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Singer and actor Arin attends the red carpet event for the '5th Blue Dragon Series Awards' held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Lee Hong-nae is attending the red carpet event for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Byeon Wooseok is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actors Jin Sun-kyu and Park Bo-kyung are attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Kim Ye-won is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Singer and actor Shim Ja-yoon attends the red carpet event for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Chef Kim Si-hyun (known as "Baby Beast") is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Broadcaster Mina-sue Choi attends the red carpet event for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Park Bo young is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of July 31.

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Actor Kim Min is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Jun Hyun-moo and Yoona attend the red carpet event for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Kim Seonho is attending the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Comedian Kim Sook attends the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Model Joo Woo-jae is attending the red carpet event of the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Actor Baek Seo-hoo attends the red carpet event for the "5th Blue Dragon Series Awards" held at Paradise City in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 31st.

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Young-ja and Young-cheol, who met on the divorcees special of the SBS Plus and ENA program "I Am Solo", have divorced just 7 months after getting married.

On the 31st, Young-ja posted a long message on her social media, stating, "We ended our relationship and parted ways." She added, "We did not register our marriage, and since we covered our living expenses and financial matters separately while we were together, there are no separate assets or financial issues to settle." She also noted that all personal arrangements and delivery of belongings related to the end of their relationship have been completed.

Explaining her reasons for remaining silent until now, Young-ja stated, "Recently, many people have sent me worried inquiries and messages. I am sorry that I could not speak to each of you directly." She added, "Although I am not a celebrity or public figure, I thought it was polite to share my current situation with those who have cherished and worried about me, so I am carefully leaving this message."

She did not disclose the specific process and reasons for their breakup. Young-ja concluded her post by saying, "I do not plan to talk separately about the process and reasons for our breakup. Moving forward, I will focus on the present and my future rather than the past, and greet you with a better image."

The two, who are same-age peers born in 1983, developed into an actual couple after being chosen as a final couple on the "I Am Solo" divorcees special broadcast last year, and held their wedding this January. After becoming a couple, they appeared together on the tvN STORY program "Lee Ho-seon's Counseling Center" broadcast in March, where they opened up about trust issues experienced after remarriage.

Young-cheol stated that his wife did not trust him well and seemed unable to move past the failure of her previous marriage, while Young-ja explained that her husband had undisclosed debts and online rumors regarding her husband had spread, prompting her to want to check for herself. In addition, the two showed disagreements over spending habits regarding their hobbies.

Meanwhile, photos of the two remain on Young-cheol's social media without being deleted as of this day.

Young-cheol is a researcher with a doctorate, and Young-ja is a piano player who runs a piano academy. Young-cheol's ex-wife is raising the children he had from his previous marriage, and Young-ja is raising her teenage son alone from her previous marriage.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Caricature artist Seo Eun-hye (formerly known as Jung Eun-hye) has directly addressed rumors regarding a divorce from her husband, Cho Young-nam.

On the 31st, Seo shared her current status via the community tab of her YouTube channel, stating, "We are living well."

She stated, "It seems that fake news and videos about our divorce are spreading (especially by a malicious aYouTuber called 'K-Pop Hot Issues'), but we are in love and working happily more than ever."

She added, "Lately, because it's vacation season, many customers from all over the country are visiting our cafe. A few days ago, I also hugged actor Yang Mi-kyung." She continued, "Unless something special happens, my husband and I are always waiting for customers at the cafe, drawing requested pictures, and acting affectionate whenever we get a chance."

Seo Eun-hye and Cho Young-nam got married in May of last year. The two first met at a workplace for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it has been reported that Seo is preparing to have a second child.

Meanwhile, Seo Eun-hye left a deep impression by appearing as Han Ji min's twin sister in the 2022 tvN drama "Our Blues."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Director Yoon Dan-bi's new film "The World Before" has been officially invited to the New Directors section of the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival.

The San Sebastián International Film Festival, where "The World Before" has been invited, will be held from September 18 to 26 in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, as the Spanish-speaking world's most prestigious international film festival.

"The World Before" was named to the New Directors section, which focuses on the first or second feature films of emerging directors. Previously, the film was also invited to the Platform section, a competitive category at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.

"The World Before" tells the story of 17-year-old Jin-i, living on an island not connected by land, who encounters Du-jae, who returns to the island for his grandmother's funeral. This is director Yoon Dan-bi's second feature-length fiction film, starring actor Shim Su-bin as 17-year-old girl Jin and actor Kim Eo-jin as Du-jae.

Director Yoon Dan-bi made her feature debut with "Moving On" (2019), drawing attention by winning Best New Director awards at numerous film festivals and award ceremonies, including the Baeksang Arts Awards.

The film is scheduled for a domestic theatrical release in 2027.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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"I can't believe they actually filmed this."

It has been revealed that actor Zo In-sung performed the dangerous road chase scene in the movie "HOPE" entirely without a stunt double, sending shockwaves through fans.

On July 31, the production company for "HOPE", Forged Films, released a making-of video on its official social media capturing the highlight chase sequence between Sung-ki (played by Zo In-sung) and a vehicle in the latter half of the film.

In this scene, Sung-ki escapes the pursuit of an alien on horseback before leaping onto a moving police car in a high-stakes, breathless moment. Shifting from a running horse to a moving vehicle delivered intense tension and fear while simultaneously drawing chuckles for its sheer surrealism. However, when it was revealed that this stunt was performed directly by the actor rather than through CGI or a double, netizen reactions quickly escalated from surprise to outright shock.

Most assumed the sequence was completed using a combination of a stunt double and computer graphics. Yet, the making-of video released by Forged Films showed Zo In-sung actually clinging to a speeding car, bending and arching his waist in real life.

In fact, the chasing alien was added later via CGI. Zo In-sung had to cling to the speeding vehicle while frantically acting out sheer terror against an invisible, computer-generated threat.

The making-of video spread rapidly across various online communities, sparking explosive reactions. Comments filled with awe poured in, such as, "This wasn't filmed with CGI on a set???", "Insane, he did this without a stunt double", "No wonder people are saying he's an alien", "I feel so sorry for laughing during this scene", and "Zo In-sung is insanely amazing and Na Hong-jin is ruthless."

In a previous interview for "HOPE", Zo In-sung shared that when he first received casting offers from director Na Hong-jin, he honestly confessed his physical condition made it difficult for him to properly perform action sequences. In reality, the cartilage in both of his knees had worn down, making heavy running difficult for him.

At the same time, he expressed his philosophy by stating, "Holding back your body in a movie by director Na Hong-jin doesn't make any sense, and that wouldn't be a Na Hong-jin film." Once filming for "HOPE" began, Zo In-sung dove into intense action stunts without holding back, bypassing only the running scenes while performing even more grueling physical feats himself.

Meanwhile, "HOPE" surpassed 3 million moviegoers nationwide in just 11 days since its release and is now aiming to break the 4 million mark this weekend.

<Photo = Forged Films> 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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KBS web variety show "Donseontae Success Era," which drew attention as the first solo-hosted variety program for former Chungju city public official and YouTuber Kim Seon-tae, has been entirely scrapped ahead of its broadcast schedule.

KBS announced in an official statement on the 31st, "After multiple discussions, we have accepted Kim Seon-tae's intention to step down and canceled both the digital and broadcast schedules." KBS added, "We take very seriously the fact that this could have caused discomfort and hurt to our cast members and viewers. We deeply apologize for this."

Earlier that day, Kim Seon-tae explained the background behind his decision to step down voluntarily through his YouTube channel. He said, "It is not because I lack ability or because I have an agency, but I had difficulties with communication issues with the production team." He added, "Deciding to step down voluntarily is not actually easy. There are contracts, and a broadcasting station is a heavy place. They trusted me and gave me a regular schedule, but I did not have that kind of ability."

This controversy began when a pre-release video for the program was posted on the YouTube channel "Kebaeksu Original" on the 29th.

In the video, Kim Seon-tae faced criticism after directly bringing up RESCENE member WONI's past "museopno" controversy and asking, "Was there anyone who asked if this might be viral marketing?" The controversy grew as it was revealed that the video's hashtags included the names of numerous political and business figures unrelated to RESCENE. The video was switched to private about four hours after its release.

Regarding the hashtag controversy, KBS explained, "Hashtags related to specific individuals used in the previous 'Teaser 2' video were applied as they were to the preview 'Shorts' video." They added, "Due to the production team's carelessness in failing to check this during the upload process, the hashtags were posted."

The broadcaster further stated, "The production team has no intention whatsoever to associate RESCENE with specific individuals for political purposes or any other intent through those hashtags, nor were they intentionally used for viral marketing or securing view counts."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Kim Minha has been selected as the sole host for the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival.

Since her debut in 2016, Kim Minha has steadily built her own filmography across both the screen and television. She notably drew widespread attention for her role as the young Sunja in the globally acclaimed Apple TV+ series "Pachinko" (2022, 2024), where she delicately and densely portrayed a character living a resilient life amidst the turbulence of the era. Building on this performance, she won the Rising Star Award in the TV category at the 2022 Asian American Awards, proving her potential on the international stage.

She has since been expanding her acting spectrum by moving across various genres, including the dramas "Light Shop" (2024), "Way Back Love" (2025), "Typhoon Family" (2025), and the film "Hana Korea" (2026). Her progressive steps and solid acting skills have led to critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. She successively won the Best Actress in International Competition at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards, Best New Actress at the 2025 Blue Dragon Series Awards, and Best Actress (Rising Star) at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards, firmly establishing her presence as a leading next-generation Korean actor and icon.

The Busan International Film Festival stated, "This host selection is the result of focusing on actor Kim Minha's unique path, as she has faithfully represented the inner sides of characters with in-depth interpretations in every work. We expect that Kim Minha, who has captivated audiences with her earnest yet bold demeanor through diverse project activities, will showcase steady hosting at this opening ceremony that will further brighten the prestige of the festival."

The 31st Busan International Film Festival with Kim Minha will be held for 10 days from Tuesday, October 6 to Thursday, October 15 around the Busan Cinema Center. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Actor Moon Geun-young shared her thoughts on being touched by fans' responses following her marriage announcement.

On the 30th, she posted on her social media account, saying, "I choked up seeing so many congratulations. It was a time to deeply feel how much I am being loved," adding, "Thank you, thank you so much for celebrating and supporting me. I will live happily and beautifully as much as you have congratulated me. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart."

On the 29th, Moon Geun-young announced her marriage to actor Jung Pyung, with whom she has been in a relationship for about seven years, through a handwritten letter. The two reportedly tied the knot without holding a separate wedding ceremony, simply sharing a meal with their families. Because the news of their marriage came without any prior dating rumors, many fans expressed surprise. Sincere congratulatory messages soon followed.

Jung Pyung, her spouse, is a musical and theater actor seven years her senior. They are also known to have worked together in the creative collective Bachi, which Moon Geun-young led as a director.

Moon Geun-young plans to continue her active career even after marriage. She recently stood on stage for the play "Orphans" and also appeared on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block". She has finished filming director Yeon Sang-ho's new project "Yeto" and has also joined the SBS audition program "The Ballad of Us".

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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YouTuber Yu Hye-ju (LIJULIKE) has opened up about the heartbreaking passing of her father just three days after welcoming her second son.

In a video uploaded to her YouTube channel "LIJULIKE" on July 30th titled "[VLOG] D-13 Until Childbirth, Our Story That Paused for a Moment," Yu shared the news of her father's death, explaining, "My father was diagnosed with rectal cancer six years ago. After the cancer metastasized to his pelvis and worsened, he underwent a lot of chemotherapy until treatment became difficult. He passed away a month after being transferred to a hospice hospital."

Yu, who gave birth to her second son on July 19th, lost her father on July 22nd. After holding the funeral, she reportedly returned to a postpartum care center to look after her health.

As the eldest daughter, Yu emphasized that after her father's cancer diagnosis, her entire family gathered to live in Busan and spent time together without regrets. She added, "There were many times when our family forgave and resolved past hurts. My siblings took turns caring for him in the hospital, and my father himself said while he was alive, 'I am truly happy. I am the happiest right now.'"

She also shared the reason for continuing to release YouTube content, saying, "My father often told us siblings, 'I'll do what I need to do, so you guys do what you need to do.' I told my younger siblings that we should also keep doing our work and live diligently so that our father wouldn't have to worry."

Regarding her current frame of mind, she shed tears as she said, "Having seen how much my father suffered because of the cancer, I actually feel more at ease knowing that his pain is gone. The only sadness is simply the longing of not being able to see my father anymore."

Yu married in 2019 and has two sons. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Director Na Hong-jin, who helmed the film "HOPE", explained the details of the movie during a GV (Guest Visit) with Director Kim Jee-woon.

On July 29, a special GV featuring Director Na Hong-jin and Director Kim Jee-woon was held to an enthusiastic response from the audience at Megabox COEX.

Director Kim Jee-woon, who mentioned that this was his first time hosting a GV in his film directing career, shared his impressions of the work, saying, "I felt like I was watching it in a state of ecstasy for two and a half hours. It ended too quickly, so I wanted to watch another 20 to 30 minutes," and "It felt like stepping into the world led by Director Na Hong-jin. It is a film that powerfully and ecstatically shows what cinematic cinema is."

Regarding the planning intention of the work, Director Na Hong-jin explained, "When considering how to understand the current state of humanity, I wanted to view it from a cosmic perspective." In response, Director Kim Jee-woon praised the energy of "HOPE," which races with an unpredictable rhythm, stating, "Human ignorance in the face of incomprehensible existence and irrationality becomes the driving force, creating a spectacle of immense kinetic energy."

During the audience Q&A session, various questions surrounding the film along with colorful behind-the-scenes stories from the filming set heated up the atmosphere even more. While discussing the high-difficulty action sequences, Director Kim Jee-woon shared his vivid impressions of the road-racing sequence that is talked about as a memorable scene in the film, saying, "Watching the horse action scene filmed on the Seonggi Bridge, an asphalt overpass, I thought Zo In-sung was amazing. Riding a horse in such a dizzying place about 50 meters high with his upper body coming over the railing, knowing the bridge originally, I thought it must have been difficult (to film)."

Next, when asked about the process of building characters, Director Na Hong-jin mentioned "Mukbang" (eating broadcasts) and answered, "To portray a living creature-like feeling that keeps wriggling and surviving even when killed, I wanted to capture it through (the characters) eating in a combative manner." In addition, to Director Kim Jee-woon's question about future OTT screening plans for "HOPE", Director Na Hong-jin drew attention by stating, "There are no plans to screen 'HOPE' on OTT platforms yet. I will do my best until that final day."

On this day, Jung Hoyeon, who worked together with Director Kim Jee-woon on his upcoming project, was also present in the audience and heated up the atmosphere by asking a surprise question.

Finally, Director Kim Jee-woon did not spare encouragement and praise for Director Na Hong-jin, stating, "As the production environment worsened after the pandemic and investments shrank, repeating the vicious cycle where safe planned movies are made and ignored by audiences, I think Director Na Hong-jin has created 'HOPE', a spectacle overflowing with the madness and grit we so desperately wanted. As a creator, I am grateful and happy."

The film "HOPE" surpassed 3 million moviegoers nationwide in 11 days of its release, and is challenging to surpass 4 million this weekend.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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The operational methods of "Cemter of Inspiration," the one-person agency established by the duo AKMU (Lee Chan-hyuk, Lee Su-hyun) after leaving YG Entertainment after 12 years, have been revealed.

A video titled "AKMU Suhyun's Day" was released on Kian84's YouTube channel on the 30th. It featured Kian84 personally visiting the "Cemter of Inspiration" office and receiving a tour from Lee Suhyun.

Lee Suhyun stated, "We are using the basement and the second floor of a building, and including my brother and me, there are 10 employees." Half of the employees are reportedly former YG Entertainment staff who joined through job transitions.

The office interior was free-spirited itself. Instead of individual partitions or separate rooms, AKMU shared a single table with spaces divided by curtains. Introducing her desk, Lee Suhyun also shared a special hobby, saying, "What I do here is touch Mallang-i or give Mallang-i as gifts to people."

Lee Chan-hyuk's desk was separately called the "Cemter Head" position. Regarding the work system, Lee Suhyun shared, "We have a four-day workweek, and we designate every Tuesday as fitness day, doing about an hour and a half of group exercise together." In addition, Lee Suhyun was called "Princess" within the company. Employees are called with their family names attached, such as "Inspiration Son," "Inspiration Kim," "Inspiration Roh," "Inspiration Ko," and "Inspiration Hwang."

The company name "Cemter of Inspiration" was first revealed last April through tvN's "You Quiz on the Block." At the time, Lee Chan-hyuk explained, "Ever since our pre-debut auditions, we were asked 'Where do you get your inspiration?' so many times that we simply decided to name the place where we are the Cemter of Inspiration." He also drew attention by assessing the welfare level compared to his previous workplace, saying, "After working for about two months, it's a place you can bet your life on."

Siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun debuted through YG Entertainment in 2014 and promoted for 12 years before setting up an independent agency when their exclusive contract with YG Entertainment ended in December of last year.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Broadcaster Kim Seon-tae has announced his voluntary departure from his program, taking responsibility for the controversy surrounding girl group RESCENE. This comes just a day after he apologized for the controversy that erupted on the 29th.

On the 31st, Kim uploaded a video to his YouTube channel, saying, "I suppose I had too much ambition. I wanted to try hosting a terrestrial broadcast solo host gig, so I gave it a shot, but it really wasn't easy."

He explained the background of his decision to step down voluntarily, stating, "It's not that I lacked capability or that my agency did something. Operating on my own, I felt an overall lack of smoothness, and to be honest, I also experienced difficulties in communication with the production team. I felt a lot of shortcomings in leading a broadcast as a solo host."

He added, "Making the decision to step down voluntarily is actually not easy. There are contracts involved, and a broadcast station is a heavy entity. They trusted me and scheduled a regular broadcast, but I simply didn't have that capability."

Kim shared that he had called his agency's CEO early the previous morning to apologize directly, and that he had also apologized to the RESCENE members. "I was told that the members actually worried about me before I even reached out to them," he said, adding, "This incident gave me a chance to look back at myself. I found myself thinking a lot about whether I had truly lost my original intentions."

Previously, on the 29th, a pre-release video for the KBS show "Faith Success Era" was uploaded to the YouTube channel "KBS Original."

In the video, Kim drew criticism for directly bringing up past controversy involving RESCENE member WONI, asking, "Wasn't there anyone who said this was viral marketing?" Pointing out that he had brought up a controversy that had already been put to rest, criticism mounted alongside revelations that the video's hashtags included the names of numerous political and business figures unrelated to RESCENE. The video was made private about four hours after its release.

On the 30th, Kim uploaded a video titled "I Am Sorry," stating, "I first saw the pre-release video around 8:40 PM yesterday," and adding, "As soon as I recognized that a problem had occurred, I asked the production team to delete the video."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Amid growing controversy surrounding the decision of BTS to skip the Grammys, an explanatory post shared by an industry insider who claimed involvement in introducing a new Grammy category has sparked backlash in overseas online communities.

Gina Coda, known as a brand and entertainment marketing industry insider, posted her stance across three Instagram Stories on the 30th regarding the controversy over the new Grammy category "Best Asian Music Performance." It was in the form of a personal social media story rather than an official statement, and the account is currently set to private.

Introducing herself as one of the individuals who pushed to establish the "Best Asian Music Performance" category within the committee, she claimed, "It has become a media campaign based on a narrative completely unrelated to the purpose for which this category was created."

She continued, explaining, "The intention was to honor it at the highest level of the Academy. We know pop is not the only category where Asian artists exist, but this was intended as a first step in a broader direction to give us more voice and power."

She also directly expressed disappointment regarding the decision made by BTS. She wrote, "We were torn down by one of the biggest Asian artists. It is unfortunate that rather than taking a bold action aimed at generating buzz, there could have been more meaningful behind-the-scenes conversations to understand what the actual intent was," adding, "It makes me question whether we can truly unite as one."

In particular, she emphasized that the newly established category was not meant for BTS. Pre-facing that "this is a newly established category and its first implementation, so it cannot be perfect," she elaborated, "BTS has always been eligible to apply in other pop categories. It was for artists who needed more spotlight, which simply didn't exist before, and securing representation was a true mission for many of us."

Many music fans responded that they could not agree with this explanation.

Counter-arguments followed that since BTS is already an artist with five Grammy nominations and multiple Billboard main chart toppings, there was no need to grant visibility through a separate category. In particular, criticisms were raised that the category's standard of "Asian pop," which is difficult to divide by specific languages and cultures, lacks realism. Some BTS fans suspected that the timing of the new category announcement—right after the full-group comeback and album success of BTS, and just two months before the Grammy submission deadline—was very suspicious.

The spark for this controversy dates back to the 29th. The seven members of BTS shared through personal social media channels that day, "We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year," adding, "We hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."

The Recording Academy explained through a statement in the name of CEO Harvey Mason Jr. the next day, the 30th, stating, "It was established to celebrate the depth, diversity, and incredible growth of pop music coming out of Asia," and adding, "Submitting in a genre category does not exclude an entry from consideration in the general field categories." 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Behind the soaring success of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Agent Kim Reactivated," which surpassed 20 percent in viewership ratings and came to a spectacular close, was a passionate paternal narrative at its core. At the center of it all were actor So Jisub, who played the role of Agent Kim and risked everything to save his daughter, and rookie Seo Su-min, who played the daughter, Minji, capturing viewers' protective instincts and completing the drama's emotional immersion.

Director Lee Seung-young, who directed "Agent Kim Reactivated," opened up about the behind-the-scenes casting process and filming experience during a wrap-up interview with the press held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 30th, calmly sharing the exceptional presence and deep resonance the two actors brought to the project.

The entire narrative of "Agent Kim Reactivated" starts from the clear premise that a father rescues his daughter in danger. Therefore, the role of the daughter, Minji, went beyond a simple supporting character and had to be the most carefully considered casting choice, providing the driving force for the entire drama. Director Lee recalled the casting process, stating, "For this story to start off powerfully, not only the father but also the viewers needed to feel a desperate urge to save that child."

"We reviewed about 200 profiles of existing actors. They all had such wonderful acting skills, but it was difficult to find the exact right person who perfectly matched the specific image we were looking for. Eventually, we started reviewing rookies separately."

At that time, what caught Director Lee's eye was a simple video of Seo Su-min that looked like it was shot on a cell phone at a profile photo studio. In the video, where she struck free poses rather than standardized acting, the director discovered the potential for Minji.

"We asked for an acting video, but she was a complete rookie who didn't even have a prepared acting video ready. After verifying her through a free acting video practiced at an academy, we started holding auditions with candidates from then on. Countless candidates passed through the auditions, which went up to the fifth final round, but we became convinced that the actor Seo Su-min absolutely had to be in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'."

Although filming began under the heavy pressure of a debut project, the consideration on set and Seo Su-min's boldness truly shone. Director Lee expressed his gratitude, saying, "When you act for the first time, you tend to shrink in front of the camera, your fellow actors, and the gazes of numerous staff members, and I want to praise actor Seo Su-min for overcoming that and delivering her own performance. Thanks to the senior actors and staff members who warmly considered her without anyone being unfriendly on set, she was able to adapt quickly despite being a rookie."

Based on the webtoon of the same name, "Agent Kim Reactivated" is an action revenge drama about an ordinary father trying to win back his daughter, and it wrapped up its grand journey on the 25th. The final episode of "Agent Kim Reactivated" achieved its highest viewership rating yet, bringing it to a successful close with 23.0 percent nationwide and 23.4 percent in the metropolitan area, according to Nielsen Korea. It also created a massive storm in the global market, ranking first in the Netflix non-English TV show category for three consecutive weeks.

Proving both public appeal and artistic quality, "Agent Kim Reactivated" is signaling yet another beginning by embarking on positive discussions for a second season right alongside its conclusion.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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"I'm still overwhelmed by how much love I've received. It feels like I'm being pranked."

Actor So Jisub, who set major records with the SBS Fri-Sat drama "Agent Kim Reactivated" by surpassing 20% in viewership ratings and claiming the global number one spot on Netflix's Non-English TV shows, shared his thoughts on the show's massive success.

During an interview held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th, So Jisub expressed his astonishment over the popularity of "Agent Kim Reactivated," saying, "Until the press conference, I just thought 'I hope it exceeds 10%,' so I never expected this at all."

Although he is a veteran actor celebrating his 30th year since debut, the success of this project was uniquely special to him. So Jisub showed deep affection for the project, stating, "If I had to pick the first chapter of my acting career, 'I'm Sorry, I Love You' is definitely unforgettable, and 'Agent Kim Reactivated' feels like the second chapter that follows it."

He continued, "Even people who wouldn't normally acknowledge me on the street now call out 'Agent Kim!' to me. I've also received many messages from dads around me saying they found themselves tearing up without realizing it." He added with a smile, "I was shocked to see an article calling me the number one rising star. In my 30th year since debut, I wonder if this is a new beginning."

Based on the webtoon of the same name, "Agent Kim Reactivated" is an action thriller about an ordinary father who goes on a revenge mission to rescue his daughter, and it wrapped up its run on the 25th. The final episode of "Agent Kim Reactivated" achieved massive success, recording a nationwide viewership rating of 23.0% and 23.4% in the metropolitan area according to Nielsen Korea. The series also maintained its popularity in the global market by ranking number one in the Netflix Non-English TV category for three consecutive weeks.

In this project, So Jisub played the role of "Agent Kim," a father who risks everything to get his daughter back, delivering intense action and profound paternal love. Regarding the differences from his previous work "Mercy for None," he explained, "While 'Mercy for None' featured moth-to-a-flame action that ended only when I died, Agent Kim's action was a process of surviving together with his daughter. I pursued showing emotions first and action second. I incorporated details of inflicting pain on someone without killing them. I tried to avoid passing, unnecessary action."

Expressing his desire to become an actor who can perform action acting for a long time like Liam Neeson, So Jisub also responded positively to the possibility of a second season for "Agent Kim Reactivated." He added, "It would be nice if season two happens, but since there was a major storyline about finding his daughter this time, he can't lose his daughter again next time, so figuring out what major storyline to take on seems like it will be the biggest challenge."

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(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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