Prosecutors in Daegu have filed an appeal against the life sentence given to 서동하 (Seo Dong-ha), 34, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in front of her family. The Daegu District Prosecutors' Office submitted the appeal on February 17, citing the need for a harsher sentence than the life imprisonment imposed in the first trial. Previously, prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Seo. They argued that the nature and outcome of the crime warranted a more severe punishment. On February 13, Seo's defense team also filed an appeal, claiming the sentence was inappropriate. 

Seo was arrested and charged after he fatally attacked his ex-girlfriend, identified as A, with a weapon he had prepared in advance in the hallway of an apartment in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, around noon on November 8 of last year. He also attempted to kill her mother but failed. Investigations revealed that after dating for about four months, Seo began stalking A after their breakup, visiting her home and workplace. A reported him to the police three times for stalking, which led Seo to plan his revenge against her.

Prosecutors Appeal Life Sentence of Man Who Murdered Ex-Girlfriend

In the latest episode of KBS 2TV's popular variety show, Superman Returns (슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다), aired on February 19, Park Soo-hong expressed interest in Kim Jun-ho's sons, Eun-woo and Jung-woo, as potential suitors for his daughter, Jae-i. 

The episode featured Kim Jun-ho and his athletic second son, Jung-woo, visiting a gym for some exercise. The gym instructor introduced the children, who were all around 22 months old, as 'our representative athletes,' to which Kim Jun-ho humorously remarked, 'They are referred to as athletes.' 

Despite their young age, the children showcased impressive skills, with Jung-woo astonishing everyone by successfully holding a handstand for 10 seconds on his first attempt. The gym session progressed to a hanging competition on the horizontal bar, marking Jung-woo's first time hanging since his birth. Contrary to Kim Jun-ho's worries, Jung-woo managed to hang calmly, even surpassing a friend who fell earlier by hanging for an impressive 14 seconds without any support. Park Soo-hong was amazed, stating, 'He must have the DNA of a national athlete.' 

Jung-woo later faced off against his four-month-older sister in the finals, again achieving a time of 14 seconds to win the competition. The panelists noted Jung-woo's competitive spirit, attributing it to his resemblance to his father, which made Kim Jun-ho beam with pride. 

Park Soo-hong, impressed by Jung-woo's abilities, commented, 'I think my daughter Jae-i would get along well with Jung-woo. They look adorable together.' An Young-mi jokingly remarked that Park Soo-hong seems eager whenever the boys are around, to which he replied, 'I just think it would be nice for both families to meet for a meal.' 

As the episode continued, Park Soo-hong observed Eun-woo and Jung-woo celebrating the traditional Korean holiday, Jeongwol Daeboreum, and remarked, 'They are like angels. That's why I like that family.' When asked to choose between Eun-woo and Jung-woo, Park Soo-hong humorously noted, 'How can I know who my daughter will like? Everyone has their own preferences.'

박수홍, 김준호와 사돈 될듯..‘국대 DNA’ 뽐낸 子에 “딸 재이랑 잘 어울려” (‘슈돌’)

Park Soo-hong Eyes Kim Jun-ho's Sons as Potential Match for His Daughter

Broadcast personality Park Soo-hong and his wife Kim Da-ye have chosen the renowned Apgujeong Hyundai Apartment, famous for its celebrity residents, as their new home. On February 20, reports emerged that the couple purchased a large unit in the 'Apgujeong Shin-Hyundai Apartment' in Gangnam, Seoul, at a record price. 

According to the reports, Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye acquired a 170㎡ unit in the 12th phase of the Apgujeong Shin-Hyundai Apartment for 7.05 billion KRW, co-owning it with equal shares. They completed the ownership transfer on February 10, and on the same day, a bank mortgage of 3 billion KRW was established. Considering that the maximum bond amount typically represents about 120% of the loan, it is estimated that they borrowed around 2.5 billion KRW, with approximately 4.5 billion KRW of their own funds used for the purchase. 

The Apgujeong Shin-Hyundai Apartments, located along the Han River, were built in 1982 and consist of 27 buildings with a total of 1,924 units, each up to 13 stories high. The complex is conveniently located near Apgujeong Station on Subway Line 3 and is directly across from the Hyundai Department Store's Apgujeong branch. Additionally, it is within walking distance of various lifestyle and educational facilities, making it a traditional affluent neighborhood. 

This apartment complex was featured on MBC's 'Save Me! Homes,' where host Kim Sook expressed her emotional connection to the area, recalling her unsuccessful attempts to purchase a property there in her 20s due to high prices. She noted that the prices would suddenly increase by millions of KRW during negotiations. 

The Apgujeong Hyundai Apartments are categorized by their construction year into Old Hyundai, Seongsu Hyundai, Shin-Hyundai, and Employee Hyundai. Kim Sook highlighted that Apgujeong is unique in South Korea for being an administrative district composed solely of apartments. The complex has gained fame as a 'celebrity apartment' due to notable residents like Yoo Jae-suk and Noh Hong-chul. 

This news comes amid ongoing family conflicts for Park Soo-hong, as his older brother has been indicted for embezzling approximately 6.2 billion KRW of Park's earnings over a decade. The prosecution alleges that the brother misappropriated funds for real estate purchases and personal expenses. While he admitted to some charges, he denied most of the embezzlement allegations. In a recent sentencing hearing, the prosecution sought prison terms of seven years for the brother and three years for an accomplice, but the court found some charges not guilty, sentencing the brother to two years in prison, with an appeal currently underway.

박수홍 친형 '62억 횡령' 눈물 닦았다…♥김다예와 70억 아파트 새 둥지 [종합]

Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye's New Home in Celebrity-Famous Apgujeong Apartment

Park Young-woo (박영우), the 70-year-old chairman of DaeYu Winia Group, was sentenced to four years in prison on February 19, 2025, by the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court. He faced charges of violating labor laws and embezzlement, specifically for failing to pay wages and severance totaling approximately 39.8 billion KRW to 738 employees from October 2020 to December 2023, as well as embezzling 1 billion KRW from company funds.

The court also sentenced Park's cousin, Park Hyun-cheol (박현철), CEO of Winia Electronics, to three years in prison with a four-year probation, while Kim Hyuk-pyo (김혁표), CEO of Winia, received a two-year prison sentence with a three-year probation. An Byung-deok (안병덕), former CEO of Winia, was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation.

The judges emphasized the importance of timely wage payments, stating, "The wages of workers are tied to the livelihoods of their families. Many workers have petitioned for severe punishment for the defendant, and considering the suffering of their families, strict penalties are necessary." They noted that Park, as a business manager, should have taken steps to prevent wage arrears but instead attempted to evade responsibility.

According to prosecutors, Park was accused of withholding wages and severance payments from employees while receiving approximately 49.9 billion KRW in wages and severance from affiliated companies. Investigations revealed that he regularly received reports on wage arrears and made financial decisions through the group’s secretariat.

Additionally, Park and other executives are suspected of transferring 1 billion KRW to his personal account just 30 minutes before filing for corporate rehabilitation on October 4, 2023, without following necessary procedures for company fund disbursement. Prosecutors believe this was an attempt to misappropriate funds before the rehabilitation process began, which would limit their ability to use company money.

From July 2020 to May 2022, Park reportedly spent about 10.5 billion KRW on real estate purchases and construction of vacation homes using company funds. He also allocated 1.8 billion KRW for the interior renovation of a space designated for the chairman within the company. Furthermore, in December 2021, he used company funds to pay a 32 billion KRW deposit for acquiring Namyang Dairy Products, indicating misuse of company resources that contributed to the wage arrears.

Despite the ongoing wage issues, Park continued to receive substantial payments from the group, including 110 million KRW from the sale of the Montver CC golf course, which he prioritized for personal debt repayment.

The court acknowledged that Park received daily reports from the CEOs of affiliated companies and issued financial directives. However, they found him not guilty of embezzlement, stating that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to prove that the transfer of 1 billion KRW constituted embezzlement, as wage arrears began in earnest only in 2023 when the rehabilitation process was initiated.

‘수백억대 임금·퇴직금 체불’ 박영우 대유위니아 회장 1심서 징역 4년

DaeYu Winia Group Chairman Park Young-woo Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wage Theft

On February 19, a press screening for the film 'The Girl We Loved Back Then' took place at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, featuring lead actors Jin Young and Dahyun, along with director Jo Young Myung. The film, which is a remake of the Taiwanese movie of the same name, tells the story of Jin Woo (played by Jin Young) and his first love, Sun Ah (played by Dahyun), as he navigates the challenges of confessing his feelings over many days. 

Dahyun, who is making her acting debut after nine years since her debut with the girl group TWICE, expressed her excitement, stating, "This is my first debut project, and I am both excited and nervous. I can't wait to see how audiences will react when the film releases on the 21st." She added, "I've had a dream of becoming an actress for a long time, but I wasn't sure how to start. Fortunately, opportunities began to arise last year, and I am incredibly grateful to have begun this journey. I feel a mix of nerves and excitement right now." 

She also acknowledged the support she received from her senior, Jin Young, saying, "Since this was my first experience on a film set, everything from script readings to test shoots was new to me. Jin Young was very helpful, explaining things to me, and I am so thankful for that. Looking back on the two months of filming, having Jin Young as my co-star made it easier to complete the project. He was a great support, and I relied on him a lot." 

'The Girl We Loved Back Then' is set to hit theaters on February 21.

트와이스 다현, 데뷔 10년만 첫 스크린 주연 "배우 꿈 오래 됐다"(그 시절)

Dahyun Shares Excitement for Her Film Debut in 'The Girl We Loved Back Then'

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (인권위) is set to discuss the establishment of the Byeon Hee-soo Foundation, which aims to support transgender individuals, after a nine-month application period. On February 20, the commission will hold its fourth standing committee meeting at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, where it will review the proposal for the non-profit organization. The Military Human Rights Center and other groups formed the Byeon Hee-soo Foundation Preparatory Committee in February of last year and submitted the necessary documents for non-profit establishment to the commission in May. According to the regulations governing the establishment and supervision of non-profit organizations under the commission's jurisdiction, a decision on the application must be made within 20 days unless there are special circumstances.

인권위, 내일 ‘변희수재단’ 설립 허가 안건 상정

National Human Rights Commission to Discuss Establishment of Byeon Hee-soo Foundation for Transgender Support

As SEVENTEEN (세븐틴) marks its 10th anniversary, the group is set to engage with fans worldwide through a series of exciting activities. The new special unit, HoshiXWoozi, will release their debut single 'BEAM' on March 10. The title 'BEAM' symbolizes the light emitted by Hoshi and Woozi, showcasing their originality and self-love developed through challenges since their trainee days. As leaders of the performance and vocal teams, both born in 1996, they are expected to shine as representatives of the '96 line.

In addition to their unit activities, SEVENTEEN will host a large-scale fan meeting titled 'SVT 9TH FAN MEETING 'SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND'' at Incheon Munhak Stadium on March 20-21, a rare stadium-sized event for a fan meeting. They will also return to Japan for fan meetings after two years, scheduled for April 24 and 26-27 at Kyocera Dome Osaka, and May 10-11 at Saitama Super Arena, under the title 'SEVENTEEN 2025 JAPAN FAN MEETING ‘HOLIDAY’.

On April 4, SEVENTEEN will head to Mexico to perform as the headliner on the first day of the Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025 festival, the largest music festival in Latin America, often referred to as 'Mexico's Coachella.' This marks the first time a K-pop artist will perform at this festival. Last year, SEVENTEEN made history as the first K-pop group to perform on the main stage at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival and headlined the main stage at Lollapalooza Berlin in Germany.

The year began with the return of the special unit BSS (부석순), consisting of Seungkwan, DK, and Hoshi, who released their second single 'TELEPARTY' on January 8, delivering the message that 'if you are happy in this moment, everyone is young.' The title track 'Jeans' quickly topped real-time and daily charts on domestic music sites, and the album sold nearly 530,000 copies within a week of its release, showcasing the strength of the 'K-pop super unit' BSS.

The 'SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR,' which began in October last year, concluded its Asian leg in January and February, with performances in major stadiums in Bulacan, Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangkok. The tour received rave reviews from local media, highlighting SEVENTEEN's powerful presence and perfect performances, and attracted approximately 1,037,000 fans both online and offline.

A representative from Pledis Entertainment stated, 'As SEVENTEEN celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are preparing various activities to create meaningful memories with our fans. We hope everyone looks forward to this being 'SEVENTEEN's year.'

SEVENTEEN Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Special Unit and Global Fan Meetings

The K-pop group LE SSERAFIM (르세라핌), consisting of members Kim Chae-won (김채원), Sakura (사쿠라), Heo Yoon-jin (허윤진), Kazuha (카즈하), and Hong Eun-chae (홍은채), is set to release their fifth mini album titled 'HOT' on March 14 at 1 PM. This album will serve as the final installment in their trilogy, following the releases of their third mini album 'EASY' in February and their fourth mini album 'CRAZY' in August of last year.

Since their debut with 'FEARLESS', LE SSERAFIM has consistently infused their music with genuine thoughts and emotions, resonating with listeners. 'EASY' explored themes of inner struggles and anxieties, while 'CRAZY' encouraged embracing chaos rather than succumbing to fear. With 'HOT', the group aims to showcase a passionate attitude towards love, further illustrating their journey of inner strength throughout this trilogy.

The 'EASY', 'CRAZY', and 'HOT' trilogy has been in the works since 2023. During their performance at the 2023 MAMA Awards, they captivated audiences with the theme 'REVOLUTION ON THE STREET', where the phrases 'EASY', 'CRAZY', and 'HOT' were sequentially displayed on LED screens. Additionally, the track 'Good Bones' from their third mini album features the lyrics, "EASY, CRAZY, HOT I can make it," while the music video for 'Smart' also hints at the next album's title, 'CRAZY'. This has provided fans with numerous clues about the trilogy over the past year.

LE SSERAFIM will unveil the album trailer for 'HOT' on the 21st. Known for their stylish and impressive trailers, anticipation is high among K-pop fans for this upcoming release.

LE SSERAFIM to Conclude Trilogy with New Album 'HOT'

K-pop sensation BLACKPINK has unveiled the first phase of their highly anticipated 2025 world tour, which will feature stadium performances across various countries. YG Entertainment announced the tour on their official blog on February 20, revealing a poster that outlines the tour schedule, which includes stops in South Korea, North America, Europe, and Japan.

The tour kicks off with performances at the Goyang Sports Complex in South Korea on July 5 and 6, before heading to major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, and Tokyo. 

While the full details are yet to be revealed, all confirmed venues are large stadiums capable of accommodating tens of thousands of fans. Notably, BLACKPINK will be the first K-pop girl group to perform at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London, often referred to as the 'dream stage' for pop artists. Additionally, their solo concert at Goyang Sports Complex marks a first for K-pop girl groups.

BLACKPINK will share the stage with other global music icons, performing at renowned venues like SoFi Stadium in LA, Soldier Field in Chicago, Rogers Centre in Toronto, City Field in New York, Stade de France in Paris, Ippodromo Snai La Maura in Milan, Estadi Olímpic in Barcelona, and Tokyo Dome, further solidifying their status as a top-tier global group.

YG Entertainment stated, "We are preparing for a tour of unprecedented scale and quality, comparable to the historic [BORN PINK] tour that wrote a new chapter in K-pop history. We ask for your continued interest in the additional locations and dates that will be announced soon."

The teaser released alongside the announcement highlights moments from the previous 'BORN PINK' tour, which set a record for K-pop girl group world tours with over 1.8 million attendees. The explosive stage presence of BLACKPINK and the enthusiasm of fans worldwide are sure to elevate anticipation for the upcoming tour, with the phrase 'AND MORE' prominently displayed in the video, hinting at more surprises to come.

BLACKPINK Announces Massive 2025 World Tour with Stadium Performances

K-pop group ONF has made a remarkable comeback, soaring to the top of both domestic and international music charts. On February 18, they released their second full-length album, Part.1 'ONF: MY IDENTITY', with the title track 'The Stranger' hitting number one on the Bugs real-time chart on the day of its release. The album's entire tracklist has also charted, showcasing the group's impressive popularity.

Internationally, 'ONF: MY IDENTITY' has made significant strides, reaching the number one spot on Japan's iTunes 'Top Albums' chart and landing in the top 10 of the same chart in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Additionally, the album secured the 16th position on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, highlighting ONF's strong presence in the global music scene.

With a successful comeback underway, ONF is set to kick off their promotional activities on February 20 at 6 PM KST on Mnet's 'M Countdown'. They will perform 'The Stranger' for the first time, delivering a dynamic performance filled with healing energy and impactful choreography that symbolizes the shape of a circle.

'The Stranger' is a pop track characterized by its funky rhythm and showcases ONF's impressive vocal range. The song conveys a positive message about pursuing dreams amidst a challenging world, with members Min-kyun and Wyatt contributing to its creation, adding a unique touch to the group's sound.

ONF Tops Charts with New Album 'ONF: MY IDENTITY'

NewJeans has encountered difficulties in their initial activities as NJZ. On February 19, five major music organizations in South Korea, including the Korea Management Federation and the Korea Entertainment Producers Association, issued a statement calling for policy support to eradicate tampering in the K-pop industry. They claimed that the actions of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin and NewJeans are causing significant harm to the industry and urged the government and National Assembly to establish anti-tampering legislation.

In response, NewJeans took a stand. A lengthy rebuttal was posted on accounts managed by the members' parents, asserting that HYBE and the organizations involved are engaging in misleading media play. They stated that their exclusive contract with HYBE has been terminated due to unfair treatment.

The group specifically claimed that HYBE's Chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally pressured U.S. contacts to cancel NJZ members' performances, as relayed by a representative from ComplexCon, who is assisting with the event preparations.

Ador countered this by stating, "We have never pressured the cancellation of NewJeans' Hong Kong performance. Chairman Bang has confirmed that he has had no contact regarding the Hong Kong concert."

Ador further explained that they requested the event organizers to use the official team name NewJeans, as previously requested by domestic media, and to conduct the performance through Ador based on the exclusive contract.

NewJeans maintains that their exclusive contract with Ador was terminated in November of last year and has declared 'NJZ' as their new team name. In response, Ador has filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract and has sought an injunction against the group's agency status and advertising contracts. They argue that the official team name is not NJZ but NewJeans, asserting that the exclusive contract remains valid. The first hearing related to the injunction is set for March, while the lawsuit regarding the exclusive contract will begin in April. If the court rules in favor of HYBE, NewJeans' independent activities may be jeopardized.

Prosecutors Appeal Life Sentence of Man Who Murdered Ex-Girlfriend

What do you think?

Trending

SEVENTEEN Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Special Unit and Global Fan Meetings

LE SSERAFIM to Conclude Trilogy with New Album 'HOT'

BLACKPINK Announces Massive 2025 World Tour with Stadium Performances

ONF Tops Charts with New Album 'ONF: MY IDENTITY'

NewJeans Faces Challenges in First Activities as NJZ

More

Park Soo-hong Eyes Kim Jun-ho's Sons as Potential Match for His Daughter

Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye's New Home in Celebrity-Famous Apgujeong Apartment

DaeYu Winia Group Chairman Park Young-woo Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wage Theft

Dahyun Shares Excitement for Her Film Debut in 'The Girl We Loved Back Then'

National Human Rights Commission to Discuss Establishment of Byeon Hee-soo Foundation for Transgender Support

Korea Guides

Common Visas for Foreigners in South Korea

Working Holiday visa in South Korea

K-ETA visa in South Korea

E-7 visa in South Korea

E-2 visa in South Korea