As the heatwave continues, various issues in the entertainment industry attracted attention this week. Park Ji-yeon's transformation in the Netflix original dating show about being a lifelong single garnered attention, while Faker's announcement of a four-year contract renewal drew interest. The opening of the musical 'Debakbree' and the virtual casting of KDH's Jin-woo also saw responses from the public, alongside the rising fame of K-content abroad.
A male celebrity's controversy involving an '800,000 won consolation money' that emerged from online communities, the government's movie discount coupons, and chef Choi Hyun-seok's daughter's marriage also sparked discussions.
Here’s a summary of the issues that were hot topics from July 26 to August 1.
◆ 'Still a Maiden' Park Ji-yeon, Dating Jung Mok? Recent Updates Show a New Look
Park Ji-yeon's styling has caught the eye as she became a final couple in the Netflix original dating show 'Still a Maiden, But Want to Love.'
The magazine Our Log posted a video capturing Park Ji-yeon. Her appearance in the video gives a completely different vibe compared to the filming content. The natural makeup makes Park Ji-yeon stand out even more.
Born in 1999, Park Ji-yeon graduated from an all-girls middle school, high school, and university, and works as a music producer. In the final episode of 'Still a Maiden, But Want to Love', she chose her peer university student Jung Mok and began dating, receiving support from many viewers.
◆ Heartwarming Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok, Announces 4-Year Renewal with T1
Legendary League of Legends player Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok, has decided to continue his journey with T1 for another four years.
The news of Faker's contract renewal was announced during a fan meeting held after the LCK (League of Legends Champions Korea) T1 home ground match at Incheon Inspire Arena. He will be with T1 until 2029.
Since debuting with SKT T1 (now T1) in 2013, Faker has never switched teams. He remains a top-tier mid-laner with five championship trophies to his name and was also selected as the first inductee of the newly established 'LoL Hall of Fame' by Riot Games last year.
At the fan meeting, Faker expressed, "I am grateful to all the fans who have always supported me as I join T1 once again."
◆ Cast of 'Debakbree,' Featuring a Star-Studded Lineup, Set to Premiere in September
The production company, Show Note, announced the casting lineup along with the premiere news of the original musical 'Debakbree' set for September.
'Debakbree' dramatizes the experiences of three individuals shaped by their beliefs and ideals, centered around a book titled 'Maltuk', following the Decembrist uprising in 19th century Russia. The work takes inspiration from Russian national writer Nikolai Gogol's novel, 'The Overcoat', promising to deliver a narrative of burning aspirations in a cold era through lyrical and sharp music.
The solid casting lineup drew attention. Portraying Mikhail—an investigator from the emperor's secret police who becomes overly focused on book censorship but once believed literature could change the world—are Son Yu-dong, Jung Wook-jin, and Jung Hwi. The idealist Akaki, a secret police officer who aims to bring to light the covert book 'Maltuk' to comfort the serfs, features Shin Joo-hyup, Kim Chan-jong, and Hong Sung-won. Acting as Alexei, Mikhail’s colleague who admires meticulous and cold investigation methods, are Byun Hee-sang, Yoo Tae-yul, and Lee Dong-soo.
The musical 'Debakbree' will run from September 10 to November 30 at the Seonggyeong Theater in Daehangno.
◆ Hanbok Fit Pass! Three Actors Picked as Top Choices for KDH’s Jin-Woo Role
As the Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' gains global popularity, fans continue to imagine which actors might suit for the live-action adaptation centered around the key character, Jin-Woo. Speculation about potential actors for Jin-Woo has recently surfaced in online communities and various social media, mentioning Ahn Hyo-seop, Yook Sung-jae, and Choo Young-woo as fitting candidates.
Ahn Hyo-seop starred as the housewife Ha-ram in the SBS mon-Tue drama 'Hong Cheon-ki', aired in 2021, showcasing splendid acting along with an impressive hanbok appearance.
Yook Sung-jae received warm praise for his stable acting and perfect hanbok style despite being new to historical drama in the recently concluded SBS weekend drama 'Gyeonggrib'. In this work, he successfully portrays two characters, Yoon Gap and Kang Cheol, enhancing the immersion of the story.
Rising star Choo Young-woo has also attracted attention for his exceptional hanbok performance in historical dramas. He adeptly played the roles of Chun Seung-hwi and Ok Tae-young's husband Seong Yoon-gyeom in JTBC's weekend drama 'Ok-ssi Bujin Jeon', performing admirably in a dual role.
◆ Amid Popularity of 'O-game 3 & KDH', 'Trigger' and '84 Square Meters' Break Through the Chart
As the Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' and the original series 'Squid Game' season 3 continue to gain popularity for several weeks, the film '84 Square Meters' and the original series 'Trigger' have emerged as new contenders, highlighting the surge of K-content.
According to the OTT content ranking site FlixPatrol, as of last month on the 28th, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' ranked 2nd in popular films, while '84 Square Meters' entered the chart at 9th. '84 Square Meters' dramatizes the unpredictable thriller surrounding a character named Woosung (played by Kang Ha-neul), who faces an unexplained floor noise after attaining apartment ownership.
The popularity of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is also unyielding. Released in June, it tells the story of a girl group called Hunttrix (Lumi, Joy, Mira) that protects the human world from evil spirits, facing off against a boy group, Lion Boys (Jin-woo, Abby, Baby, Romance, Mystery), who emerged from the evil spirit realm.
In the TV show sector, 'Squid Game' season 3 continues to remain in the rankings while 'Trigger' appears at 4th place. 'Trigger' is an action thriller about gun disasters happening continuously in gun-free South Korea after illegal firearms from unknown sources are delivered; it presents the story of two men who pick up guns for their reasons.
The work stars Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang. Kim Nam-gil transforms into a cop, Lee Do, who takes up arms to uphold justice while Kim Young-kwang plays the mysterious ally, Moon Baek, creating a bromance.
The popularity of 'Squid Game' season 3 remains steady. The work, depicting the final narrative of a blockbuster, presents Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who re-enters the game with his own purpose, alongside the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun) who had hidden his identity and the fates of the survivors, proving its continued topicality and maintaining a spot at the top of the charts despite mixed evaluations upon release.
◆ Male Celebrity’s Controversy Over 'Silencing Fee' Given to Ex-Girlfriend Before Marriage
A woman with a celebrity boyfriend revealed that she received hush money from his agency.
A post titled 'My ex-boyfriend's agency sent me 8 million won' surfaced in an anonymous workplace community called Blind. The author, named A, who works in a large corporation, wrote, “(My boyfriend) will be appearing in a variety show soon, revealing the process of preparing for marriage with a new girlfriend. They contacted me to say they were sending 8 million won as a pre-consolation because the timing wouldn't match.” She continued, “When I asked what that meant, they said the airing date might align with when I broke up with him,” adding, “That is, it implies a replacement; it’s either cheating or something.”
A's post quickly spread across online communities, mentioning actors Lee Jang-woo, On Joo-wan, and Shinhwa’s Lee Min-woo, who recently announced their marriages. They unexpectedly had to clarify their situation. A noted, “These individuals are unrelated to the incident. I never once mentioned any initials like 'ㅇㅈㅇ' or stated that the person was an actor. I hope there are no more misunderstandings or assumptions.”
◆ Government's 6,000 Won Coupon… Can It Save the Struggling Korean Film Industry?
As the government issued 6,000 won discount coupons to boost movie consumption last month, the industry's atmosphere, suffering from a deep box office slump in the first half of the year, is being watched closely to see if it will change.
Last month, the domestic blockbuster 'All-Round Viewer Perspective' and the American blockbuster 'Fantastic Four: A New Beginning' were released, but they did not meet expectations. 'All-Round Viewer Perspective' attracted 122,490 viewers on its opening day, but considering its breakeven point (6 million viewers), it still has a long way to go.
Amid such public sentiment, the government distributed 4.5 million movie discount coupons, and the industry anticipates that the coupons will inject new energy into theaters. The coupons offer 6,000 won off ticket purchases at major theaters such as CGV, Megabox, and Lotte Cinema. It is expected that films like 'All-Round Viewer Perspective', 'Fantastic Four: A New Beginning', and 'Zombie Daughter', will gain special benefits through the coupons.
However, the actual impact on attracting audiences remains uncertain. It is still questionable whether currently showing works possess the allure to draw viewers. Moreover, the culture of watching films in theaters is gradually declining, raising concerns about whether the coupons will indeed lead to increased attendance.
◆ Choi Yeon-soo, the Daughter of Choi Hyun-seok, to Marry Kim Tae-hyun from DICKPUNKS in September, “Kind-hearted Person”
Model Choi Yeon-soo, daughter of Chef Choi Hyun-seok, shared her wedding photo with Kim Tae-hyun, a member of the band DICKPUNKS, announcing her marriage news.
Choi Yeon-soo posted on her Instagram, “I wanted to convey my feelings to everyone, so I wrote this.” She revealed they would be getting married at the end of September, describing Kim Tae-hyun as “a kind and devoted person I have known for a long time.” Along with her message, she shared several wedding photos with Kim Tae-hyun.
Choi Yeon-soo added, “I decided to marry him because he shows sincerity through both words and actions. I am grateful for the support, even though I am lacking.”
Born in 1987, Kim Tae-hyun debuted as part of DICKPUNKS in 2010 and gained attention for taking second place in Mnet's 'Superstar K4' in 2012. Choi Yeon-soo, born in 1999, is Choi Hyun-seok’s eldest daughter and has been actively working since debuting in 2017 at a supermodel selection contest.