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Actor Ryu Seung-ryong filled the hour of Actors' House with his witty banter.

Appearing as the spotlight guest of Actors' House at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held on the morning of October 9 at the Cultural Hall on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Centum City in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Ryu introduced himself in response to the host's remark that he "returned to Busan yesterday after receiving another big award," saying, "I am Ryu Seung-ryong, who won an unexpected global award after a fierce competition with Gary Oldman."

Ryu quipped, "It seemed like many people didn't know I won the award, so I brought it up," drawing laughter.

On October 8, Ryu won Best Actor in the International Competition category alongside Anders Baasmo of "A Better Man" for JTBC's "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim" at the 21st Seoul International Drama Awards. The nominees that day also included acclaimed actor Gary Oldman, an Academy Award winner for Best Actor.

Having attended the opening ceremony after his film "Cattle Run" was invited to the Busan International Film Festival, Ryu stayed in Busan, traveled to Seoul to attend the Seoul International Drama Awards, and pulled off a grueling schedule by traveling back down to Busan after receiving his trophy to attend Actors' House.

Over the course of roughly an hour, Ryu shared his journey from starting out as a theater actor to becoming a 10-million-ticket star, his personal acting philosophy, and his goals as an actor in his characteristically candid words. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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The Japanese animated film "Chiikawa the Movie: Secret of the Mermaid Island" surpassed "The Assassin(s)" in its second week of release to claim the top spot at the weekend box office.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets on October 12, "Chiikawa the Movie: Secret of the Mermaid Island" drew 407,895 viewers nationwide from October 9 to October 11. The cumulative audience reached 1,281,485.

Released on September 30, "Chiikawa the Movie: Secret of the Mermaid Island" placed second at the box office behind "The Assassin(s)" by a margin of about 7,000 viewers in its opening weekend. However, in its second week, it successfully climbed to No. 1 by edging out "The Assassin(s)" by a margin of 215 viewers.

"Chiikawa the Movie: Secret of the Mermaid Island" is an animated film depicting a suspicious subjugation mission in which Chiikawa and friends, tempted by a sweet offer of 100 times the usual reward, set off for an unknown island to uncover the secrets hidden there. It is based on the popular long-form "Siren" arc from "Chiikawa," serialized by Japanese illustrator Nagano.

Meanwhile, "The Assassin(s)" drew 405,966 viewers over the same period, finishing its fourth weekend at the box office in second place.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Actors Son Suk-ku and Nagayama Eita raised anticipation for the series "The Blue Road" with their chemistry that transcended borders.

Attending an open talk for the Netflix series "The Blue Road" held at the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan on October 9, Son Suk-ku recalled his first meeting with Nagayama Eita, saying, "We shot our first scene on a set in Japan. The moment we exchanged our first lines, I felt something was different."

He continued, "I went to the director and said, 'I think I can just trust this guy and go with it.' There are times when chemistry just doesn't happen no matter how hard you try, but I felt that this chemistry worked."

Eita shared that he had watched several of Son Suk-ku's works. He said, "Because I had watched many of Son Suk-ku's works, I felt the tension of thinking, 'He's right in front of me,' but I tried to let go of that feeling and focus on acting."

The two actors use Korean and Japanese seamlessly without boundaries in the project. Regarding his Japanese-language acting in the series, Son Suk-ku opened up about the challenges, saying, "Even when I memorized it over and over until going to sleep, it just wouldn't work. I thought I was going crazy."

Son Suk-ku revealed that his personal contemplation as an actor was the reason he chose "The Blue Road," stating, "When choosing this project, I thought that if I picked a project where I felt, 'There's no way I can do this; this is too much for me to handle,' and went all in, that might allow me to share lasting time with the audience."

He added, "If I was going to do it, I wanted to do it properly. Whenever possible, I wanted to speak even the Korean lines in Japanese, and Eita wanted to speak in Korean. In that sense, I felt we shared a similar mindset."

Eita shared their rehearsal process, saying, "The three of us—Son Suk-ku, me, and the interpreter—thought a lot about how to deliver the lines. I remember practicing together for hours while drinking coffee in a park."

"The Blue Road" is a series depicting two detectives chasing twisted corpses, cryptic messages, and horrific murders that recur across borders. It is the new work by director Han Jun-hee of the Netflix series "D.P." and the film "Coin Locker Girl," starring Son Suk-ku and Nagayama Eita, who represent South Korea and Japan. It will be released on Netflix on November 20.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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The film "The Assassin(s)" has surpassed 3 million moviegoers nationwide in just 20 days since its release.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets on October 12, "The Assassin(s)" crossed the cumulative milestone of 3 million viewers at around 8:00 AM on this day. With this achievement, it became the fifth Korean film released in 2026 to reach the 3 million mark.

During its third week of release, from Monday, October 5 to Sunday, October 11, "The Assassin(s)" drew 758,587 moviegoers over the week, claiming the No. 1 spot on the overall weekly box office for three consecutive weeks. Notably, the third-week attendance saw an increase of approximately 90,000 viewers compared to the 667,698 recorded in its second week. The controversy over historical distortion that flared up during its opening week escalated into political sparring, which paradoxically amplified audience interest and translated into actual theater visits.

As the historical distortion dispute expanded beyond the film itself to include slander targeting the actors and protests outside their private residences, a shift in public sentiment also began to form. Furthermore, with daily aggressive offensives continuing from political circles, some observe that it is inadvertently creating a promotional boost for the film.

The film's production cost was 19 billion won, and its break-even point is approximately 3.7 million admissions. Attention is now focused on whether "The Assassin(s)," having successfully surpassed 3 million viewers in three weeks, will be able to cross its break-even point over the coming weekend.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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It was belatedly revealed that the late action actor Kim Hyun-i passed away last summer.

At the end of Episode 1 of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White", which aired on October 9, a caption was shown stating, "In memory of our precious colleague, the late Kim Hyun-i, who ran alongside us." Beneath the message was the note, "From the entire production team of Doctor X: Mafia in White."

The following day, on October 10, a memorial caption also appeared at the end of Episode 1 of the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "100 Days of Deception," reading, "We will never forget and will always remember the late action actor Kim Hyun-i." With two consecutive dramas airing memorial messages, attention has turned to the sad news of the actor's passing.

Kim Hyun-i is known to have passed away after filming for "Doctor X: Mafia in White" had concluded.

The late actor contributed to films including "Black Nuns," "Forbidden Fairytale," "Victory," and "Project Silence," as well as dramas such as "The Penthouse: War in Life" and "New Recruit 4: Sabotage."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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The musical "Dracula" has donated 1,000 blood donation certificates collected by audiences, actors, and staff through a blood donation campaign to support children with pediatric cancer.

Production company OD COMPANY stated that together with the Hanmaeum Blood Center, it delivered 1,000 blood donation certificates to the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation. The donated certificates will be used for children with pediatric cancer who require blood transfusions during chemotherapy.

The blood donation campaign for "Dracula" first began in 2021. Inspired by "blood," the central motif of the production, the project was organized during a prolonged period of COVID-19 when blood shortages persisted. During the previous 10th anniversary season (2023–2024), 1,000 certificates, including those collected since 2021, were donated to the Korea Blood Cancer Association. This year marks the third campaign.

This season, the production company presented audiences who participated in blood donation in August with a specially designed "Dracula" acrylic carabiner along with a four-piece photocard set containing handwritten messages from Shin Sung-rok, KIM JUNSU, Jeon Dong-suk, and Ko Eun-sung, who star as Dracula. Audiences who donated certificates were also offered ticket discounts and invitation events.

Based on Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, "Dracula" is a musical depicting the story of Count Dracula, who has loved only one woman for more than 400 years.

"Dracula" is currently running at LG Arts Center Seoul, LG SIGNATURE Hall, and will close on October 18.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Ryu Seung-ryong, boasting a 24-year film career, confessed that comedy acting remains challenging.

Attending the Actors' House at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, held on the afternoon of October 9 at the Culture Hall on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Centum City in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Ryu Seung-ryong said, "The more I do comedy, the more difficult it gets."

He explained, "I think what is most important in good comedy is genuinely believing in it while acting. Even in the drama 'Chicken Nugget,' I truly acted believing that my daughter had turned into a chicken nugget. If I don't believe it myself, how can I convince the audience?" He then demonstrated a scene by calling out his on-screen daughter's name.

Although Ryu Seung-ryong spoke humbly about the difficulties of comedic acting, he is an actor who has built an acclaimed legacy through comedy. Key moments throughout his career have always featured comedy films and the uniquely charming characters he brought to life.

After debuting in a minor role in the 2004 film "Someone Special," he captured the public's attention as the Casanova Sung-ki in the 2012 film "All About My Wife." He subsequently starred in no fewer than four 10-million-ticket hit films—"Masquerade," "Miracle in Cell No. 7," "The Admiral: Roaring Currents," and "Extreme Job"—solidifying his status as a leading powerhouse actor in Korean cinema.

Notably, both projects that earned him the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the Baeksang Arts Awards belonged to the comedy genre. In 2013, he claimed his first Daesang as Yong-gu, a doting father who drew both laughter and tears in "Miracle in Cell No. 7." He received his second Daesang for the character "Manager Kim" in the drama "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim," which aired last year, depicting the bittersweet realities of South Korean office workers.

Recalling his experience portraying an intellectually disabled character in the tragicomic story of "Miracle in Cell No. 7," he shared, "Working on several projects with director Jang Jin taught me something valuable: 'Even in an intoxicated scene, you must not get so lost in acting drunk that you lose sight of what you are trying to convey.' I think it was similar to that. I approached the role believing that Yong-gu is simply an ordinary father who loves his daughter more than his own life, and everything else was merely the surrounding premise."

Regarding the drama "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim," which sparked a massive sensation last year, he reflected on the shift in perspective that allowed him to craft his own take on a father and family provider: "There are countless fathers in this world. That title is merely what someone wears on the outside, but at the core, people come in endless varieties. Thinking that way gave me the freedom when selecting projects."

When asked by an audience member about his future goals as an actor, he replied, "I want to share the love and lessons I have received through acting with the next generation." His words reflected a sense of duty and purpose as an adult and senior colleague, aspiring to serve as a bridge connecting older and younger generations rather than focusing solely on personal glory. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Singer SUNG HANBIN (ZEROBASEONE) performs the title track at a media showcase commemorating the release of his first solo EP "DEAD:ALIVE," held on the afternoon of October 12 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Singer SUNG HANBIN (ZEROBASEONE) poses during a photo session at the media showcase for the release of his first solo EP "DEAD:ALIVE," held on the afternoon of October 12 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Singer SUNG HANBIN (ZEROBASEONE) performs the title track at a media showcase celebrating the release of his first solo EP "DEAD:ALIVE," held on the afternoon of October 12 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Singer SUNG HANBIN (ZEROBASEONE) performs the title track at a media showcase celebrating the release of his first solo EP "DEAD:ALIVE," held on the afternoon of October 12 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Singer SUNG HANBIN of ZEROBASEONE delivers his opening remarks at a media showcase held on the afternoon of October 12 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of his first solo EP "DEAD:ALIVE".

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Duo Panic, formed by singer-songwriter Lee Juck and rapper Kim Jin-pyo, is returning with a year-end solo concert.

Panic will open ticket reservations for "2026 Panic Concert <PANIC IS COMING, AGAIN>" on October 15 at 8:00 p.m. via Ticketlink. The concert will be held for three days from December 4 (Fri) to December 6 (Sun) at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. The performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, running for a total of 120 minutes.

This concert is an encore stage following their solo concert held last April for the first time in 20 years. At that time, Panic held four performances over four days from April 16 to April 19 at the LG SIGNATURE Hall of LG Arts Center Seoul, with all dates selling out immediately after tickets went on sale.

Their agency, Music Farm Entertainment, shared that the duo wrapped up the stage back then amid acclaim from both audiences and critics as the "best among domestic concerts." With all shows for the April concert having sold out, fierce ticketing competition is expected once again this time.

Tickets are exclusively sold through Ticketlink and will not be available through any other platforms. To ensure a smooth booking process and prevent illegal scalping, purchases are limited to two tickets per person across all shows per ID.

Having debuted in 1995, Panic has released four albums featuring hit tracks such as "Snail," "Left-Hander," "UFO," and more.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Singer Kim Gun-mo has completed the Daegu stop of his 35th-anniversary national tour.

On October 10, Kim posted on his social media alongside a photo, "Daegu concert successfully wrapped up. Thank you to the audience members who joined us. See you in Jeonju." In the photo, Kim is dressed in stage attire with his hand on his chin, looking at the camera with a relaxed expression.

Jo Beom-jin also shared his thoughts on his guest appearance along with video footage from the concert venue on his Instagram. He stated, "Yesterday in Daegu, I joined Gun-mo hyung's concert as a guest," and shared, "The stage where I sang Heo Young-ran's 'Wings' on the audition program 'Oppasidae' a few years ago led to my connection with Gun-mo hyung."

Jo added, "Music allows people to meet, and that connection creates another stage," adding, "I also sang my song 'Road of Life' and had a truly enjoyable time on stage after a long while." He continued, "Looking back, life's path is also quite fascinating. You never know which song will lead to which connection."

After sexual assault allegations were raised against Kim Gun-mo by a YouTube channel in 2019, he was cleared of the charges following a legal battle. He subsequently took a hiatus of about six years before returning in front of fans through a concert last year. He is currently continuing his performances nationwide with his 35th-anniversary tour.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Park Hae-il attended an event commemorating his feature film debut amid the complete cancellation of Busan International Film Festival schedules for his new movie "The Assassin(s)."

On October 8, Park Hae-il took part in a Community BIFF event at the 31st Busan International Film Festival held at Megabox Busan Theater in Jung-gu, Busan, appearing as a lead actor from the film "Waikiki Brothers." Organized to mark the 30th anniversary of director Yim Soon-rye's feature directorial debut, the event saw Park take the stage alongside director Yim.

After greeting the audience members in attendance, Park Hae-il showed warmth and friendliness, saying, "I even went to see Bukangi." During the Q&A session that followed the screening, he expressed his deep affection for his debut film "Waikiki Brothers" and shared stories from the production process and personal anecdotes with director Yim Soon-rye.

Park Hae-il also shared his perspective on cinema at the gathering, stating, "Where cinema will take a person like me, what emotions it will make me feel, and what thoughts, directions forward, and perspectives on life I might evoke in those watching... To me, cinema itself feels like a truly profound and mysterious presence."

Originally a theater actor, Park Hae-il made his big-screen debut in 2001 with "Waikiki Brothers" and has since established himself as one of South Korean cinema's leading actors.

Park Hae-il had originally been slated to attend the Busan International Film Festival alongside the director and fellow cast members for his new film "The Assassin(s)." However, in the wake of recent controversies surrounding alleged historical distortion, the related events were completely canceled after some members of conservative organizations visited actor Yoo Hai-jin's house to stage protests, among other actions. Regardless of the cancellation of events for "The Assassin(s)," Park Hae-il attended the scheduled audience gathering for "Waikiki Brothers," honoring his loyalty to director Yim Soon-rye.

Despite the controversy, "The Assassin(s)" surpassed 3 million moviegoers nationwide within 20 days of release.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Singer Jang Han-byul is releasing a new song after five months.

Jang Han-byul will release his digital single "Miya" at noon on October 12 across various online music streaming platforms. This marks his first new release in about five months since "You Are My Star," which he performed during the hit song mission on MBN's "Unknown Legend" in May.

"Miya" is a ballad. The title is derived from an affectionate way of calling the ending syllable "Mi" found in common Korean names around us, such as Eun-mi or Young-mi.

Lyricist Lee Geon-woo and composers Kim Sun-min and Choi Jae-eun participated together as the project team "The Magic Flute" for this song. Lee Geon-woo wrote the lyrics for tracks including "Amor Fati," while Kim Sun-min composed "Cocktail Love."

Jang Han-byul recently wrote on his social media, "Because this song is so precious and dear to me, I am already excited and looking forward to letting all of you hear it." He added, "I hope 'Miya' becomes a song that stays in your hearts for a long time. Eunhasu (fandom name), please look forward to it and listen to it together on the day it is released."

The performance of "Miya" will be unveiled for the first time at Jang Han-byul's first solo concert since debut, "THE STAR IS BORN," which will be held on October 31 and November 1 at Daeyang Hall at Sejong University in Seoul.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Posters for the film "The Assassin(s)" are displayed at a movie theater in Seoul on the morning of October 12, as the movie reached a cumulative audience of 3 million in 20 days since its release.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Actor Ju Ji-hoon shared the story behind how he decided to star in "Kingdom," Netflix Korea's first original series.

Attending the Actors' House event at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held on the afternoon of October 9 at the Culture Hall on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Department Store Centum City in Haeundae-gu, Busan, Ju Ji-hoon spoke about his participation in "Kingdom"—a pioneering decision at the time: "Back then, I didn't even know what Netflix was. I even accepted a lower appearance fee than what I normally received. They said it was in the beginning stages and that the production budget was tight."

He continued, recalling his first impression of the script for "Kingdom": "Back then, I also kept my thinking simple. Now everyone is free of prejudice because they've seen the finished product. When I first read the script for 'Kingdom,' I thought, 'What kind of story is this, like a virgin ghost appearing in Texas?' The story itself was entertaining, but I was very negative about it."

What ultimately led him to decide to star, despite the unfamiliar platform and unconventional subject matter, was advice from people around him. Ju Ji-hoon recounted the advice he received from director Kim Yong-hwa and actor Ha Jung-woo, with whom he built a relationship of trust through the film series "Along with the Gods": "The two of them told me, 'If the writing is good and the director is a good person, do it.' At that time, it had only 100,000 subscribers and was an unfamiliar platform, so I thought that even if it flopped, nobody would know. It was like an ox stepping backward and catching a frog," he joked.

"Kingdom," as Netflix Korea's first original series, received immense love both domestically and worldwide. The fact that Korean content is receiving global recognition through streaming platforms today can be seen as possible because "Kingdom," serving as the trailblazer, opened the doors so successfully.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Top model Choi So-ra has become a mother.

On October 11, Choi So-ra shared a look at herself right after giving birth on her social media. A day later, she also posted a photo holding her baby, expressing her joy with a bright, healthy smile.

Choi previously tied the knot with photographer Kove Lee in Bali in 2019, and she has now welcomed her first child into her arms after seven years of marriage.

This past May, Choi captured the spotlight by taking the runway while heavily pregnant for Chanel's 2026 Métiers d'Art collection show. Dressed in a white sleeveless gown embellished with sparkling beads, she even handled the closing walk.

Additionally, on October 1, approximately 10 days before giving birth, she unveiled a maternity pictorial and interview shot with the fashion magazine "Vogue Korea."

In the interview, Choi revealed that the baby is a girl and shared that they named her Lee Choi, combining her husband Lee's surname and her own. She also shared her feelings: "When you work as a model for a long time, you notice changes in your body faster than looking in a mirror, but pregnancy brings an incredible pace of change. Even though it is my own body, every single day it turns into a body I don't recognize in an instant. Then it suddenly hits me that right now my body is creating a human being, and even though it is the body I have seen all my life, it feels miraculously new."

After stepping onto international runways in 2014 through the Louis Vuitton Cruise show in Monaco, Choi became the first Korean model to walk collection shows for Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein. She went on to sweep runways and campaigns for premier global brands including Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Burberry, and Alexander McQueen. In 2019, she walked 89 shows in a single year, becoming the model who appeared in the most fashion shows worldwide, and in 2020, she placed first in the reader-voted Model of the Year on Models.com.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Ju Ji-hoon has revealed the behind-the-scenes story of joining the cast of his highly anticipated upcoming project, "The Remarried Empress."

Attending the Actors' House event at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, held on the afternoon of October 9 at the Cultural Hall on the ninth floor of Shinsegae Department Store Centum City in Haeundae-gu, Busan, Ju Ji-hoon shared, "I turned down this project about two or three times because I felt I didn't have a deep understanding of its fictional world."

He then explained how he came to change his mind, adding, "Someone I trust deeply even wrote me a letter to persuade me. I also became curious about why it receives so much love and what aspects the audience would enjoy."

The Disney+ original series "The Remarried Empress" is a sweeping romance fantasy epic that unfolds when Navier (Shin Mina), the flawless empress of the Eastern Empire, is notified of a divorce by Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji-hoon), who has fallen for the runaway slave Rashta (Lee Seyoung), and accepts the divorce on the condition that her remarriage to Prince Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom is approved. In this series, Ju Ji-hoon plays Emperor Sovieshu.

Ju Ji-hoon spoke about adjusting to the setting and his character, saying, "It was difficult because we are Asian actors while the characters have foreign names, but during the first table read, I started to get a feel for it."

He continued, "I thought it would be easier to approach it like a musical rather than in a realistic tone," adding, "For instance, people don't feel awkward when performing 'Hamlet.' Approaching it that way broke down a lot of my mental barriers."

"The Remarried Empress" filmed on location in the Czech Republic for about a month. Recalling that time, he said, "I cooked meals for the directing crew at my lodging. I asked staff members of various ages what they found appealing about this story, and they explained a lot to me," adding, "To be honest, I didn't fully understand it at first, but I worked hard to bridge that gap and comprehend it."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Will Kim Seung-soo and Song Jong-ho finally tie the knot this time?

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS's "My Little Old Boy," Kim Seung-soo and Song Jong-ho took part in the "My Little Old Boy" "Match To Marry: With Parents" camp.

On this day, Kim Seung-soo's mother, Choi In-sook, introduced her son by saying, "My son was born in 1971 and passed the open audition for MBC actors on his first try. Currently, he is also working hard running a restaurant business."

She continued, "He may look like this now, but he was handsome. Girls have chased after him since kindergarten, and he received so many letters. Because he couldn't get married despite being such a good catch, I worried and asked if he had an issue with his masculinity, and he went and got a health checkup. He told me that his male hormone levels were quite high," drawing laughter with her appeal.

Song Jong-ho's mother drew attention by launching an age attack regarding her son, saying, "He is a whole five years younger than Kim Seung-soo." Song Jong-ho's mother continued to highlight his good nature, saying, "He hasn't been able to do any acting projects for over three years, so my heart aches whenever I think about that. He had financial difficulties, but he never showed even the slightest hint of having a hard time. He is truly a good son."

She also drew attention by revealing, "He has now opened a meat restaurant and is working hard to recover financially. If you become our in-laws, beef is free anytime."

The first female participant going on a blind date with the two men was Park Hye-yeon, born in 1987. She was revealed to be a freelance announcer in her 15th year who also runs a business related to mental health.

Describing her ideal type, she drew attention by saying she likes someone who has a sense of humor, has great conversational banter, and makes her laugh, adding that it would be even better if they could enjoy traveling together.

The second female participant was Min Ji-soo, born in 1991, who studied abroad in China and currently handles VIP protocol and presenter duties for a major corporation. Her father praised his daughter, saying, "She is pretty and beautiful like a jewel," and highlighted that she also owns a cozy home in Seoul.

After the participants finished their introductions, one-on-one dates were held based on the male participants' choices. Contrary to expectations, all of the male participants chose Min Ji-soo, surprising everyone.

Min Ji-soo went on a date with Kim Seung-soo first, followed by a date with Song Jong-ho. Watching this, Seo Jang-hoon remarked on Min Ji-soo's facial expression when dealing with Song Jong-ho compared to her date with Kim Seung-soo, saying, "I'm sorry, and you probably all noticed this, but Ji-soo's facial expression is quite different from earlier."

Min Ji-soo then asked Song Jong-ho if there was someone between her and the other participant whom he had hoped would come during the first impression vote. To this, Song Jong-ho answered honestly, "For the first impression, I had hoped Ji-soo would come."

Song Jong-ho then asked, "Between me and Seung-soo hyung, was there someone you hoped would choose you?" and Min Ji-soo immediately replied, "Yes." However, while keeping who it was a secret, she drew attention as she could not hide her smile.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Yu Jae-seok gave some frank advice to a betrayed Heo Kyung-hwan.

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS's "Running Man," the cast headed to Cheorwon alongside guest Heo Kyung-hwan for a special race.

After dinner, the "Running Man" members and Heo Kyung-hwan were given a morning wake-up mission: protect their eggs overnight and prepare a dish using them the next morning.

The first four to finish would be exempt from the penalty, while the remaining four who missed the cutoff would face the morning chore of cooking breakfast.

The cast scrambled to find safe hiding spots for their eggs. However, even before the mission could properly get underway, eggs began breaking in various ways, sparking laughter. Jee Seokjin lost all of his eggs early on, putting him out of the running for the morning wake-up mission entirely.

The remaining male members then formed an alliance, placing their eggs together inside a microwave and sealing it shut. Naturally, a betrayal soon followed.

HAHA plotted with Yang Sechan and Kim Jong-kook to sneak out with the microwave containing the hidden eggs. But Yu Jae-seok, who woke up on pure instinct, tailed the trio.

The members pulled out their own eggs to take them into their own hands. In that moment, Yu Jae-seok smashed some of Yang Sechan's eggs before fleeing with his own. Infuriated, the three completely ruined all of Heo Kyung-hwan's eggs and marched over to confront Yu Jae-seok.

Yu Jae-seok countered by explaining why he had lost his temper, stating, "You started it." He then laid down an ultimatum that drew laughter, saying, "If you mess with me? I'm going to wake everyone up except Kyung-hwan."

Once morning arrived, the members began cooking with the eggs they had narrowly managed to protect. Heo Kyung-hwan was devastated after learning that all of his eggs had been broken.

Watching a cat happily eating an egg, he looked on with envy, saying, "Even you have an egg." But right then, Heo Kyung-hwan noticed the basket the cat's egg was in and was crushed to realize it was actually his own egg.

Spotting Yu Jae-seok in the middle of cooking an egg dish, Heo Kyung-hwan shook his head in disbelief at everything that had unfolded while he was asleep, remarking, "This is scary."

To this, Yu Jae-seok quipped, drawing laughter, "Kyung-hwan, just stick to Saturdays. Sundays don't suit you."

In the end, the alliance of traitors—Yu Jae-seok, Yang Sechan, Kim Jong-kook, and HAHA—earned exemptions from the breakfast penalty. The production team remarked, "So much went down at dawn, yet the people who slept soundly ended up on breakfast duty."

Hearing this, Heo Kyung-hwan vented his frustration as he looked back on his naivety. Kim Jong-kook remarked, "It's wild that you trusted us completely and went to sleep," to which Heo Kyung-hwan drew attention with a dejected expression, saying, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can handle overnight shoots."

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Kim Min-jong opened up about the allegations surrounding illegal gambling.

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS's "My Little Old Boy," Yoon Min-soo and Lee Jong-hyuk were shown visiting Kim Min-jong's house in Yangpyeong.

On this day, Kim Min-jong revealed his remodeled Yangpyeong house and honestly shared his feelings regarding the recent allegations surrounding him.

Recently, singer MC Mong sparked controversy by claiming that an illegal gambling gathering involving celebrities existed and that Kim Min-jong was included in that group.

In response, Kim Min-jong dismissed all claims as groundless and filed a complaint against MC Mong, stating that the honor and trust he had built over 38 years since his debut had been damaged, resulting in the halt of discussions for commercial ads and an upcoming Hollywood project that were being negotiated in detail.

However, Kim Min-jong eventually dropped the complaint. Regarding this, Kim Min-jong calmly said, "I did it for myself. Even if I kept going, nothing was going to get better."

Watching this, Lee Jong-hyuk asked, "Did you accept his apology and end it?" Kim Min-jong explained, "He also apologized very sincerely. And wondering what further meaning there would be in dragging it out any longer, I decided to drop the complaint for my own sake."

However, Kim Min-jong ended up not being part of the project he had been scheduled to film. Kim Min-jong conveyed his feelings, stating, "I guess that also just wasn't meant to be," adding, "My mental state was shaken and it was difficult, but now that it has all passed, I have sorted through it," drawing sympathy.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)

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So Yi-hyun shared her concerns about her close senior colleague, Kim Seung-soo.

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS' "My Little Old Boy", actor So Yi-hyun, affectionately known as "Sobovely," appeared as a special MC.

During the episode, So Yi-hyun spoke about her close bond with Kim Seung-soo and praised him, saying, "He is such a great senior and person, like an older brother who leads the atmosphere on set."

She continued, "He treats both his seniors and juniors so well, is so perfect, and always buys meals and drinks. He does everything so well, but it really seems like he has no intention of getting married. It seems he is just too comfortable being alone," which brought despair to Kim Seung-soo's mother.

So Yi-hyun tried to salvage the situation by adding, "He is such an attractive man who could date anyone whenever he sets his mind to it," but her earlier remark hit Kim Seung-soo's mother like a dagger, drawing laughter.

So Yi-hyun also shared that her eldest daughter is 12 years old and in fifth grade, expressing her dilemma: "Now that puberty is starting, she used to be such a gentle child, but lately she has gradually started showing a rebellious side."

She then drew attention by adding, "However, senior Cha Tae-hyun gave me advice, telling me that things get easier if you think of them as someone else's child. Perhaps because of that advice, when I view her that way, she seems very kind, and I get far less angry."

To this, Shin Dong-yeob drew laughter with a meaningful smile, saying, "She's only in fifth grade? You still have a long way to go."

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)

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Jee Seokjin shared the "secret" behind his long 16-year run on "Running Man".

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS's "Running Man", the cast joined Heo Kyung-hwan in Cheorwon for the "Cheorwon Tteudeo Bbuseuyo" race.

In the vehicle heading to their lodging that day, Heo Kyung-hwan looked at Jee Seokjin and marveled, "Hyung-nim, your stamina never gets worn out."

To this, Jee Seokjin played up his 16-year tenure on "Running Man", saying, "Hey, if you get tired, it wouldn't be 16 years. I made it here because I don't get tired."

Jee Seokjin continued to make a fuss, adding, "I recharge my battery with solar power. My voice is booming. My stamina is great, really great." Yang Sechan called him out, saying, "Stop pretending to be healthy! You're drooling while pretending to be healthy," drawing laughter.

After arriving at the lodging, the "Running Man" members gathered again for dinner. Yu Jae-seok then imitated Jee Seokjin sleeping, teasing him, "After shouting about being full of energy, I thought he was blowing up a balloon while lying down."

Kim Jong-kook also drew laughter by exposing video evidence of Jee Seokjin completely drained of energy as soon as the sun went down.

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Ji Ye-eun revealed that she has been preparing as a bride-to-be.

On the October 11 broadcast of SBS's "Running Man," the cast engaged in the "Cheorwon Tteudeo Bpusseuyo" race in Cheorwon alongside Heo Kyung-hwan.

Upon arriving at the lodging that day, the "Running Man" cast and Heo Kyung-hwan began preparing dinner. As everyone set to work finding tasks to do, Ji Ye-eun caught attention by taking charge of the seasoned fried chicken sauce.

To Jee Seokjin, who watched her with an expression of concern, Ji Ye-eun remarked, "I'm a bride-to-be, you know." When Jee Seokjin responded, "Ah, so you've been preparing," she drew attention by saying, "I've prepared all the dishes and everything while cooking," sharing that she has been getting ready as a prospective bride.

Even as commotion broke out nearby, Ji Ye-eun stayed quietly in one place focusing solely on crafting the sauce. She then suggested that the members dip the chicken they had fried into her sauce to give it a taste.

Upon tasting it, Yang Sechan exclaimed in admiration, "Wow, you're totally Cheogajip!" Kim Jong-kook and Yu Jae-seok also drew attention by proudly praising her, remarking, "Ye-eun is really good at things like this. Ye-eun is genuinely all prepared."

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What is the secret of Doctor X?

The October 10 episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" (hereinafter "Doctor X") depicted Gye Soo-jung performing surgeries on two pancreatic cancer patients.

On this day, watching Do Yoon-shik take on the surgery of a VIP patient, Gye Soo-jung worried, "He won't be able to do it with his skill level."

And her prediction was correct. Do Yoon-shik was flustered by the patient's condition, which was more severe than expected, and called to halt the surgery.

At this, Boo Seung-kwon pressed him, "Professor Do, are you really going to close up as it is?" Do Yoon-shik replied, "Anything more than this will be too much of a burden on the patient." Ultimately, Boo Seung-kwon paged Gye Soo-jung, who was operating on another pancreatic cancer patient in Operating Room 5.

Without hesitation, Gye Soo-jung stated she would go right away to Operating Room 1, where the VIP patient was. Park Tae-kyung blocked her, asking how even Gye Soo-jung could prioritize the VIP patient. However, Gye Soo-jung headed straight to Operating Room 1 and took over the surgery from Do Yoon-shik.

Boo Seung-kwon and Bae Heung-gon, who had been watching the surgery in Operating Room 1, went to Operating Room 5. Bae Heung-gon could not hide his shock after belatedly realizing that Gye Soo-jung had completely finished the surgery in just one hour.

Do Yoon-shik became agitated upon seeing Gye Soo-jung proceed with a surgical method different from the one he had prepared. To this, Boo Seung-kwon urged, "Dr. Do Yoon-shik, follow Dr. Gye Soo-jung's surgical method. And Dr. Gye Soo-jung is not in this operating room."

Gye Soo-jung finished the surgery before clocking-off time and had other doctors handle the closing. Jang Hee-sook, who had been watching everything, drew attention by telling Boo Seung-kwon, "Since the surgeries are doubled today, the price is doubled too," promising to keep everything regarding the surgery strictly confidential.

After the surgery ended, Boo Seung-kwon visited Do Yoon-shik. He told Do Yoon-shik, "Yoon-shik, you thought of closing up first. You didn't think about trying to do anything more; you just thought of closing up. At that moment, you had already left the operating room."

To this, Do Yoon-shik sobbed, "No. I volunteered as an assistant and watched this surgery until the end. Do you know how miserable that is? That helplessness of not being able to overcome it with my own skill. Still, I stayed in the operating room until the end and endured. I will continue to do so. That is how I will carve out my place in this hospital and achieve what I dreamed of."

Gye Soo-jung had planned from the start to perform surgeries on both patients. Bae Heung-gon searched for information about Gye Soo-jung's unfamiliar surgical technique. Through an article, he found a record of Gye Soo-jung's surgical method that had been performed in Cuba seven years ago.

The patient at that time had undergone a successful surgery, but died two months later of an unknown cause. Although the primary surgeon's name was unknown, the pseudonym written on the chart was "Doctor X," and Gye Soo-jung was spotted in a group photo of doctors attached to the article, drawing attention.

Meanwhile, Boo Seung-kwon apologized to Gye Soo-jung for making an unreasonable request, advising her that she could not avoid failure forever. Gye Soo-jung turned away, responding, "Director, it seems you have already failed," raising curiosity about what developments will unfold next.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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The freezer warehouse murder case—what is the real story behind the incident?

On the October 10 broadcast of SBS's "Unanswered Questions," the program tracked the horrific case of a woman in her 60s who died after being trapped inside a freezer warehouse set to minus 25 degrees Celsius, under the subtitle "Frozen False Scenario: The Paju Freezer Warehouse Murder."

On September 4, a body was discovered in a refrigerated container located in a corner of a large café parking lot in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Found inside the container set to minus 25 degrees Celsius, the body was that of a woman in her 60s, surnamed Lee, who had been reported missing the previous day.

It came as a major shock that the victim died after being confined in the freezer warehouse for 27 hours. Soon after, 39-year-old Shin, the owner of the café where the freezer was located, was urgently arrested.

Shin, who had met the victim for the first time on the day of the incident, locked her in the freezer warehouse less than an hour after meeting and left her there. Shin claimed that it was an accidental crime and that he did not know it would lead to her death.

However, along with the victim's body, 10 boxes were discovered in the freezer warehouse, containing counterfeit department store gift certificates with a face value of 50 billion won.

The cause of death for the body, which showed no external trauma from assault or a weapon, was hypothermia. Shin claimed that when the counterfeits were discovered, he panicked and confined the victim.

The victim had worked in an area unrelated to gift certificates. Yet, the place where Shin was apprehended the next day was the location of the deceased's office.

Furthermore, on the day of his arrest, three men were with Shin, and one of them, surnamed Choi, was the person who had brought the victim to Paju on the day of the incident and connected her with Shin.

The victim's family filed a missing person report on the night of the incident. Immediately following the report, the police tracked the victim's movements via her cell phone location, but it was difficult to identify Shin's café.

This was because Shin, after confining the victim, drove around the Paju area while repeatedly turning her cell phone off and on to manipulate its location.

In addition, the prosecutor handling the case explained, "Even though Shin knew the victim's location, he told other investigative agencies and related persons that he didn't know well or that she had gone elsewhere in order to confuse the investigation. In particular, he also told specific lies claiming that they had already parted ways in the morning."

The prosecutor analyzed, "He seems to have thought he could demand money from Choi as a penalty or fee for the broken transaction, claiming that the victim had disappeared with the gift certificates," adding, "He demanded a penalty from Choi, asking how he would take responsibility and what he planned to do, and this appears to be because he had a criminal plan to that effect in his head."

In response, prosecutors revealed they have obtained search records showing Shin looked up criminal plans in advance, as well as phone recording files in which he explained details of the crime to a third party.

Before the incident, Choi and his party were seen traveling with the victim, and another person from their group was also arrested.

An expert commented on the case, saying, "In the discounted voucher exchange market, that is not an unusually large sum. There are cases where up to 230 billion won has been laundered," and added, "The goal could be bringing funds into the open from investment chatroom scams, romance scam organizations, or even the illegal gambling market."

A criminal psychology professor analyzed Shin's actions, stating, "He seems to have thought she was an intermediary who might not be able to report to the police," adding, "He appears to have obtained information or calmly formulated a plan believing that even if he scammed people trying to purchase gift certificates, the victims would not easily report it or seek help from those around them."

Ahead of the gift certificate transaction with Shin, Choi said he wanted to verify the certificates, and Shin requested that an elderly woman be sent to verify them. Choi then asked the victim to act as a proxy verifier for the certificates.

It was also revealed that Shin told the victim to leave her cell phone in his car, saying he would show the certificates via video call with Choi on his own phone. Was Choi also deceived by Shin?

When asked who Choi is and what his relationship with Shin was, investigative authorities refrained from answering, stating that it remains under investigation, though they drew a line by clarifying that Choi did not put the victim in danger while knowing Shin's criminal plan.

Shin, who carried substantial business loan debt compared to his assets, had continuously looked for ways to resolve it all at once.

Shin, who had a desire to show off, often believed he could fix problems in a single move. While devising dramatic ways to overcome his difficulties, he is presumed not to have considered human life in that plan.

An expert commented, "By abandoning the victim in the freezer warehouse, he caused her death without getting blood on his own hands. He likely viewed the victim not as a human being, but as a mere tool or procedure to achieve his objective," adding that targeting an elderly woman may have been a choice to pick someone easily overpowered.

The expert continued, "I don't think the buyer Choi's side bore any risk. The buyer did not show up at the scene and left no room for himself to be cracked down on or arrested. He merely put the victim forward, and it seems very likely that the victim went to the scene without knowing how illegal or dangerous what she was doing was," pointing out that putting a victim forward as a surrogate resembles the methods of criminal organizations.

Furthermore, the prosecution stated that through this case, they judged the fact that high-denomination gift certificates circulate without passing through official issuers and that there are people wanting to buy them indicates there is supply and demand to launder money via untraceable methods, whether from voice phishing or illegal gambling, raising expectations that the full truth behind the incident will be clearly revealed.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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Who does Seo Jang-hoon consider to be truly wealthy?

The October 9 broadcast of SBS's "My Genie Secretary" featured the secretary duo attending to their "My Star," Seo Jang-hoon.

That day, the secretaries drew attention by taking on their first-ever tour service for a "My Star." After recording the show, Seo Jang-hoon requested to go on a trip to Gangneung.

In response, the secretaries planned a Gangneung tour itinerary led by Lee Seo-jin, with Kim Kwang-kyu and Lee Seo-jin taking turns driving.

The first stop was a visit to Ojukheon. Lee Seo-jin drove along a scenic coastal road toward Ojukheon, while Seo Jang-hoon admired the magnificent landscape and looked out the window with eyes full of curiosity.

However, upon arriving with great anticipation, they found that Ojukheon was already closed. Seo Jang-hoon, who had hoped to see even the black bamboo, struggled to turn away in disappointment.

Just then, Kim Kwang-kyu spotted some black bamboo on the outside grounds. Seeing it, Seo Jang-hoon beamed with childlike excitement and said, "Oh, there's black bamboo."

Next, the secretaries and Seo Jang-hoon visited a seaside cafe at Gyeongpodae. Seo Jang-hoon stepped out onto the terrace, gazed at Gyeongpodae, and became lost in thought. He also drew attention by sharing that he had recently been reflecting on many things in order to spend the rest of his life well.

Lee Seo-jin, who has known Seo Jang-hoon for a long time, remarked about him, "After becoming an entertainer, his personality has toned down a lot." Seo Jang-hoon responded, "Part of it is that, but it's also because of age. I've become milder than when I was younger."

He then brought laughter by saying he is a warm "T" (Thinking personality type) with a different nuance from Lee Seo-jin, adding, "I filter things at least once."

The final stop was a raw fish restaurant. The group enjoyed a seafood feast at a place Lee Seo-jin had frequented for 25 years. Having his first meal of the day, Seo Jang-hoon drew attention with an enthusiastic seafood mukbang.

Looking quietly at Kim Kwang-kyu and Lee Seo-jin, Seo Jang-hoon showed a bewildered expression and said, "Kwang-kyu hyung is waiting on Seo-jin hyung more than me. I thought you said I was today's 'My Star'?" Kim Kwang-kyu brought laughter by answering, "I've lived my whole life like that."

Kim Kwang-kyu also worried about Seo Jang-hoon, who is always seen getting angry on television. He asked whether stress builds up when he goes home after filming those kinds of shows.

Seo Jang-hoon revealed his professionalism by explaining, "A lot of people worry, but I treat those people with sincerity as if they were my own family, and instead, I forget about it once it's over and I leave. I shake it off quickly and prepare for the next thing."

When asked what kind of person is truly wealthy, Seo Jang-hoon stated, "Someone with a genuinely broad mind, someone who is open-minded and relaxed. A person with a narrow mind might not remain wealthy for long."

To the same question, Lee Seo-jin drew nods of agreement by saying, "Someone who spends money well on me. That kind of person knows how to be generous not just to me, but to everyone." Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-kyu drew laughter by answering, "The truly wealthy person is Seo Jang-hoon."

Kim Kwang-kyu, who served Seo Jang-hoon that day, shared that all his previous preconceptions about Seo Jang-hoon had vanished, saying, "He still has childlike innocence and is like a tenderhearted boy."

Seo Jang-hoon created a heartwarming moment by adding, "It could have been a lonely shoot, but it was fun because the hyungs I like traveled all the way to Gangneung with me. If given the chance, I'd even want to wait on them instead."

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.

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