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The film "The Assassin(s)" has overcome controversy surrounding alleged historical distortion to break even at the box office.

According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets on October 23, "The Assassin(s)" drew 11,153 moviegoers on October 22, ranking third at the box office. Its cumulative audience stands at 3,306,283.

Inspired by the August 1974 assassination incident of Yuk Young-soo, "The Assassin(s)" faced red flags regarding its commercial performance early in its theatrical run after becoming embroiled in allegations of historical distortion. The film, which raises suspicions and questions about the incident, sparked heated debates over historical distortion versus artistic license, and freedom of expression versus defamation of the deceased, stirring widespread public controversy as it escalated into partisan political rhetoric.

In particular, several politicians demanded that the director appear as a witness and reference person at the parliamentary audit, and called for a screening ban on the film and the recovery of its profits. Additionally, all lawmakers of the People Power Party united to send a letter to the Singapore International Film Festival demanding the cancellation of "The Assassin(s)" as its opening film, leading the festival to issue an official statement confirming it would "screen as scheduled."

Furthermore, the situation escalated to extreme measures threatening the actor's livelihood and personal safety, such as exerting pressure on brands for which Yoo Hai-jin serves as an advertising model and staging demonstrations in front of the actor's home to demand an apology.

However, such pressure surrounding the film failed to stop it from connecting with audiences. Instead, a sentiment of "I will see it with my own eyes and judge for myself" gained traction among moviegoers, triggering a reverse-run phenomenon where ticket sales began to climb starting in its second week of release. As a result, "The Assassin(s)" surpassed 3 million admissions in just 20 days since its premiere and achieved the meaningful milestone of reaching its break-even point in its fifth week of release.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Choi Young-in, CEO of the Entertainment Division at SM C&C, has joined a relay campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal gambling among youth.

SM C&C announced on October 22 that CEO Choi Young-in took part in the "Relay Campaign to Eradicate Illegal Youth Gambling," organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The campaign was launched to warn against the dangers of illegal cyber gambling rapidly spreading among youth, raise public interest, and build a safe digital environment.

CEO Choi Young-in, who joined the campaign after being nominated by SBS CEO Bang Moon-shin, held up a picket sign and urged special attention toward the prevention of illegal youth gambling.

"Illegal gambling among youth is an important issue that goes beyond individuals, requiring the attention of both families and society," emphasized CEO Choi Young-in. "Continuous prevention and attention are essential so that young people, who are accustomed to online environments, can grow up healthy without being exposed to the dangers of illegal gambling."

She continued, "I hope that the severity of illegal youth gambling and the importance of prevention will become widely known through this campaign," and nominated broadcaster Park Kyung-rim, who is currently active as the "Top 100 Ears" on the SBS variety show "The Ballad of Us 2," as the next runner in the relay.

[Photo = SM C&C]

Kang Sun-ae, reporter sakang@sbs.co.kr 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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Singer Kim Jang-hoon and Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women's University produced and released a video titled "The People Who Protected Dokdo" in commemoration of Dokdo Day.

The four-minute video was co-produced with the Gyeongbuk Culture Foundation Contents Promotion Agency. Created in both Korean and English, the video was uploaded to platforms such as YouTube and social media, and is also being shared across Korean overseas and international student communities worldwide.

The video begins with the story of An Yong-bok from the Joseon Dynasty, followed by the activities of the Dokdo Volunteer Forces in the 1950s and the lives of residents who lived on Dokdo. It also introduces the stories of those currently guarding Dokdo from their respective posts, including the Dokdo Management Office, 119 rescue and emergency personnel, the Dokdo Coast Guard, the Dokdo Lighthouse, and the Korea Coast Guard.

Professor Seo, who planned the video, said, "Through this video, I wanted to create content that remembers the people who have protected Dokdo and carries that meaning forward to future generations." He added, "We included characters from 'Gangchi Island,' which was released on Netflix this year, throughout the video so that children can easily understand it."

Kim Jang-hoon, who provided the Korean narration, said, "I am glad to lend my voice to convey the stories of the people who have protected Dokdo up to this day, and I hope many online users at home and abroad will watch it.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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The countdown has begun for the return of director Choi Dong-hoon, the filmmaker behind hits such as "The Thieves" and "Assassination."

Word has recently spread across the film industry that production on director Choi Dong-hoon's new film, "Sparrow" (working title) is materializing. Director Choi spent an extended period staying outside the capital immersing himself in screenwriting, and the script has now entered its final stages. Discussions regarding investment and distribution are currently underway with one of the nation's four major distributors. Alongside this, casting offers have reportedly been extended to several actors.

The actors being considered for roles are Lee Jung-jae, Mun Kayoung, and Koo Kyo-hwan. Lee Jung-jae previously teamed up with director Choi Dong-hoon on "The Thieves" and "Assassination," delivering two massive hits that each surpassed 10 million moviegoers. If he joins the project, it will mark his first reunion with the director in 11 years since "Assassination." Meanwhile, Mun Kayoung and Koo Kyo-hwan have never worked with director Choi, making their potential involvement an intriguing combination. Their respective agencies have acknowledged receiving the offers, though none have reached the stage of signing a contract yet.

The buzz surrounding Choi Dong-hoon's comeback stems from the likelihood that he will return to his signature caper genre. "Sparrow" is described as an action espionage film. After experiencing disappointment with his foray into science fiction through the "Alienoid" series, his return to the genre where his strength lies is raising even higher expectations among fans.

Director Choi Dong-hoon recently drew attention by attending the "2026 Marie Claire Asia Star Awards" during the 31st Busan International Film Festival. He was also reported to have held meetings with industry insiders during the festival period.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Barunson E&A, the KOSDAQ-listed firm widely known as the production company behind the acclaimed film "Parasite," faces the threat of delisting, prompting a suspension of trading in its shares.

On October 23, the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange announced that it had suspended trading of Barunson E&A's common stock effective the same day, following the emergence of grounds for delisting the previous day. The official reasons cited for the suspension are the occurrence of delisting grounds and investor protection.

Barunson E&A has faced persistent delisting concerns as its share price failed to reach 1,000 won. Under KOSDAQ listing regulations, a company that has an administrative issue designation added due to sub-par share prices must keep its stock price at 1,000 won or higher for 45 consecutive trading days within a 90-trading-day period. As it became impossible for Barunson E&A to fulfill this requirement within the stipulated timeframe, grounds for delisting were officially triggered.

Amid this situation, largest shareholder Moon Yang-kwon was found to have purchased additional shares just before the trading halt. According to a major shareholding report filed with financial authorities, Moon acquired a total of 416,589 shares on the open market, buying 98,000 shares on October 21 and 318,589 shares on October 22. The reported acquisition funds totaled approximately 205.81 million won, which were funded through personal savings, raising the voting stake held by Moon and related parties to 40.08%. However, because this share purchase took place by acquiring existing shares circulating on the open market, it differs from a paid-in capital increase, which injects fresh capital directly into the company.

Currently, whether Barunson E&A will ultimately be delisted and the corresponding timeline remain undecided, with the Korea Exchange planning to announce the end date of the trading suspension at a later time.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Rumors that world travel YouTuber GilBaDak had gone missing have been put to rest after the creator personally checked in to confirm she is safe.

On the night of October 22, GilBaDak hosted a YouTube live stream to announce her well-being in person, stating, "I'm not being threatened or confined. No one is locking me up". The broadcast came a year after she halted all public activity following her last video documenting a trip to India.

During the stream, GilBaDak revealed that she is currently living in Australia, not South Korea, and rotated the camera to display her surroundings in response to viewers' requests. When some viewers voiced suspicions that she might be an AI, she replied several times, "I'm not an AI," and clapped her hands on screen to verify that the broadcast was taking place in real time.

GilBaDak pointed to a previous post she had written as the catalyst that amplified the suspicions. After concerned comments began appearing under her uploads, she shared a check-in post on the channel's Community tab, but explained that writing it in a rush ended up deepening the doubts.

"If I had written the post better, people wouldn't have doubted it, but I think writing it so casually was the problem. I didn't use periods," she said. Addressing claims that Shorts titles or comments had been modified or erased, she clarified, "Other than edits made at the time of uploading, I haven't logged into YouTube in over a year".

Explaining the long hiatus, GilBaDak said, "It's been a little over a year since I arrived in Australia, and I was mostly just working. With visa issues on top of that, things were chaotic. My MacBook, which got water-damaged during my travels, wasn't working properly, making editing difficult". She added, "My mother reached out to me in the morning, and a flood of messages poured in from acquaintances. That's why I started the live stream right away. I also asked the broadcasting station to take down their post regarding me".

Lastly, GilBaDak expressed her thoughts, saying, "I'm truly grateful to everyone who worried about me. While it was tough to see people worrying to an extreme degree, I plan to upload a video as soon as possible and will likely visit Korea briefly around winter or spring."

GilBaDak had previously gained viewers by uploading budget backpacking travel content, but had ceased posting new videos after releasing an India travel video in May of last year.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Byeon Wooseok poses at a photo call event for a fashion brand held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 23.

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

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Actor Byeon Wooseok attends a photo wall event for a fashion brand held on the afternoon of October 23 in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

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

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Singer and TV personality Ayumi, formerly of the group Sugar, is set to share her daily life through YouTube content.

Sandbox Network announced that it would release a teaser for its new original content "Annyeonghatteyo Ayumieo" on October 23, followed by the release of the first full episode on October 27 at 7:00 PM. Starring Sugar alumna Ayumi, the show captures her life traveling back and forth between South Korea and Japan, as well as her daily routine after becoming a mother.

In the teaser, Ayumi recreates the stage outfit and hairstyle from her promotions for "Cutie Honey" and delivers a live performance. In the first episode, to be released on October 27, Ayumi's home in Japan will be revealed for the first time.

Ayumi married a businessman two years her senior in 2022 and welcomed a daughter last year. The production team plans to highlight aspects of her life that have not been seen on television, including her life shuttling between South Korea and Japan and how her routine has changed since entering motherhood.

Earlier, fellow Sugar member and actor Hwang Jung-eum launched her own YouTube channel in March, where she has been sharing her daily life as a mother of two.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Yoon Mi-ra joins "My Little Old Boy" as its oldest cast member, unveiling her single life for the very first time.

On the upcoming broadcast of SBS's "My Little Old Boy" airing on Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 p.m., actor Yoon Mi-ra, in her 58th year in the industry, will make an appearance to showcase her glamorous daily routine.

During the recent recording, Yoon Mi-ra drew admiration from the cast with her youthful appearance that belied her age of 75. Taking in her relaxed lifestyle—enjoying breakfast with an acquaintance in the morning using a hotel membership and shopping at her go-to select shop—host Jo Hye-ryun marveled, "Isn't she completely different from any of the cast members we've seen so far?"

In particular, a legendary dressing room comparable to a luxury department store was unveiled under the motto, "I may not have a husband, but I have three dressing rooms," causing quite a stir in the studio. When host Seo Jang-hoon asked, "If you could trade a husband for three dressing rooms, would you?" Choi Jin-hyuk's mother responded affirmatively. When further asked, "If that happens, Jin-hyuk wouldn't exist—is that okay?" she replied, "I can think about that later," sending the studio into fits of laughter.

Furthermore, Yoon Mi-ra confessed to past romances where she received countless marriage proposals and came right up to the verge of tying the knot. She subsequently drew attention with her quirky humor as she wondered about the "life or death" status of the men who had proposed to her back then, while also revealing her specific ideal type.

The surprising daily life and outlook on love of actor Yoon Mi-ra, a "75-year-old lifelong single," will air on "My Little Old Boy" on Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 p.m.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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A video showing A2O Key Producer Lee Soo-man buying grilled pork for citizens at a restaurant after A2O LITE—the group he introduced upon returning to Korea after three years—topped music charts and clinched music show wins is drawing widespread attention.

On October 22, posts surfaced across social media and online communities stating that Lee had "rang the golden bell" by covering the meal expenses for patrons at a grilled pork specialty restaurant in Seoul.

In the video featured in the posts, Lee was reportedly celebrating "A2O LITE reaching No. 1" and the "successful conclusion of the Shidae Forum." Shouting "Please eat plenty" to the clapping customers, he responded by raising both hands when patrons chanted his name. Lee also readily agreed to photo requests from citizens, showing his satisfaction.

Earlier on October 22, A2O LITE took first place on Mnet's "M Countdown" with their debut digital single "NEON." Prior to this, A2O LITE recorded their third music broadcast trophy, following wins on SBS Life's "The Show" on October 20 and MBC M's "Show Champion" on October 21.

A2O LITE's achievements do not stop there. On October 15, just 29 hours after their debut, "NEON" held the No. 1 spot on music streaming platform Melon's TOP 100, setting a record for the shortest time to reach the milestone. Lee Soo-man, the founder and former chief producer of SM Entertainment, previously disposed of all his shares and, in accordance with a three-year non-compete clause, founded A2O Entertainment overseas rather than in Korea to produce multinational groups. In particular, A2O LITE, made up of members with an average age of 14.9 years, quickly captured the eyes of music fans with their unconventional performance of "NEON."

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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The SBS variety show "The Great Hang-jun" brought laughs with a dazzling battle of wits between Jang Hang-jun and Jin Sun-kyu.

In the second episode of "The Great Hang-jun," which aired on October 22, actor Jin Sun-kyu appeared as a guest and showed off uninhibited, real-best-friend chemistry with MC Jang Hang-jun. Powered by their seamless rapport, the second episode recorded a peak viewership rating of 2.55% among households in the Seoul metropolitan area (according to Nielsen Korea). It also proved its hot buzz as "Jin Sun-kyu Jang Hang-jun doppelganger" ranked No. 1 on a portal site's real-time trending list during the broadcast.

On this day, Jang Hang-jun started making absurd, playful accusations, saying, "Jin Sun-kyu was happier to see writer Kim Eun-hee than me," and "He sent dried persimmons to my house, and there was a stack of 50,000-won bills underneath". In response, Jin Sun-kyu wittily countered, "Hyung, did you develop mythomania? Take your medicine!" filling the scene with laughter.

Amid the side-splitting conversation, Jin Sun-kyu's candid stories were also revealed. Along with behind-the-scenes stories from his audition for "The Outlaws," which became a turning point in his acting career, he shared a touching story involving his wife, actor Park Bo Kyoung. Jin Sun-kyu added warmth by sharing, "When we had a child, my wife told me, 'Oppa, you be the actor for now, and I will be the mom,'" adding, "Hearing those words made me resolve that I must succeed through acting".

During the official audition for the autobiographical film "Hang-juni, Odyssey," Jin Sun-kyu put on Jang Hang-jun's horn-rimmed glasses and delivered a perfect doppelganger performance, copying his voice and even finger gestures 200%. However, after finishing his fully immersed acting, when Jang Hang-jun held out a contract without even showing him a script, Jin Sun-kyu delivered delightful laughs until the very end, asking, "Isn't it fraud not to show me the script?"

Meanwhile, "The Great Hang-jun," a cinematic talk variety show where master Jang Hang-jun sets out to cast top actors, airs every Thursday at 9:00 PM. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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In "Doctor X: Mafia in White," Kim Ji-won and Lee Jung-eun set out to deliver a satisfying, refreshing dose of retribution against a rampaging Jang Seung-jo.

In Episode 5 of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" (written by Pyun Sung-geun, directed by Lee Jung-rim), which airs on Friday, October 23, at 9:50 PM, a fierce showdown unfolds between Na Dae-il (played by Jang Seung-jo), who has thrown the emergency room into total chaos, and Gye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won) and Jang Hee-sook (played by Lee Jung-eun), who stand in his way.

Previously in Episode 4, Gye Soo-jung discovered a gruesome trace during an emergency surgery where Na Dae-il had carved his own initials onto a patient's organ in the past. Having uncovered Na Dae-il's demonic true face, attention is focused on how Gye Soo-jung will bring his evil deeds to justice.

Amid this, Episode 5 still cuts released on October 23 deliver a shock by showing Na Dae-il sprawled on the emergency room floor in hospital patient clothes. Having completely cast off his mask of a virtuous surgeon, Na Dae-il's murderous, glaring gaze instantly turns the emergency room into pandemonium.

However, even in the face of Na Dae-il's mad rampage, Gye Soo-jung maintains a calm expression and subdues him by force, driving the tension to its peak. With Jang Hee-sook also arriving at the emergency room with a fury-filled face to join in, anticipation is exploding for their crushing retribution against Na Dae-il.

Episode 5 of "Doctor X: Mafia in White," which has been sweeping the charts by ranking No. 1 weekly on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows for two consecutive weeks as well as No. 1 in overall TV-OTT buzz, airs tonight (October 23) at 9:50 PM.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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Actor Son Suk-ku is set to reveal his turbulent life story for the first time, ranging from an unprecedented act of rebellion that even his parents never knew about to the behind-the-scenes story of when he decided to retire from acting.

On the SBS variety show "My Genie Secretary" airing on Friday, October 23 at 11:10 PM, "Son Suk-ku's Liberation Notes" will unfold, featuring stories from his military deployment to Iraq to the behind-the-scenes journey of his late debut.

On this day, Son Suk-ku surprised everyone on set by sharing funny yet bittersweet anecdotes of experiencing the South Korean military after being accustomed to American culture, along with the daring story of how he secretly volunteered to be deployed to Iraq without his parents' knowledge.

Son Suk-ku went on to recall the time he contemplated retirement after debuting at the relatively late age of 35, sharing, "I was going to quit acting." He revealed that just as he was about to give up on acting, he encountered a pivotal project and a mentor who turned his life around, raising curiosity over who the benefactor was that rescued him from the brink of retirement.

Meanwhile, having liberated himself from his busy schedule, Son Suk-ku visited an arcade with the "My Genie Secretary" cast, unleashing his hidden competitive drive. He overwhelmed the scene with shooting skills honed during his deployment to Iraq as well as impressive basketball skills, and it is said that Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu forgot about competing altogether, repeatedly expressing awe and shifting into full "worship mode" for Son Suk-ku.

Son Suk-ku's diverse charms and turbulent life story will be revealed today on Friday, October 23 at 11:10 PM on "My Genie Secretary." 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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Boy group ENHYPEN, who has been actively raising awareness about the importance of blood donation, has met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to their agency Belift Lab on October 23, ENHYPEN met with Director-General Tedros on October 22 at the HYBE headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to share the achievements of their global blood donation campaign and discuss future activities. Officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Red Cross Blood Services were also present at the meeting.

Director-General Tedros addressed the reality that many patients in need of transfusions do not receive safe blood in a timely manner and highly commended the members for personally donating blood. He also took note of how fans worldwide organized group blood donations following ENHYPEN's global blood donation pledge.

"I am proud of all the members of ENHYPEN for their dedication and collaboration with WHO to promote blood donation and save lives," he said. He added, "The past campaign was a great success, reaching millions of people. ENHYPEN and their fandom ENGENE have the true power to make an impact on the world. I am also a fan of yours." He further expressed hope that ENHYPEN could play a role in raising awareness among young people regarding various public health issues.

ENHYPEN stated, "We started this campaign with the hope that our supporters would join us, and we are grateful that ENGENEs from all over the world took part. Moving forward, we want to continue making meaningful changes alongside our fans."

ENHYPEN's blood donation campaign was launched in January alongside the release of their seventh mini-album, "THE SIN : VANISH". Taking inspiration from their core lore concept of "vampires," the campaign was conducted jointly with the Korean Red Cross. Blood donation buses were deployed at major locations where fans gathered, and an online event was held for participants nationwide. According to the agency, a total of 7,730 people participated in blood donations online and offline from January 16 to January 25, of which 1,031 were first-time donors—an increase of approximately 19 times compared to the period prior to the campaign. The initiative expanded to Japan and Singapore, reportedly bringing cumulative participation to around 10,000 people.

In June, ENHYPEN teamed up with the WHO to release content highlighting the importance of securing safe blood in observance of "World Blood Donor Day 2026." The members also participated directly in donating blood.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Rock band Jaurim will hold a nationwide tour connecting the year-end and the new year.

According to their agency, Jaurim will hold their solo concert "MIDNIGHT EXPRESS 2026-2027" for three days from December 18 to 20 at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul. Starting with the Seoul shows, the band will continue performing across four cities: Busan on December 25, Daejeon on January 2 of next year, and Daegu on January 9.

This concert is a tour linking the end of 2026 to the beginning of 2027. Jaurim released their 12th studio album "LIFE!" last year, and they plan to showcase a diverse setlist including their signature hits at the upcoming shows.

Tickets for the Seoul concerts will open for presale on October 27, followed by general sales on October 28. For the Busan, Daejeon, and Daegu shows, presales will open sequentially on November 3, with general sales opening on November 4.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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Actor Cho Jung-seok has taken on the lead voice role in the animated film "The Cat in the Hat."

"The Cat in the Hat" is a lively, fun-filled fantasy adventure following siblings Gabby and Sebastian, who have moved to an unfamiliar neighborhood and set off into a mysterious world alongside the Cat in the Hat.

Cho Jung-seok is taking on his first-ever voice acting role as the titular character in the Korean-dubbed version of "The Cat in the Hat." With his signature wit and remarkable acting skills spanning across genres, he is set to invite audiences into an enchanting world of adventure.

The voice cast joining Cho Jung-seok is also attracting attention. First, rising musical star Seol Ga-eun, who gained acclaim through Daehangno's buzzy production "A Long, Long Night," stars as Gabby, who embarks on the adventure with the Cat in the Hat. Joining her is rookie Park Jin-woo as Gabby's younger sibling, Sebastian. In addition, Sa Seong-ung of the "Butt Detective" series and "Red Shoes" voices the talking goldfish Waffles, while Bae Jeong-mi of the "Inazuma Eleven" series takes on the role of Gabby and Sebastian's mother, Carmen.

Yeo Min-jeong of "Heartsping: Teenieping of Love" and the "Detective Conan" series appears as Sherry from HR, while Seok Seung-hoon, who voiced Zenitsu in the "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" series, portrays Gary, a cynical intern hired through personal connections. Song Jun-seok, who left a strong impression as Jesus in "Zootopia 2," plays the corrupt boss Hoogeboom, and Jeong Yu-jeong, known for her role as Jang Jun-hu in "The Soul Guardians," adds weight to the lineup as the fussy landlord Patty. Bringing together both seasoned voice artists and shining new talents, "The Cat in the Hat" signals the arrival of a deeply immersive experience.

Featuring the vivid performances of Cho Jung-seok in his first voice acting role alongside veteran voice artists and rising stars, the film "The Cat in the Hat" is scheduled to hit theaters on Friday, November 6.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Why did a convicted murderer send a letter to "Tails of Tales"?

The episode of SBS's "Tails of Tales" broadcast on October 22 shed light on Busan's Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon, where horrific events took place in the 1960s, under the subtitle "A Murderer's Letter – Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon."

In March 2025, a letter arrived at the broadcasting station. A man named Kyung-ho, who identified himself as a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, mentioned Busan's Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon, stating, "While staying in 'that place,' I was trained in crime and committed offenses such as theft and robbery all across Busan. Everything started there."

To verify the unbelievable story in the letter, the production team tracked down people who spent their childhoods there and could not hide their shock upon hearing their stories firsthand.

The facility changed completely after its new director, Lee Soon-young, arrived at Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon. It was said that after his arrival, people died daily and construction began.

Children who vanished from all over Busan were gathered there one by one. The Park Chung-hee administration at the time sought to purge vagrant children and homeless people from society under the pretext of social purification. In response, Director Lee Soon-young, who signed an outsourced custody and protection contract with Busan City for vagrants and homeless people, carried out illegal abductions for money, placing those under 18 in Yeonghwasuk and those 19 and older in Jaesaengwon.

Once ordinary citizens of Busan, they slept packed tightly like sardines on their sides in rooms piled with excrement and were watched day and night. Subjected to daily military-style control, they were also forced into hard labor amid constant violence.

Unable to eat even one proper meal a day, the children lived a subhuman existence, scavenging maggots from toilets due to starvation and even envying pig feed. Yet they could not easily escape because of collective punishment. With beatings continuing daily as if it did not matter if they died, they had no choice but to give up on escaping.

The director also made the children capture runaway peers and forced residents to bring in other inmates, creating a structure where victims became perpetrators. Consequently, the inmates repeatedly engaged in wrongful acts, even while knowing what they were doing was wrong. The children suffered severe human rights violations, including sexual assault as well as physical violence.

Friends who slept beside them one day were dead the next, and those who died from harsh abuse were buried in secret in the reed fields surrounding Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon.

Father Aloysius Schwartz, an American priest known as a father to the poorest of the poor who happened to see the facility, was deeply shocked when he learned the reality of Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon. He reported the truth about the place to save the children, but was ignored and even threatened in return.

However, he did not give up. He sent petitions to the Minister of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister, and even to Park Chung-hee. As a result, Director Lee Soon-young was investigated by police and detained. Yet, just six days after his arrest, Lee Soon-young was released on the grounds that he posed no flight risk.

After negotiating with Lee Soon-young, Father Aloysius received permission to care for the children. Continuing his efforts to rescue them, Busan City's consignment contract with Yeonghwasuk was canceled in 1971. It seemed that the children there would finally return to normal life.

Behind the scenes, however, Director Lee trained the children in crime. Among those led down the path of criminality was Kyung-ho. Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon had become criminal academies. Director Lee also framed other children for crimes committed by someone else.

Consequently, Kyung-ho was sent to a juvenile detention center, but he evoked sorrow by saying he found freedom there. After being released from the juvenile facility, he had no choice but to return to Yeonghwasuk. Director Lee assigned Kyung-ho another duty. Drug delivery became his new assignment, and he was even made to deliver kickbacks to public officials.

Later, in 1976, Busan City canceled the corporate permit, leading to the closure of Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon, and Lee Soon-young received merely a fine of 300,000 won in his final judgment. The reason was that there was insufficient evidence to prove Lee Soon-young had directly ordered the actions.

However, the wealth amassed through the inmates' forced labor and the funds illegally embezzled all reverted to Lee Soon-young's family assets. Four years after the final ruling, Lee Soon-young died of an illness in 1981.

Victims who left Yeonghwasuk were later taken to Brothers Home and subsequently sent in succession to the Samcheong Re-education Camp, unable to escape the vicious cycle of evil.

The victims suffered from panic disorder, social phobia, and claustrophobia. Furthermore, because their names were altered in the facility register upon admission to Yeonghwasuk, they were treated as unidentified persons and were even framed as spies and tortured.

After committing various crimes, Kyung-ho, then 28, happened to work at a restaurant, where he became involved in a fight and crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

Now in his 70s, Kyung-ho shared his final wish before dying: "If I am recognized as a victim of Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon and receive compensation, I want to donate it to a welfare foundation that helps neighbors in need so that no one else ends up like me. And I want to excavate the bodies buried secretly around Yeonghwasuk, including the ones I buried, and return them to their families."

He added, leaving a bitter impression, "I am a violent offender and a lifer. I seek neither forgiveness nor a second chance."

Victims who lived through a lifetime of hellish trauma secured 51.1 billion won in compensation from the state and Busan City. Yet they evoked sorrow as they looked back on their irreversible lives in despair, saying, "Money is not the issue. Who am I supposed to resent and live with now?"

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Jin Sun-kyu spoke about the audition that changed his life.

On the October 22 broadcast of SBS's "The Great Hang-jun," actor Jin Sun-kyu auditioned for director Jang Hang-jun's next project.

That day, Jin Sun-kyu shared heartfelt advice with junior actors preparing for auditions, noting that he has auditioned over 200 times.

He also mentioned the audition for the film "The Outlaws," which changed his life. Jin Sun-kyu said, "Back then, I was filming minor roles every day in Pyeongchang. Then I got a call telling me to come to Seoul for an audition."

He recalled that time, saying, "The director asked me something, but I couldn't answer properly. I had barely familiarized myself with the script. I knew myself that my attitude was completely wrong. That was when I went in having read the script for the role of Jang I-soo."

Jin Sun-kyu confessed that botching the audition snapped him back to reality, saying, "On my way back to Pyeongchang after the audition, it felt like someone had punched me right in the stomach and brought me to my senses. I thought, 'Someone must be doing this to tell me to work hard. Right, let's get my act together, let's work hard.'"

Then, a week later, he was given another audition opportunity. Jin Sun-kyu explained, "I had played a small role in my first commercial film, 'The Hunt,' and a friend who was the script supervisor on that film was the script supervisor for 'The Outlaws.' That friend told the director, 'Sun-kyu sunbae must have really had circumstances that day, could you please see him just one more time?' and that's how I got another chance. Hearing that, I started reading the script like crazy," revealing how genuinely he approached the second chance.

At the second audition, the director watched Jin Sun-kyu's performance, asked, "Why are you so different?", and cast him in the role of Wi Seong-rak, which allowed Jin Sun-kyu to imprint his name as an actor on the world.

Hearing this, Kim Poong asked Jin Sun-kyu what his secret was to winning over the staff. Jin Sun-kyu replied, "Including that script supervisor friend, a group of female filmmakers who love Sun-kyu still sends coffee trucks under the name 'Sunshine.'" To this, Song Eun-i brought laughter by stopping further mention, saying, "The director gets jealous of stories like that."

After winning Best Supporting Actor for the film "The Outlaws," Jin Sun-kyu has been on a smooth path of success. Recently, he also drew major attention by shedding tears while winning awards alongside his wife, actor Park Bo Kyoung, at the same awards ceremony.

Regarding this, Jin Sun-kyu explained the reason behind his tears: "During my days as an unknown actor, I used to think about how much I wanted to walk an award ceremony red carpet, and now I went not alone, but together with my wife. When her name was called there, I was so happy. It made me happier to see the person I love receive an award than when I won one myself. Remembering the moments we waited for that instant, and the time she spent as a mother, brought tears to my eyes."

Jin Sun-kyu then drew attention by expressing his gratitude to his wife, saying, "Because we had no money when we had our child, my wife sacrificed herself. She thought fulfilling the role of a mother was most important, so she stepped away from acting for a while, and eight years passed like that."

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Jang Hang-jun mentioned PARK JIHOON.

On the October 22 broadcast of SBS's "The Great Hang-jun," video messages from numerous actors arrived for the director, drawing attention.

Amid love calls from numerous actors directed toward Jang Hang-jun that day, producer Song Eun-i brought up PARK JIHOON, the lead of "The King's Warden," saying, "Among the actors likely to send a video, there was someone I anticipated: actor PARK JIHOON."

To this, Jang Hang-jun surprised everyone by saying, "He is outside my house right now, waiting for me." Jang Hang-jun continued, "I don't know why he laid out a mat there and is prostrating himself before me in penance," adding, "He keeps begging me to cast him one more time, and when I tell him, 'It's burdensome, so please go home,' he keeps saying no, he can't."

Jang Hang-jun then quipped, "On the other hand, I understand him. Isn't it because he received such tremendous grace from me?" drawing bursts of laughter.

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Calls of interest for Jang Hang-jun kept pouring in.

On the October 22 broadcast of SBS's "The Great Hang-jun," video messages addressed to the "master" from numerous actors arrived and drew attention.

On this day, actor Song Joong-ki told master Hang-jun, "Now that you've hit 10 million, things feel different, and I feel like I need to stay on your good side," adding, "I don't think there are many people besides me who could play the role of Jang Hang-jun. Let's have another serious talk where there's no one else around."

Shim Eun-kyung said, "He is a director I respect from the bottom of my heart. I keep thinking deep down that he will call on me one day."

Actor Kim Seolhyun continued, "I respect him so much. As an actor, I'd really love to work with him and experience his directing," adding, "Even if it's a minor role, if you call me, I'll come running."

Actor Kim Eui-sung also said, "Shouldn't I pay to appear?" adding, "He considers actors mobilizing coffee trucks very important, so shouldn't I send about 20 coffee trucks to appear?" bringing a smile to Jang Hang-jun's face.

Jang Hang-jun's close friend Jang Hyun-sung said, "You must know that I hold a few things on you—your history. Don't forget that," while Jang Doyoun pleaded, "It would be such an honor if you would cast me in your project. Please cast me, please cast me," drawing laughter.

Faith HYOJUNG Zico

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Big Hit Music, the agency representing the group TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), has initiated strong legal action to protect its artist.

On October 22, Big Hit Music announced through an official statement, "We recently confirmed that false information and malicious rumors regarding our artist are being indiscriminately spread across overseas social media and online communities," sharing an update on its stern legal measures.

Explaining that it had previously refrained from issuing separate statements to prevent rumors from unnecessarily resurfacing even when false and malicious posts appeared, the agency said, "However, we determined that malicious rumors and posts aimed at slandering the artist ahead of their comeback have reached a severe level," detailing the background behind elevating the intensity of its legal response.

The agency added, "The act of posting and circulating malicious content is an obvious crime that severely damages the artist's character and reputation," emphasizing, "We are currently collecting evidence regarding relevant posts on domestic and international platforms, and we will take stern measures under a zero-tolerance principle without any leniency or settlement." It also urged fans to actively report violations via the HYBE artist rights infringement reporting website.

Meanwhile, TXT, taking a firm stance against malicious rumors, is scheduled to make their comeback on November 16 with the release of their 9th mini album "PERFECT STORM." 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)

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Will Hollywood star Keanu Reeves and Don Lee share the screen in the same film?

On October 20 (local time), the American film trade outlet The Hollywood Reporter reported that "Keanu Reeves is in talks to star in Paramount Pictures' remake of 'The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.'"

The outlet added, "Keanu Reeves is set to appear alongside Don Lee, the lead actor of the original film. Don Lee will reprise the same role in this remake."

"The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil" is an American remake of the 2019 Korean film of the same name. James Wan, renowned for the "Saw" and "The Conjuring" franchises, will direct, while Don Lee will serve as both producer and lead star. Keanu Reeves' casting is nearing finalization, though his specific role has not been disclosed.

"The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil" is a crime action film that follows an organized crime boss (Don Lee), who survives an unexpected attack by a serial killer, teaming up with a detective determined to catch the culprit as they pursue serial killer K. The original film was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival and was sold to 104 overseas countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, and France.

In South Korea, it was released in May 2019 and drew 3.36 million moviegoers nationwide. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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The Japanese animated film "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" has defended its No. 1 spot at the box office amid the slow theatrical season.

According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets on October 21, "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" drew 22,474 moviegoers nationwide on October 20. Its cumulative audience count stands at 1,875,609.

Released on September 30, "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" had long hovered in second place behind "The Assassin(s)", but after rising to the top of the box office on October 14, it has maintained its reign at No. 1 for seven consecutive days.

With the end of three consecutive holiday stretches and the arrival of an off-peak theatrical season, the daily total of moviegoers visiting cinemas dropped below 100,000 (recording 91,036 on October 20). Amid this slowdown, "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" continues its first-place streak and is showing staying power toward crossing the 2 million mark. It is expected to surpass the milestone around this weekend.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

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Singer DAWN poses at a sports brand photo wall event held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 22.

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Actor Byun Yohan poses at a sportswear brand photo wall event held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 22.

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Actor Lee Dong-hwi strikes a pose while attending a photo call event for a sports brand held on the afternoon of October 22 in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

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Former figure skater Kim Yuna poses at a sports brand photo wall event held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 22.

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Singer and actor IU poses at a sportswear brand photo wall event held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 22.

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