On the 25th, Starship Entertainment announced through their official SNS that they are proceeding with civil and overseas lawsuits against "Sojang". They also mentioned, "Sojang" has caused serious defamation by continuously spreading false information about our artist, IVE members. The operator of "Sojang" admitted to this by posting on Nate Pann. Regardless of the truth or authenticity of the apology letter, we will hold the operator accountable for their past illegal actions."

The apology letter from "Sojang" mentioned by Starship Entertainment appears to be the one posted on Nate Pann by a netizen claiming to be the operator of the channel on June 29th. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the letter was genuinely written by the operator of "Sojang".

The individual claiming to be the operator of "Sojang" stated, "I am Park Joo Ah, who operated Sojang. From the first video I uploaded to when the channel was hacked, I know very well how malicious the videos I uploaded were. I thought that by targeting famous idols and actors, the videos would gain views and generate significant income. I am deeply sorry to the idols and actors for the harm caused. V from BTS mentioned that he knows about my channel, so I targeted him even more. I am sincerely sorry to V. I also apologize to Jang Won Young, whom I caused mental distress by editing videos and photos to spread exaggerated false information. I am truly sorry to all the other celebrities who suffered from false information and malicious rumors, and to the fans as well. I will never engage in such actions again."

She continued, "The reason I am posting this is not to avoid legal action and compensation from the agencies and celebrities. I will accept the consequences of my actions. I have opened a new channel, using the same channel name as before. I cannot give up being a YouTuber, so I plan to continue my YouTube activities, creating videos that can positively influence celebrities. I will not earn money through my new channel, and I will donate all the profits I have earned from my malicious videos. Once again, I express my sincere apologies."

ATTRAKT has recently filed trademark applications in key K-pop consuming countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan. It is reported that the applications have already been assigned registration numbers and are proceeding towards official registration.

As a result, FIFTY FIFTY members Saena, Aran, Sio, and Keena may find it challenging to use the group name "FIFTY FIFTY" in those countries without ATTRAKT's approval, even if their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT are terminated.

Previously, FIFTY FIFTY members filed for an injunction to suspend the effect of their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT on June 19, alleging non-transparent settlements and failure to fulfill contractual obligations. At the same time, they also applied for a trademark registration of their Korean group name(피프티 피프티).

ATTRAKT responded by denying any contractual breaches and accused Ahn Sung-il, the producer, and certain employees of The Givers of being the forces behind the members' violation of their exclusive contracts. ATTRAKT pressed charges against them for obstruction of business, destruction of electronic records, embezzlement in business, and other charges. Ahn Sung-il denies these allegations.

The Givers, on the 25th, stated, "We have confirmed that there are incorrect parts related to An Sung Il's academic background and career. We apologize for the confusion and will take corrective measures."

Previously, Korean entertainment media TVdaily reported on the same day that some parts of An Sung Il's academic background and career were forged. According to the report, An Sung Il had listed his final education as 'graduated from the Business Administration Department of Chung-Ang University,' but his name does not appear in the list of graduates from Chung-Ang University.

Furthermore, An Sung Il had introduced that he served as the representative of the Beyond Music Rights division for a total of 3 years and 4 months from January 2020 to April 2023. However, Beyond Music officials stated that while An Sung Il had worked as an external contractor from January 2021 to May 2022, the claim of 3 years and 4 months of career is false.

On the 25th, Starship Entertainment stated through their official social media that they have been actively pursuing civil and criminal lawsuits against 'Sojang' since November 2022.

They further added, "In May 2023, we received information requests from the US District Court for the Northern District of California, and in July 2023, we obtained significant information about the operator of 'Sojang' from Google's headquarters in the US. However, around the time when the notice of information request was sent to the operator of 'Sojang' by Google, the channel suddenly became hacked, resulting in the deletion of its existing videos and the disappearance of the account itself."

The entertainment agency explained, "Sojang has continuously spread false information about our artist, IVE, causing serious damage to their reputation and interfering with our business operations. Regardless of the authenticity of 'Sojang's' apology letter, we will hold them accountable for their past illegal actions."

Furthermore, Starship Entertainment stated, "We are also currently verifying additional personal information about the operators of 'Sojang' and other 'Cyber Wrecker' through legal procedures. We aim to hold the operators, including 'Sojang,' accountable for their actions."

They emphasized, "To protect the honor, privacy, and rights of our artists, we operate a constant monitoring system. We will take legal action against cases of defamation and any further damages without compromise. We sincerely appreciate fans' continuous support and contributions through reports and information, which greatly help our legal responses. We request ongoing cooperation in providing any relevant information."

Sojang is a YouTube channel known for spreading malicious rumors about South Korean celebrities. It has been particularly criticized for producing and disseminating rumors about artists such as Aespa, Jang Wonyoung, and V. The channel has now been deleted.

According to a report from Edaily on the 25th, AKMU will release a new song at the end of August. YG Entertainment stated on the same day, "AKMU is currently working on the latter part of the album with the goal of a summer comeback," and added, "We will provide more details once they are confirmed."

This upcoming release will be AKMU's first new song in about two years since their collaboration album 'NEXT EPISODE' was released in July 2021. Throughout their career, including albums like the first full-length album 'PLAY,' the first mini-album '思春記 上 (Puberty Part.1),' the second full-length album '思春記 下 (Puberty Part.2),' and the third full-length album 'SAILING,' AKMU has consistently topped the music charts with their fresh and meaningful music, transcending specific genres. Fans are eagerly anticipating the new music and message that AKMU will present after a long hiatus.

AKMU first gained recognition through the SBS audition program 'K-pop Star Season 2' in 2013. Their witty lyrics and relatable music at the time earned them the love of many people.

According to the latest Billboard chart on the 24th, Jungkook's solo single 'Seven', which was released on the 14th, claimed the top spot on the main singles chart, Hot 100. 'Seven' became the 68th song to debut at number one on the chart since its inception in 1958.

The Hot 100 ranks singles based on a combination of streaming, radio airplay, and sales (downloads and CDs). During the weekly tracking period from July 14th to July 20th, 'Seven' recorded 153,000 downloads, 21.9 million streams, and 6.4 million radio airplays.

Prior to this achievement, Jungkook made his mark on the Hot 100 chart with his OST 'Stay Alive (Prod. SUGA of BTS)' for the HYBE Original Story '7FATES: CHAKHO', and his collaboration track 'Left and Right' with Charlie Puth.

Billboard stated, "Jung Kook becomes the second member of BTS with a Hot 100 No. 1 (or, again, even a top 10), after Jimin’s “Like Crazy” debuted at No. 1 in April. Further, with BTS having logged six Hot 100 No. 1s and Jung Kook and Jimin with one No. 1 each, BTS joins The Beatles, The Black Eyed Peas, Destiny’s Child and Genesis as the only groups with leaders and multiple members also with No. 1s."

On the 22nd, CDNZA Records stated, "First and foremost we would like to thank all the fans for your love and support for JAY B. After much thought and discussion with the artist, we have come to a mutual agreement to terminate the artist contract effective as of 2023 April."

After the expiration of his contract with H1GHR MUSIC, JAY B signed an exclusive contract with CDNZA Records in September last year. However, after only 7 months with the new agency, he has decided to terminate the contract, leading to speculations and curiosity among fans.

In the midst of this, a controversy arose when private DMs (Direct Messages) between JAY B and an ordinary female individual were revealed on an online community. JAY B showed interest in a woman by asking questions like "Do you go to clubs often?" through DM exchanged with her.

JAY B made his debut in 2012 through the KBS 2TV drama "Dream High 2". In the same year, he formed the duo JJ Project with Jinyoung and later redebuted as part of the group GOT7 in 2014. He is currently serving in the military for his mandatory military service.

On the official YouTube channel of "IU's Palette," a post titled "Why is our heart pounding? Super Shy angels have visited Palette" was made on the 24th, revealing that NewJeans will be appearing as guests.

It continued, "IU X NewJeans are in a match, UAENA X Bunnies should gather around," and added, "Will be uploaded at 6:00 PM tonight."

Along with the announcement, a photo of IU and NewJeans members gathering their hands in the center was revealed. The harmony between IU and NewJeans, both known for their sweet voices, is raising fans' expectations.

Netizens commented, "A combination of my favorite singer and my favorite idol," "This is going to be epic," "I'm so excited," "I can't wait for their song cover."

Meanwhile, NewJeans had previously teased their appearance on IU's Palette by posting on their official SNS on the 20th, sharing a gift and a letter they received from IU.

KARA debuted as a 4-member group in 2007. Kang Jiyoung and Gu Hara joined the group on July 24, 2008, as new members after the departure of member Kim Sunghee, and today marks their 15th debut anniversary. Gu Hara passed away on November 24, 2019, at the age of 28.

On the 24th, Kang Jiyoung posted on her SNS, "Congratulations. I love you. 20080724," along with photos of her and Gu Hara. The photos captured their memories from their early debut days to more glamorous and mature moments.

She continued, "I debuted at the age of 15, and already half of my life has passed. I was a young and clueless kid, and now I'm already approaching 30 years old. I can't say anything grand, but I just want to say that I'm doing well and not to worry. I miss you."

Netizens left messages of support, saying, "Jiyoung, Hara, Seungyeon, we love you. Have a happy day," "It brings tears to my eyes," "I miss Hara," "Congratulations on your 15th debut anniversary. I sincerely wish you to stay healthy and continue your activities for a long time," "As the KARA gave me tremendous strength during my school days, I will continue to support whatever you do in the future."

Meanwhile, last year, KARA(Gyuri, Han Seungyeon, Nicole, Kang Jiyoung, Youngji) celebrated their 15th debut anniversary with all members gathering to release the new song "When I Move."

On the 24th, THEBLACKLABEL announced through official SNS that Jeon Somi will be making a comeback on the 7th of next month with her new EP album 'GAME PLAN'. The physical album will be released on the 14th of the following month.

Along with this announcement, they also revealed a new profile picture showcasing Jeon Somi's intense charm. She wore an all-black outfit, exuding a luxurious yet chic aura. Her provocative and mesmerizing gaze captivated the attention of the public.

Having received much love from fans with daring and charismatic concepts in her previous releases like 'XOXO' and 'DUMB DUMB', there is much anticipation about what kind of music and performance Jeon Somi will present this time.

Seventeen held their 'SEVENTEEN TOUR "FOLLOW" TO SEOUL' at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome for two days from the 21st to the 22nd. The offline concert was attended by a total of approximately 34,000 spectators, and there were also about 99,000 online viewers. Member Seungkwan was unable to participate in this concert due to health issues.

Seventeen showcased a variety of stages, starting with 'Super' performance. They continued with diverse stages such as 'DON QUIXOTE,' 'Clap,' 'Don't Wanna Cry,' 'F*ck My Life,' 'Thanks,' and more. The concert featured special unit stages from Seventeen's vocal team, performance team, and hip-hop team, as well as slogan events, sing-alongs with fans, and an encore stage using moving platforms. The group filled the more than 3 hours and 30 minutes with their unique energy and talent, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for the audience.

During the concert, Seventeen expressed their gratitude, saying, "Thank you for filling up this large concert venue. Today, while performing on stage, we reminisced a lot about our debut days. We sincerely thank Carat (their fans) for supporting us and walking with us. Carat are always Seventeen's energy and driving force."

They also revealed, "As you all know, our comeback is in October. We are almost done working on the new album." The album producer, Woozi, shared, "I felt a lot of pressure since 'Super' received so much love. I thought we had done everything we could, but it turned out to be a foolish thought. We made a great album, and we've worked hard on it, so please look forward to it."

In addition to their successful Seoul concert, Seventeen will continue their tour with 'FOLLOW' to Japan, performing in Tokyo Dome on September 6-7, Belluna Dome on November 23-24, Vantelin DOME Nagoya on November 30, and December 2-3, Kyocera Dome Osaka on December 7 and 9-10, and Fukuoka PayPay Dome on December 16-17.

Mnet announced on the 24th that Teddy, the overall producer of THE BLACK LABEL , will be joining Mnet's 'I-LAND2' as the master producer.

'I-LAND' is a global audition program that depicts the process of creating the next-generation K-pop artists. Through the first project aired in 2020, the group ENHYPEN was formed.

In 'I-LAND' season 2, the show will showcase the process of selecting members for a girl group under CJ ENM's label Wake One. They are currently recruiting applicants from all over the world for the upcoming broadcast in 2024. Applications are open until the 6th of next month, and any female born before January 1, 2011, regardless of nationality, can apply.

Teddy is a producer who has created hit songs for globally popular artists such as BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, JEON SOMI, and 2NE1. In 2021, he was ranked 25th on Billboard's list of 'The 50 Greatest Producers of the 21st Century.'

Expectations are high on how Teddy and THE BLACK LABEL will nurture the next generation of stars.

The agency, TR Entertainment, announced on the 21st through their official SNS that Jinha will be departing from TRI.BE. Jinha has been on hiatus since May last year due to health issues.

The agency stated, "Until recently, we have been discussing future entertainment activities with Jinha. We had many conversations about her return, as fans have been eagerly waiting for it. However, we have reached an agreement to conclude her activities with TRI.BE and focus a little more on her health recovery."

They continued, "We deeply thank all the fans who have sent Jinha abundant love and support. We ask for your unwavering love and support for the remaining six TRI.BE members and Jinha."

TRI.BE debuted in 2021 with their first single album 'TRI.BE Da Loca.' In February, they released their second mini-album 'W.A.Y' and recently held the US tour 'TRI.BE Vida Loca 2023 USA Tour.'

New Jeans(Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein)'s music video for the song 'ETA' was released on July 21st through the official HYBE YouTube channel. 'ETA' is one of the triple title tracks from New Jeans's mini 2nd album 'Get Up.'

This music video was created through a collaboration between Apple and New Jeans. As part of Apple's 'Shot on iPhone' campaign, all scenes in the music video were shot with the iPhone 14 Pro. New Jeans's passionate choreography was captured using the iPhone 14 Pro's action mode, providing stable footage without any shake. Additionally, the cinematic mode was utilized to achieve a more immersive visual experience, and the enhanced camera features allowed for beautiful nighttime scenes to be captured effortlessly.

In the 'ETA' music video, New Jeans members witness a scene where a friend's boyfriend approaches a strange woman at a party, which sets off the story. During their performance at the party, New Jeans secretly captures his actions with their iPhones and shares the real-time situation with their friend, who becomes angry and rushes to the scene.

The director, Shin Woo-suk, who produced the music video, said, "From the stage of writing the screenplay, I kept in mind the possibilities and meanings that can be achieved with an iPhone. 'ETA' has attractive lyrics that feel like you're talking to a friend. We utilized iPhone FaceTime to express those characteristics in the lyrics or shot dynamic choreography using the action mode to achieve stable scenes."

Min Hee-jin, the head of Adoer, said, "We wanted to provide consumers with a fun experience by attempting something different with one of the title tracks. That's why we suggested a music video production method that is lighter and more convenient than using traditional heavy tool and we proposed shooting the official music video with iPhones."

Behind-the-scenes footage of New Jeans members filming each other's choreography with iPhones on set will also be released through Apple's official Instagram and New Jeans's artist social media accounts, bringing small joys to fans.

The first episode of 'Nizi Project' Season 2, which launches JYP's new boy group, will be aired on July 21st at 10 p.m. through JYP's official YouTube channel. In Japan, it will be available on the online video platform, Hulu.

Ahead of the official broadcast, JYP raised anticipation for the project by posting a video titled '[Nizi Project Season 2] Part 1 #1 Highlights' on their official YouTube channel on the 18th.

In the video, Park Jin-young, the Chief Creative Officer of JYP, promised to personally meet the participants of 'Nizi Project' and showcase his discerning judgments, heightening the curiosity of viewers both domestically and internationally. The JYP trainees who threw their challenge into 'Nizi Project' Season 2 also appeared one by one, increasing curiosity about the main content.

In 'Nizi Project' Season 2, viewers can witness the process of forming and debuting a boy group. The global audition was held in a total of 11 cities, including Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Okinawa, Tokyo, Sendai, Kobe, New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul, with over 10,000 applicants. To create a boy group with dance, vocals, star quality, and musicality, JYP added a new section for lyrics and composition, securing a wider range of talent.

Back in February 2019, JYP initiated the audition project 'Nizi Project' in collaboration with Sony Music, Japan's largest record label. Through this program, the girl group NiziU was born and has been gaining remarkable achievements and popularity since their debut, solidifying their position as a leading girl group.

These products will be available in nine Asian countries, including Korea, from the 25th of this month until the 21st of the following month. The BLACKPINK-themed goods offered by Starbucks include tumblers, bags, passport cases, key rings, and Starbucks cards. Most of the items are beautifully combined with black and pink colors, as expected from merchandise related to BLACKPINK.

One of the eye-catching items is the cold cup adorned with studs in pink or black colors, which exudes a glamorous and sophisticated vibe. The bottle, passport case, and key ring also prominently feature BLACKPINK's symbols and logos, emphasizing the group's identity. The tote bag can hold a 15-inch laptop, showcasing practicality along with style.

As for the food and beverages, there are three options: "BLACKPINK Strawberry Choco Cream Frappuccino," "BLACKPINK Strawberry Choco Baumkuchen," and "BLACKPINK Strawberry Cream Choco Bun." The "BLACKPINK Strawberry Choco Cream Frappuccino" combines oat base, strawberry syrup, and dark chocolate sauce to create a delightful drink. The "BLACKPINK Strawberry Choco Baumkuchen" and "BLACKPINK Strawberry Cream Choco Bun" are made with chocolate-based bread and topped with strawberry milk cream. Even in the beverages and food, the harmony of black and pink colors accentuates the collaboration with BLACKPINK. However, "BLACKPINK Strawberry Choco Baumkuchen" and "BLACKPINK Strawberry Cream Choco Bun" are exclusively available only in South Korea.

Starbucks has previously utilized K-pop stars to attract customers, as evidenced by the successful collaboration with BTS in 2020, which caused a frenzy among fans leading to sold-out products. BLACKPINK, like BTS, boasts a strong fan base both domestically and internationally, making this collaboration with them highly anticipated to bring positive synergy.

FIESTAR debuted in 2012 with the single album "VISTA" and released songs like "One More" and "Apple Pie." However, despite their efforts, the group did not achieve significant success and announced their disbandment after six years.

Recently, HyeMi appeared on YouTube channel that introduces updates on famous celebrities and showed herself in front of the camera after a long time. She shared, "It's been about 5 to 6 years since FIESTAR's activities ended. Now, I'm running a business that rents out practice space. I personally handled all the interior work. The income is about the same as what office workers earn."

She reminisced about her time as a member of FIESTAR and her friendship with IU, saying, "IU promoted us a lot when I was active with FIESTAR. We lived together in the same dorm as trainees and became close. IU bought me a luxury bag after her first payment. She's a very loyal friend. She used to give gifts of that price range to people around her."

In contrast, HyeMi revealed that she did not receive a payment during her five years as a FIESTAR member. She explained, "I need to surpass the break-even point to receive a payments, but we couldn't achieve that. Nevertheless, the company provided us with allowances and took care of us well. Upon reflection, there are quite a lot of idols, and many of them may not achieve significant profits compared to the investments made, and knowing this, it still feels regrettable."

She continued, "No matter how hard I worked, it seemed unrelated to whether we succeeded or not. I've been in the industry for 10 years, but I feel like I didn't achieve success as a singer, which is disappointing. At that time, I was overly conscious of others' perspectives. I didn't have a stable income, and I struggled because I was conscious of the opinions of people around me."

Despite feeling anxious and confused after the disbandment, HyeMi resolved to work harder. Currently, she works as a vocal trainer, teaching Kep1er's Yeseo, DKZ's Mingyu, and CLASS:y's Hyungseo.

Moreover, she hasn't given up on her dream as a singer and established her one-person agency to embark on a new challenge as a solo artist under the name "Yel." She plans to release a solo album this year.

HyeMi expressed her desire to perform on stage and meet the audience. She said, "I want to do things that showcase myself. I'm also planning various business ventures. I realized that doing what I love and living happily is the best. Please look forward to my upcoming album."

The funeral hall for the late Cheongrim is set up at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Hall 3, and the funeral procession will take place on the 21st at 9 a.m.

Born in 1986, Cheongrim majored in dance at the Korea National University of Arts. He made his debut in the entertainment industry through the drama "I Am Sorry, I Love You" in 2004 and also pursued a career as a singer by releasing her EP album [STEP] in 2009. At the time, He was dubbed as the "second RAIN" and gained attention. Apart from that, He also appeared in SBS drama "Dream" and KBS 2TV variety show "Dream Team Season 2."

On the 20th, NETFLIX unveiled the teaser poster and teaser trailer for "Mask Girl." "Mask Girl" tells the story of Kim Momi, an ordinary office worker with appearance complexes, who becomes an internet broadcast BJ by wearing a mask every night and gets entangled in an unintended incident.

The teaser poster features a captivating design with colors, lines, and blood intertwining on the iconic mask, evoking thoughts of three-dimensional pop art and arousing anticipation for the diverse narrative that unconventional characters will unfold.

The teaser trailer shows Mask Girl conducting a provocative live broadcast under dazzling lights while covering her face with a mask, and it includes a glimpse of the intense and dramatic storyline. Ko Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong, Yeom Hye-ran, and Nana leave a strong impression even in the short video.

Especially due to the unique storytelling characteristic, three actresses will portray the adventurous life of Kim Momi in 'Mask Girl'. The intriguing concept of three actresses taking on the role of Kim Momi has sparked curiosity about how her eventful life will be portrayed through each of them.

"Mask Girl" is based on the webtoon of the same name.

On the 20th, Sports Chosun reported that V is making significant progress in preparing for his solo album release in the 3rd quarter of this year. It has been known that V has been steadily working on his album since last year.

A representative from the agency, Big Hit Music, responded to the rumors of his solo album release, stating, "We will announce the schedule after it is confirmed."

BTS members have been actively pursuing solo activities since last year, starting with J-Hope. They have been showcasing their individual personalities and sensibilities that were not fully revealed during their group activities. With J-Hope, Jin, RM, Jimin, Suga, and Jungkook all achieving successful solo debuts one after another, there is great anticipation for how V will capture the hearts of the public with his own unique charm.

On the 19th, the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards took place at Paradise City Crossma in Incheon. Song Hye-kyo received the grand prize for her role in the Netflix series "The Glory."

Song Hye-kyo expressed her gratitude, stating, "I'm really thankful. I'm so happy," and added, "If it weren't for the excellent staff, I wouldn't have been able to complete 'The Glory' successfully. I want to thank the staff once again. And Director Ahn Kil-ho, thank you for leading me well. After the drama ended, when I saw interviews with fellow actors, they said they received a lot of help from me. But in reality, I received more help and positive energy from them. The outstanding performances of my fellow actors stimulated me to act even harder." She also expressed her love for writer Kim Eun-sook, who entrusted her with the role of Moon Dong-eun in the series, saying, "I love you so much. Thank you very much."

she humorously added, "I think I won't have this kind of opportunity in the future. So, for the first time, I want to congratulate myself and say, 'Good job, Hye-kyo.'"

In an interview with MC Jeon Hyun-moo, Song Hye-kyo also talked about her experience working on "The Glory." She mentioned that it was her first time attempting such a genre, and every scene was challenging and difficult. However, she found it enjoyable because she was trying a genre and character she hadn't done before. Despite the difficulties, she felt happy and had a lot of fun during the filming. She expressed how she hadn't felt this way on set for a long time.

On this day, the drama excellence award went to Disney+ series "Big Bet," and the variety and culture excellence award was given to Netflix's "Siren: Survive the Island."

Ha Jung-woo from Netflix's "Narco-saints" won the Best Actor award, while Suzy from Coupang Play's "Anna" received the Best Actress award. The Best Entertainer award was given to Yoo Jae-suk from KakaoPage's "Play You Level Up" and Joo Hyun-young from Coupang Play's "SNL Korea Season 3."

In the rookie award category, Dex from Wavve's "Game of Blood 2" and Kim Ah-young from Coupang Play's "SNL Korea Season 3" won in the variety division, while Park Jihoon from Wavve's "Weak Hero Class 1" and Shin Ye-eun from Disney+'s "Revenge of Others" received the award in the drama division. In the supporting actor category, Lee Dong-hwi from "Big Bet" and Lim Ji-yeon from "The Glory" took home the awards.

According to Starship Entertainment on the 19th, Joohoney will conclude his time as an MC on Mnet's music program 'M COUNTDOWN' after the broadcast on the 20th.

Joohoney has been active as an MC since February, alongside (G)I-DLE's Miyeon, for about six months. As a seasoned artist with nine years of experience, Joohoney showcased his maturity and sense of humor, displaying wit and engaging communication skills. His stable hosting earned him love from K-pop fans worldwide. However, with his upcoming military enlistment, Joohoney will step down from his MC position on the 20th.

Through his agency, Joohoney expressed his gratitude, stating, "I have been active as an 'M COUNTDOWN' MC for six months. Every moment was so precious. I am very grateful to Monbebe and global K-pop fans who have been with us every Thursday, the 'M COUNTDOWN' production staff, and (G)I-DLE's Miyeon, whom I hosted the show with."

He continued, "Thanks to all of you who have supported and loved MC Joohoney, I feel like I can say goodbye happily. Please continue to support 'M COUNTDOWN' in the future."

Meanwhile, Joohoney is set to enlist in the military on the 24th.

On the 19th, through his law firm, MC Mong provided an explanation regarding the leaked transcript that raised suspicions of his alleged attempt to sign EXO's Baekhyun and Kai. Earlier, TenAsia had disclosed the contents of this private conversation in which MC Mong expressed his intentions to sign the EXO members.

MC Mong's law firm stated, "The content of the reports is a private conversation that took place between MC Mong and acquaintances about a year and six months ago. It was illegally recorded by an individual, who we refer to as Mr. Ahn, without the consent of the parties involved. It was then intentionally edited and spliced together to be used as a means of coercion." The law firm further explained, "The recorded conversation took place around January 2022 and is a compilation where only MC Mong's voice was cleverly spliced and edited from a conversation that lasted about two hours. The mention of EXO's Kai and Baekhyun in the conversation accounts for only about one minute of the total duration. The edited conversation has no relation to the dispute between Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin and SM Entertainment that occurred in June 2023, both in terms of time and content."

The law firm emphasized, "Indeed, during June 2023, when there was a dispute between Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin and SM Entertainment, there was an incident where MC Mong and Big Planet Made were pointed out by external forces. However, MC Mong and Big Planet Made had no intention of contracts whatsoever, nor did they undergo any such procedures. SM Entertainment confirmed this fact and officially issued an apology to MC Mong and Big Planet Made through a public statement."

Regarding Mr. Ahn, who leaked the recording, the law firm stated, "We plan to take strong measures against Mr. Ahn for illegally obtaining the recording, maliciously editing and splicing it, and continuously engaging in illegal secondary and tertiary coercive acts even after police investigation."

On the 18th, it was confirmed that original members Jang Jin, Park Ji-yun, and Jang Dongmin would be returning, and they were joined by SHINee's Key, Joo Hyunyoung, and IVE's An Yujin, completing the dazzling lineup.

Key has proven his exceptional wit and sharp deduction skills on tvN's "Amazing Saturday." There is great anticipation for Key's role as a key player in "Crime Scene Returns."

Joo Hyunyoung has garnered attention for her detailed acting and character portrayal in both dramas and variety shows. Viewers are curious to see how she will captivate their hearts in this entertainment program.

Lastly, An Yujin, a member of IVE who showcased extraordinary variety show skills on "Earth Arcade," will also be joining. There are high expectations for her energetic presence and competitive spirit in the show.

"Crime Scene Returns" is scheduled to premiere on Tving in early 2024.

On the official Instagram account of "Unanswered Questions" on the 18th, a notice was posted. The production team announced, "On 'Unanswered Questions,' we are waiting for tips from individuals who are well-informed about the recent exclusive contract dispute of a certain girl group or have a good understanding of the idol industry." They also provided contact information such as phone numbers and email addresses.

Although the name of the girl group was not disclosed, given the recent spotlight on the exclusive contract dispute involving FIFTY FIFTY, it is speculated that the girl group in question is FIFTY FIFTY. There is growing anticipation to uncover the details of the dispute.

"Unanswered Questions" is a current affairs program that delves into socially sensitive issues and unsolved cases, based on in-depth investigative reporting. It airs on SBS every Saturday night at 11:10 PM.

Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY(Saena, Sio, Aran, Keena) gained a lot of expectations and attention by entering the US Billboard chart with their song "Cupid" just four months after their debut. However, they are currently engaged in a legal battle over an exclusive contract dispute with their agency, ATTRAKT.

ATTRAKT, the agency of FIFTY FIFTY, accused the external subcontracting company, The Givers, of attempting to take away FIFTY FIFTY members. However, The Givers has been refuting the claims made by ATTRAKT.

On the 18th, TenAsia revealed that they had obtained a transcript in which MC Mong stated, "I really want to bring Kai and Baekhyun. I'm working hard on it." It was reported that this conversation was recorded around January of last year.

Regarding this matter, MC Mong's agency, Million Market, stated that they will look into it.

Previously, EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin expressed their dissatisfaction with SM Entertainment in June regarding settlement issues and their exclusive contracts, and they expressed their intention to terminate their contracts.

SM Entertainment claimed that external forces had approached Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin with false information to induce them to violate their exclusive contracts, and MC Mong was mentioned. MC Mong's side denied the suspicions, stating that they did not engage in any deliberate interference that could cause disputes between SM and EXO-CBX.

Amidst conflicting claims, SM Entertainment and EXO's Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin announced on June 19th that they had reached a mutual agreement through a joint statement.

Meanwhile, EXO recently released their 7th full-length album, 'EXIST'.

On the 18th, The Givers stated, "The Givers initially purchased the rights to 'Cupid' for a third-party artist, completely unrelated to ATTRAKT or FIFTY FIFTY. Therefore, the premise that we secretly acquired the rights without ATTRAKT's knowledge is distorted." They further added, "We have sufficient communication records with the original publisher of 'Cupid' and other relevant parties, which will be presented to investigative agencies or in court proceedings."

Regarding the claim that Ahn Sung-il, the representative of The Givers, owns approximately 95% of the 'Cupid' shares, they clarified, "The ownership details listed on the Korea Music Copyright Association website should reflect the actual shares held by the writers of the completed work at the time of registration. It is natural that the names of the Swedish original composers who transferred the rights to The Givers before registration are not included." They explained, "The distribution of shares was determined based on the actual level of participation in lyric writing, composition, and arrangement. The Givers hold 66.85%, Ahn Sung-il (SIAHN) holds 28.65%, AHIN holds 4%, and KEENA holds 0.5% is entirely false"

Regarding the allegations of forging the signatures of Swedish composers during the process of changing the shares, they stated, "The copyright registrants for the completed version of 'Cupid' are The Givers and others, and The Givers are the entity that acquired the rights to the original version of 'Cupid'. We have been delegated or transferred all rights related to the registration and utilization of the original version from the overseas composers and their publishers. This means that we have even received all the authority to fulfill the registration process from them. We will provide specific evidence to support this claim to investigative agencies or in court proceedings."

Previously, An Sung-il has been caught up in allegations that he acquired the copyright of 'CUPID' without ATTRAKT's knowledge. Additionally, there were allegations of forging the signatures of Swedish composers during the process of securing up to 95.5% of the 'Cupid' shares.

According to Sports Chosun on the 18th, Yoon Sang's eldest son, Lee Chan-young, is set to debut as a member of a new male group under SM Entertainment in September. It has been revealed that Lee Chan-young will be part of a group that includes Sungchan and Shotaro, who have previously been active in NCT, as well as Eunseok and Seunghan, who have been introduced as SM Rookies.

Born in 2003, Lee Chan-young drew attention in the past for his handsome appearance when he appeared with his father Yoon Sang on a variety program. At that time, Lee Chan-young was already pursuing a career as a promising junior swimmer in the United States. However, he developed a new dream of becoming a K-pop idol and has been preparing for a long time to pursue this path.

However, regarding Lee Chan-young's debut, SM Entertainment stated, "We plan to reveal the new male group on August 1st. We ask for your high expectations."

Meanwhile, the new male group under SM recently successfully filmed their debut music video in Los Angeles, USA, and returned to Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's narcotics crime investigation unit recently transferred the YouTuber, Kim, in his 30s, who is being investigated as an accomplice in Yoo Ah-in's drug allegations, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Violent Crime Section (led by Chief Prosecutor Shin Joon-ho) without detention, according to the police on the 17th. According to the police, Kim is accused of smoking marijuana while traveling in the United States with Yoo Ah-in and four other acquaintances in January (violation of the Narcotics Control Act).

According to a report by DongA Ilbo on the same day, Kim reportedly admitted to most of the charges during the investigation process. Kim is a YouTuber who uploads content such as vlogs, with over 300,000 subscribers.

In addition to YouTuber Kim, Yoo Ah-in is also accused of smoking marijuana along with another YouTuber, A, a writer who is an acquaintance, and a person with American nationality, B. Among them, A has not yet returned from France, despite the police taking measures such as invalidating his passport.

meanwhile, After receiving records from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety that Yoo Ah-in had received more than 4,000 ml of propofol over 73 occasions throughout 2021, the police initiated an investigation. According to the forensic results from the National Forensic Service, marijuana, propofol, cocaine, and ketamine, four types of narcotics, were detected in Yoo Ah-in's hair and urine samples. During the investigation process, the police obtained medical records, which led to additional allegations that Yoo Ah-in used drugs such as zolpidem, midazolam, and alprazolam. It was revealed that he had used more than eight types of narcotics.

Entertainment streaming service Tving announced on the 18th that 'Crime Scene Returns' will be aired in early 2024.

First aired in 2014, 'Crime Scene' is the first role-playing mystery variety show in Korea. It received praise for its unique concept where the cast members become both suspects and detectives in a murder case, solving the crime. With movie-like storytelling, intricate deduction skills, and outstanding performances by the cast, it provided diverse entertainment and garnered a solid fan base.

With the overwhelming demand for a new season, 'Crime Scene' will be produced by Studio Slam, a subsidiary of SLL (Studio Lululala), promising a grander scale and intense storytelling.

It has been confirmed that the original members from the previous season, Jang Jin, Park Ji-yun, and Jang Dong-min, will be appearing.

Director Jang Jin is highly regarded as an irreplaceable member with his exceptional deductive skills and acting prowess. Park Ji-yun, who appeared in the first, second, and third seasons, confirms her participation once again, becoming the only player to appear in all previous seasons and episodes. Adding to the excitement, Jang Dong-min, who showcased his witty remarks, character portrayal, and meticulous brainplay in 'Crime Scene,' has also been confirmed to return.

While the original members Jang Jin, Park Ji-yun, and Jang Dong-min have been confirmed, there is great curiosity about the new members who will be joining the show.

According to SBS Entertainment News, the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) implemented the decision to suspend the payment of copyright royalties for FIFTY FIFTY's 'Cupid' on the 15th, following their internal regulations.

Originally, it was expected that 'Cupid' would be included in the quarterly domestic royalty calculations, just like other registered songs. However, based on the internal regulations that state "copyright royalty payments will be suspended in case of copyright disputes," the association has made this decision.

Earlier, the agency ATTRAKT, which represents FIFTY FIFTY, filed a criminal complaint against The Givers, the outsourcing producing contract partner, claiming that they deceived the agency and illegally obtained the copyright for 'Cupid' through embezzlement and other charges.

The Givers, represented by Ahn Sung-il, refuted the claims regarding the copyright of 'Cupid' and stated that they had a legitimate rights transfer agreement with three original Swedish composers, which took place in February.

However, on the 17th, reports emerged that Ahn Sung-il engaged in illegal activities such as forging the signatures of the three Swedish composers and submitting ownership change confirmation document to the Korea Music Copyright Association. This controversy surrounding the copyright of 'Cupid' is expected to continue for some time.

Song Hye-kyo's agency, UAA, released an official statement on the 17th, stating, "During the construction process of Song Hye-kyo's new house, an accident occurred in which a resident's BMW was damaged. We apologize for the lack of safety management and sincerely apologize to the affected car owner."

Furthermore, they stated, "We will closely cooperate with the construction company to develop measures for compensation and prevention of recurrence, and we will be more attentive to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. We will also listen to the opinions of the residents and reflect their inconveniences caused by the construction, striving for improvement."

Earlier on the same day, Sports Seoul reported, "An accident occurred at the construction site of a new house in Gangnam, where reinforcing bars fell and a BMW was damaged," and added, "The house was being demolished and rebuilt, previously inhabited by the mother of top star 'A.' There have been complaints about poor safety management and other issues, but the owner, A, did not take any action, leading to dissatisfaction among nearby residents." Song Hye-kyo officially acknowledged through her agency that she is the top star referred to as A and apologized.

It has been reported that Song Hye-kyo and car owner reached a civil agreement regarding the vehicle damage incident that occurred on that afternoon. The Building Safety Management Team of Gangnam District Office has completed the on-site investigation related to the accident and is expected to make a decision soon regarding the resumption of the construction project.

Meanwhile, Song Hye-kyo received much love for her portrayal of the protagonist, Moon Dong-eun, in the Netflix original series 'The Glory'.

On the 17th, Dispatch revealed the ownership change confirmation document submitted by Ahn Sung-il to the Copyright Association. According to the ownership change confirmation, the three Swedish composers' 74.5 percent stake has been transferred to Ahn Sung-il and The Givers. As a result, The Givers' ownership has increased to 95.5%, while the Swedish composers' ownership has become 0%. The lyricist share of FIFTY FIFTY member Keena has also decreased from 6.5% to 0.5%.

The issue at hand is whether the process of changing the copyright ownership was carried out legally. Dispatch reported that Ahn Sung-il forged the signatures of the Swedish composers and submitted them to the Copyright Association. The media outlet commissioned a forensic examination, and the results showed discrepancies between the genuine signatures of the three composers and the signatures in the ownership change confirmation document.

Dispatch also pointed out that ATTRAKT, the agency representing FIFTY FIFTY, was completely unaware of the ownership change process. The media outlet reported that Ahn Sung-il paid money to the three Swedish composers, Adam von Mentzer, Mac Fellander, and Louise Udin, without ATTRAKT's knowledge, separate from the $9,000 payment made by ATTRAKT to the composers for the song. According to the service contract, The Givers, as a service provider, is required to go through prior consultation with ATTRAKT, their affiliated agency, when conducting business related to FIFTY FIFTY.

The Givers are currently in the process of verifying the facts regarding this matter.

Meanwhile, ATTRAKT, the agency representing FIFTY FIFTY, and The Givers, the service provider, have been engaged in a dispute over member poaching and obstruction of business activities.

On the 17th, the production presentation for the Tving original show 'Bro & Marbel' was held online. The event was attended by PD Lee Hong Hee, as well as Lee Seung Gi, Yoo Yeonseok, Super Junior's Kyuhyun, Ji Seok-jin, and Seventeen's Joshua and Hoshi.

PD Lee Hong Hee, who directed the show, expressed his expectations, saying, "If their(Joshua and Hoshi) 10-year friendship and the image from 'Going Seventeen' come together, they will be just as appealing as the other cast members. Joshua has madness, and Hoshi has a fiery side, so I thought they would be loved as the youngest members."

The cast members also didn't hold back their praise for Joshua and Hoshi. Lee Seung Gi said, "The Joshua and Hoshi that I knew are not in 'Bro & Marvel.' They have been reborn. they've shed their on-stage idol persona and shown their human side. I found this fascinating."

Yoo Yeonseok added, "I speculated that Joshua and Hoshi would do image making because fans around the world are paying attention to them, and I also wondered how they would handle their first show because they don't have much experience in entertainment. But they dropped everything. They were so eager."

Jo Se-ho commented, "When I see someone who is good at entertainment, I want them. I want them so much." Ji Seok-jin added, "They are treasures of the variety show industry."

Joshua said, "I had so much fun with the older members and showed a really fun chemistry with Hoshi." Hoshi said, "I had fun filming too. The atmosphere was really great," sharing his thoughts.

Seventeen's Joshua and Hoshi are taking on their first regular variety show through 'Bro & Marbel.' The show will premiere on the 21st.

According to their agency, HighUp Entertainment, STAYC is fully immersed in preparations with the goal of releasing their album on August 16th.

This comeback will mark approximately six months since STAYC's fourth single album "Teddy Bear" was released in February. Through the title track "Teddy Bear," STAYC showcased their unique Teen Fresh charm, attracting attention with bright melodies and addictive choreography, including the "Teddy Bear Dance." The song received much love, achieving high rankings on various music charts and even winning first place on music shows.

STAYC, who has been showing consistent growth with each album, is planning to captivate fans with an upgraded performance through this comeback.

Initially, it was known that NCT members' contracts would expire sequentially this year. In April, it includes Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark; in July, Yuta, Winwin and Haechan; and in August, it includes Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung.

However, according to Herald Economy on the 17th, SM Entertainment explained, "Considering factors such as military enlistment and overseas activities, NCT members' contract periods were set longer than the usual duration. While there may be differences among members, there are no members whose contracts are expiring this year. All contracts are scheduled to expire after next year."

NCT, which debuted in 2016, has reached its 7th year this year. According to the Fair Trade Commission's standard exclusive contract for public cultural artists (singers), the exclusive contract cannot exceed a maximum of 7 years to prevent unfair long-term contracts.

However, there are clauses in the contract that allow for separate agreements for long-term overseas activities and extensions for military service, pregnancy/childbirth/childcare, and graduate school enrollment. NCT and SM seem to have extended their contracts beyond the usual contract period based on these clauses.

In the case of EXO, they also signed a 10-year contract instead of 7 years, considering overseas activities, and the court recognized its validity.

According to the latest chart from Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform, on July 14th, Jungkook's solo single 'Seven (feat. Latto)' streamed 15,995,378 times, claiming the top spot on the Global Top Songs chart.

As a Korean solo artist, Jungkook achieved the highest entry at number one on the Spotify Global chart. According to Spotify, this streaming figure for 'Seven' sets a new record for the most streams by a newly entered song on the Global Top Songs chart.

In addition to 'Seven,' the instrumental version also ranked 65th on Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global chart. Jungkook's previously released solo tracks 'Still With You' and 'My You,' which were initially shared as free downloads but recently made available on domestic and international music platforms, ranked 54th and 113th, respectively.

Moreover, 'Seven' made a significant impact on the latest daily digital single ranking published by Oricon in Japan on July 14th. The song entered at positions 1, 2, and 4 immediately upon release.

The 'Clean Ver.' and 'Explicit Ver.' secured the first and second spots with 17,142 and 9,625 downloads, respectively, while the instrumental version took the fourth spot.

'Seven' is a captivating song that combines a warm acoustic guitar sound with the rhythm of the UK garage genre, which emerged in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom.

Since its release, the song has dominated the iTunes 'Top Songs' chart in 106 countries/regions (as of 9 a.m. on the 15th). It also achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the top spot on Melon's Top 100 chart (as of midnight on the 15th), setting a new record for the fastest ascent to the number one position by a male solo artist.

On the 14th, Jungkook made his first solo appearance as the opening act at the GMA's 2023 Summer Concert Series held in Central Park, New York, where he performed 'Seven' for the first time, marking the beginning of his full-fledged solo activities.

According to an article from Star News on the 14th, Choi's former manager, Mr. A, is planning to set up the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital Seoul Branch in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, on the 15th. Fans will be able to pay their respects from 11:30 a.m. on that day. The departure ceremony is scheduled for the morning of the 16th at 5 a.m. After the body is cremated at Seoul Tribute Park in Wonji-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, the remains will be interred at Eden Memorial Park in Hwado-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Currently, Choi Sung-Bong's body is placed in the mortuary freezer at Seoul National University Hospital Seoul Branch. After the autopsy, the body was transferred to the hospital, but since no family members came forward to claim it, he was classified as an unidentified deceased.

Choi Sung-Bong appeared on the tvN audition program "Korea's Got Talent" in 2011 and revealed that he was abandoned by his biological parents at the age of three and placed in an orphanage.

The funeral hall for Choi Sung-Bong is being set up only 25 days after his passing. Mr. A recently submitted an application to the Gangnam District Office to be designated as the funeral organizer for Choi Sung-Bong, who was classified as an unidentified deceased. The application was approved through the deliberation of the district office, allowing them to take possession of the body.

According to the police, Choi Sung-Bong was found deceased at his residence in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 20th of last month at 9:41 a.m. He was 33 years old. Based on the scene and autopsy results, the police concluded that there were no signs of foul play.

Yoo Hee-yeol's Antenna has been strongly rumored as Kyuhyun's potential destination. Antenna, has expressed positive discussions regarding an exclusive contract with Kyuhyun. However, They has shown cautious reactions, stating that no definitive decisions have been made yet.

Antenna is home to various celebrities, including comedian Yoo Jae-suk, singer Lee Hyori, Lee Sang-soon, Jung Jae-hyung, Kwon Jin-ah, Jung Seung-hwan, and MiJoo. Given that Kyuhyun has built close relationships with Antenna's entertainers through music and variety show activities, there is a high possibility of him joining Antenna.

Eunhyuk and Donghae are expected to establish their own companies. They have been active as a unit group, D&E. With a solid fan base, it is believed that they can successfully establish a new label and pursue their activities without difficulty.

Previously, on the 14th, SM Entertainment stated, "Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun will engage in individual activities. We support their new endeavors," and added, "Super Junior's group activities will continue with SM Entertainment, and we plan to effectively coordinate various group activities, units, and individual endeavors to generate even greater synergy."

This means that SM has only stepped back from the individual activities of Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun. It has been reported that Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun have signed contracts with SM Entertainment specifically for Super Junior group activities.

Meanwhile, Super Junior, celebrating their 18th debut anniversary this year, has garnered immense love from global fans with hit songs such as 'SORRY SORRY,' 'Mr. Simple,' and 'Devil'."

Director Son Seung-hee, who directed IVE's music video for "I AM," appeared on MBC FM4U's "GOT7 Youngjae's Close Friend" broadcast on the 12th. During the show, Director Son shared behind-the-scenes stories from the music video shoot and expressed gratitude to the members of IVE, especially Wonyoung.

She revealed, "I haven't officially mentioned it, but while filming, Wonyoung injured her arm while dancing and had to get seven needles. I was extremely surprised by that on set. We still had two scenes left to shoot, but she thought she couldn't do it anymore. However, even after going to the emergency room for two consecutive days to get her arm treated, Wonyoung gave her all. What was even more impressive was that Wonyoung didn't show any signs of struggle on set. If it were me at that age, I would have shown it, but she didn't."

She also mentioned , "In the music video for 'I AM,' there is a choreography that requires stretching out the arms. Watching Wonyoung powerfully execute the choreography was heart-wrenching. However, Wonyoung remained professional, not showing any signs of discomfort, and monitored her performance meticulously. After the shoot, that moment remained strongly in my memory. I am truly grateful to Jang Won-young because without her, it wouldn't have been possible."

Wonyoung has been in the spotlight as she manages busy schedules both in Korea and overseas. Last year, she even received attention for delivering a perfect performance despite a knee injury during a stage. Her unwavering dedication to her main profession at such a young age has garnered praise from industry insiders and the public.

Wonyoung debuted as the center of the project girl group IZ*ONE after placing first on Mnet's audition program 'Produce 48' in 2018. After the group disbanded, she made her re-debut in 2021 as part of Starship Entertainment's girl group IVE, and has risen to prominence with hit songs such as "ELEVEN," "After LIKE," and "LOVE DIVE."

On the 14th, SM stated, "Super Junior, who debuted in 2005, has been actively promoting with the support of SM's systematic system and a deep trust relationship. Having established themselves as K-pop legends by achieving numerous record-breaking achievements, they have once again renewed their contract with SM. Super Junior is expected to open a new chapter with full support."

Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun will be leaving SM. However, their team activities will continue under SM. Another group under SM, Girls' Generation, also has some members under different agencies but continues their team activities through SM.

SM stated, "While supporting Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Kyuhyun in their new endeavors, Super Junior's activities will continue with SM. We plan to communicate closely to effectively coordinate various group activities, units, and individual activities, creating even greater synergy."

Celebrating their 18th debut anniversary this year, Super Junior has received immense love from global fans with hit songs such as 'Sorry Sorry,' 'Mr. Simple,' 'Devil,' and more. They have also set various records, including being the first Korean group to embark on a South American tour through their world tour concert brand 'Super Show' and holding the first-ever solo concert by an Asian artist in Saudi Arabia. The attention of fans worldwide will be focused on the new records they will set in the future alongside SM.

Super Junior plans to meet global fans through new music, various performances, fan meetings, and more within this year.

On the 14th, Thunder and Mimi individually revealed their relationship through handwritten letters on Instagram.

Thunder stated, "Through KBS2's 'Second House,' I am announcing my relationship with Mimi."

He continued, "At first, I had many worries and lacked courage, but I gathered the courage for the person I want to spend my life with. She always supports me calmly, understands me warmly, and protects me firmly. From now on, I will show a responsible and happy self for Mimi."

He added, "I am grateful to the fans who have loved and supported me. I will continue to passionately pursue music and show my best as an artist. Mimi, thank you for being the reason for my existence."

Mimi shared, "I have found someone whom I want to spend my life with. During our time together, this person has always been by my side, supporting me and giving me strength during difficult times, and leading me to grow. I would be grateful if you could support our future with warm eyes."

According to iMBC Entertainment, Thunder and Mimi are preparing for their wedding ceremony, aiming for the second half of next year.

Thunder and Mimi officially revealed on the KBS 2TV show 'Second House 2,' which aired on the 13th, that they have been in a relationship for four years.

Thunder debuted as a member of MBLAQ in 2009 and has been active as a solo artist since leaving the group in 2014. He is known to be the younger brother of 2NE1's Sandara Park.

Mimi debuted as a member of Gugudan in 2016 and actively promoted with the group until their disbandment in December 2020. She has also pursued acting in addition to her singing career.

On the 13th, Lim Seo Won's profile picture was posted on the official Twitter account of the SBS global audition program "Universe Ticket." Lim Seo Won, who participated in "Universe Ticket," expressed her ambition, saying, "Although I am the youngest in age, I will show you a professional Lim Seo Won with skills to match."

Born in 2011, Lim Seo Won is 12 years old. During her participation in the TV Chosun trot singer audition program "Miss Trot 2," she gained popularity with her beautiful resemblance to IVE member Jang Wonyoung and her solid skills. After the program ended, Lim Seo Won continued to actively engage in variety shows and YouTube activities. In particular, she garnered attention for her flawless live performances of IVE's "After Like" on variety shows.

Korean netizens have already shown great interest. They commented, "She is a K-pop talent," "It would be a waste if she doesn't become an idol," "She is beautiful, sings well, and has a good voice," and "Of course, she should do it."

"Universe Ticket" is a survival audition program that selects eight members from 82 participants to create a global girl group. In addition to Lim Seo Won, it has been revealed that Kwon Chaewon (Eunchae), a former member of DIA, and a trainee with a rhythmic gymnastics background will also participate, attracting attention. The program is scheduled to be broadcast in the second half of 2023.

On the 13th, SM stated, "Kim Min Jong's exclusive contract ended at the end of June, and we have mutually agreed not to renew it." They added, "We ask for your support for Kim Min Jong's new path."

Kim Min Jong first signed with SM around 17 years ago in 2006. He was also listed as an outside director of SM's subsidiary, SM C&C, and participated in the management.

However, it has been speculated in some circles that the parting of ways between Kim Min Jong and SM was already anticipated. Kim Min Jong maintained a special relationship with Lee Soo Man, the former general producer of SM.

Earlier this year, when SM and Lee Soo Man were in conflict, Kim Min Jong publicly sided with Lee Soo Man, stating, "Lee Soo Man's producing and creative abilities are essential for SM artists' activities." Additionally, in mid-February, during the "Korea-Mongolia Economic Dinner" held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, Kim Min Jong was seen accompanying Lee Soo Man, drawing attention.

Lee Kyu Han's agency, Blade Entertainment, stated on the 13th via Wikitree, "While it is true that the two maintain a friendly senior-junior relationship from a television program, the dating rumors are not true."

Youjoung's agency, Warner Music Korea, also emphasized, "After confirming, we can state that the two individuals are acquaintances who meet with friends privately, and the dating rumors are not true."

Previously, Sports Chosun reported that actor Lee Kyu Han (born in August 1980) and Youjoung (born in May 1991) were in a romantic relationship. The media outlet stated that the two became a couple after appearing together on a variety show. However, both sides denied the rumors, bringing an end to the 11-year age gap couple speculation.

Lee Kyu Han debuted in 1998 and has been active in various works. He is currently appearing in the ENA drama "Battle for Happiness" and has been cast in the ENA drama "Longing for You."

Youjoung debuted as a member of the group Brave Girls in 2016 and had a long period of obscurity. However, their song "Rollin'" released in 2017 gained popularity in 2020, propelling them to become a leading girl group. After leaving their previous agency, Brave Entertainment, all the members, including Youjoung, signed exclusive contracts with their current agency, Warner Music Korea, and changed their group name to BB Girls.

On the 13th, the teaser video for the first solo single 'Seven (feat. Latto)' was uploaded on the official social media platforms of HYBE Labels.

The short video starts with a foreign restaurant as the backdrop. Jungkook and the female lead, Han Sohee, are seen sitting across from each other, appearing to have a heated argument with dark expressions. A chandelier falls onto the table behind them, causing a cloud of dust to rise. However, the two continue their dispute, completely ignoring the incident.

Big Hit Music stated, "Please look forward to the main music video to discover the hidden story behind them," arousing curiosity.

Towards the end of the video, a portion of the new song is revealed. Jungkook's captivating voice captured the ears.

'Seven' is a summery song with an addictive and cheerful melody. Latto's featuring added liveliness to the song.

Jungkook is set to release the music and music video for 'Seven' worldwide on the 14th at 1 PM (Korean time), marking the start of his official solo activities.

On the 13th, Sports Chosun reported that Lee Kyu Han and Youjoung first met and developed feelings for each other while filming a variety show and recently became a couple.

Regarding the dating rumors, a representative from Youjoung's agency, Warner Music Korea, stated to TV Report, "We are currently checking the details." The representative from Lee Kyu Han's agency, Blade Entertainment, also expressed a similar stance, stating, "We are checking."

Born in 1980, Lee Kyu Han has appeared in dramas such as "My Lovely Sam Soon," "Que Sera Sera," and "I Have a Lover." He is currently starring in the ongoing ENA drama "Battle for Happiness" and is also preparing for the first episode of the ENA drama "Longing for You" which will air on the 26th.

BB Girls' Youjoung, born in 1991, is 11 years younger than Lee Kyu Han. She debuted as a member of Brave Girls in 2016 and gained popularity with songs like "Rollin'," "We Ride," and "Chi Mat Ba Ram." Recently, all members of the group signed exclusive contracts with Warner Music Korea and changed their team name to BB Girls. They are currently preparing for a comeback in August.

Geraldine Guyot, the daughter-in-law of Bernard Arnault, the chairman of the LVMH Group, shared photos from the brand's launching party on social media on the 12th.

The photos captured the presence of Lee Boo-jin, the CEO of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Jung Jae, who rose to global fame with the Netflix series 'Squid Game,' as well as BLACKPINK's Rosé, who is loved by fans worldwide.

Guyot visited Korea to celebrate her fashion brand, DESTREE, opening at Hyundai Department Store's Trade Center branch in Gangnam, Seoul.

She expressed, "Finally making my way to South Korea fills me with immense joy, as this country has always been a trendsetting hub that I deeply admire. In just two years, South Korea has risen to become one of our top 3 markets, paving the way for our very first store in Seoul. I can't thank you all enough for being a part of this incredible journey and for joining us to celebrate this significant milestone."

Meanwhile, Guyot married Alexandre Arnault, the third son of Bernard Arnault, in October 2021.

On the 12th, Mimi uploaded an "Ice Bucket Challenge" video on her Instagram. In the video, she mentioned, "I was nominated by senior Park Bogum for the 2023 Ice Bucket Challenge." She also expressed, "I heard the news that the first ALS care hospital will be established in South Korea. Until the day the ALS care hospital is built, please show a lot of interest and continuous love. I ask for your support and love for ALS patients and their families as well. I will also deeply cheer for them."

After speaking, Mimi lifted a white bucket filled with cold water and poured it over her own head. She then greeted the camera, completing the challenge.

As the next participants, Mimi nominated singer Ali, Winner's Jinu, and singer Lee Young Ji.

During her previous appearance on the tvN variety show 'Earth Arcade 2,' Mimi caused laughter when she mistakenly answered a question featuring a photo of Park Bogum with "Kim Bumsoo."

As a result, comments on Mimi's "challenge video" included remarks like, "So she was nominated by Kim Bumsoo," "Is Kim Bumsoo watching the arcade?" "It's amazing that she was nominated by senior Kim Bumsoo."

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a donation campaign relayed to help ALS patients and was initiated in 2014. Participants film themselves pouring ice water over their heads and then nominate three others to take on the challenge.

According to Sports Chosun on the 12th, SM Entertainment's new rookie boy group is nearing their debut with a target date set for September. They are currently in Los Angeles, USA, shooting the music video for their debut song. The new SM boy group includes members such as Sungchan and Shotaro, who were previously active in NCT, as well as the revealed trainees Eunseok and Seunghan.

This marks SM's first launch of a new boy group in approximately seven years since 2016. Although NCT U, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, and WayV debuted in 2016 and a new NCT team is also set to debut this year, those groups are all part of the NCT.

With SM now introducing a new boy group after such a long hiatus, fans' expectations and curiosity are expected to be significant.

Previously, SM had announced the "SM 3.0: NEW IP 2023" plan in May, hinting at the debut of a new male group within the year.

On July 12th, YG Entertainment stated to JoyNews24, "The contract renewal is currently under discussion" and added, "The reason for not finalizing the August schedule with the Chinese agency is due to tour and individual schedules, and it is not related to the contract decision."

Previously, an article by Munhwa Ilbo reported the possibility of Lisa leaving YG Entertainment. According to article, The Chinese agency, which was coordinating schedules with YG and Lisa, received a response stating that it was difficult to discuss schedules after August due to the uncertainty of Lisa's contract renewal. This raised the possibility of the contract not being renewed. The article also mentioned that Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo have been leaning towards renewing their contracts with YG Entertainment, excluding Lisa.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK made their debut in the K-pop industry on August 8th, 2016, and their exclusive contract with YG Entertainment will expire in August. Fans of K-pop are eagerly awaiting the decisions of the BLACKPINK members regarding their future endeavors.

On the 11th, Joohoney of MONSTA X revealed in the group's fan cafe, "MONBEBE, I will be enlisting in the military on July 24th."

He expressed his thoughts, saying, "I was wondering when would be the right time to share this news. As there is not much time left, I am worried about how MONBEBE will feel when they read this post." He further added, "I hoped that during the recent fan concert, MONBEBE would have seen me and laughed happily. I wanted to see that sight. I also wanted to do the same for them. That's why I am sharing this news today after much contemplation."

He continued, "Military service is something I must do. I will do my best and return courageously. Don't worry as I am not leaving forever. Promise me that you will think of me at least once a day. Remember the sweat we shed together, the days we spent passionately. Please don't forget those memories because I will be very sad if you do. I will come back and show you a more amazing version of myself. This time is our pause, not an end. It's a momentary pause to look forward to the next chapter," and concluded with "I love you, MONBEBE."

With this announcement, Joohoney becomes the third member of MONSTA X to enlist in the military. Previously, Shownu completed his service as a public service worker in April, while Minhyuk is currently serving in the active-duty army since April.

Born in 1993, Lee Ji-su made her debut in 2021 on tvN's "Comedy Big League." She actively participated in various segments such as "CB Ent" and "Taste Sniper."

On the 12th, condolences poured in on Lee Ji-su's Instagram with comments like, "She was a comedian who made people laugh and feel good. I remember her with great joy. Rest in peace," "I can't hold back the tears," "She was so young, how could this happen," and more.

The funeral hall for the deceased has been set up at Seoul Yeongdeungpo-gu Sinhwa Care Hospital. The departure is scheduled for the 13th at 6:40 a.m., and the burial will take place at Seoul City Seunghwa Cemetery.

According to YG Entertainment on the 11th, under the overall supervision of YG's producer Yang Hyun-suk, BABYMONSTER's debut project is progressing rapidly. They have confirmed a debut song in the intense hip-hop genre and are currently focusing on the final stages of choreography, music video production, and other related tasks, with the goal of releasing the debut in September.

YG has been actively working on BABYMONSTER's album by inviting renowned overseas producers to Korea and conducting numerous song camps. Through these efforts, they have secured multiple tracks, including the debut song, and have already outlined plans for subsequent projects to be released after the debut.

YG stated, "We are aware that global fans have been inquiring about the debut timing of BABYMONSTER, so we wanted to share the current progress. We will soon bring you good news."

BABYMONSTER's music is expected to follow the strong hip-hop genre in the "YG style," following the footsteps of 2NE1 and BLACKPINK, raising anticipation among fans.

BABYMONSTER is the first girl group to be introduced by YG in approximately seven years since BLACKPINK. The group consists of multinational members, including members from Korea (Ahyeon, Haram, Rora), Thailand (Parita, Chiquita), and Japan (Ruka, Asa). YG Entertainment described the members of BabyMonster as having outstanding vocal, dance, rap, and visual skills.

Even before their official debut, BABYMONSTER has already gained global attention. Their pre-debut song "DREAM" achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart even before its official release. Additionally, the music video has surpassed 47 million views on YouTube, indicating their significant presence.

On the 11th, Ha Kwanghoon expressed his regret on his Facebook regarding the ongoing legal dispute between FIFTY FIFTY and Jeon Hong-jun. Ha Kwanghoon is a former classmate of Jeon Hong-jun from elementary and middle school, and he has been involved as a producer in several album productions of Jeon Hong-jun in the past.

He stated, "When Jeon Hong-jun mentioned producing an idol group two years ago, I strongly advised against it. However, he didn't waver and walked his own path. Eventually, he completed FIFTY FIFTY and created 'Cupid' in February. There were days when he sold his car, sold his watch, and risked everything. Looking at him, I thought, 'He won't have any regrets.'"

He continued, "It was a series of miracles that happened in less than a month, as many of you may know, and at the end of those miracles..." expressing his regret.

He further expressed, "As someone who has witnessed the birth and downfall of numerous stars, I am deeply saddened by the current situation. In this war, there are no winners, only losers remain. (FIFTY FIFTY) are young musicians. They should stop going down this path of downfall, leaving behind the glorious records of the Billboard. Even if they each go their separate ways, they should meet, have a conversation, and part ways wisely. The more they hide behind lawyers to avoid confrontation, the deeper the wounds will become. It is time to resolve misunderstandings and talk about the future," as he expressed his concerns to the members of FIFTY FIFTY.

Ha Kwanghoon also shared an update on Jeon Hong-jun's current state. He stated, "Jeon Hong-jun is in a much more stable condition now. He explained the events clearly to me and said that he has 'cleared his mind.' He mentioned that he recently cried a lot on the Dongho Bridge, and he said that those tears washed away everything."

Ha Kwanghoon is a well-known composer who produced numerous hit songs in the late 1980s and discovered talented singers.

Meanwhile, Jeon Hong-jun, the CEO of ATTRAKT, launched the group FIFTY FIFTY(Saena, Aran, Sio, Keena) in November last year. Their song 'Cupid,' released in February, gained global popularity. However, FIFTY FIFTY initiated a legal battle by filing for a suspension of the exclusive contract against their agency.

A representative from ATTRAKT refuted the report about the music revenue settlement for FIFTY FIFTY's song 'Cupid' in an interview with Xportsnews on the 11th, stating that it is "completely groundless." They stated, "The content is completely unfounded and We are continuously verifying the details through the distributor."

Interpark, the distributor, also stated to Newsen that it is difficult to confirm the reports.

Earlier, Tenasia reported that the settlement for FIFTY FIFTY's song 'Cupid' is scheduled to take place at the end of this month, with the scale of the settlement estimated to be at least 3 billion won.

After entering the Billboard Main Single Chart 'Hot 100,' 'Cupid' by FIFTY FIFTY has been steadily rising and reached as high as 17th place. It is also the fastest record for a K-pop idol to enter the chart after debut. Additionally, it achieved a ranking of 8th on the UK Official Singles Chart, which is known as one of the two major charts along with Billboard.

Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY(Saena, Aran, Sio, Keena) and ATTRAKT are currently involved in a legal dispute over their exclusive contract. The members have demanded the termination of the contract, citing a breakdown in trust with the agency, while ATTRAKT has expressed their desire to continue music activities together, stating that the members are being influenced by external forces.

On the 11th, agency WAKEONE officially announced the health status and future schedule of ZEROBASEONE's Kim Gyu Vin.

The agency stated, "Kim Gyu Vin is currently experiencing dizziness and is taking a rest to recover his condition. He will visit the hospital to undergo thorough examination and treatment as advised by medical professionals."

They further added, "Our agency prioritizes the health of our artist and plans to manage all future schedules accordingly. We will make every effort to ensure the artist's health and well-being."

ZEROBASEONE(SUNG HAN BIN, KIM JI WOONG, Zhang Hao, SEOK MATTHEW, KIM TAE RAE, RICKY, KIM GYU VIN, PARK GUN WOOK, HAN YUJIN)is a group formed through the Mnet audition program 'Boys Planet,' which concluded in April. They recently debuted on the 10th with their first mini-album 'YOUTH IN THE SHADE.'

JTBC stated on the 10th, "A fire broke out in the stage set during the performance, and the artists were immediately evacuated from the stage. The fire was extinguished using fire extinguishers. Afterwards, the venue was ventilated and reorganized, and we checked if any audience members were in poor condition and wished to leave. Since there were no such requests and the artists were in good condition, we proceeded with the recording as planned and successfully finished it."

They continued, "There were no casualties. We originally asked if any audience members were feeling uncomfortable at the venue, and one person raised their hand, so we advised them to leave. However, they expressed their intention to stay and watch the performance again, so we made arrangements for them to sit back down. The production staff monitored the situation closely."

They further explained, "During the filming, a drone used for recording slightly touched KYUJIN' hair. We immediately halted the filming, checked the artist's condition, and since there were no issues, we concluded the recording."

Prior to this announcement, there were online posts stating that an incident, including a fire, occurred during the pre-recording of NMIXX's comeback stage. Netizens wrote, "There was a fire on stage, and someone collapsed," "The stage was beautiful, but there was a small fire. However, they didn't evacuate us properly, and someone fainted. They later apologized, but they didn't let us leave," and other similar comments. Some netizens also pointed out a lack of safety measures.

Meanwhile, NMIXX is set to release their third single album, 'A Midsummer NMIXX's Dream,' on the 11th as part of their comeback.

An informant reported to Wikitree, saying, "A restaurant staff member in Jeju Island posted two commemorative photos on social media featuring Soyou and Lim Young Woong visiting the restaurant." The photos consist of one picture featuring the restaurant staff member with Soyou in front of the restaurant and another picture featuring the restaurant staff member with Lim Young Woong. Informant claimed that both of them visited the restaurant on the same day.

In relation to this, a representative from Lim Young Woong's agency stated to Wikitree, "The dating rumors are completely untrue." A representative from Soyou's agency mentioned that they are currently verifying the facts.

Suho of the group EXO recently expressed his emotional distress through the global fan communication platform 'Dear U Bubble,' stating, "Even a slight mistake can lead to such ridicule and insults, which has been mentally challenging for me."

Suho explained, "During the press call, Kim Hee-jae couldn't participate suddenly on the same day. As a result, the number had to be changed, and it made me even more nervous. I feel regretful that I couldn't sing 'Why Don't You Love Me' to my satisfaction." He continued, "That's why I chose the same song again and performed it once more on the JTBC music variety show 'K-909'."

In addition, Suho stated, "I've even seen some netizens editing and mocking me by selectively highlighting only the mistakes, turning it into a short clip for ridicule. But because I believe it's due to my own shortcomings, I am determined to prove myself on stage. That's why I'm silently acting and singing."

Furthermore, Suho expressed his sadness, saying, "Even though regular audience members, fellow actors, and journalists praised my performance, why do some people try to belittle me by writing posts that say 'Suho's musical has a poor response'?"

Suho took on the role of the main character, "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart," in the musical 'Mozart!,' which premiered on the 15th of last month. The cast also included Lee Hae-jun, Yoo Hwe-seung, and Kim Hee-jae. During the recent press call, Suho, along with Yoo Hwe-seung and Lee Hae-jun, showcased highlights from the musical. However, Kim Hee-jae couldn't participate due to health issues. Following the release of the press call stage, various online communities criticized Suho's performance skills, which prompted him to express his frustrations through the fan community.

'Mozart!' will continue its performances at the Sejong Cultural Center until the 22nd of next month.

On July 9th, ATTRAKT posted a celebratory message on FIFTY FIFTY's official Instagram account, wishing Keena a 'Happy Keena Day.'

Keena, born on July 9, 2002, celebrated her 21st birthday. Even in the midst of the contractual disputes between FIFTY FIFTY and ATTRAKT, it is noteworthy that ATTRAKT demonstrated respect and consideration for their artist.

Meanwhile, the members of FIFTY FIFTY have filed a lawsuit against ATTRAKT regarding their exclusive contract. The law firm representing FIFTY FIFTY, Barun Law, attended the first hearing of the request for provisional injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract on the 5th. They demanded contract termination based on ▲omission and inadequate provision of revenue-related information ▲violation of obligations related to physical and mental health management ▲lack of human and material resources and support capability.

In particular, it has been claimed that FIFTY FIFTY members raised suspicions about StarCrewENT, another company owned by ATTRAKT's CEO, Jeon Hong-jun, entering into a 9 billion won prepayment contract with Interpark and using 6 billion won of it as an album investment, questioning whether it was actually used for FIFTY FIFTY.

FIFTY FIFTY signed a contract with StarCrewENT during their trainee days and later entered into an exclusive contract with ATTRAKT upon their debut.

However, Interpark has stated that the investment was made for Jeon Hong-jun, not FIFTY FIFTY, which undermines the credibility of FIFTY FIFTY's claim.

FIFTY FIFTY, which debuted in November last year, gained attention when their song 'CUPID,' released in February, entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, their activities have been disrupted due to the ongoing disputes.

Mnet announced on the 10th that they will be recruiting participants for the global girl group debut project 'I-LAND 2' in collaboration with entertainment agency WAKEONE. The program is scheduled to air in the first half of 2024 and will accept applicants from around the world regardless of nationality.

This audition is open to females born before January 1, 2011, regardless of nationality. The application period is from the 10th until midnight on August 6th (Korean time). Applicants are required to submit an application form, self-introduction, and vocal/rap and dance videos. Detailed information can be found on the program's official website.

Season 1 of 'I-LAND' was broadcasted in June 2020. It depicted the competition process among participants who moved between the 'I-LAND' and 'Ground' spaces, showcasing their growth as they pursued their dream of debut within a unique worldview. Through this program, ENHYPEN(HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, JUNGWON, NI-KI)made their debut and gained love from global fans.

The girl group that will be formed through 'I-LAND 2' will be under the label WAKEONE, a subsidiary of CJ ENM. WAKEONE is home to various artists, including the boy group ZEROBASEONE formed through 'Boys Planet' and the girl group Kep1er formed through 'Girls Planet 999', as well as artists such as TO1, Davichi, Roy Kim, and Jo Yuri.

On the 9th, WEVERSE SHOP, which hosted the fan signing event for &TEAM, released a statement apologizing to the fans who were present at the event, stating, "We apologize to the fans who participated in the in-person fan signing event of &TEAM for the body checks conducted by female security personnel."

They further explained, "The fan signing event is a space for one-on-one conversations between artists and fans. In order to prevent the leakage of recorded content that could cause difficulties for both fans and artists, we have strictly restricted the entry of electronic devices capable of recording and filming." They acknowledged that on the 8th, there were multiple cases of fans attempting to conceal electronic devices on their bodies, and as a measure to prevent this, female security personnel conducted body checks, causing discomfort to the fans.

They stated, "Regardless of the security reasons, we understand that it cannot be a justification for making fans uncomfortable. We sincerely apologize for the incidents that occurred at the venue." They added, "We will prepare improvements such as introducing contactless methods to ensure that fans can participate in fan signing events with artists in a more comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere."

On the 8th, the group &TEAM, under HYBE JAPAN, held an in-person fan signing event to commemorate the release of their second mini-album, 'First Howling: WE.' Fans who attended the event claimed that staff members conducted excessive body inspections, aiming to check whether they were carrying electronic devices such as smartwatches. Posts on Twitter and other social media platforms stated that there were instances where staff members touched fans' chests or checked inside their underwear in an excessive manner, causing them to feel humiliated. One netizen even claimed that a staff member touched their chest without offering an apology. The topic of "underwear inspections" became a trending topic on Twitter that day.

&TEAM, a rookie group launched by HYBE JAPAN in December of last year, is continuing their domestic activities with their second mini-album.

According to legal sources on the 7th, Judge Ham Hyun-ji of the Seoul Central District Court's 27th Criminal Division issued a summary order of a 6 million won fine to Mr. Nam, who was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving).

Mr. Nam was caught by the police on March 8th around 3:30 am, driving about 7-8 meters in a residential parking area in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, after consuming alcohol. During this process, Mr. Nam also caused an accident by breaking the side mirror of a passing taxi while opening the car door.

At the time, Mr. Nam's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.114%, exceeding the license cancellation threshold (0.08%).

Subsequently, the police forwarded Mr. Nam to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office on charges of drunk driving. The prosecution decided to proceed with a summary indictment against Mr. Nam.

Nam Tae-hyun's agency, No Name Music, released a statement saying, "Nam Tae-hyun deeply reflects on his wrongdoing and will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation and accept the punishment accordingly."

Meanwhile, Nam Tae-hyun is also under investigation by the prosecution on suspicion of taking philopon (a type of methamphetamine) along with Seo Min-jae.

According to the Korean media outlet Sports Kyunghyang on the 7th, it has been confirmed that they will release a new album in early August. Members Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji, and Yuna will be embarking on official activities under the new team name BB GIRLS, instead of their previous name Brave Girls.

Earlier this year, BB GIRLS terminated their contract with their long-time agency, Brave Entertainment. At the time of contract expiration, there were rumors of disbandment, but in April, all the members signed an exclusive contract with Warner Music Korea, announcing the resumption of activities. Along with the agency change, they also changed their team name to BB GIRLS.

As this will be their first activity after the name change, fans' support and anticipation are gathering.

On the 7th, New Jeans released the music video for their lead single "New Jeans" from their mini 2nd album "Get Up" on HYBE LABELS' official YouTube channel at midnight. The new song "New Jeans" by New Jeans was created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP).

In particular, the music video for the song "New Jeans" is a collaboration with Cartoon Network's "The Powerpuff Girls," which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The cute and vibrant music video brings together the "Gen Z icon" New Jeans and the "adorable superhero icons" The Powerpuff Girls. The music video features New Jeans versions of the Powerpuff Girls characters, highlighting the individuality and characteristics of the members and captivating the viewers' attention.

The music video for the song "New Jeans" has achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the number one spot on the YouTube "Trending" videos in the world's largest pop market, the United States. This demonstrates the passionate response of global music fans towards New Jeans.

The song "New Jeans" is an impressive track with a unique composition that switches between UK garage rhythms and Jersey club rhythms. the audio will be released at 1 PM on the same day.

On the 21st, New Jeans' mini 2nd album "Get Up" will be officially released. With their already sensational popularity, there is great anticipation for how New Jeans will capture the hearts of the public this summer.

On a side note, The Powerpuff Girls is an animated series created by Cartoon Network, an American animation-specialized TV channel, and it aired for a total of six seasons from November 1998 to March 2005.

Below is the music video for New Jeans' "New Jeans."

Recently, an article with the title "Legendary Story of FIFTY FIFTY's Agency CEO" along with a photo has been shared on various Korean online communities. The photo shows Jeon Hong-joon attending a press conference in 2002 as the PR director of the agency when the group S#ARP was facing disbandment due to internal conflicts.

S#ARP, a co-ed group that debuted in 1998, gained popularity with numerous hit songs such as "Tell Me Tell Me", "Sweety." However, after four years, in 2002, the group suddenly announced their disbandment.

At that time, it was revealed that S#ARP members Lee Ji-hye and Seo Ji-young had engaged in a physical altercation inside an elevator, which became a hot topic. Reports emerged claiming that their conflict was the reason for the group's disbandment.

Seo Ji-young claimed, "I was beaten to the point of fainting without any reason by Lee Ji-hye." On the other hand, Lee Ji-hye stated, "It is true that Seo Ji-young verbally abused me and I hit her with 2 or 3 punches. However, I actually suffered physical assault from Seo Ji-young's mother." Their positions on the matter diverged.

As a result, a press conference was held due to this incident. Jeon Hong-jun and the manager of S#ARP revealed during the press conference that Seo Ji-young's mother had verbally abused and physically assaulted Lee Ji-hye. At the time, public opinion was unfavorable towards Lee Ji-hye, but thanks to the conscience-driven statements made by the S#ARP manager and Jeon Hong-joon, the truth was corrected.

Netizens who remember this incident are showing support and admiration for Jeon Hong-joon, who acted with integrity.

On the other hand, FIFTY FIFTY has filed for an injunction to suspend the effect of their exclusive contract against ATTRAKT, citing issues such as opaque settlements, disregard for members' health conditions, and incompetence of the agency.

However, ATTRAKT claims that the alleged breach of settlement obligations was not intentional but a result of a time difference and argues that external forces approached the members and influenced them with false information to encourage contract violations.

Dispatch revealed a recorded conversation between An Sung-il, the CEO of The Givers, and Jeon Hong-jun, the CEO of ATTRAKT, regarding the copyright holders of the song 'CUPID.' In the recording, Jeon Hong-jun asked An Sung-il about the absence of the name of a foreign composer in the copyright holders of the song 'CUPID.' An Sung-il replied that it would take three months, but even after three months, there was no change.

An Sung-il purchased the song from Swedish composers by paying them approximately $9,000 (11.7 million won). According to Dispatch, the copyright holders of 'CUPID' include An Sung-il, The Givers, Keena, a member of the group FIFTY FIFTY, and an employee of The Givers identified as Mr. A. An Sung-il and The Givers hold about 95% of the shares. However, the industry criticized the practice of paying the composer to obtain rights and putting one's own name as the composer as a "trick."

Dispatch quoted a representative from the Korea Music Copyright Association and B, a famous idol and composer, stating that it is an "unbelievable trick" and that buying the rights does not make someone a composer. Usually, the composer's name should be listed under "author," and the purchaser's name should be listed under "rights holder."

The Givers have stated that they have no plans to provide further statements regarding the report and referred to the materials previously released by The Givers for reference.

ATTRAKT filed a complaint with the police against An Sung-il and three others on June 27th, accusing them of secretly purchasing the copyright without providing relevant information during the process of purchasing the song 'CUPID' from overseas composers.

The Givers rebutted the allegations, stating that they obtained the rights to 'CUPID' through proper procedures and after discussions with the composers, and they paid the appropriate fees for the rights.

On the 4th, a video titled "An Idol Singer Who Receives 70,000 KRW a Day but is Extremely Happy" was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Everything About Occupations'. The protagonist of the video was C.A.P, who left the group TEENTOP in May amid controversy over his use of profanity. He is currently living under his real name, Bang Min Su.

C.A.P revealed that he is making a living by working in lawn care. He stated, "This suits my aptitude better. I can earn one million KRW per month through mowing. I get paid around 70,000 to 80,000 KRW per hour, depending on the person's skills. I'm relatively fast at it."

He said, "Actually, many people in the city are unaware, but there are many places that require lawn mowing. That's why the rate for mowing is relatively high among jobs that require physical labor." He added, "I feel that doing lawn mowing and receiving positive reviews from customers is a better accomplishment for my career. Being an idol, on the other hand, felt like emotional labor, laborious work, and physical labor. I'm actually afraid of cameras." He confessed, "I feel more fulfilled now. If I had continued as an idol, I would have earned much more than I do now. But that has become less important to me."

He concluded by saying, "People may say, 'Don't you earn a lot of money?' or 'Just endure it.' But instead of that, I would rather give up money and do what I want. I am happy now."

Previously, in May, C.A.P faced controversy when he made profane remarks during a personal live broadcast on YouTube, just before TEENTOP's comeback. He expressed his displeasure with people who usually ignore him but suddenly come forward to criticize him when a comeback is happening. He mentioned that he was considering not participating in the comeback and faced backlash for his language. Afterward, C.A.P issued an apology statement and subsequently left the group.

According to the patent information search service KIPRIS on the 6th, the Korean group name of FIFTY FIFTY(피프티피프티) and the names of the group members Aran, Keena, Saena, and Sio were filed for trademark registration on the 19th. It is speculated that the person who registered the trademark rights is a family member of the members. The reason for such speculation is that the name of the applicant is known to be the same as the names of the FIFTY FIFTY members' parents.

They have filed a total of 12 trademarks, including categories such as cosmetics and toiletries, household or kitchen utensils and containers, communication services, leather and imitation leather, advertising services, and non-alcoholic beverages, under the names of members Aran (Jeong Eun-a), Keena (Song Ja-kyung), Saena (Jeong Se-hyun), and Sio (Jeong Ji-ho).

However, ATTRAKT stated that they were not aware of the fact that FIFTY FIFTY members had individually registered their trademark rights. Therefore, it appears that the members registered the trademarks without going through the agency.

The date when the trademark application for the Korean group name of FIFTY FIFTY was filed coincides with the day when the FIFTY FIFTY members filed for an injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract against their agency, Attract, in the Seoul Central District Court.

FIFTY FIFTY claimed that Attract had violated the contract, causing a breach of trust, and filed for an injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract against their agency in the Seoul Central District Court. They argued that Attract had failed to fulfill their contractual obligations, such as carrying out opaque settlements and proceeding with activities despite their difficult health conditions. They emphasized that the filing for the injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract was a decision made by the four members independently without any external intervention.

Regarding this matter, Attract's side stated, "The members have done nothing wrong. We also want to reach an agreement as soon as possible through discussion." However, they added, "But we don't have any opportunity to contact them. We cannot receive any response even through the representative. The essence of this case lies in the hidden forces behind the young artists."

Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY is a four-member girl group that made their debut with the album 'THE FIFTY' in November of last year. They consist of members Saena, Keena, Aran, Sio.

FIFTY FIFTY made a remarkable achievement in the music industry by entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the 100th spot within the shortest period of time in Korean history, just about 130 days after their debut on March 28th (Korean time).

On the 5th, the association stated, "Recently, the association and its member companies have been paying attention to the situation faced by ATTRAKT (represented by Jeon Hong Joon)" and "In the entertainment industry, there have been frequent incidents of member poaching and tampering (pre-contact), which have hindered normal business activities and caused irreversible consequences for both companies and affiliated entertainers."

Furthermore, they emphasized, "We believe that the act of intercepting talent by using financial power undermines the foundation of K-pop, which is based on the growth of producers and artists," and "Producers and artists are no longer in a relationship of 'top dog' and 'underdog.' They are companions running toward a shared dream. Therefore, the association will never overlook such actions and plans to respond strongly."

They also expressed their hope for ATTRAKT's promotion and the quick return to normal activities of the group FIFTY FIFTY.

On the other hand, ATTRAKT claimed that The Givers (an external producing team) approached their members and induced them to violate exclusive contracts. They filed a lawsuit against An Sung Il, the CEO, and some employees, accusing them of obstruction of business, fraud, and embezzlement.

In response, The Givers dismissed ATTRAKT's claims as "baseless" and threatened legal action.

The controversy deepened as the members of FIFTY FIFTY filed for an injunction to suspend the effect of their exclusive contracts with the agency, amidst conflicting positions. The members argue that the agency unilaterally enforced schedules even when their health deteriorated and failed to provide transparent accounting, demanding the termination of their exclusive contracts.

On the 5th, the production team of Channel A's 'Heart Signal Season 4' addressed the issue by stating, "There was an error in the date displayed in the subtitles. Due to a subtitle mistake, Monday was mistakenly labeled as Tuesday," and added, "We will pay more attention and be more thorough in the future."

Regarding the suspicion that the gift given to Kim Jiyoung by Han Kyoreh was a PPL product, they stated, "The filming location was agreed upon and cooperated with Han Kyoreh. However, the gift was from Han Kyoreh's own intentions, and it was Han Kyoreh who made the purchase," and clarified, "The participants themselves make decisions regarding the location and gifts. However, when it is difficult to secure a location, we discuss it with the production team. This particular gift was purchased based on Han Kyoreh's intentions."

After the broadcast of Episode 7 of 'Heart Signal 4' on the 30th of last month, there have been suspicions of timeline manipulation. This arose because the dates of Shin Mingyu's date with Kim Jimin and the day when Shin Mingyu said, "There is no promise," were both labeled as Tuesday. As a result, Some viewers, have raised the argument that the production team manipulated the dates of the participants' dates. Furthermore, suspicions of PPL were raised regarding the scene where Han Kyoreh gave a gift to Kim Jiyoung.

'Heart Signal' is a dating reality program where young men and women stay in a signal house, develop relationships, and have their psychology analyzed by a celebrity panel. Although it follows the format of a reality show, allegations of manipulation and PPL have raised doubts about its authenticity.

According to album distributor YG PLUS, the sales of SEVENTEEN's 'FML', released on April 24th, have exceeded 6.2 million copies.

As a result, 'FML' has set a new sales record for SEVENTEEN, surpassing their previous records, within approximately two months of its release. Furthermore, SEVENTEEN has now become the first K-pop artist to sell over 6 million copies of one album.

SEVENTEEN's 'FML' has also achieved remarkable success on various global charts. It became the only artist to surpass 3 million copies in album sales on the first day of release worldwide. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the main album chart of Billboard, and stayed on the chart for 8 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for the longest charting period.

Additionally, 'FML' ranked No. 3 on the Billboard Japan 2023 Mid-Year Chart (covering the period from November 28, 2022, to May 28, 2023) in both the Hot Albums and Top Album Sales categories. It also proved its popularity in Japan by ranking No. 3 on the 2023 Mid-Year Album Ranking and 2023 Mid-Year Combined Album Ranking.

SEVENTEEN will hold their 'SEVENTEEN TOUR 'FOLLOW' TO SEOUL' at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome for two days on the 21st and 22nd.

On the 5th, The Givers stated, "'Copyright' refers to the rights held by the creators of a work, including songwriters, composers, and arrangers. Regarding this, The Givers entered into a legitimate rights transfer agreement after discussions with the writers, making the necessary payments and obtaining the rights. This process took place before the release of 'CUPID' and was carried out to simplify the approval process and streamline the extensive tasks involved in global promotion, such as lyric and composition revisions, mixing in various versions, and collaborations with other artists. The rights acquired during the company's business process are clearly obtained, and except for An Seong-il's stake in the actual work, the overseas writers' shares are owned by the publisher, The Givers.

They added, "We hope that you will cease your continued actions of spreading false claims and edited materials. This statement serves as The Givers' final warning, and we will provide further explanations after faithfully proving the facts through the appropriate legal procedures."

Earlier, ATTRAKT claimed that The Givers deleted project-related materials and secretly purchased the copyright of 'CUPID'. They filed a lawsuit against An Seong-il, the representative of The Givers, and three others, alleging these actions.

According to OSEN, a Korean entertainment media outlet, the cancellation was not due to a discord with their agency.

An official from ATTRAKT stated to OSEN, "It is not due to discord. Aran had surgery and took a break in early May, leading to a temporary halt in activities. Aran was scheduled to return in mid-July, but with this situation arising, the cancellation naturally occurred."

Previously, FIFTY FIFTY garnered attention for participating in the original soundtrack of the movie 'Barbie.'

However, recent conflicts with ATTRAKT and the external contractor, The Givers, have led to a halt in FIFTY FIFTY's activities.

FIFTY FIFTY's four members have filed for an injunction to suspend the effect of their exclusive contract with ATTRAKT. The first hearing regarding the application for the suspension of the exclusive contract will be held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 5th.

According to OSEN on the 4th, actress Lim Jiyeon has confirmed her appearance in the film 'Revolver' after receiving a casting offer from the film's production team. She is currently filming for the movie.

'Revolver' tells the story of a former police officer who pursues a single purpose and goal. Previously, the casting confirmations of actors Jeon Do-yeon and Ji Chang-wook for the film had already garnered attention.

Earlier, Lim Jiyeon portrayed the role of Park Yeon-jin, a school violence perpetrator, in the Netflix drama 'The Glory' released last year. She showcased remarkable popularity and acting skills comparable to her co-star Song Hyekyo, leaving a deep impression on the audience. She also won the Best Supporting Actress award in the TV category at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards held in April.

Recently, she garnered attention for her appearance in Genie TV drama 'Lies Hidden in My Garden' alongside actress Kim Taehee. Lim Jiyeon received praise for her portrayal of a domestic violence survivor and for creating a new life character.

In her film 'Revolver,' Lim Jiyeon is gathering anticipation as she is expected to showcase a new acting transformation while working alongside actress Jeon Do-yeon.

On the 4th (today), Son Ye-jin was spotted at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. She departed to attend the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show.

On this day, Son Ye-jin styled herself in a clean suit. She paired a perfectly fitting white jacket with black pants, exuding a neat yet feminine charm. Completing her stunning airport fashion, she accessorized with shiny silver strap heels and a shoulder bag.

Furthermore, Son Ye-jin emphasized her innocent beauty with light and natural makeup. She turned her departure into a runway with her enduring beauty.

Her fan service was exceptional as well. Son Ye-jin raised one hand to greet her fans, adding a lovely hand heart. Throughout her departure, her face was adorned with a bright smile.

Meanwhile, Son Ye-jin married Hyun Bin on March 31st last year and welcomed their son in November. After dedicating herself to childcare, Son Ye-jin is currently considering future works, including advertising shoots.

Below are several photos of Son Ye-jin on the 4th.

Earlier, the FIFTY FIFTY group raised issues against ATTRAKT, stating, "They failed to fulfill their contractual obligations, including non-transparent settlements and pushing ahead with activities despite difficult health conditions." They announced that they filed an application for an injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract.

However, according to the Korean entertainment media outlet Dispatch, on the 4th day, it was reported that FIFTY FIFTY's financial settlement is still in the negative. According to Dispatch, CEO Jeon Hong-jun stated that they have provided full support to FIFTY FIFTY. From December 2019 to the end of 2020, they paid monthly training costs of 20 to 30 million won for trainees. They also invested over 1 billion won in music video production. They provided accommodation, costing around 2.7 million won per month, to prevent the artists from feeling discouraged. Moreover, They even sold foreign cars and watches, and added an additional 90 million won of their own money to debut FIFTY FIFTY.

However, it was An Sung-il who gained the most profit when FIFTY FIFTY's song "CUPID" became a hit. Dispatch revealed that An Sung-il (SIAHN) holds a 28.65% share of the copyright for "CUPID," while a staff member of The Givers holds 4%, Keena (Song Ja-kyung) holds 0.5%, and The Givers holds 66.85%. Although the song was created by a Swedish student, An Sung-il bought the rights from the composer for $90,000 in January. Therefore, according to reports, the majority of the revenue from "CUPID" appears to have gone to An Sung-il's side.

Additionally, CEO Jeon Hong-jun claimed in an interview with Dispatch that they did not push for activities while disregarding the members' health conditions. He explained, "I entrusted it to The Givers' staff member B, who said they would take good care of them. It seems that trusting too much has become the source of trouble."

On the other hand, ATTRAKT recently filed a criminal complaint with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station against CEO An Sung-il and three others, accusing them of obstruction of business, destruction of electronic records, fraud, and embezzlement in the course of their duties.

Meanwhile, The Givers stated that they will take legal action against continuous dissemination of false information through false complaints and the media.

CEO Jeon Hong-jun is scheduled to attend court on the 5th day for the legal proceedings of the injunction to suspend the exclusive contract.

According to Korean entertainment media Mydaily on the 4th, an official from Han So-hee's agency 9ATO Entertainment stated, "The dating rumors between Han So-hee and Chae Jong-seok are absolutely not true," and the two individuals expressed their position as being "close friends."

Recently, there have been discussions on online communities about a romantic relationship between the two individuals. Some netizens claimed to have captured moments of them wearing couple items and going on dates. Additionally, there were suspicions raised about the two of them departing for overseas on the same day, which fueled the speculation of a romantic involvement.

However, the dating rumors quickly spread but came to an end as Han So-hee's side officially denied them, stating that it was a misunderstanding.

On the 3rd, The Givers claimed, "The claims made by ATTRAKT distorted the facts, suggesting that our representative, Ahn Sung-il, unilaterally discussed the future of the FIFTY FIFTY members with Warner Music Korea, but this is not true."

They continued, "Warner Music Korea proposed the structure of a 'label deal,' and Warner Music Korea expressed a desire to discuss it with the representative of ATTRAKT, Jeon Hong-joon. As a result, a connection was established between ATTRAKT and Warner Music Korea." They explained, "The structure of the 'label deal' refers to an investment method used both domestically and internationally. It involves designating small companies with insufficient funds and infrastructure as labels under global distribution companies, allowing them to continue their operations while providing them with the necessary funds and infrastructure."

They further stated, "At that time, ATTRAKT lacked funds and needed stable operations. Thus, this proposal was seen as a positive signal, and we believed it would benefit the company and the artists in the long run. Therefore, we conveyed Warner Music Korea's proposal." They added, "At that time, Jeon Hong-joon, the representative of ATTRAKT, expressed his desire for ATTRAKT's listing and rejected Warner Music Korea's proposal, showing interest in upfront investment. In response, Warner Music Korea modified the proposal accordingly. We are not decision-makers and did not play any unnecessary role in this matter. It is impossible for ATTRAKT to communicate with Warner Music Korea without being aware of the content. Warner Music Korea adjusted the proposal based on ATTRAKT's opinion as the decision-making authority."

They clarified, "ATTRAKT claims that The Givers, who were dissatisfied with the rejection of Warner Music Korea's label deal, schemed behind their backs, but this is completely untrue. Our company specializes in planning, production, and producing, and the contractual relationship between artists and their affiliated companies is not directly related to our business operations. We gain no benefit from such a process." They urged, "Please stop imposing a forced framework of shifting responsibility for issues between affiliated companies and artists onto unrelated companies."

Earlier, Jeon Hong-joon, the representative of ATTRAKT, claimed that Ahn Sung-il unilaterally carried out the buyout deal for FIFTY FIFTY without his approval, as he released a phone conversation transcript with A, a Warner Music Korea executive, on the same day.

Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY submitted a request for a provisional injunction suspending the effectiveness of the exclusive contract with ATTRAKT to the court in June, and the first hearing is scheduled for the 5th.

The 4th episode of 'Revenant', which aired on the 1st, recorded a nationwide rating of 10% (based on Nielsen Korea, household viewership). It secured the top spot among weekend dramas. Although this is a 1% decrease compared to the 11% rating of the 3rd episode, it is the same rating as the 2nd episode, which aired last Saturday and also recorded 10%.

Meanwhile, JTBC's "King the Land," which aired in the same time slot, achieved a nationwide household rating of 9.7% (based on paid broadcasting households). "King the Land" has been steadily increasing its ratings, starting from 5.1% for the first episode and reaching 7.5% for the 2nd episode, 9.1% for the 3rd episode, and 9.6% for the 4th episode. It has been setting its own record for the highest ratings with each episode, showing an upward trend.

As of the 1st, the rating difference between the two dramas is a mere 0.3%P. They are truly engaged in a fierce competition. Expectations are high for the two dramas, which are competing closely in terms of ratings and popularity, to see what developments they will bring in the future.

'Revenant' is a Korean occult mystery drama that revolves around a woman possessed by a demon and a man who can see the demon, uncovering a mysterious death. It has garnered attention with the collaboration between writer Kim Eun-hee and actress Kim Tae-ri.

'King the Land' tells the story of Gu Won, a man who mocks laughter, and Cheon Sarang, a smile queen who must smile, as they strive to create a day when they can genuinely laugh in the VVIP lounge "King the Land," a dream of hoteliers. It features actors Lee Junho and YoonA.

SEVENTEEN's agency, Pledis Entertainment, informed fans about SEUNGKWAN's future activities through Weverse on the 3rd.

Pledis stated, "SEUNGKWAN recently visited the hospital due to feeling unwell, and the medical staff advised him to take the necessary time to rest and recover. The artist himself is determined to continue his activities; however, the company believes it would be better for him to focus on improving his health for the time being, as recommended by the medical staff."

Furthermore, they mentioned, "Consequently, SEUNGKWAN, unfortunately, will not be able to take part in upcoming events such as the Tencent Music Entertainment Award (TMEA) 2023, fan-signing event in China, and SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ TO SEOUL, among others. We would like to apologize to our fans and ask for your generous understanding."

They added, "We will do our very best to support SEUNGKWAN so that he can meet his fans as his healthiest self again."

Previously, SEUNGKWAN temporarily halted his activities due to health issues after receiving news about his close friend Moonbin in April. SEUNGKWAN will be taking another break in order to spend more time with fans.

Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN will hold the 'SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ TO SEOUL' at the Gocheok Sky Dome on the 21st and 22nd.

On the 3rd, their respective agencies, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, stated to Korean media outlet Sports Chosun, "The two are very close, and the dating rumors are baseless."

Earlier, an internet media outlet called 'PROOF' reported that YoonA and Lee Junho were dating even before the filming of JTBC's "King the Land" and that they are currently in a romantic relationship.

YoonA and Lee Junho have been working together since their days in Girls' Generation and 2PM respectively. They have also co-hosted the MBC 'Gayo Daejejeon' for two consecutive years starting from 2021.

Currently, both of them are starring in the JTBC drama "King the Land".

On the 3rd, online media outlet PROOF reported that Lee Junho and Lim YoonA are in a real romantic relationship. The media outlet cited statements from an entertainment industry insider, stating that they were already in a relationship before the filming of "King the Land" and that their collaboration in the drama was also a result of their relationship.

However, Lee Junho's agency JYP Entertainment and Lim YoonA's agency SM Entertainment stated to News1 that they are currently checking the dating rumors.

Both Lee Junho and Lim YoonA were born in 1990 and are currently working together as the lead actors in JTBC drama "King the Land." Their captivating chemistry in portraying romantic scenes have received praise from viewers.

Meanwhile, JTBC's "King the Land" tells the story of a man who scorns laughter, Guwon (played by Lee Junho), and an angelic woman who has to smile, Cheon Sarang (played by Lim YoonA), as they work towards creating days where they can genuinely laugh in the VVIP lounge "The Kingdom," which is the dream of hoteliers.

On the 3rd, the production team of MBN "Divorced Singles 4" announced the first broadcast date, stating, "As the American edition of the show, it will feature a more diverse and raw reality with men and women from a cultural background different from Korea."

They further added, "Especially, just like the movie 'Sleepless in Seattle,' the participants in long-distance relationships and those with marriage in mind will showcase genuine sincerity. Therefore, viewers will be captivated by their dramatic search for love."

The poster for "Divorced Singles 4" unveiled by the production team on that day includes phrases like "It was you from the beginning" and "No Change, I'm heading straight to you." It also features the captivating visuals of new single men and women facing each other, raising anticipation.

"Divorced Singles" is a reality program that depicts the real love and cohabitation of single men and women. In the last season, there were participants who actually developed into real couples through the program, and Yoon Nam-gi and Lee Da-eun's successful remarriage also garnered attention. Lee So-ra and Choi Dong-hwan, who became a real couple in Season 3, continue to nurture their sweet love.

Season 4 will take place in the United States, specifically in Cancun, Mexico, known as the "honeymoon destination." It will showcase the love battles of charming American single individuals. Particularly, "Divorced Singles 4" has expanded its reach as a "global dating reality" by confirming simultaneous broadcasts in over 200 countries through Netflix Global.

The MC lineup includes Lee Hye-young, Yoo Se-yoon, and Lee Ji-hye, who have been part of the show since Season 1 to 3, as well as singer Eun Ji-won and American chef Austin Kang as new MCs. The first broadcast will air on July 23rd at 10 PM.

On the 3rd, ATTRAKT, the agency representing FIFTY FIFTY, publicly released a recorded conversation between Jeon Hong-joon, CEO of ATTRAKT, and an executive from Warner Music Korea, known as Mr. A. The recording, dated May 9th, contains a discussion about An Sung-il, the CEO of The Givers, engaging in a buyout process involving FIFTY FIFTY.

Mr. A informed Jeon Hong-joon, "I have something to confirm. We previously offered 20 billion won for a buyout to An Sung-il, the CEO of The Givers."

In response, Jeon Hong-joon asked, "I haven't heard about this. What is a buyout?" Mr. A explained, "No, that label. In general terms, it means acquiring all the members and such." To this, Jeon Hong-joon simply replied, "No."

An official from ATTRAKT claimed regarding the recorded conversation, "An Sung-il, without the approval of Jeon Hong-joon, unilaterally proceeded with the buyout process involving FIFTY FIFTY," and added, "Additional criminal facts related to An Sung-il, CEO of The Givers, have also been confirmed."

Recently, ATTRAKT has claimed the existence of external forces attempting to unlawfully take away FIFTY FIFTY members and pointed to The Givers as the force behind it, along with international distributor Warner Music Korea. They further stated, "We have filed a criminal complaint against An Sung-il and three other individuals from The Givers."

However, FIFTY FIFTY clarified, "The four members made an independent decision without any external interference," while The Givers denied the allegations, stating that "Jeon Hong-joon's claims are baseless."

FIFTY FIFTY made their debut in November of last year with the song "Cupid" and achieved a peak position of 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after entering at the 100th spot. They also demonstrated their presence on the chart by reaching the 24th position on the latest chart released on the 24th, maintaining their presence on the chart for 13 consecutive weeks.

On the 30th, the agency released an official statement saying, "We discovered that the music video had the potential to infringe upon trademark rights, portrait rights, and copyrights in certain scenes. Therefore, on the 29th, we took the private measures, and we are currently working on modifying the video. We apologize for causing confusion by not providing prior notice after realizing the issue belatedly. We will upload the music video as soon as the editing is completed."

They further clarified, "The claim that the music video was made private due to Olivia Rodrigo's request is not true. We have not received any such request from her. We hope that there are no misunderstandings among the artists and fans based on unconfirmed reports, and we also urge everyone to refrain from spreading speculative information."

Earlier, on the 29th, the music video for YENA's song 'Hate Rodrigo' was unexpectedly made private.

Recently, a media outlet reported that the 'Hate Rodrigo' music video was made private at Olivia Rodrigo's request, citing concerns over the song's title controversy. However, the agency corrected the report, stating that they did not receive any request from Olivia Rodrigo.

'Hate Rodrigo' is a song where YENA expresses her admiration for Rodrigo, the object of her envy, in a cute and jealous manner, with lyrics like "I hate everyone who's better than me!" In other words, it portrays YENA's playful jealousy towards Rodrigo, whom she admires.

Actor Lee Jung-jae firmly denies involvement in the casting of "Squid Game 2" amid controversy surrounding Big Bang's former member, T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun).

Lee Jung-jae's agency, Artist Company, released a statement on the 29th addressing the casting allegations and clarified that the rumors were untrue.

The agency stated, "Regarding the casting reports of Lee Jung-jae in 'Squid Game 2,' we would like to clarify our position. The claims that Lee Jung-jae was involved in the casting of 'Squid Game 2' are not true."

They further emphasized that the casting decisions are the prerogative of the director and production company, stating, "The casting of a project is solely determined by the director and production company. Especially with 'Squid Game 2,' which has garnered significant attention, many actors have put effort into auditions for a chance to be cast, and Lee Jung-jae understands this better than anyone else."

The agency concluded by emphasizing, "Therefore, we once again confirm that Lee Jung-jae's involvement in the casting of 'Squid Game 2' is not true."

Previously A recent Korean entertainment media reported that T.O.P's casting in "Squid Game 2" was influenced by Lee Jung-jae.

According to the news outlet, Netflix, which earned 9 billion dollars (approximately 1.24 trillion Korean won) from "Squid Game," could not ignore Lee Jung-jae's influence, and he demanded a fee of 1 million dollars (approximately 13.17 billion Korean won) per episode for his appearance in "Squid Game 2."

"Squid Game 2" will feature Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yuri, Won Ji-an, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Roh Jae-won, T.O.P, and others.

On the 30th, SUBWAY announced that they have appointed Cha Eunwoo as their new brand model and will launch a new brand campaign called "Eat Fresh, Feel Good."

According to SUBWAY, in this campaign, they will deliver the brand's unique value of "Fresh" along with an emotional message of "Feel Good." It signifies that Subway's fresh sandwiches add happiness and vitality to customers' daily lives.

Cha Eunwoo, as the new brand model, will kick off SUBWAY's "Eat Fresh, Feel Good" campaign video, which will be broadcasted in various Asian countries, including Korea, next month. He is expected to engage in various activities with Subway thereafter.

SUBWAY explained that Cha Eunwoo's healthy and refreshing image aligns well with the campaign's message.

A SUBWAY representative stated, "Cha Eunwoo's beauty, refreshing energy, and sincere image will create a positive synergy with the brand values that SUBWAY aims to convey through this campaign," and added, "We look forward to diverse activities that SUBWAY and Cha Eunwoo will present together, including product advertisements and store events."

Meanwhile, SUBWAY recently released a teaser image on its official Instagram, hinting at the new model appointment. The photo, where the upcoming model's eyes are covered with a SUBWAY sandwich, sparked curiosity among netizens. Netizens speculated actors like "Song Kang," "Kim Seon-ho," "Yook Sungjae," and "Cha Eunwoo" based on the model's lips and chin.

On the 27th, the music video for YENA's latest song "Hate Rodrigo" was made private. According to Korean media outlet Xports News, on the 29th, the music video for "Hate Rodrigo" was made private at the request of Olivia Rodrigo's side.

However, it is not clear whether the title "Hate Rodrigo" was the issue or if there were copyright problems with certain scenes in the music video.

The song itself has been controversial even before its release. "Hate Rodrigo" is a song that expresses admiration for Rodrigo through cute jealousy and contradictory expressions. However, some music fans criticized YENA for directly using the word "hate" in a song by an active artist and for imitating Rodrigo's concept. Moreover, during the album promotion process, controversy arose when the hashtag "#HateRodrigo" was used in challenges, and suspicions were raised that the music video for the new song resembled certain scenes from Olivia Rodrigo's music videos.

Particularly sensitive is the fact that the real Olivia Rodrigo is set to make a comeback with her new single "vampire" on the 30th through global music platforms.

Currently, YENA's agency, Yue Hua Entertainment, has not made any official statements regarding the matter.

Sports Chosun reported on the 30th that Hwasa (28) has been continuing a five-year relationship with a non-celebrity businessman who is 12 years older than her. Hwasa's romantic partner, Mr. A, was born in 1983 and currently runs a business under his own name. Five years ago, when Mr. A was working in the music industry, their relationship developed from Hwasa's active pursuit. Initially, Mr. A hesitated to accept the relationship due to Hwasa's young age of 12 and her fame as a singer, but he opened his heart to Hwasa's modesty and genuine self. Currently, Mr. A is known to play a supportive mentor role for Hwasa.

Regarding the dating rumors, Hwasa's side stated to News1 that they are "checking the information."

Hwasa debuted with Mamamoo in 2014 and released numerous hit songs such as "Piano Man," "Um Oh Ah Yeh," and "Decalcomanie." In 2019, she proved her capabilities as a solo singer with releases like "Twit" and "Maria."

Meanwhile, Hwasa recently finalized her exclusive contract with her agency RBW and is discussing a contract with P Nation, which is led by Psy.

According to SBS Entertainment News on the 29th, it was reported that Lim Nayoung, a former member of I.O.I and PRISTIN, is in a romantic relationship with actor Choi Woong. The media explained that the two individuals developed their relationship while working together in the play "Hello, the Hell: Othello" and recently went on a couple's trip abroad.

Choi Woong, her romantic partner, is a model-turned-actor who made his debut as a model in the 2011 "Bacchus - Military Personnel Edition" campaign. He has appeared in dramas such as "Money Game," and "Descendants of the Sun."

On the 29th, Pledis Entertainment posted on the fan platform Weverse, stating, "We would like to inform you that unauthorized visits to the artist's unannounced events and/or schedules (drama shooting, etc.) have increased in frequency, causing disruptions to site operations."

Pledis emphasized that these unauthorized visits not only cause delays in shooting but also lead to the unwanted spread of videos and photos of the filming site on social media, negatively affecting both the artist and the drama production team. They urged fans to refrain from visiting, residing, or filming at locations where schedules have not been officially announced in order to maintain a healthy fan culture and protect the safety and rights of their artists.

Furthermore, Pledis warned that repeated unauthorized visits may result in the loss of eligibility for the official HWANG MIN HYUN Global Fan Club Membership (Hwangdo MEMBERSHIP) and could lead to the partial or complete revocation of membership benefits without prior warning. And they also issued a warning stating, "You may also be restricted from entering or participating in official events, also without prior notice."

Meanwhile, Hwang Minhyun is set to appear in the new tvN drama 'My Lovely Liar,' which will premiere on July 31st. He will be starring alongside actress Kim Sohyun.

On the 28th, their agency SM Entertainment stated that they requested a change in the filming date due to the need for more practice on their new song. They mentioned that they are coordinating with the production team to adjust the shooting schedule.

'Killing Voice' is a YouTube content where artists perform live highlights of hit songs.

Dingo Music also stated that they are checking for an alternative filming date and explained that the change in schedule was made to ensure a high-quality live content presentation.

Earlier, a media outlet reported that SM Entertainment canceled EXO's 'Killing Voice' filming scheduled for the 28th. According to the report, one member of EXO expressed their inability to attend the scheduled filming, leading to the unavoidable change. It was clarified that the member in question was not EXO-CBX(Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin), who recently had conflicts with SM regarding an exclusive contract.

Meanwhile, EXO is set to make a comeback on July 10th with their seventh full-length album 'EXIST.' They will also pre-release the track 'Hear Me Out' from the 7th album on the 30th."

On the 29th, Netflix unveiled photos of the returning cast members from Season 1, including actors Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-jun, along with the new cast members for Season 2.

Accompanied by photos from the script reading session, Netflix announced, "Ki-hoon, the Front Man, and Jun-ho are gathered in one place. They will create the second story of 'Squid Game,' exclusively on Netflix."

Additionally, script reading photos of new cast members for Season 2, including actors Yim Siwan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, former IZ*ONE member Jo Yuri, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, and Lee Jin-uk, were also unveiled. Netflix stated, "The first beginning of Season 2 of 'Squid Game' with new faces. Once again, a story that will astonish the world is coming. 'Squid Game' Season 2, exclusively on Netflix."

the photos of new cast members for Season 2 of "Squid Game" drew attention as they included actor Won Ji-an, Roh Jae-won, and even former Big Bang member T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun). The news of T.O.P's appearance in Season 2 of "Squid Game" surprised netizens. As T.O.P had been relatively inactive in acting after a social controversy in the past, the response to his casting in "Squid Game" Season 2 has been mixed.

Meanwhile, "Squid Game" is a series that depicts the struggle of people fighting for survival in a game where 45.6 billion won is at stake. Since its release on Netflix in 2021, it has gained immense popularity worldwide, breaking various records.

With the complete cast lineup now revealed, "Squid Game" Season 2, which is set to captivate the world, will commence full-scale filming in the latter half of this year. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who also worked on Season 1, will be in charge of the script and directing once again.

On the 29th, The Givers addressed the claims made by ATTRAKT, which mentioned "external forces" and an "outsourced company orchestrating the removal of FIFTY FIFTY members." They stated, "Speculative rumors have been spreading through various media outlets and communities, leading to numerous inquiries seeking clarification or confirmation. We want to clarify that we have not been involved in any way, and the mentioned content is completely unrelated to us."

They further explained, "As of May 31st, we have transferred all planning, production, and operational tasks to ATTRAKT and have concluded our involvement. Currently, we are solely responsible for the global promotion and overseas publicity at the request of ATTRAKT. From the establishment of ATTRAKT until now, we have faithfully fulfilled our duties under the outsourcing contract. Even on the day when ATTRAKT received the contract termination notice from the FIFTY FIFTY members, we cooperated with CEO Jeon Hong-jun and ATTRAKT's legal representative in a meeting, fulfilling our role as a bridge between ATTRAKT and the FIFTY FIFTY members."

They also stated, "We have conducted all tasks, including securing copyrights, through proper procedures. In particular, the song 'Cupid' was a song that we possessed even before FIFTY FIFTY's project, and later it became a song for FIFTY FIFTY's work."

Regarding the allegations mentioned by ATTRAKT in the media, they emphasized that the information provided is completely false. They have maintained a neutral position without expressing any stance between CEO Jeon Hong-jun, ATTRAKT, and the FIFTY FIFTY members. They further mentioned that they have appointed the law firm Hwa Woo and will take strong legal actions against false accusations, ongoing false information dissemination through the media, and other related acts.

Previously, on the 27th, ATTRAKT officially announced, "Today, we have filed a complaint against CEO An Sung-il and three others from The Givers at the Gangnam Police Station." ATTRAKT claimed, "During the process of transferring and acquiring business operations, The Givers, who have been responsible for project management and tasks, caused delays in the transfer, deleted company email accounts and project-related data, engaged in obstruction of business, tampered with electronic records, committed fraud, and embezzlement."

They further stated, "The Givers failed to provide ATTRAKT with any information regarding the purchase of the music 'Cupid' from overseas composers and secretly purchased the copyright through their own company." They added, "In addition to these suspicious circumstances, there may be further complaints filed as more evidence arises."

Their agency, Hiin Entertainment, stated in response to inquiries about whether actor Won Ji-an will be appearing in the Netflix original series 'Squid Game 2', "We apologize for not being able to confirm at this time."

'Squid Game,' which was released in September last year, depicted the story of participants risking their lives in extreme games to become the last survivor and win a prize of 45.6 billion won.

Just five days after its release, it surpassed the popular British drama 'Sex Education' and became the first Korean drama to top Netflix worldwide. Lead actors Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Yeong-soo, Wi Ha-jun, Jung Ho-yeon, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam, and Kim Joo-ryeong received significant love both domestically and internationally.

In particular, the number of Instagram followers for Jung Ho-yeon, which was around 400,000 on the day of the drama's release, skyrocketed, and as of 2 p.m. on the 28th, the number of followers reached 21.14 million. Attention is now focused on who will become the next breakout star. Reports have emerged stating that former IZ*ONE member Jo Yu-ri, actor Park Gyu-young, Kim Si-eun, and Won Ji-an will appear in the series. However, all agencies of the actors involved have maintained their stance of not being able to provide any comments.

There is great anticipation about which actors will lead the highly anticipated 'Squid Game' Season 2 that captivated the world.

Meanwhile, for the male cast of 'Squid Game Season 2', casting has been confirmed for Lim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong-geun.

On June 28th, Jellyfish Entertainment announced that the exclusive contract with Kang Mina, who had been with the agency for the past 7 years, has officially expired. They stated, "Today, June 28th, marks the end of Kang Mina's exclusive contract with Jellyfish Entertainment. Although our journey together with Kang Mina concludes here, we will cherish every moment we shared with her." They further expressed their deep gratitude to Kang Mina for her long-standing partnership and sincerely wished her success in her future endeavors. The statement concluded with an affectionate message, "As Kang Mina embarks on a new beginning, we ask for your unwavering love and support for her."

Prior to the official contract expiration announcement, there were speculations about Kang Mina joining Story J Company. At the time, Story J Company stated, "It is true that we had a meeting with Kang Mina. We are currently in positive discussions regarding an exclusive contract." Story J Company is home to actors such as Kim Tae-hee, Oh Yeon-seo, and Seo In-guk. Kang Mina is expected to continue her acting career in earnest, as she has discussed an exclusive contract with Actor Entertainment.

Kang Mina made her debut in May 2016 through Mnet's "Produce 101 Season 1," where she became a member of the project group I.O.I. In June of the same year, she officially debuted as a member of the girl group Gugudan, balancing group activities with her acting career. After the group disbanded in December 2020, she focused more on her acting endeavors. Kang Mina is set to appear in the upcoming JTBC drama "Welcome to Samdalri," scheduled to premiere in November, in the role of Jo Haedal.

On the 28th, Yoo Yeon-seok's agency, KingKong by Starship, announced that his 20th debut anniversary fan meeting, "Yoo Yeon-seok's Understanding," scheduled for July 1st, has been temporarily postponed.

KingKong by Starship stated, "Considering the recent accident near the venue, it has been determined that it would be difficult to hold the performance as planned. Therefore, we have unavoidably decided to postpone the fan meeting." They further added, "The schedule and venue for actor Yoo Yeon-seok's 20th debut anniversary fan meeting will be announced later through an official notice. The previously purchased tickets will be canceled through the ticketing platform."

KingKong by Starship expressed their apologies, saying, "We sincerely apologize to the fans who have been waiting for the performance for a long time and deliver this unfortunate news once again." They requested understanding for the unavoidable postponement due to the accident and conveyed their condolences.

Yoo Yeon-seok's 20th debut anniversary fan meeting was initially scheduled to take place at Samsung Hall in Ewha Womans University in April. However, it was previously postponed due to a fire in the parking lot.

The fan meeting was planned to be held at the Centennial Memorial Hall in Dongduk Women's University. However, it was postponed once again after an incident on the 5th, where a student at Dongduk University was hit by a garbage truck while on her way to school, resulting in a declaration of brain death and eventual death on the 7th.

According to the law firm Barun, representing FIFTY FIFTY, the members submitted the application for the provisional injunction on June 19 to the Seoul Central District Court.

Barun, the legal representative, explained that the decision was made due to ATTRAKT's contract violations and the resulting breakdown of trust.

Barun stated, "The FIFTY FIFTY members did not respond as the trial was ongoing. The legal representative has sent letters pointing out various issues and demanding corrections, but Attract continues to damage the members' reputation through continuous media coverage without making efforts to clarify the requested explanations."

Regarding the recent allegations made by ATTRAKT that "external forces attempted to seize FIFTY FIFTY members," Barun mentioned, "ATTRAKT has been unable to provide a clear explanation regarding the contract violations and has been evading the members' voices by claiming an "attempted member poaching by external forces" The members were greatly disappointed and disheartened by ATTRAKT's decision to publicly disclose the reasons for their surgery without consultation."

Barun pointed out ATTRAKT's contract violations, including non-transparent settlements, and also mentioned that despite the members' disclosed health issues that made activities difficult, ATTRAKT insisted on proceeding with their activities.

Barun emphasized, "We want to make it clear that this decision was made solely by the four members without any external intervention." Through Barun, the members stated, "We are well aware of how important this moment is and we understand the concerns of many people around us. The four of us did not agree or consent to something that is not right. We made this decision truthfully, without external pressure, and with the intention of following our own path correctly."

ATTRAKT, the agency, has claimed that there are external forces that have been disregarding the exclusive contract between them and FIFTY FIFTY and attempting to persuade the members to enter into new exclusive contracts, starting from the 23rd. This outsourced service company is known as The Givers, led by the representative An Seong-il, also known as the producer Cyan.