A Look Back at January 26: Major Events in Korean Entertainment

On January 26, significant events unfolded in the Korean entertainment industry. A year ago, actress Kim Tae-hee, known as the wife of singer and actor Rain, made headlines by announcing her entry into Hollywood, following her husband's footsteps. Additionally, singer Hong Da-bin filed a lawsuit against her former agency and its representative over unfair profit distribution and unpaid settlement fees. Two years prior, actor Song Joong-ki surprised fans with news of his remarriage to British actress Katie Louise Saunders, along with the announcement of her pregnancy. Let's take a trip down memory lane with OSEN's 'N Years Ago Today.'

# Song Joong-ki Announces Remarriage and Pregnancy: "Today We Registered Our Marriage, Welcoming a Precious Life"

In December 2022, after three years post-divorce, Song Joong-ki was rumored to be dating British actress Katie Louise Saunders. The couple, who met through a mutual acquaintance in 2021, officially registered their marriage and announced Katie's pregnancy on January 30, 2023.

At the time, Song Joong-ki expressed, "I have vowed to share my life with Katie Louise Saunders, who has supported me and cherished our time together. We will continue to walk together, looking in the same direction."

By June of the same year, Song Joong-ki welcomed a son, receiving numerous congratulations. In April, he was spotted enjoying a baseball game date with his wife, and they were also seen taking walks in their neighborhood with a stroller. Their affectionate moments continued to warm the hearts of fans.

In July, just a year after the birth of their son, news broke of the couple expecting their second child, and by November, they welcomed a daughter, making Song Joong-ki a father of two.

# Kim Tae-hee Makes Hollywood Debut with Amazon's 'Butterfly'

Kim Tae-hee is set to make her Hollywood debut with the Amazon Prime Video series 'Butterfly.' Her agency, Story J Company, confirmed on January 30 that she will star in the series based on the graphic novel of the same name. The story follows David Jung (played by Daniel Dae Kim), a former intelligence officer whose life unravels due to a fateful choice, and Rebecca, a current agent tasked with eliminating him. Daniel Dae Kim not only stars but also produces the series, generating significant buzz.

Fluent in English, Kim Tae-hee is expected to showcase her acting skills in the language, having previously demonstrated her exceptional communication abilities in various dramas. Her performance in 'Butterfly' is highly anticipated as she embarks on her first Hollywood project, with filming already completed.

# Hong Da-bin Sues Former Agency Over Unfair Profit Distribution

Singer Hong Da-bin, formerly active as a hip-hop artist under DPR LIVE, has filed a lawsuit against her former agency and its representative. On January 30, her agency CTYL announced that Hong Da-bin submitted a complaint through Kim & Chang Law Firm on January 29, citing reasons such as unfair profit distribution, unpaid settlement fees, and lack of payment for world tour appearances.

The agency stated, "We recognize the seriousness of this matter and are taking legal action to protect our artist's rights. We hope the truth will be revealed through this lawsuit and will work to prevent similar cases in the future." Hong Da-bin's side claims that her former agency entered into an unfair exclusive contract and failed to provide settlement payments and documentation.

In response, representatives from the agency, Lijim International, stated that they had a management contract with Dream Perfect Regime, where DPR members were signed, and that they had distributed profits transparently until September 2022. They clarified that any distribution of payments among members was based on private discussions and that Lijim had no involvement in those matters.