiming that she has a recording, so we urge her to make it public. We know that Amy is feeling confused about this situation, but we can no longer sit back and let these false rumors spread. We ask her to clear up all the allegations.

Again, 6 years ago Wheesung was cleared of propofol use after a detailed investigation. All the allegations of blackmail and sexual assault are all false. We reiterate again that we made this recording after Amy called Wheesung first.

Wheesung is in shock because of these false allegations and is being sued for breach of contract. His livelihood is now in question because of someone’s unconfirmed SNS post. Who’s going to take responsibility for all the damage that has been caused?? We hope in the future that people refrain from witch hunts based on groundless rumors so that no one else is hurt.

RealSlow Company also stated that Wheesung may be sued for contract breaches.

This story is a developing one that has severe implications for the parties involved. Wheesung’s side is currently waiting for Amy’s alleged recordings and an apology.

 

All parties are innocent until proven guilty.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

A recent photo of the actor from his Instagram account @yeojin9oo.

 

From child actor to leading man

Making his debut on the silver screen with ‘Sad Movie’ in 2005 when he was only eight years old, Yeo Jin Goo has definitely racked up a lot of screen time over the years, carving his initial interest to appear on television into a fulfilling career.

Backed by supportive parents who cultivated his passion by providing acting lessons, the talented youngster quickly moved on towards more notable roles, mostly playing younger versions of the lead actors in popular dramas, the most notable of which were, ‘Iljimae’, ‘Tazza’, ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ and ‘Missing You’, for which he won multiple best child actor and young actor awards.

As he matured both physically and in his acting, he began to transition into lead roles, portraying the titular character in the 2013 action thriller movie ‘Hwayi: A Monster Boy’, for which he won several Best New Actor awards.

More lead roles and significant supporting roles followed in the ensuing years making him into one of the choice leading men in South Korea today at the young age of 21.

 

The actor as young boy (left) and how he looks today (right).

 

Growing up in the limelight

Graduating from an all boys high school in 2016, Yeo Jin Goo is currently pursuing his tertiary studies at Chung-Ang University, majoring in Theater.

In a past interview, the young actor mentioned his love for acting and how he has never envied his friends’ relatively  more ‘normal’ lives due to the many enjoyable experiences he’s been privileged to have through acting and through interactions with his seniors in the acting industry.

Though as any young man would, he does however, lament his lack of romantic relationships – mentioning dating as something he’d like to begin experiencing now that he’s in his twenties.

A still of the actor from his breakout role in  ‘Hwayi: A Monster Boy’’.

 

Career highlights

As an actor, Yeo Jin Goo has garnered many awards and accolades over his years in the industry, but some remain more memorable, such as becoming the youngest male actor to receive the Best New Actor award in the history of the Blue Dragon Film Awards, at the age of sixteen.

Other anecdotes that speak towards his talent are less tangible than awards but are no less impressive such as receiving the acknowledgement and approval of his senior actors. His appearance in the 2015 Korean War film, ‘The Long Way Home’ was said to be at the insistence of veteran actor Sol Kyung-gu, who strongly recommended Yeo for the role, only signing the movie contract once Yeo had been casted.

 

Recent works

In 2018, the actor starred in the science-fiction romance drama ‘Reunited Worlds’ and filmed the yet to be released romantic comedy drama ‘Absolute Boyfriend’, a dramatization of the highly popular Japanese manga of the same name which is slated to air this May.

We also recently saw him in a dual role as a Joseon King and his doppelganger in ‘The Crowned Clown’ which just completed its run on tvN last March.

 

A still of Yeo Jin Goo in his role as the titular character in ‘The Crowned Clown’.

 

Upcoming projects

Other than ‘Absolute Boyfriend’ this coming May, fans of the actor can look forward to another of his upcoming works this year as he is confirmed to already have another project lined up.

He is set to star in the new fantasy mystery drama ‘Hotel Del Luna’ with superstar singer and actress IU which is scheduled to air late this year. Another project from the Hong sisters who are well-known for their creative and compelling previous works such as the dramas ‘Master’s Sun’ and ‘While You Were Sleeping’, this upcoming drama is sure to excite fans and attract new viewers alike to get to know more facets of this versatile actor.

 

 

 

—-Fie Fed

 

BTS’ “Boy with Luv” is on fire!

The track, which features Halsey, comes from their newest album, Map the Soul: Persona and was released April 12, 2019. As of this writing, “Boy with Luv” currently has over 135 million views on YouTube and is still trending on YouTube’s trend list (as of April 15, 2019, it is ranked 45).

As it continues to rack up YouTube views, “Boy with Luv” and Map the Soul: Persona have been breaking records across several music charts.

Map the Soul: Persona became BTS’ third album to rank number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Previously, Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer held Billboard top honors. The Billboard 200 chart counts traditional album sales, track-equivalent albums, and streaming-equivalent albums. Ten downloaded songs or 1500 song streams equal one album purchase.

Over on Spotify, “Boy with Luv” came at number three on their Global Top 200 Chart. Their third-place-ranking tops their previous fourth place ranking when they debuted on the track. With their previous fourth and now their newly crowd third place rank, BTS holds the record as the highest charting Korean group on Spotify. Additionally, each song from Map the Soul: Persona stayed on Spotify’s Global Top 200 Chart’s top 50 for two consecutive days, making them the first Korean group to hold that honor. When the chart numbers were released April 13, “Mikrokosmos,” “Make It Right,” “Home,” “Dionysus,” “Jamais Vu,” and “Intro: Persona” ranked 22, 26, 28, 36, and 50, respectively.

Meanwhile, on Korea’s iChart, BTS are the first group in 2019 to land a Perfect All-Kill (PAK) with “Boy with Luv.” This is BTS’ second PAK since 2018’s “Fake Love.” According to Soompi, “a perfect all-kill (PAK) is when the song is in first place on the major real-time and daily charts (Melon, Genie, Bugs, Mnet, Naver, and Soribada), as well as first place on Flo’s real-time charts and on Instiz’s iChart’s real-time and weekly charts.”

On YouTube, “Boy with Luv” smashed the record for most views in a 24-hour period. The previous record, held by BLACKPINK’s “Kill This Love,” was 56.7 million viewers. In a tweet, YouTube confirmed the record was broken on April 13, but they didn’t have an official count. On April 15, YouTube announced the BTS broke the record by scoring 74.6 million unique views in the MV’s first 24 hours!

 

Yes, we’re still running the numbers, but we can confirm that #BoyWithLuv (ft. @Halsey) is now *officially* the most-viewed 24 hour debut in @YouTube history!! Congratulations @bts_bighit � Enjoy @nbcsnl tonight! pic.twitter.com/xC8vHs27Nu

— YouTube Music (@youtubemusic) April 14, 2019

 

“Boy with Luv” also became the fastest video by a Korean artist to surpass 100 million views. Previously, BLACKPINK’s “Kill This Love” held the record by reaching 100 million views in two days, 14 hours, and 15 minutes. “Boy with Luv” broke the record in one day, 13 hours, and 38 minutes.

Additionally, “DNA,” one of the tracks that was considered a global hit, became the first MV by a male Korean group to reach 700 million views. The track, which was released September 17, 2017, reached 700 million views in one year, six months, 27 days, and a little over nine hours. BTS joins fellow Korean artists BLACKPINK (“Ddu-du Ddu-Du”) and PSY (“Gangnam Style,” which is also the most viewed K-Pop MV of all time with, now, over 3.3 billion views) in the 700 million view club.

Finally, BTS will also appear at the Billboard Music Awards May 1. They are nominated for Top Group/Duo and Top Social Artist. Congratulations to BTS on their accomplishments, and good luck at the Billboard Music Awards!

 

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

SHINee’s Minho enlisted into the Marines April 15, 2019. Prior to his enlistment at the Marine Corps training center in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Minho shared a letter with SHAWOLs along with an image showing off his military haircut.

#빛나는샤이니 #SHINee #샤이니 @shinee#민호 #MINHO #CHOIMINHO 건강하고 안전하게 ?? pic.twitter.com/JJ12SxMXse

— SHINee (@SHINee) April 14, 2019

#빛나는샤이니 #SHINee #샤이니 @shinee#민호 #MINHO #CHOIMINHO 건강하고 안전하게 ?? pic.twitter.com/B0V3v9vkkN

— SHINee (@SHINee) April 14, 2019

 

Minho wrote:

Hello, everyone~ it’s SHINee’s Minho!!

It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve written my feelings down. Everyone knows, right? I will be enlisting in the military on April 15. I’ll be momentarily separated from everyone for a short [time] if it’s short, and long [time] if it’s long while.

After debuting on May 25, 2008, time has passed by quite quickly, and I’m so happy and pleased to have spent it with everyone. These were moments I won’t be able to forget.

The many things I’ve been able to feel and all the things I’ve been able to grow into is thanks to your interest and support. When I took some time to look back, I honestly couldn’t imagine that I, who was lacking in many ways for a long time, would receive the strong support and love that is SHINee World. It was a warm consolation and huge relief for me, who only thought of running and working hard, and moving forward. Thank you once again.

The fact that there was someone beside me was a source of great happiness for me, and I think I’m going to miss SHINee World a lot, for helping me, who was always strongly looking ahead, look back and become soft and flexible, instead of always being so stiff. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to approach you all more often and express myself more. I’m really sorry.^^ But you know that I’m grateful and I love you, right??? I’ll remember the support that everyone gave me and return safely.

I’ll work hard in the military so I can come back to give everyone positive and good energy without disappointing anyone. Thank you and thank you again. And I love you!!

You guys are always my hope~

2019.4.14 SHINee’s Minho

PS. Everyone, you know that I’m Choi Minho, right? Don’t worry!! Victory!!!

Minho arrived at the training center with his parents and fellow SHINee member, Taemin. Onew enlisted December 10, 2018, while Key enlisted March 4, 2019.

SHAWOL wish Minho and his fellow members good health during their enlistments.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

Brave Girls is a Korean girl group formed by the inventive rapper, songwriter and producer Brave Brother, the founder and CEO of Brave Entertainment. The group made their debut with the album The Difference in April of 2011.

In July of the same year, Brave Girls released Easily from their mini album Back to da Future, and later promoted a remix version.

The group went on a hiatus from early 2014 until 2016, and returned with seven members – the two founding members Hye-ran and Yoo-jin, joined by Eun-ji, Ha-yun, Min-young, Yu-jeong and Yu-na – while Eun-young, Seo-a and Ye-jin left the group in pursuit of other ventures.

Since Ha-yun is unable to join due to indefinite medical reasons, four members consisting of Min-young, Yu-jeong, Eun-ji and Yu-na make the current line-up of the group.

We were lucky to interview the Brave Girls, and took the time out to learn more about their personality, personal struggles, taste in fashion and what they like or dislike when it comes to food and much more. A massive thank you goes out to the girls and their staff for making this Kcrush interview happen. We wish the girls all the very best in their future endeavors!

 

Thank you for offering your precious time for this interview. Please introduce yourselves to our readers.

Min-young: Hello, this is Min-young and I am the main vocalist of Brave Girls.

Yu-jeong: Hello! This is Yu-jeong, the talkative one of Brave Girls.

Eun-ji: Hello, everyone. This is Eun-ji of Brave Girls!

Yu-na: Hi, this is Yu-na of Brave Girls.

 

What has changed for you the most since debut, and what were your dreams while growing up?

Min-young: Well, I used to like spending time at home alone, but since I met the other members in the group, I found myself enjoying spending quality time with them. My dream as a child, was a singer because I thought a singer dancing on a grand stage with bright lights was the coolest thing. However, I was still very young, so my dreams kept changing from dolphin trainer, action movie actor, fashion designer to ballerina and so on.

Yu-jeong: I don’t think anything has changed for me that much, since our debut. But at times, I do encounter people, especially the ones who served in the military, who recognize me when I am out and about in public. I was at a restaurant one time, and a staff there said that he was a fan who had recently got discharged, and served me a lot of food on the house. I think my dream as a child was a singer, but once I became one, I did go through a phase of feeling kind of empty inside, to be honest.

Eun-ji: I don’t think much has changed drastically for me but I think I’ve become more at ease. And being a flight attendant was my dream when I was growing up. 

Yu-na: I feel that my personality has changed. I’ve become more cautious and sensitive in some ways. I had multiple dreams while growing up, I wanted to become a singer, artist, veterinarian and etc.

 

 

What is the first thing that you do when you wake up in the morning?

Min-young: I kiss my cream-colored toy poodle, named Yam-yam.

Yu-jeong: I have a dog named “Laren – 라렌” that stays in the dormitory with me. So, I habitually check on my pet to see if it’s sick or anything. My Laren’s the best!

Eun-ji: I check my phone. ^_^

Yu-na: I weigh myself.

 

Recommend us any songs/albums that you frequently listen to. Which Brave Girls’ work are you the most attached to?

Min-young: I enjoy listening to albums by Tinashe and Kehlani, not only because they have trendy music but both artists are really great dancers. Since they are always full of energy and they look cool even to us females.

The song that I listen to the most these days is, Expectations by Lauren, a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. My favorite Brave Girls’ album is definitely Rollin because although I am the most attached to it, there is so much about the record that I feel could’ve been done differently. There are many other great tracks on that album too. The third track Whatever from our third mini-album High Heels is also a personal favorite of mine.

Yu-jeong: Nowadays, I’m into songs by Jannabi rather than upbeat music. I generally tend to pay more attention to lyrics than the music, and Jannabi makes music that I appreciate and can relate to, as I grow older. The Brave Girls’ song that I am the most attached to would definitely be Rollin!!

Eun-ji: The song that I’ve been listening to most frequently is the Spring album by Park Bom sunbaenim. The single Spring has a great melody and I love the lyrics too.

The Brave Girls’ song that I am the most attached to is Rollin. I loved it the first moment I listened to it. Even after two years, it still feels refreshing and I don’t ever get tired of it.

I wish more people would know about the song!

Yu-na: These days, the song that I listen to most is Distance by Emily King. And the Brave Girls’ song that I am most attached to is Rollin.

 

 

Who do you respect the most currently?

Min-young: My mom. 

Yu-jeong: My parents. And Brave Brother, our CEO. Since I believe that my parents enabled me to have my dreams, while our CEO helped me to fulfill them. In the past, I used to think that people written about in text books were admirable, but now, I’ve realized that everyone is. Except for myself that is.

Eun-ji: My parents, for sure! It’s always been my parents for me. They always advise me, tell me about their life experiences and give me so much encouragement. 

Yu-na: My mother…

 

Please describe your ideal type of person.

Min-young: I have a lot of emotional ups and downs, so I think I’d like my ideal person to be of calm personality who can help me to keep me grounded.

Yu-jeong: Somebody that I can’t help loving.

Eun-ji: Someone courteous, honest and positive at all times.

Yun-a: A person who is humble and polite towards the people who are employed to do service work.

 

 

Name a food or beverage that you really like or dislike.

Min-young: Sushi is my favorite food, but I am not that keen on consuming shellfish or freshwater fish. What I hate the most are famine foods, and I prefer fruit juice over coffee.

My favorite is ginger ale and lemonade.

Yu-jeong: I really hate cucumbers and Korean melons. I like to eat giblets and sushi.

Eun-ji: I like western food the best, and like strawberry smoothies for beverages. I don’t like to eat Seonjiguk, Naejangtang, Fish roe soup, sea cucumber, Sea pineapple and etc.

Yu-na: I love Korean food, and dislike any food that has mushy textures, like puddings, dried persimmon, sushi…

 

How would you describe your dress code on a daily basis? Tell us which colors you like or dislike.

Min-young: When I’m out and about to and from the studio, I like to dress comfortably. But when I go out, I either dress in very simple outfits or something really glam, depending on my mood. I also enjoy adorning and love wearing hats. I am into accessories, bags, shoes and other features that complete a look. The color that I love the most is white, because it’s bright and so pretty.

Yu-jeong: I just like casual clothes, because I tend to get tired all day when I’m dressed in uncomfortable ensembles. I don’t like yellow and illuminous colors

Eun-ji: I like to wear feminine jackets and pants. Purple is the color that I love the most. Although I don’t have a color that I dislike, if I had to choose one, it’d be light green.

Yu-na: I dig wide or straight pants in dark blue, blue denim and light blue. I love black and white, and dislike illuminous colors.

 

Please recommend us any books, musicals or movies that you’ve enjoyed recently.

Min-young: I was searching for motivational books in order to boost my self-esteem, and found a good read called “There is no present that means Nothing – 아무것도 아닌 지금은 없다.” I also enjoyed watching a movie called Us with the members.

Yu-jeong: My all-time favorite movie is You are the Apple of My Eye. Whenever I watch it, I think to myself that I really didn’t know how to handle things when I was younger. It’s a kind of movie that makes me realize a lot of things, when I watch it over and over again. This movie also got me interested in learning Chinese.

Eun-ji: The most recent movies that I’ve watched are Believer and The outlaws, which I’ve watched respectively three times. I also watched Intimate Strangers and Extreme Job and laughed my way through the shows. For musicals, I’d recommend Jekyll & Hyde or Wicked.

Yu-na: I recommend you to watch My Blueberry Nights.

 

 

Where do you think is the best region in Korea for tourism?

Min-young: The best places for foreign tourists to visit in Korea is definitely Seoul or Jeju Island. However, if you’re like me and prefer mountainous areas valleys more than the seaside, Yangpyeong County would be great to visit too.

Eun-ji: Busan!!! I think it’s good for a visit the city due to its many places to visit and dine at. The public transport has become so convenient that it takes around 2 hours to get there from Seoul on a train.

Yu-jeong: Mangwon-dong in Seoul! It might not be considered as travelling or touring, but you’ll feel refreshed after walking down Mangwon market.

Yu-na: Jeju Island for me too.

 

In the future, where would you like to perform in the world?

Min-young: We’d love to do a performance anywhere overseas, if possible. We would really love to meet our international fans.

Yu-jeong: Japan. Or Hong Kong, which is where I used to live.

Eun-ji: Would love to do a lot of shows in Korea, and just about anywhere else in the world.

Yu-na: First, I’d love to perform at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium. And at Japan’s Tokyo Dome since it’s close from here and then, move on to perform in other countries.

 

(From left to right: Min-young, Yu-jeong, Eun-ji and Yu-na.)

 

Please wrap this interview by stating something about your future hopes and plans ahead. Add something nice to the fans as well.

Min-young: First, our goal is to showcase new music with unique and diverse concepts to our audience. We also want to meet our fans more often. So far, we haven’t gotten the chance to meet fans abroad, so I hope we get to have that opportunity in the near future.

Yu-jeong: In the past, I only thought about Brave Girls doing well and perform to more people. But now, I just wish that we don’t lose our hopes or dreams along the way. That way, we can give back the hopes and dreams to our fans, Fearless. I really don’t wish to disappoint them, when they’ve waited for us all this time. We really appreciate you and thank you.

Eun-ji: We want to make good music for you guys, and also appear on a lot of broadcasts! We have been on a hiatus for a long while, so we really appreciate our fan base, Fearless for your loyal support. We love you ever so much and thank you!!

Yu-na: I think one of our ultimate goals and hopes is to return with a great album. We are so thankful (and also feel apologetic) towards our fans, Fearless, for still being there for us. Together, we can make a better future for us all!

 

 

 — J.Chung.

Kcrush America K-Pop Top 30: March 2019