On February 8, Yulhee took to her social media to share an exciting update about her acting career, posting a photo with the caption, "My partner is a devil. Coming soon. Please look forward to it!" The image features Yulhee in the midst of filming the short-form drama 'My Partner is a Devil' (내 파트너는 악마), showcasing her intense gaze while holding a gun, highlighting her transformation into an actress. 

'My Partner is a Devil' tells the story of a woman whose life has fallen apart, seeking revenge on her betraying fiancé through a contract with a devil. The drama is set to be released in March on 'Always' (올웨이즈). 

Yulhee debuted in 2014 as a member of the girl group LABOUM and married Choi Min-hwan in 2018, with whom she has one son and two daughters. After stepping back from the entertainment industry to focus on parenting, she made occasional appearances alongside her husband on variety shows. However, the couple announced their divorce in December 2023, shocking fans after five years of marriage.

Yulhee Shares Exciting Update on Her Acting Career

In the latest episode of tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama '원경' (Written by 이영미, Directed by 김상호), 차주영's character, 원경, successfully executes her revenge against 이숙번 (박용우). 

The episode aired on February 10, 2025, revealing that 이방원 (이현욱) was aware of 양녕대군 (문성현) bringing a gisaeng into the palace and hosting lavish parties outside, yet he refrained from imposing severe punishment. He expressed his anger, stating, "Do you not realize that the ministers compare you to 충녕대군 (박상훈)? I am horrified every time I hear such comparisons, fearing it may incite conflict among the princes." Despite his fury, he maintained 양녕대군's position as the crown prince.

In a bid to ensure 충녕대군 does not covet his brother's position, 이방원 advised 양녕대군 to focus on his studies for the benefit of the crown. He urged 양녕대군 to avoid disgraceful behavior and strive towards becoming a 'wise king'.

However, 양녕대군's reckless actions continued, culminating in a scandal where he was caught accepting bribes from an exiled official. After successfully targeting 이숙번, 원경 boldly declared, "The crown prince lacks the qualities of a ruler. You must relieve him of the burdensome title he bears."

Despite this, 이방원 remained steadfast in his intention to mentor 양녕대군 to uphold the tradition of primogeniture. This momentary peace in the palace was shattered when the youngest prince, 성렴대군, fell ill with smallpox.

남동생 다 잃은 차주영, 박용우에 복수 성공 "살아서 이현욱 볼 일 없다" (원경)

Revenge Achieved: 차주영's Character in '원경' Takes Action

In a significant ruling, the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 11 sentenced two public officials for their involvement in an extortion scheme that lasted six years, during which they defrauded a colleague out of approximately 1.5 billion KRW (around $1.3 million). On February 9, 2025, the court handed down a six-year prison sentence to the main perpetrator, identified as A, and a two-year sentence to his accomplice, B, for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (extortion).

The court found that in March 2012, A and B lured their colleague, referred to as C, to a restaurant where they consumed alcohol with a woman. They then falsely accused C of sexual assault while intoxicated, extorting over 980 million KRW from him. Additionally, between 2017 and 2018, they deceived C into believing he had committed sexual crimes against minors, resulting in an additional 660 million KRW in extortion. The defendants exploited C's tendency to forget events when drinking and his social interactions with women.

The court criticized the defendants for their actions, stating, "The defendants mobilized so-called 'honey trap' women to create a scenario where the intoxicated victim appeared to have committed a crime, thereby disguising their extortion as a need for criminal settlement. Their conduct is extremely reprehensible." It noted that A showed no genuine effort to compensate the victim and continued to deny his wrongdoing. In contrast, B acknowledged his involvement, expressed remorse, and repaid 75 million KRW to the victim, which the court considered in its sentencing decision, along with the victim's lack of desire for further punishment against B.

”성폭행 신고한대”...꽃뱀 여성과 짜고 6년간 15억 뜯어낸 공무원

Two Officials Sentenced for Extortion Scheme Involving False Sexual Assault Claims

The members of NewJeans have officially changed their group name to NJZ as they navigate a legal dispute with their agency, Ador. On February 7, the group announced their new name via social media and revealed plans to perform at the 'Complex Live' concert during the ComplexCon festival in Hong Kong from March 21 to 23. This concert will mark their first performance under the new name, where they are expected to debut new music. Member Minji expressed her excitement, stating, 'I am looking forward to showing a new side of ourselves as NJZ.' Hani added, 'Although we can't use our previous name for a while, we haven't completely abandoned it. Nothing can hold us back now.' 

In contrast, Ador expressed disappointment over the members' unilateral decision, stating, 'We regret that the members made this choice before a legal judgment regarding the validity of their exclusive contract with Ador has been reached. We will do our utmost to protect the brand value of NewJeans.' 

Last November, the members held an emergency press conference claiming that Ador had violated their contract and declared they were no longer affiliated with the agency. In response, Ador filed a lawsuit in December at the Seoul Central District Court to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract and sought a temporary injunction to prevent the members from entering independent advertising contracts and activities. The court has scheduled a hearing for the injunction on March 7, with the first trial date set for April 3.

[SC이슈] NJZ 된 뉴진스, 홍콩 공연으로 독자 행보 시작…어도어와 분쟁 중 초강수

NewJeans Rebrands as NJZ Amid Legal Dispute with Ador

'Golden Wave' is set to make its next stop in Bangkok. The 'Golden Wave in Bangkok' concert will take place on March 22 at the Thunder Dome in Thailand. Following successful events in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, last April and Tokyo, Japan, in October, this concert aims to engage global audiences once again.

The lineup features a stellar array of beloved K-Pop stars, showcasing a mix of idol groups and solo artists who will perform exclusive stages tailored for the Bangkok event. Confirmed performers include MINNIE, ENHYPEN, YOUNGJAE, EVNNE, KISS OF LIFE, WHIB, and TWS (in alphabetical order). Notably, Thai K-Pop idols MINNIE from (G)I-DLE and Natti from KISS OF LIFE will return to their homeland for this special occasion.

The artists will not only perform their hit songs but also present unique special stages designed to delight the audience's senses.

Actor Bae Hyun-sung, known for his roles in the dramas 'Our Blues' and 'Assembly Family,' will join as the MC for 'Golden Wave.' MINNIE will also take on the role of co-MC, raising anticipation for their chemistry on stage.

Tickets for 'Golden Wave in Bangkok' can be purchased through the Ticket Melon website.

엔하이픈→TWS 총출동..'골든웨이브 인 방콕' 3월 22일 개최

Golden Wave Heads to Bangkok for Exciting K-Pop Event

On February 10, 2025, Ador emphasized that the K-pop group NewJeans is not changing its name to NJZ. An Ador representative stated that the exclusive contracts with the members are legally valid and that claims of termination are unilateral. The company has filed for a court ruling to confirm the validity of the contracts and is awaiting the court's decision.

On February 7, members Minji, Hani, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein announced their new name 'NJZ' through their official social media channels, following an emergency press conference in November where they declared the termination of their contracts with Ador. Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin showed support by liking their announcement.

The social media account used for this announcement was previously managed informally by the five members. With the name change, they also updated their profile logo to reflect their new identity as NJZ. Their first activity as NJZ is scheduled for March 21-23 at ComplexCon Hong Kong, held at AsiaWorld-Expo.

In response, Ador has taken legal action to assert that the exclusive contracts remain in effect. They filed for a preliminary injunction to maintain their management rights and prevent the members from entering into new contracts. The members have also appointed a law firm to represent them.

Amid this turmoil, Ador reiterated its request for the group to continue using the official name 'NewJeans' based on valid contracts.

"NJZ 아닌 뉴진스입니다"..어도어, 전속계약 유효 재차 강조 (종합)

Ador Confirms NewJeans Name Amidst Group's Rebranding

On the February 9 episode of SBS's Running Man, Yoo Jae-suk took on a big brother role as he discussed setting up Ji Ye-eun on a date. The cast members were on a mission to help Ji Ye-eun find a boyfriend. Despite dressing up in a beggar costume, Ji Ye-eun showcased her stunning beauty, particularly when she smiled, revealing her bright white teeth. When asked about her smile, she humorously mentioned it was due to her fake teeth. Yoo Jae-suk jokingly expressed his desire to introduce her to a younger acquaintance, while Kim Jong-kook also chimed in, saying he wanted to send Ji Ye-eun's photo to potential suitors.

Ji Ye-eun has previously sparked rumors of a romantic connection with actor Kang Hoon on Running Man, and the two recently won the Rising Star Award together at an awards ceremony. During the episode, Haha brought up chef Yoon Nam-no, known for his role in the cooking show 'Black and White Chef,' who had previously named Ji Ye-eun as his ideal type.

In a past appearance on Radio Star, Yoon Nam-no expressed his admiration for Ji Ye-eun, stating, 'I’m a fan of Ji Ye-eun. She often plays quirky roles, but in person, she is incredibly beautiful. I was impressed by how she practiced her lines in the waiting room.' Ji Ye-eun responded with a shout-out to Yoon Nam-no, thanking him for his kind words, which brought laughter to the set. Haha jokingly suggested that other male cast members, including Mickey Kwang-soo, Yoo Hee-kwan, and Yang Se-chan, should compete for Ji Ye-eun's affection, while Yoo Jae-suk humorously noted that everyone around them seemed to be on their side.

Yoo Jae-suk Plays Matchmaker for Ji Ye-eun on Running Man

In a remarkable achievement, 16-year-old ballerino Park Yoon-jae (박윤재) from Seoul Arts High School won first place at the Prix de Lausanne ballet competition held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 8. This victory marks him as the first Korean male dancer to win this prestigious title. Park expressed his disbelief and gratitude, stating, "It is an honor to perform on the 'Prix de Lausanne' stage that I have dreamed of since childhood, and I can't believe I made it to the finals and received such a significant award." 

Previously, Korean ballerinas Kang Soo-jin (강수진) and Park Se-eun (박세은) won the competition in 1985 and 2007, respectively. The Prix de Lausanne is recognized as one of the top five ballet competitions in the world, alongside the Varna, Jackson, Moscow, and Paris competitions, and is open to dancers aged 15 to 18. This year, the 53rd edition of the competition featured 85 participants, with 20 advancing to the finals. Among the Korean dancers, Kim Bo-kyung (김보경), 17, from Busan Arts High School, secured 8th place.

Park's victory opens doors for him to grow as an internationally recognized ballerino, as winners are often offered opportunities to join affiliated ballet companies or schools abroad.

16-Year-Old Ballerino Park Yoon-jae Makes History at Prix de Lausanne

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.

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

Kai of EXO has completed his alternative military service and is set to reunite with his fans. He enlisted in May 2023, undergoing basic military training before transitioning to social service. At the time of his enlistment, Kai expressed his disappointment, stating, "I had a lot prepared, and it's unfortunate. I'm upset, but I can show you everything when I return." After serving for 1 year and 9 months, he is now gearing up for EXO's full group comeback. Fellow member Sehun, who enlisted in December 2023, is also expected to be discharged soon, raising fans' anticipation. Other EXO members have consistently mentioned their plans for a full group return. Suho and Chanyeol shared during an SM Town concert, "Kai will be back, and Sehun will join us soon. We are preparing to gather again for even better performances, so please look forward to it." In a recent interview, D.O. reassured fans, saying, "We are getting ready now, and I want to say you don’t need to worry. You will see the full group soon. We have been preparing since this year. EXO is still going strong." Kai debuted with EXO in 2012 and gained global popularity with his mini solo album 'ROVER' released before his enlistment.

EXO's Kai Completes Alternative Military Service and Returns to Fans

On February 10, Netflix confirmed the production of a new series tentatively titled <천천히 강렬하게> (Slowly but Intensely) and revealed its star-studded cast, including Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, Kim Seol-hyun, Cha Seung-won, and Lee Ha-nee. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Korean entertainment industry during the 1960s to 1980s, the series will explore the growth stories of individuals who, despite having little, dared to dream of shining success.

The series is penned by renowned writer Noh Hee-kyung, known for her emotionally resonant works such as <우리들의 블루스> (Our Blues), <디어 마이 프렌즈> (Dear My Friends), and <그 겨울, 바람이 분다> (That Winter, the Wind Blows). Her involvement has already generated significant anticipation for <천천히 강렬하게> (Slowly but Intensely). The direction will be handled by Lee Yoon-jung, celebrated for her high-quality productions in dramas like <커피프린스 1호점> (Coffee Prince) and <치즈인더트랩> (Cheese in the Trap).

The casting is equally impressive. Song Hye-kyo, who has captivated audiences with her performances in <태양의 후예> (Descendants of the Sun) and <그 겨울, 바람이 분다>, will portray the character Min-ja, a resilient woman shaped by her challenging childhood. As she navigates life, she seizes opportunities in the Korean music industry, showcasing her evolution in this role.

Gong Yoo, known for his impactful roles in <도깨비> (Goblin) and <오징어 게임> (Squid Game) Season 2, will play Dong-goo, Min-ja's childhood friend who shares her journey into the music industry. His character is unpredictable yet devoted to Min-ja.

Kim Seol-hyun, who has built a diverse filmography with roles in <살인자의 쇼핑목록> (Shopping List of a Killer) and <조명가게> (Lighting Store), will take on the role of Min-hee, a character intertwined with Min-ja through a complex relationship.

Cha Seung-won, recognized for his charismatic performances in <최고의 사랑> (The Greatest Love) and <부산행> (Train to Busan), will portray the legendary composer Gil-yeo, a pivotal figure in the music industry who has helped many artists achieve success.

Lastly, Lee Ha-nee, known for her roles in <극한직업> (Extreme Job) and <유령> (Ghost), will play Yang-ja, Min-hee's mother, who dreams of becoming a singer despite facing harsh realities.

With the collaboration of the trusted writer Noh Hee-kyung and director Lee Yoon-jung, along with a powerful cast, <천천히 강렬하게> (Slowly but Intensely) is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix.

Yulhee Shares Exciting Update on Her Acting Career

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Yoo Jae-suk Plays Matchmaker for Ji Ye-eun on Running Man

16-Year-Old Ballerino Park Yoon-jae Makes History at Prix de Lausanne

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

EXO's Kai Completes Alternative Military Service and Returns to Fans

Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo, and Writer Noh Hee-kyung Team Up for New Netflix Series

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Revenge Achieved: 차주영's Character in '원경' Takes Action

Two Officials Sentenced for Extortion Scheme Involving False Sexual Assault Claims

NewJeans Rebrands as NJZ Amid Legal Dispute with Ador

Golden Wave Heads to Bangkok for Exciting K-Pop Event

Ador Confirms NewJeans Name Amidst Group's Rebranding

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