Author: Denise Coley
Seunghan shared a handwritten letter stating that he will no longer be returning to RIIZE. On October 13, Seunghan announced that he will not only be halting his return to RIIZE, but will be leaving the group. In a heartfelt letter, Seunghan apologized to the fans and group members for the pain and confusion caused by his actions. A few days ago, Seunghan had confirmed that he would be returning to RIIZE after a hiatus. The hiatus was due to a controversy after Seunghan’s pre-debut photos were leaked online. After the hiatus, Seunghan apologized for damaging the team’s image and…
October girl group band reputation ranking results are out. The Korean Business Research Institute analyzed the media coverage, community indexes, consumer participation, and interactions of K-pop girl groups for the rankings. Here are the top 5 October girl group band reputation rankings. 1. LE SSERAFIM LE SSERAFIM won this month’s rankings with a reputation index of 4,887,479. This is a 37% increase compared to their last month’s score. “Crazy” was one of the high-ranking phrases in the group’s keyword analysis. This would make sense as LE SSERAFIM’s “Crazy” comeback single in August raised the group’s Spotify monthly listeners from 11…
Hashtag group has disbanded after 7 years since its debut. According to October 12th reports, Hashtag girl band bid its goodbyes to the K-pop entertainment industry. The group, which debuted in October 2017 under LUK Factory, has fought a good fight for 7 years before calling it quits. The band’s final piece was the “Diamond” single released in 2023. Formed by Kan Mi Yeon, a former V.O.X member, Hashtag band has experienced several changes over the years. before the storms, Hashtag was a 7-member group comprising Hyunji, Sua, Seungmin, Subin, Sojin, Dajeong, and Aeji. Dajeong left the group in 2020 while…
In his short film Recite with Your Hands, Jazz columnist and filmmaker Jo Won-yong taps into the disconnect writers can experience when the emotions being conveyed through a piece of art seems beyond our reach. In the film, deaf literature editor Yong-in (Gong Seo-yeon) struggles to connect emotionally to a new series of poems she’s been commissioned to work on. As a writer poetess herself, Yong-in possesses the intuition needed to understand the writing on an intellectual level, but the emotional disconnect exacerbated by writer’s block with her own poetry, causes her frustration she’s unable to shake. Desperate for…
Rapper Jessi has shared an apology statement after one of her fans was assaulted. According to October 11th reports, a young man was assaulted on September 29 after asking for a photo with Jessi. The reputable rapper, whose acquaintances had blocked the young fan, rudely told him off but Jessi intervened and apologized before walking away. Nonetheless, the young fan claimed that just as he was about to leave, a man approached him and suddenly assaulted him. He further claimed that Jessi did try to intervene at first but later retreated as things escalated. Following an internet uproar connected to…
The Korean Indie world is often an untapped realm. With most focus on K-pop, this genre doesn’t get as much emphasis as it warrants. A band to watch within the Korean Indie genre is orange flavored cigarettes. They came onto the scene in 2021. With a few singles and two EPs on Spotify, they’re slowly increasing in visibility. 50k+ monthly listeners will likely only keep growing, as their sound is quality. Here’s a review of some of their most popular tracks. Their biggest single is “orange flavored cigarettes”, a track that combines complexity and simplicity. It features a laid-back beat,…
Idol marriages have become a ceremony worth looking forward to. Here are 5 idols set to walk down the aisle this October. Secret’s Ji Eun and Youtuber Park Wi Actress and former Secret’s Ji Eun walked down the aisle with YouTuber Park Wi on October 9. The ceremony, held in Gangnam, was hosted by TV personality Jun Hyun Moo and entertained by performances from the K-Pop R&B diva Insoon. Through his YouTube channel, Wiracle, Park Wi inspires others through his courageous journey after an accident that left him with quadriplegia. The couple, whose love story has been a beam of…
Seunghan is officially a RIIZE member again after going off the grid for 10 months. In a hand-written comeback letter, Seunghan apologizes for having let the team down with his private life controversy. The star also confirmed that he had reflected on his actions throughout the hiatus and purposes to do all he can to redeem himself and help return the team to its former glory. Seunghan also apologized to the members, the group’s dedicated fans, and company staff as well. On October 11, SM Entertainment also made an official statement confirming Seunghan’s return to RIIZE. In the letter, addressed…
The “You’re Pitiful” hit-maker, FIESTAR, has finally reunited after 7 years thanks to Cao’s efforts. Cao Lu FIESTAR debuted in August 2012 under LOEN Entertainment consisting of Jei, Cao Lu, Linzy, Hyemi, and Yezi. However, the group was said to have disbanded in May 2018. All the while, Cao Lu, who was the lead dancer, vocalist, and face of the group, was not about to give in without a fight. Despite the backlash and negative comments she received during appearances after the disbandment, Cao Lu numbed the pain to achieve her mission. Seven years after disbandment, Cao Lu was able…
With mid-month around the corner, we have had outstanding comebacks from reputable individuals and groups in the K-pop industry so far. Some of them include CHEN (EXO) with “Beyond” MV, LEECHANGSUB with the ‘<1991>’ album, ATEEZ with the “Birthday” Japanese MV, LOCO with the” SEE YOU” farewell track to AOMG agency, BLACKPINK’s Lisa with “Moonlit Floor”, WOOOSUNG with the ‘4444’ album, and Yoon Seobin’s “Rizz” single. Below are some other notable comebacks to expect this October. 1. Jay Park This RnB legend will make a comeback on October 8 with “Gimme A Minute” track under the album, ‘THE ONE YOU WANTED’.…
Belift lab has denied claims that ILLIT girl band manager commented telling the girls to ignore NewJeans’ Hanni. In a live broadcast on September 11, Hanni claimed that ILLIT’s manager had told one of the members to ignore her which gave room to harassment at work. Following this damaging allegation, Belift Lab, ILLIT’s agency released a statement refuting the claims. Belift Lab claimed that such a case would never occur since ILLIT’s manager also speaks to NewJeans members in honorifics. Belift backed their claims with through CCTV footage showing an interaction between the two parties. In the CCTV, ILLIT members…
Fans of Fromis_9 band’s Jiwon and TV personality Jun Hyun Moo have been in an internet frenzy with the rumors of the two influential figures probably dating. This comes after Jiwon and Jun Hyun Moo were seen attending the 2NE1’s October 5th ‘Welcome Back in Seoul’. The two were reported to have had several interactions, including the ‘Idol Star Athletics Championships’. Nonetheless, the rumors were put out after Pledis Entertainment denied them. In a comment, the agency agreed that both celebrities are close friends given that they also share the same English teacher. The agency went on to clarify that the…
NCT member, Moon Taeil, has been undergoing grueling police investigations over the last few months for aggravated quasi-rape allegations. After the August 12 police investigations, Taeil was referred to the Seoul Central District Prosecution office which is yet to officially summon him. The allegations stem from an incident in June where Taeil and two other non-idol acquaintances were accused of sexually abusing an intoxicated woman. Despite the police investigations, SM had laid low regarding the matter even as Taeil continued his idol activities. However, SM Entertainment recently spoke on the matter stating that given the gravity of the issue, they…
‘Love Next Door’ is a romantic comedy K-drama showing how fate can turn meaningless encounters into lifelong cherished moments while revolving around a childhood trios’ friendship over the years. Bae Seok Ryu is one of the trio friends whose perfect life abroad tumbles town at its peak landing her back to her village. Choi Seung Hyo on the other hand, is forced to change careers from a leg accident that happened at the peak of his career. Jeong Mo Eum is a free spirit whose obsession with superheroes lands her not only in the firefighting industry but also on a…
Former BTOB’s Ilhoon has been working hard to redeem himself from the 2020 drug controversy. Ilhoon, who debuted in the entertainment industry in 2012 through BTOB boy band, has had his share of ups and downs over the last few years. Despite submitting about 88 self-reflection letters during his appeal process to plead for leniency, Ilhoon still received an imprisonment verdict. After faithfully paying his dues, Ilhoon is a free man courageously going against the norm and fighting to reclaim his glory. Inspiration, Ilhoon’s Tiny Ark Exhibition Upon his return, Ilhoon shared a heartfelt apology promising to live a better…
T-ara’s Jiyeon and baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun have filed for divorce. The couple, who walked down the aisle in December 2022 four months after publicly acknowledging their relationship, have filed for divorce and will be undergoing mediation soon. The divorce was confirmed by media outlet reports on October 5. Divorce rumors started early in June after a commentator’s on-air hint. This was further fueled by Jiyeon’s halting YouTube activities and Hwang’s drinking gathering with other women. On October 5, both parties released statements regarding the divorce rumors. Jiyeon’s attorney stated that the couple agreed to divorce after a period…
September was all about ‘Love Next Door’, ‘No Gain No Love’, and ‘DNA Lover’ among others. The month of October kicks in with new hot dramas that will keep you on your couches all day. Below are some of the k-dramas to binge on this October. 1. Spice Up Our Love ‘Spice Up Our Love’ is a fantasy romance K-drama revolving around the life of an R-rated web novelist. The novelist’s fantasy life turns to reality as she finds herself entangled in an unprecedented romance brew. Nam Ja Yeon (Han Ji Hyun) is no longer just a writer but lives…
Actor Choi Tae Joon gave an honest perspective about his marriage life with the iconic actress, Park Shin Hye. On October 2, Choi Tae Joon appeared on MBC’s ‘Radio Star’ alongside other reputable figures in the entertainment industry. On being asked about his marriage, Tae Joon started by clarifying that he had no intentions of interfering in another person’s work through his words. Nonetheless, the star went on to comment that the two acting gurus rarely talk about work but focus more on home and family-related matters. In another instance, Tae Joon stated that he never peeks into his wife’s…
The undisputably reputable Loco has officially left AOMG agency after 10 years. The rapper debuted through Jay Park’s AOMG agency in 2012. On October 3, AOMG posted on their social media platforms thanking LOCO for contributing to the company’s success and wishing him luck in his upcoming endeavors. On the same day, Loco released the “SEE YOU” single through which he pours out his heart thanking AOMG for supporting and empowering him throughout the decade. Over the years, Loco has become a powerhouse including winning several awards, releasing several OSTs, and even working as a producer in various notable projects.…
Lisa’s unquenching closeness to Frédéric Arnault and his family as well as the global star’s latest “Moonlight Floor” hit have fueled rumors of the two being a couple. Rumors of Lisa and Frédéric Arnault surfaced early last year after the two were seen hanging out in Paris. The rumors started holding water after the two global influencers posted pictures with similar backgrounds in August of last year. Early in February, Lisa was spotted in Miami Beach alongside Frédéric Arnault’s brother and sister-in-law. On October 1, Lisa attended Louis Vuitton’s show at Paris Fashion Week and was spotted candidly conversing with…