Latest news with #LeeJaeWook
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
aespa's agency issues clarification, apologises after Karina shares, then deletes post
The agency of Karina, a member of the K-pop group aespa, has issued a clarification after she posted and deleted several of her photos on Instagram. As per Soompi, on Tuesday, Karina posted her pictures, wearing a jacket with red accents and the number 'two' written on it. She posted it on the platform along with a red rose emoji. (Also Read | aespa's Karina and Lee Jae Wook have broken up because of 'mental strain': Agency confirms) A section of people on social media platforms questioned whether she was supporting a South Korean political party ahead of the upcoming presidential election. On Wednesday, SM Entertainment issued a statement saying that Karina simply posted the photos with "absolutely no other intention or purpose." The agency also apologised for causing any distress to its fans. The statement read, as reported by Soompi, "This is SM Entertainment. We apologise for causing concern due to our artist Karina's recent post. Karina simply shared something from her daily life on social media, with absolutely no other intention or purpose. Once she realised that the post could be misunderstood, she immediately deleted it. We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused unintentionally." SM Entertainment added that it will make sure that any misunderstanding in the future are avoided. "Our agency will also be more careful and make greater efforts to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We hope that our artist's intentions will no longer be misrepresented or consumed with a particular agenda, and we will do our utmost to protect Karina and all of our artists. Thank you," concluded the statement. aespa, comprising Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning, debuted in 2020 with the single Black Mamba. Their third single, Next Level, was released in May 2021. The same year, aespa released their first extended play (EP), Savage. In 2022, aespa released their second EP Girls. Their third EP, My World, released in 2023. The group released their first studio album, Armageddon, in 2024.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Will there be Dear Hongrang season 2 based on the original novel Tangeum's ending? Netflix keeps the possibility open
Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's new historical mystery K-drama Dear Hongrang ended its 11-episode run on May 17 after debuting the same day on Netflix. If you've already watched it, you're probably aware of the bittersweet ending and may have even found yourself scrolling through a fan thread, trying to piece it all together. Now, fans are wondering if Dear Hongrang will follow in the footsteps of Lee Jae Wook's previous historical fantasy Alchemy of Souls and return with a Part 2 to continue the story. While there's no official word from the streamer yet, it's worth noting that the series is based on the 2021 novel Tangeum: Swallowing Gold, which also inspired a webtoon under the same name. So, whether the show expands or stops here depends a lot on how the novel wrapped things up. Also read: Dear Hongrang star Jo Bo Ah reveals nickname she gave to Lee Jae Wook, shares why she keeps distance from male co-stars Yes, the story is inspired by Tangeum by the renowned Korean author Jang Da Hye. Just as shown in the Netflix adaptation, the story is set in the late Joseon Dynasty, where a young boy, the only son of a powerful merchant guild, disappears on the very night he promises to pick red camellias for his little stepsister. Ten years later, he returns with the same habits and same scars but claims he remembers nothing about his past life. An ancient blood-mixing technique somehow proves he is the long-lost son of the family, but his sister, Jae Yi, isn't convinced. Jae Yi grows up searching for her brother her whole life while living in a suffocating home, filled with opium smoke and betrayal. Then there's Mu Jin, the adopted son of the Min family. He grew up with Jae Yi. Once, he may have seen her as a sister. Now, his feelings have twisted into love. Also read: Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale Why Tangeum? Tangeum translates to 'swallowing gold.' It's a poetic Korean phrase used to describe suicide, especially among 'noblewomen or courtesans driven by despair.' The story focuses less on uncovering Hong Rang's identity and more on the characters themselves, each broken in a different way, and how one incident fractures every bond — three people, caught in a web of memory, pain, desire, and guilt. The possibility of Dear Hongrang getting a renewal is quite low, or even a complete no, given the current series has wrapped up all the arcs written in the novel, and Hongrang's character met the same fate as Lee Jae Wook's: taking his last breath in the arms of Jae Yi. The series covered everything, including the brutal history of the soul reaper, how he was poisoned in childhood, which slowly led his body and organs to give up.. The villain meets a tragic end after Hongrang chops off the same arms that claimed the lives of so many innocent kids. According to author Jang Da Hye, she painstakingly rewrote her characters' emotional arcs multiple times before publishing. The book is drenched in symbolism and emotion. However, when adapted on screen, writer Kim Jin Ah (The Devil Judge) and director Kim Hong Sun (The Guest, The Witch's Diner) leaned harder into the political intrigue and suspense, though the story and character arcs largely stayed true to the source. What's surprising is that Netflix still hasn't marked the series as Limited, leaving the door slightly open. But if the story expands, it'll likely go beyond the book, into completely original fiction. If you can read Korean, or even if you're semi-fluent and willing to work through it with tools, Tangeum is 100% worth it. There's no official English translation yet, but the demand has skyrocketed. There's also a webtoon version on Ridibooks.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Dear Hongrang' star Lee Jae Wook hints at enlistment again, says he will keep working until he goes into the military
The popular actor who is recently going viral for his latest role in the online Korean drama ' Dear Hongrang ' has been time and time again hinting at officially starting his mandatory enlistment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a press conference held at Samcheong-dong, Seoul, the actor said something that worried fans a little and made them speculate that Jae Wook's enlistment date may be nearer than they thought. Lee Jae Wook talks about working until his military enlistment The actor, during his press conference in Seoul, shared details about his new show, subtly addressed rumours surrounding Aespa's Karina and even indirectly hinted at his enlistment news. As per Allkpop, the actor said that 'I've reached the final deadline. I wasn't diligent enough to pursue graduate school or other options. Even if I enlist, I want people to be able to find a lot of my work and writings. So I plan to keep working as much as possible until the moment I leave." Previous hints at enlistment The 'Alchemy of Souls' actor has time and time again hinted at the fact that he may soon be going off to finish his mandatory enlistment service, although nothing official has been shared with the public. The actor, during his time as a guest on the popular variety show 'The Seasons: Artist', talked about something similar. The actor featured on the show alongside ZICO and shared how there is not much time left for him. In a statement he made during the show, he shared how 'There is not much time left until I leave for the military. I'm thinking about going next year, but I'll try to do a lot of activities before I leave." The constant comments about his enlistment time have pointed fans towards speculating that the date may be coming a lot sooner than they initially thought and the actor will soon be leaving for his mandatory military service .
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang star Lee Jae Wook reveals if romance with aespa's Karina impacted his work
Lee Jae Wook and actor Jo Bo Ah recently starred in the new K-drama Dear Hongrang. The show, which is streaming on Netflix, received a decent response, though slightly lower compared to Alchemy of Souls. The cast appeared for an interview in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss the success of the historical melodrama, right after the initial viewership numbers released. But fans' sentiment towards the lead actor, Lee Jae Wook, instantly shifted after he referenced his romance with K-pop idol aespa's Karina, which made headlines back in 2024. Also read: Dear Hongrang star Jo Bo Ah reveals nickname she gave to Lee Jae Wook, shares why she keeps distance from male co-stars For Lee Jae Wook, Dear Hongrang marks his second outing in a historical story, following the release of Alchemy of Souls Part 2. In the show, he plays the role of the long-lost son of the Joseon era's wealthiest merchant guild family, who disappeared at the age of 12 and then returned 10 years later as a sword-wielding hero with a hidden motive. Speaking about the role and the character's physical demands, Lee said, 'This was the most challenging action work I've done so far,' he said. 'With close combat scenes, there's always the risk of injury, so I focused intensely on safety.' Lee also shared how his fans posted multiple leaked photographs from the sets on social media platforms, with him styled in hanbok. 'Screenshots of my expressions online, even the exaggerated ones. I'm glad they enjoyed it. I think hanbok actually suits me better than I expected,' he said. However, the conversation soon shifted towards the fans' reception, which somehow changed after the sudden revelation of his relationship with aespa's Karina, after Dispatch posted photos confirming the romance. Also read: Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale During the interview, the host asked Lee Jae Wook about his brief relationship. When pressed on how the news impacted his work, he said, 'The dating revelation didn't affect my focus on the project.' He added, 'I'd rather not go into personal matters. I hope we can focus on the character and the story of Dear Hongrang,' according to South Korean news outlet, Star News. Fans of Karina were disappointed about how the topic was brought up out of the blue. And given how rare it is for Korean actors or idols to speak about their relationships, Lee's statement caused a stir among fans. Karina and Lee Jae Wook's relationship made global headlines after the K-pop idol issued an apology letter following the leak of her personal photographs with the actor. Just five weeks after this, the couple called it quits. Lee's agency C-Jes released a statement saying, 'Actor Lee Jae Wook decided to end the relationship in order to focus on his work that he is currently filming. The two will remain good colleagues and support one another.' However, at the same time, a report by Tenasia claimed the real reason behind the split was the 'excess mental strain' caused by the hate comments. The two reportedly grew close after attending a fashion show in Milan earlier the same year and continued meeting in Seoul.
News18
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Lee Jae Wook Vows To Work ‘Until The Moment He Leaves' For Military Service
Last Updated: Lee Jae Wook has been dropping hints about his military enlistment, with reports suggesting that he might enlist in 2025. South Korean actor Lee Jae Wook has been in the headlines for his latest show, Dear Hongrang. Apart from that, details surrounding his future plans, dating rumours with aespa's Karina, and military enlistment have also piqued interest among fans. In a recent interview, Lee Jae Wook dropped a major update about reaching a deadline to enlist. Speaking at a press conference in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, the actor shared that he wants to work till the last moment before leaving for service. 'I've reached the final deadline. I wasn't diligent enough to pursue graduate school or other options." He continued, 'Even if I enlist, I want people to be able to find a lot of my work and writings. So I plan to keep working as much as possible until the moment I leave," he said, as quoted by Allkpop. This is not the first time that the actor has hinted at the enlistment plans. In 2024, Lee Jae Wook appeared on KBS's The Seasons: Artist With ZICO, where he informed his fans about having very little time before going for the mandatory services. 'There is not much time left until I leave for the military. I'm thinking about going next year, but I'll try to do a lot of activities before I leave," he said at the time. More On Lee Jae Wook's Dating Life, Projects While both Lee Jae Wook's and Karina's agencies had already confirmed the artists' relationship status, their romance was short-lived after the couple parted ways due to mental strain from hate comments. The Alchemy of Souls actor also addressed the same during the interview and asserted how it didn't affect his role during the filming of Tangeum (Dear Hongrang). 'It didn't really affect my immersion in the role. Going into more detail would make it too personal, so I'd rather not," he shared. Dear Hongrang is currently streaming on Netflix. The show, which also features Jo Bo-ah, revolves around the mysterious tale of the youngest son of a wealthy family in the Joseon Era. After Hongrang goes missing at the young age of 8, his half-sister (played by Jo Bo-ah) leaves no stone unturned to search for him. 12 years later, a man claiming to be Hongrang appears before the family, leaving everyone puzzled. First Published:
