On the February 10 episode of TV Chosun's variety show 'Joseon’s Lovebirds' (조선의 사랑꾼), Seo Jeong-hee revealed her plans to marry this spring. During the show, she introduced her boyfriend, architect Kim Tae-hyun, who is six years her junior at 56 years old. Seo shared her feelings about love, stating, 'I never felt my heart race when meeting someone until I met Tae-hyun. After our dates, when we hugged goodbye, my heart pounded for the first time, and my face turned red. Is this what it feels like to love someone? It was a strange feeling.' The couple is planning a small wedding in May, during the blooming spring season. They also shared a kiss on the show, prompting reactions like, 'This is Hollywood; middle-aged love is fearless!' Kim Gook-jin humorously remarked, 'Is this really the Seo Jeong-hee I know? This is the most shocking moment I've experienced; I’ll probably dream about that scene.' Seo Jeong-hee, who debuted as a CF model at 19, left her brief entertainment career to marry Seo Se-won. However, after revealing shocking family issues in 2014, they divorced in 2015. She has been in a public relationship with her younger boyfriend for four years now.

Seo Jeong-hee Announces Wedding Plans on 'Joseon’s Lovebirds'

Members of the K-pop group NewJeans have declared their intention to change their group name to NJZ, but their label Ador has rejected this new name amid an ongoing contract dispute. On February 10, Ador stated that the members' announcement on February 7 regarding the unapproved name has led to confusion. Ador emphasized that the contract with NewJeans remains legally valid and that claims of its termination are unilateral. Previously, Ador filed for a preliminary injunction to affirm its management rights and is currently awaiting a court decision. The label urged the media to use the official name 'NewJeans' based on the valid contract and requested accurate reporting on the significance of exclusive contracts in the entertainment industry. NewJeans is set to perform under the name NJZ at the 'Complex Live' event in Hong Kong from March 21 to 23, where they will unveil new music. The group claimed last November that their contract with Ador was terminated, while Ador insists the contract is valid until 2029 and is pursuing legal action. The first hearing for the injunction filed by Ador against the five members is scheduled for March 7, with the initial court date for the contract validity lawsuit set for April 3.

어도어 “NJZ 아닌 뉴진스…전속계약 법적 유효”

NewJeans Members Announce Name Change Amid Contract Dispute with Ador

On February 7, 2025, 'Squid Game 2' (오징어 게임 2) was awarded the Best Foreign Language Series at the 30th Critics Choice Awards held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. This marks the second consecutive win for the series, following its success with the first season.

The Critics Choice Awards, organized by the Critics Choice Association (CCA) comprising film and television critics from the U.S. and Canada, saw 'Squid Game 2' compete against other nominees including 'Acapulco', 'Citadel: Honey Bunny', 'La Maquina', 'Lydia Poet's Law', 'My Brilliant Friend', 'Pachinko', and 'Sena', which are set in Mexico, India, Italy, and Brazil.

Notably, 'Squid Game 2' was not nominated in the Drama Series category. In contrast, the first season of 'Squid Game' received nominations for both Best Foreign Language Series and Best Drama Series at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, where it triumphed in both categories, with Lee Jung-jae winning Best Actor. This year, the Drama Series award went to 'Shogun', which also secured wins for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. In the film category, 'Anora' won Best Picture, while John Chu of 'Wicked' took home the Best Director award. Best Actor and Best Actress were awarded to Adrien Brody for 'The Brutalist' and Demi Moore for 'Substance', respectively.

According to Netflix, as of February 9, 2025, 'Squid Game 2' has become the third most-watched Netflix show of all time, following 'Squid Game 1' and 'Wednesday', with a total of 1.2819 billion hours viewed.

‘오징어 게임 2′ 美 크리틱스 초이스 외국어 시리즈 작품상

Squid Game 2 Wins Best Foreign Language Series at Critics Choice Awards

In the upcoming episode of KBS2's 'Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears' (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀), comedian Lee Kyung-kyu makes a bold statement, declaring, "I want to create a stir." Concerned about the diminishing presence of entertainers, he predicts the landscape of variety shows in 2025. Lee laments, "People who have learned to make us laugh are disappearing," and proposes a 'Donkey Debate' to address the encroachment of various professions into the entertainment realm.

During the 'Donkey Debate,' Lee identifies a 'danger zone' among 25 professions, asserting, "We must eradicate the danger zone." He begins to categorize allies and foes, leading to a discussion where Park Myung-soo claims that chefs pose the greatest threat to their profession. He argues that jobs related to food, clothing, and shelter should be allies. However, Lee counters, stating, "Baek Jong-won is not a cook; he is a businessman," and emphasizes his seniority in the franchise industry.

Lee also questions why producers like Na Young-seok are acting as MCs, demanding, "Na Young-seok should return his award immediately!" He expresses frustration over losing his programs, stating, "We can no longer stand by and watch," which leads him to propose a 'Special Law Against Broadcast Appearances.'

On this episode, Lee Kyung-kyu will unveil a list of 11 individuals he considers threats in the entertainment industry, including producer Na Young-seok and businessman Baek Jong-won. As the list is revealed, the studio grows increasingly tense, prompting Jeon Hyun-moo to remark, "Oh dear, there will be seismic shifts in the broadcasting world." 

Viewers are left wondering what shocking statements Lee Kyung-kyu will make and who exactly comprises his list of 11 threats. The episode airs on February 9 at 4:40 PM KST.

이경규, 결국 나영석 저격했다…"PD가 왜 MC를 봐? 즉시 백상 반납해라" ('사당귀')

Lee Kyung-kyu Reveals List of 11 Threats in the Entertainment Industry

The Netflix series Squid Game 2 (오징어 게임2) has won the award for Best Foreign Language Series at the 30th Critics Choice Awards held in Santa Monica, California, on February 7. The show triumphed over other nominees including Acapulco (Apple TV+), Citadel: Honey Bunny (Prime Video), La Maquina (Hulu), Lydia Poet's Law Season 2 (Netflix), My Brilliant Friend Season 4 (HBO), Pachinko (Apple TV+), and Sena (Netflix).

The first season of Squid Game (오징어 게임) previously made history at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, winning three awards including Best Action Series, Best Actor, and Best Actress in the TV category.

In the film category, the Best Picture award went to Sean Baker's Anora, while Demi Moore won Best Actress for Substance, and Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for The Pianist. In the TV category, FX's Shogun won Best Series, with Hiroyuki Sanada winning Best Actor, Tadanobu Asano winning Best Supporting Actor, and Moeka Hoshi winning Best Supporting Actress.

Squid Game 2 premiered on December 26, 2024, and fans can look forward to Squid Game 3 (오징어 게임3), which is set to be released on June 27, 2025. The Critics Choice Awards are organized by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).

‘오징어게임2’ 크리틱스초이스 외국어 시리즈 상 받았다

Squid Game 2 Wins Foreign Language Series at Critics Choice Awards

On February 10, 2025, SM Entertainment (SM, 대표: 장철혁·탁영준) announced its financial performance for the fourth quarter of 2024, reporting consolidated revenues of 273.8 billion KRW and an operating profit of 33.9 billion KRW. Compared to the same period last year, revenues increased by 9%, while operating profit surged by 275.6%. The net loss for the period was reduced to 24.1 billion KRW, less than half of the previous year's figure.

On a standalone basis, SM recorded fourth-quarter revenues of 181.8 billion KRW and an operating profit of 35.8 billion KRW, marking increases of 11% and 83.2%, respectively, from the previous year. The company also achieved a net profit of 8.3 billion KRW, marking a return to profitability.

Key drivers of SM's consolidated revenue growth in Q4 included increased sales from merchandise and licensing, as well as concert revenues. Additionally, the rise in artist activities in Japan and expanded drama production contributed to the revenue growth of major subsidiaries.

The significant increase in consolidated operating profit was attributed to higher sales from the headquarters and subsidiaries, changes in the sales mix, and the recognition of performance bonuses.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, SM has launched a new slogan, 'THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE,' and has begun unveiling brand films. Following the successful SMTOWN LIVE concert in Seoul last January, the company plans to release the SMTOWN album on February 14, coinciding with its anniversary. Upcoming events include the K-pop orchestra concert 'SM Classics Live 2025 with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra' on February 14 and 15, and a global SMTOWN LIVE tour scheduled for the second quarter.

Notably, on February 24, SM will debut its new girl group, Hatz to Hatz, with their first single 'The Chase,' marking the company's first new girl group in five years since aespa. In March, solo mini-albums from Red Velvet's Seulgi and NCT's Ten, along with a single from Naivis, will be released.

In the second quarter, aespa will release a new mini-album, while RISE will drop their full album. NCT's Doyoung and Mark will also release solo albums, alongside mini-albums from EXO's Kai, Red Velvet's Irene & Seulgi, WayV, and NCT WISH.

Furthermore, aespa has been on a world tour, achieving sold-out shows in Seattle and LA, while NCT 127's world tour continues to gain momentum with a confirmed performance at Tokyo Dome. Other ongoing global performances include TVXQ's nationwide tour in Japan and Super Junior's Yesung and SHINee's Minho's Asia tours, with Taeyeon and NCT WISH also set to embark on their Asia tours.

Additionally, during the SMTOWN LIVE event held at Gocheok Sky Dome in January, SM unveiled SMTR25, a group of 25 male trainees, which received a warm response. The company is ramping up preparations for their debut through pre-promotion on social media and participation in the SMTOWN LIVE global tour, generating excitement for new intellectual properties.

Co-CEO 장철혁 stated, 'On our 30th anniversary, we have announced our new slogan, 'THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE.' SM will continue to be a company that remains committed to its cultural heritage while consistently striving for excellence. We will pursue continuous innovation and the expansion of our artist IP alongside our strong lineup of artists and rich content.'

'30주년' SM, 하츠투하츠 데뷔 전 겹경사..영업이익 339억 '대박' 났다

SM Entertainment Reports Strong Q4 2024 Financial Results

It has been 18 years since the beloved actress Jeong Da-bin, often referred to as the 'Second Choi Jin-sil' for her vibrant charm, tragically passed away. On February 10, 2007, she was found dead in her boyfriend's apartment in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. While the police and the National Forensic Service concluded that her death was a suicide based on the autopsy, her family and agency have consistently argued that there was no reason for her to take her own life. To this day, the reasons behind Jeong Da-bin's death remain unclear.

Jeong Da-bin made her debut in 2000 with the SBS sitcom Don.com. She rose to fame with her role in the sitcom Nonstop 3 and showcased her adorable charm alongside Kim Rae-won in the 2003 drama Rooftop Room Cat. Her lovely visuals and refreshing acting style led many to anticipate her as the next 'Romantic Comedy Queen' following Choi Jin-sil.

However, after her appearance in the 2005 SBS drama The Summer's Hurricane, her career saw a decline. In 2007, she suddenly left her loved ones, shocking the entertainment industry. Even after 18 years, fans continue to remember her as a versatile actress capable of excelling in both comedy and romance.

Her colleagues share similar sentiments. In a 2018 MBC special titled 'Again, Twenty - New Nonstop,' Jo In-sung expressed his difficulty in attending her funeral, stating, 'It was hard to go to the mortuary. My heart was too pained. I felt so sorry that I wondered if I had the right to go. But I thought I should at least say goodbye on my way there.' 

Similarly, Jung Tae-woo reflected on the disbelief surrounding her death, saying, 'Everyone must have felt it was unbelievable. It was so hard to accept that Da-bin was gone. She had family and colleagues around her. We had good memories together. I still find myself talking to the air every time articles about her come out.'

Remembering Jeong Da-bin: 18 Years Since Her Untimely Passing

The popular K-pop group NewJeans has announced their independent activities under the new name NJZ. On February 9, they shared a group selfie on their official account, stating, "It's been a while since we took a group selfie." The photo features members Minji, Hani, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein striking V poses and smiling brightly.

The members expressed their satisfaction with their day, saying, "We feel like we had a very fulfilling day. We hope our fans, Bunnies (the official fan club), are enjoying good music and staying warm."

On February 7, NewJeans revealed their new team name, NJZ, and changed their previously established account 'Jins for Free' to 'NJZ Official.' They also announced plans for their upcoming activities, including a performance at the 'Complex Live' event at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong in March. They will debut their new song on March 23, the last day of ComplexCon, and mentioned that they will soon have an agent.

In response, Ador expressed disappointment over the members' unilateral decision to pursue this path before any legal judgment was made. Last November, NewJeans declared the termination of their exclusive contract with Ador, citing contract violations. They stated that they would not be liable for any penalties and would continue to use the NewJeans name. However, due to potential trademark issues, they have refrained from using the name since then.

Ador, on the other hand, maintains that the contract with NewJeans is valid until July 2029 and has filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract, along with a request for a temporary injunction to prevent the group from entering into advertising contracts.

As NJZ embarks on their independent journey, they face challenges ahead. A legal battle with Ador is set to begin in March, with a hearing scheduled for March 7 regarding the injunction. The first hearing for the contract validity lawsuit will take place on April 3.

Additionally, member Hani faces visa issues. As a dual citizen of Australia and Vietnam, she has been working under an E-6 (Artistic Performance) visa issued through Ador, which is set to expire soon. To renew this visa, she needs to submit various documents, including an exclusive contract, a business registration certificate, and a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Ador has stated they are preparing the necessary documents for Hani's visa extension, but if she does not return to Ador, they are unlikely to assist her.

Moreover, NewJeans must navigate public fatigue outside their core fandom, Bunnyz, allegations against former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, and industry backlash.

The future of NewJeans as NJZ remains a topic of great interest as they chart their new course.

NewJeans Launches Independent Activities as NJZ

The general ticket sales for 2NE1's 15th anniversary encore concert in Seoul will begin today, February 10, at 8 PM through Interpark Ticket. The concert, titled '2025 2NE1 CONCERT [WELCOME BACK] ENCORE IN SEOUL', is set to take place on April 12 and 13 at the KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Bangi-dong, Seoul.

This event marks the group's reunion with domestic fans approximately six months after their last performance in Seoul last October, which saw overwhelming demand with all tickets selling out. Many fans who missed out on tickets have been eagerly requesting additional shows, making the competition for tickets this time around expected to be fierce.

Unlike the pre-sale for temporary fan club members, this general sale will be open to everyone. Fans can look forward to a comprehensive showcase of 2NE1's musical journey, as this concert will serve as the grand finale of their tour.

In a video released today, 2NE1 expressed their excitement, stating, "We are coming back to Seoul. We will meet you at the much larger KSPO DOME. The first concert in Seoul was truly moving, so we are even more thrilled for this encore performance. Let's all jump together one last time!"

Currently, 2NE1 is successfully navigating their 15th anniversary Asia tour, '2024-25 2NE1 ASIA TOUR [WELCOME BACK]', having already completed concerts in cities such as Seoul, Manila, Jakarta, Kobe, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei. They are now set to perform in Ho Chi Minh City and Macau, aiming to achieve a record of 27 shows across 12 cities, attracting a total audience of 220,000, including the Seoul encore.

2NE1 to Hold Encore Concert in Seoul for 15th Anniversary

Recent changes to TOP's (최승현) social media and official YouTube profiles have led to speculation about his potential return to BIGBANG. However, a representative for TOP clarified on February 11 that the name 'TOP' on his social media has not been altered and has always been listed that way. The representative also stated that TOP's stance regarding BIGBANG remains unchanged from what he expressed in a recent interview.

The speculation arose after fans noticed that the official BIGBANG YouTube account listed the members in the order of G-Dragon, Taeyang, TOP, and Daesung, and that TOP's profile referred to him as 'TOP 최승현' instead of 'Actor 최승현'. Despite these observations, the information is not new; the YouTube profile has been consistent since the release of their song '봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울' (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter).

TOP, who was sentenced to 20 months in prison with a two-year probation in 2016 for marijuana use, officially left YG Entertainment in 2022 and subsequently announced his departure from BIGBANG the following year. In a recent interview regarding his role as Thanos in the Netflix original series 'Squid Game Season 2', he reflected on the possibility of reuniting with BIGBANG, stating, 'I considered '봄 여름 가을 겨울' to be my last project.' He expressed that while fans still hope for a reunion, he feels a sense of guilt towards the other members and believes he will carry that regret for life.

TOP's Profile Update Sparks Speculation About BIGBANG Return

On February 11, KBS2's show Celebrity Soldier's Secret (셀럽 병사의 비밀) aired its eighth episode, delving into the identity of the 'Purple Killer,' a figure that instilled fear in many celebrities, including Kim Gu (김구), Walt Disney, and Edvard Munch (에드바르 뭉크). The episode explored the mysterious deaths surrounding the famous painter Gustav Klimt, known for his iconic kiss scene, who passed away suddenly in 1918 shortly before his hospital discharge due to a stroke. Following his death, his protégé and rival, Egon Schiele (에곤 실레), also died, leading to a series of unexplained deaths where victims exhibited a purple discoloration of the face and pneumonia symptoms before dying within days. This led to rumors in Europe that the German army had released poison gas during World War I.

The fear of death spread rapidly beyond Europe, reaching Korea during the Japanese occupation in 1918, where notable figures like Kim Gu, Walt Disney, Mahatma Gandhi, and Edvard Munch also contracted the Spanish flu.

Interestingly, the first recorded outbreak of the Spanish flu was reported in the United States, not Spain. This led to a heated discussion on the show, with guest Jang Do-yeon expressing outrage over the naming of the virus, comparing it to being unjustly labeled as the 'Jang Do-yeon virus.'

ENT specialist Lee Nak-jun (이낙준), known for his work on the Trauma Center, provided medical insights into the various rumors and treatments surrounding the flu at that time. Lee Chan-won (이찬원) humorously questioned whether mixing soju with chili powder could actually cure a cold, leading to a light-hearted moment where he publicly apologized to friends who had tried this remedy instead of taking proper medication.

The episode also featured Professor Song Dae-seop (송대섭) from Seoul National University, who developed the world's first MERS diagnostic kit in 2015. He emphasized the importance of the broadcast, revealing shocking facts about the Spanish flu and its current implications, including research suggesting that up to 300 new viruses could emerge each year over the next 50 years, equating to a new infectious disease potentially appearing almost every day.

The secrets of the 'Purple Killer' that swept the globe in 1918 will be revealed in the Spanish flu episode of Celebrity Soldier's Secret, airing on Tuesday, February 11, at 8:30 PM. Meanwhile, Lee Chan-won has disclosed that he has over 30 events scheduled in a month, with his fee reportedly around 28 million won.

Seo Jeong-hee Announces Wedding Plans on 'Joseon’s Lovebirds'

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