On December 12, actor Kim Ji-seok captured attention with a charming photo as he left work. He shared the image with the caption, "퇴근 짤이다 굿밤 에블바디" ("Here’s my departure pic, good night everybody"). In the photo, Kim sported a hat and mask, flashing a playful expression while making a heart gesture with his hands. Currently, he is filming a new drama titled '그래, 이혼하자' ("Okay, Let's Get a Divorce") alongside actress Lee Min-jung. Additionally, Kim made headlines in August when he confirmed his relationship with actress Lee Joo-myung, who is 12 years his junior.

Kim Ji-seok Shares Adorable Departure Photo

A collective of 762 prominent South Korean musicians, including singer 윤종신 (Yoon Jong-shin), composer 윤일상 (Yoon Il-sang), and lyricist 김이나 (Kim Eana), have issued a declaration calling for the impeachment and arrest of President 윤석열 (Yoon Suk-yeol). On December 14, the group, known as '대한민국 음악인 연대' (Korean Musicians' Solidarity), criticized the president for allegedly violating constitutional principles and undermining democratic values. They stated, 'President Yoon has trampled on the constitution with unlawful orders and disrupted the daily lives of citizens by deploying military forces to the National Assembly and the Election Commission.' The musicians expressed their outrage over citizens rallying outside the National Assembly, waving light sticks and singing idol songs while demanding accountability for what they termed a coup d'état. They lamented that artists who have helped spread K-Pop and K-Culture globally are disheartened by the perception of South Korea as a politically regressive nation. This declaration has garnered significant attention, with notable figures from the music industry, including 신대철 (Shin Dae-chul) of 시나위 (Sinawi), 루시드폴 (Lucid Fall), and lyricist 서지음 (Seo Ji-eum), joining the cause.

[SC이슈] 윤종신·김이나·윤일상 등 762명, “K-컬처 가치 추락” 시국선언[종합]

762 South Korean Musicians Demand Impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol

In Gwangju, South Korea, a group of individuals with ties to organized crime has been indicted for laundering approximately 260 billion KRW (around $260 million) in illegal gambling funds. The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office announced on December 13, 2024, that 15 members of the money laundering organization, led by a 28-year-old identified as A, have been charged without detention, while one member has been detained. 

From July 2022 to August 2023, A and his associates allegedly established a criminal organization to launder funds from illegal gambling sites. They transferred the 260 billion KRW into proxy accounts and subsequently delivered around 46.2 billion KRW in cash to the operators of these gambling sites. 

This group is part of a larger network of 34 individuals previously indicted for laundering 10.7 billion KRW in December 2023. Among the 15 recently indicted, 13 are currently serving prison sentences ranging from 8 months to 2 years and 6 months for related charges, while the remaining two received suspended sentences. The detained member was recently apprehended. 

The prosecution clarified that while A and his group had already faced charges for operating gambling spaces, their organization and activities as a criminal group warranted additional charges. 

The money laundering operation began in July 2022 when they set up their first office in the Gwangju area, laundering around 10 billion KRW by September of that year. Over the next year, they processed a total of 260 billion KRW from over 20 gambling sites. To evade law enforcement, they frequently changed offices and utilized virtual private networks (VPNs) to hide their IP addresses, maintaining a 24-hour shift system at their offices. 

The group reportedly took a commission of 1-2% from the laundered funds. During a raid in August 2023, authorities seized 345 million KRW in cash, along with luxury items worth around 700 million KRW from the residences of the group's leaders. 

Additionally, a gambling site operator, identified as B (38), who had contracted the group for money laundering, has also been arrested. B was found to be operating two to three gambling sites. The prosecution is currently pursuing other gambling site operators who sought the group's laundering services. 

A prosecution official stated, 'We will thoroughly recover the criminal proceeds from the defendants to spread the message that crime does not pay.'

檢, 2600억 규모 도박자금 세탁조직 기소…금송아지‧명품 등 범죄수익도 압수

Gang Involved in Money Laundering of Illegal Gambling Funds Indicted

Selena Gomez, often referred to as 'America's Sweetheart,' made a surprising announcement regarding her engagement on December 12. She shared a heartfelt post on her social media, stating, "Forever begins now," accompanied by a photo of her fiancé, Benny Blanco, kissing her. In another image, she showcased a stunning diamond ring on her left hand's ring finger.

Celebrities quickly rallied to congratulate her, with Taylor Swift commenting, "I’ll be the girl with the flowers," and rapper Lil Nas X chiming in with a simple, "Congratulations!"

The couple, who confirmed their relationship in December of last year, are now set to tie the knot just a year later. Many fans expressed their joy, noting that this marks a significant moment for Gomez as she appears to have moved on from her past relationship with Justin Bieber.

Gomez and Bieber had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship from 2010 to 2018, officially parting ways in 2018, the same year Bieber became engaged to Hailey Bieber. Despite their breakup, Gomez struggled to forget Bieber for a long time.

In a recent interview with TIME, Gomez revealed, "I was alone for five years. I got used to being by myself. After my breakup with Justin, I tortured myself for two years and slowly accepted being alone. I planned my life alone and even considered adopting a child if I was still single by 35."

Benny Blanco is a well-known producer who has collaborated with major artists like Kanye West, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Maroon 5.

Gomez began her career at the age of seven on a children's TV show and has since amassed significant wealth through her music, acting, and cosmetics business. According to Bloomberg, her net worth is currently estimated at $1.3 billion (approximately 1.74 trillion KRW).

Additionally, Gomez has been nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards next year.

[SCin스타] 셀레나 고메즈, 깜짝 결혼발표…드디어 '구남친' 저스틴 비버 잊었다

Selena Gomez Surprises Fans with Engagement Announcement

Rosé (로제), a member of the globally renowned K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, continues to break records as a solo artist on the UK Official Chart, one of the two major pop charts alongside Billboard. According to the latest update on December 13, 2024, Rosé's debut studio album 'rosie' (로지), released on December 6, has debuted at number 4 on the Official Albums Top 100 chart for the week of December 13-19. 

She is the first K-pop female solo artist to enter this chart. Previously, as a member of BLACKPINK, Rosé achieved a number 1 spot with their first full album 'The Album' (디 앨범) in 2020, while their second album 'Born Pink' (본 핑크) reached number 2 in 2022. 

Additionally, the pre-release track 'APT.' (아파트), co-written with American pop star Bruno Mars, has landed at number 4 on the Official Singles Top 100 this week. This marks an impressive eight-week streak in the top 5, tying with PSY's 'Gangnam Style' (강남스타일) for the longest run in the top 5 for a K-pop artist. The title track from 'rosie', 'TOXIC TILL THE END' (톡식 틸 디 엔드), has also made its debut at number 72 on the Official Singles Top 100, making it Rosé's fourth solo entry on the chart, following 'On The Ground' (온 더 그라운드) and 'Number One Girl' (넘버 원 걸). With this achievement, she has become the K-pop female solo artist with the most entries on the chart. 

In other chart news, the number 1 spot on the Official Singles Chart this week has been reclaimed by the classic holiday song 'Last Christmas' by the British duo Wham!, while Taylor Swift's latest album 'The Tortured Poets Department' has also returned to the top position.

로제 정규 1집 ‘로지’, 英 앨범차트 4위... ‘아파트’는 8주 연속 싱글차트 톱5

Rosé Sets New Records on UK Official Chart with Debut Album 'rosie'

On December 13, EXO's Kai made his usual appearance for fans on the Weverse official channel, keeping his promise as he does every month. This time, however, he shared a glimpse into his daily life a day earlier, seemingly aiming to comfort those who might be feeling anxious on a Friday.

Kai, known for his warm demeanor, showcased his enduring good looks while also displaying a quirky charm. He posted an honest photo of himself gazing at his adorable nephew, who bore a striking resemblance to him, with a round face and a pouty expression. This candid moment reflected Kai's genuine connection with his fans.

As winter is often associated with Kai, he looked particularly cute wearing a beanie featuring a well-known brand's pig character, bundled up in a scarf. His charming features, highlighted by his uniquely shaped eyes, added to his appeal during the chilly season.

Fans reacted with excitement, commenting, "Just one more appearance and we’re free from the wait!", "Come back soon and bring some K-pop discipline, Kai!", "I can’t wait for your solo album number four!", and "Why is watching you look at your nephew so funny?".

In related news, Kai's mini solo album 'ROVER', released in March last year, topped various charts and he became the most streamed artist on Spotify among SM Entertainment singers. Additionally, EXO made a comeback with their seventh studio album 'Cream Soda' after a hiatus of three years and six months, and although Kai was not actively promoting, his contributions to the album's jacket photos were well-received.

엑소 카이, 꽁꽁 싸매도 귀여워 美치겠다 별들아···똑 닮은 조카 공개까지

EXO's Kai Comforts Fans with Early Update on Weverse

Hyelim, a former member of the girl group Wonder Girls, has shared her joy after giving birth to her second son. She married taekwondo athlete Shin Min-cheol in 2020 and welcomed her first son in February 2022. In June, she announced her second pregnancy, stating, "Siwoo is getting a little brother!" She noted that the experience has been quite different this time around, with her baby bump appearing more quickly and various symptoms differing from her first pregnancy. The baby, nicknamed 'Ddaengkong', was born on December 11. On December 12, she posted on her social media, "Ddaengkong was born yesterday!! Thank you for coming to us, Ddaengkong. I still can't believe I'm a mom of two boys. Let's do well together! I'm so grateful to everyone who supported us. Both Ddaengkong and I are healthy." The post included a touching photo of her sleeping newborn. Hyelim also expressed her gratitude to the hospital staff, sharing a photo of herself praying in her hospital bed. She reflected on her previous experience with her first son, saying, "I was worried and scared about the surgery for ten months, but I'm thankful it went well. A heartfelt thank you to the obstetrician who welcomed Siwoo and Ddaengkong! And to the nurses, thank you so much!" She added that she is healing both physically and mentally, and feels her recovery is faster this time. Her husband, Shin Min-cheol, also shared his excitement on social media, writing, "2024.12.11 Ddaengkong!! Mom and Dad waited a long time for you. We love you, our second son!"

Former Wonder Girls Member Hyelim Welcomes Second Son

In the latest episode of ENA and SBS Plus's 'I Am SOLO, Love Continues After' (나는 SOLO, 그 후 사랑은 계속된다), Mr. Hwang opened up about his aversion to physical intimacy during a date with contestant 10th Yeongja. He shared that he has been divorced for a year after a ten-year marriage, describing their relationship as merely sharing a home. When Yeongja asked if he married for love, Mr. Hwang recounted how he jokingly proposed during a year-end gathering, leading to a swift engagement six months later. He admitted that their initial compatibility issues stemmed from his severe cleanliness obsession, which caused frequent arguments in the early months of their marriage. Despite having affection for each other, he felt their relationship lacked normalcy, leading to their eventual divorce after ten years. Mr. Hwang also expressed his discomfort with sweat and sticky sensations, likening physical contact to a snake touching his body, which left Yeongja and the panel visibly surprised.

Mr. Hwang Reveals His Discomfort with Physical Affection on 'I Am SOLO, Love Continues After'

On December 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of South Korea confirmed the acquittal of Heo Young-in, the chairman of SPC Group, who was accused of instructing the sale of affiliate stocks at a low price to evade gift taxes. This ruling follows a previous Supreme Court decision in June that annulled a fine of 64.7 billion won imposed by the Fair Trade Commission due to allegations of unfair support to affiliates in 2020.

The Supreme Court's second division, led by Justice Park Young-jae, upheld the lower court's ruling of not guilty for Heo, as well as for Jo Sang-ho, the former CEO of SPC Group, and Hwang Jae-bok, the former representative of SPC. 

The charges stemmed from a transaction in December 2012, where Heo and others were accused of transferring shares of Milldawon, a flour production company owned by SPC affiliates Shani and Paris Croissant, to another affiliate, Samlip, at a price of 255 won per share. This price was significantly lower than the acquisition cost of 3,038 won in 2008 and the fair market value of 1,595 won determined by prosecutors. The prosecution argued that Heo intended to avoid approximately 700 million won in gift taxes related to the 'work allocation' scheme introduced in January of that year, which imposes taxes on profits gained from directing work to companies where family members are shareholders.

However, both the first and second trials concluded that the method of stock valuation was not illegal and that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing by the defendants. The Supreme Court reiterated that there was no misinterpretation of the law in the original not guilty verdict.

Heo's attorney, Seong Chang-ho from the law firm Kim & Chang, stated that the transfer of Milldawon shares was lawful, devoid of any illicit intent, and aimed at improving the company's governance structure for its benefit, a point that has now been conclusively affirmed.

Supreme Court Acquits SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in of Charges Related to Stock Transfer

On December 12, 2024, actor Ryu Seung-beom expressed his deep affection for his 4-year-old daughter during an appearance on the YouTube channel 'Myeongmyeong Teukgyeop'. He joined fellow cast members Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-beom, Roman, and Lee Soo-hyun to discuss their latest project, the Coupang Play series 'Family Planning'. 

Ryu revealed that he chose to participate in the series because of Bae Doona's involvement, stating, "I really admire Bae Doona as an actress. When I heard that Baek Yoon-sik would also be in it, I was even more eager to join." Bae Doona reciprocated the sentiment, saying, "I was pleasantly surprised that Ryu Seung-beom agreed to participate; it felt like a stroke of luck." 

Reflecting on his long hiatus from acting, Ryu commented, "Everyone's life is different. My wife once said that on a snowy day, each snowflake finds its place as it falls. Ultimately, we all have our own paths to follow." 

He also shared a filming anecdote, recalling, "After shooting a scene where I was bleeding, I couldn't go straight home and ended up walking around Garosu-gil twice." Ryu expressed joy in being called 'Funny Guy' by his daughter, emphasizing his efforts to be a fun and friendly dad. 

Ryu Seung-beom married a Slovakian artist in 2020 and they have a 4-year-old daughter together.

Ryu Seung-beom Shares Heartfelt Love for His 4-Year-Old Daughter

On December 12, 2024, Son Tae-seung (65), the former chairman of Woori Financial Group, appeared at the Seoul Southern District Court for a pre-arrest interrogation regarding allegations of improper loans amounting to 46 billion KRW to his relatives. The court rejected the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant, stating that there remains a dispute over whether Son conspired in the alleged crimes. Judge Han Jeong-seok emphasized the need to protect the defendant's rights, noting that the evidence presented did not sufficiently prove collusion in the alleged wrongdoing.

During the hearing, Son refrained from answering questions from reporters about whether he directly ordered or condoned the improper loans, if he influenced promotions for employees who approved the loans, or why he changed his phone before a search and seizure.

Previously, on November 26, the court had dismissed the prosecution's initial warrant request, citing insufficient evidence to establish a conspiracy or specific involvement in the alleged crimes. The court remarked that while some of Son's statements appeared dubious, this alone did not justify fears of evidence tampering or flight risk.

Following the initial dismissal, the prosecution conducted further investigations, re-summoning Son on December 6 to gather more evidence regarding his involvement in the loans approved by Woori Bank and Woori Financial Savings Bank from April 2020 to January 2024. However, they failed to secure conclusive evidence to warrant his arrest, with Son reportedly denying most allegations during the investigation.

Kim Ji-seok Shares Adorable Departure Photo

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Former Wonder Girls Member Hyelim Welcomes Second Son

Mr. Hwang Reveals His Discomfort with Physical Affection on 'I Am SOLO, Love Continues After'

Supreme Court Acquits SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in of Charges Related to Stock Transfer

Ryu Seung-beom Shares Heartfelt Love for His 4-Year-Old Daughter

Court Denies Arrest Warrant for Former Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung

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762 South Korean Musicians Demand Impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol

Gang Involved in Money Laundering of Illegal Gambling Funds Indicted

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Rosé Sets New Records on UK Official Chart with Debut Album 'rosie'

EXO's Kai Comforts Fans with Early Update on Weverse

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