Latest news with #QueenofTears
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Amid Kim Soo Hyun backlash, a look at 7 Korean actors who bounced back from controversies
Popular South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun's recent controversy involving the late Bloodhounds star Kim Sae Ron rocked the nation and the entertainment industry. Given the Queen of Tears actor's decade-long career and massive popularity, the news spread like wildfire, making global headlines and forcing a sudden halt on his upcoming Disney+ K-drama Knock Off, billed as the next big swing of his career. With South Korea's big cancel culture, celebs who get caught in serious scandals often struggle, sometimes permanently, to claw their way back into the spotlight, regardless of how murky or mild the accusations may be. In Soo Hyun's case, he is accused of dating a minor. While we don't yet know how things will pan out for him, he's not the first to land in hot water. Several stars before him have faced backlash, but managed to find their way back into the spotlight. Also read: Squid Game season 3 trailer: Fans say, 'our mental health isn't ready' as Netflix teases twisted games, traitors, and a tortured Gi Hun Avid Korean entertainment lovers would remember Shi Ho, whose soaring career, marked by early 2000s hits like Queen of Reversals, The Princess' Man, and Cheongdamdong Alice, making him South Korea's top star, was ruined over a false sexual assault scandal. In 2013, he was set to venture into cinema with Confession of Murder, but before that, a trainee dragged him to court for forcing her into sexual intercourse. Shi Ho counter-sued, saying he never had bad intentions and everything was consensual. At the time, many came out in support of Shi Ho, even the restaurant owner who witnessed the incident, along with friends and colleagues. Due to the lack of evidence, Shi Ho was let go, and the girl suddenly withdrew her lawsuit. But Shi Ho then struggled to make a comeback, contracts were stalled, ads were taken down, and fans turned against him. He took a break and did nothing from 2013 to 2016. Then in 2017, he made a successful comeback with My Golden Life, starring Shin Hye Sun. Shi Ho is still active in the industry, though not as much as before. Also read: Ex-BIGBANG's T.O.P admits past mistakes for first time through 'failed drug addict' character: 'I can finally move on with my life' Back then, no one imagined that Lee Byung Hun, now a Korean A-lister with global fame thanks to Squid Game, would bounce back from not one but two major scandals. In 2009, his ex-girlfriend Kwon Mi-yeon accused him of cheating, manipulating her into quitting her career for marriage, and even hinted at his involvement in shady dealings in the U.S. She later dropped the lawsuit, and Lee walked free. But trouble found him again in 2014 when he was accused of having an affair with model Lee Ji Yeon and Glam's Da Hee, while his wife was pregnant. Lee publicly apologised and took a break. Then in 2018, he made a full-blown comeback with Mr. Sunshine. Popular actor Song Hye Kyo became a global phenomenon way before the Hallyu wave struck the world with global OTT platforms, so her involvement in a tax evasion scandal in 2014 became a huge issue. Song was accused of evading around 2.5 billion won in taxes over three years, and the actor ended up blaming her accountant for the confusion. She later issued a public apology on camera. Song bounced back into the spotlight faster than anyone else, thanks to her career's biggest hit, Descendants of the Sun. She was able to build back her reputation, and soon after, she got married to her co-star Song Joong Ki, which further boosted her popularity. The now ex-couple was called the power couple of South Korea. Song Joong Ki's personal life has always remained under scrutiny ever since he married Song Hye Kyo in 2017. Within just two years, he was accused of secretly filing for divorce, while his then-wife claimed she found out about it on TV. The official reason was given as 'differences in personality,' but rumours suggested infidelity on his part. He disappeared from the limelight for a while and then returned with successful projects like Vincenzo. In 2023, after he got married to British actor Katy, he sparked another round of controversy with his 'men have it harder in the industry' comment, saying that 'being a father, being a husband' can cost you jobs in entertainment. Throughout his career, he's been tangled in dating controversies too, but never actually got cancelled and kept bagging lead roles. That is, until recently, his comebacks like Bogotá, Loh Kiwan, etc., have started pulling in mixed to flat-out cold responses. After going big with slice-of-life comfort K-dramas like Start-Up and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Kim Seon Ho faced major backlash in 2021 after he was accused of abortion coercion by a former alleged girlfriend. At the time, he had a long list of ad deals and contracts lined up, but sponsors quickly pulled back, and he started losing everything to the controversy. His silence didn't help either and led to him dropping out of major projects. It was only after Dispatch's investigative reporting that the truth came out, suggesting the actor didn't force his ex, and Seon Ho bounced back into the limelight. He's now leading several shows and has landed some major nominations. It's Okay to Not Be Okay actor Seo Ye Ji was accused of manipulating and controlling her ex-boyfriend, faking her background, school bullying, staff abuse, etc. The actor was cancelled hard but still tried to make her way back with Eve in 2022. While the response in South Korea was mixed, Netflix numbers showed global audiences were still in. More recently, she got dragged into the Kim Soo Hyun mess for being from the same agency, Gold Medalist. But this time, she stood her ground and has now announced her next project, First of Humans. The biggest example of Korean cancel culture not touching stardom is probably BIGBANG's G-Dragon. While most of BIGBANG's members, including T.O.P, wrecked their careers with drug scandals, G-Dragon, embroiled in a marijuana case back in 2011, still stands as one of the most influential K-pop icons to this day. In 2022, he cleared his name and dropped a comeback album like nothing ever happened.
Time Out
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Korean bakery Standard Bun is selling its popular mocha bread in Singapore for two months
Koreaboos would have probably heard of London Bagel Museum or Soha Salt Pond, but there's another popular bakery in Seoul that's been making waves on the internet recently. Standard Bun, known for its fluffy dessert buns, is holding its first pop-up in Singapore at two locations: Suntec City and Bugis Junction. Here's your chance to get your hands on these viral bakes – simply head down to Suntec City from June 4 to August 3, or Bugis Junction from June 10 to July 14. If it's your first time hearing of the brand, Standard Bun is a Korean bakery chain which currently runs three outlets in Seoul. It's not to be confused with Standard Bread, another Korean bakery which is set to open in Singapore this year. Standard Bun recently drew long queues at its pop-up at The Hyundai Seoul – the upscale mall known as one of the filming sites of the hit Korean drama Queen of Tears. The bakery isn't just popular with locals, but has also attracted the attention of celebrities like K-pop group I-DLE, actor Lee Jin-Wook, and K-pop king G-Dragon himself. At its Singapore pop-ups, you can expect to find over 25 flavours of dessert buns and the bakery's famed house-aged maple butter ($2.90). These are stored in glass jars in-house and sold separately, meant to be spread over the buns and enjoyed together as a sweet-and-savoury pairing. Standard Bun's mocha bun ($3.90) is Korea's answer to the Rotiboy, with a dusting of mocha biscuit on top and a filling of soft butter in the middle. Fans of salt bread can try the salt mocha bun ($4.20), which is crowned with pearl salt flakes. Meanwhile, sweet tooths can go for the milk cream bun ($5.80), melon cream bun ($5.80), or cookie bun ($5.40). And for the ultimate indulgence, get the caramel bun ($5.60) or apple cinnamon bun ($5.60), stuffed with sweet caramel sauce or apple cinnamon jam that oozes out with each bite.
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kim Soo Hyun tops superstar rankings for 4th week in a row amid Kim Sae Ron dating scandal, check full list
Star Kim Soo Hyun continues to make headlines by becoming the actor generating the most buzz among netizens. Despite being embroiled in controversy over his alleged relationship with underage actress Kim Sae Ron, he managed to make his influence felt. The actor achieved an impressive feat by topping the 72nd Superstar Brand Power list with the highest number of votes, as per the declaration of this week's results by K-media outlet Top Star News. Kim Soo Hyun clinched the Superstar Brand Power #1 rank for four consecutive weeks. He secured the top spot, garnering over 1 million votes from May 14 to 21, despite controversy surrounding his controversial relationship with Kim Sae Ron and his agency's legal and public battle with the bereaved family. The Queen of Tears actor surpassed actors like Kim Hee Jae and Lovely Runner fame Byeon Woo Seok to take the top spot. In the female category, Kim Hye Yoon, known for her roles in Lovely Runner and Snowdrop, clinched the No. 1 rank for 44 consecutive weeks, showcasing her enduring popularity. She beat the second-placed Jung Soo Min by a huge margin of 621,240 votes. The Love Next Door star is followed closely by King the Land's In YoonA. Check out the actors and actresses who made their way into the top 3 lists. Top 3 actresses in 72nd Superstar Brand Power ranking: Kim Hye Yoon—1,009,770 votes Jung So Min—388,530 votes In YoonA—383,370 votes Regarding the voting system, users are granted three voting rights every six hours, with a daily maximum of 12. Additionally, users can earn up to 30 voting rights per day by recommending an article, where each voting right is equivalent to 30 votes. This system allows users to accumulate voting rights through regular logins and engagement with the platform's content.
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kim Soo Hyun–Kim Sae Ron Controversy Triggers ‘10 Police Cases In 3 Months'
Last Updated: Kim Soo Hyun's side has filed seven legal complaints, including one against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute. The controversy involving South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron continues to stir headlines and is far from over. Even months after the scandal, which first broke out in early March, every new revelation shakes things up. What started as a shocking revelation has now turned into a full-blown legal storm, with both parties locked in a tangled web of accusations, investigations and public scrutiny. The heart of the matter lies in allegations that Kim Soo Hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was still a minor. These claims, which were shared by the late actress's aunt on Garo Sero Research Institute's YouTube channel, along with a few newly surfaced pieces of evidence, have led to a fierce legal battle and intense media scrutiny. While many details still remain unclear, the case has triggered ten separate legal investigations linked to Kim Sae Ron, according to the South Korean media outlet Edaily. On Monday, May 19, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency revealed during a press conference that seven of these cases are currently being handled by the Gangnam Police Station, while the remaining three are under the jurisdiction of the Seodaemun Police Station. The same outlet reported that Kim Soo Hyun's side has filed seven legal complaints, including one against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, aka Hoverlab, accusing them of defamation and stalking. Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron's bereaved family and legal representatives have submitted three cases, one of which includes a serious accusation against Kim Soo Hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act. The family, along with the Garo Sero Research Institute, even held a press conference earlier this month, where they released an audio clip as part of their evidence. The clip, which allegedly featured the late actress, claimed that Kim Sae Ron dated the Queen of Tears actor when she was still in high school. Moreover, both even had intimate physical relations. However, the actor and his agency, Gold Medalist, have firmly denied the allegation, calling it baseless and deeply damaging. YouTuber Lee Jin Ho even claimed that the recording was fabricated using AI. More recently, Bu Ji Seok, the lawyer representing Kim Sae Ron's side, has come under fire, too. He has reportedly been reported to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea for allegedly giving misleading legal advice to the family during the case.
News18
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Jo Bo Ah Reacts To Knock Off's Delay Amid Kim Soo Hyun Row: ‘Can't Help'
Last Updated: The actress, with noticeable care and restraint, emphasised that talking about the show might be hurtful. The controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun 's alleged relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron has impacted his professional front, especially brand advertisements and upcoming projects. The one to have taken the worst hit is Disney+'s big-budget K-drama Knock Off, featuring actress Jo Bo Ah. Following the massive controversy, the series, which was earlier scheduled to premiere in April, has been postponed indefinitely. Jo Bo Ah, who stars opposite Kim Soo Hyun in the series, recently addressed the postponement during a press conference after the premiere of her new Netflix drama Dear Hongrang. When asked about it, the 33-year-old actress, with noticeable care and restraint, answered the query, emphasising that talking about the show might be hurtful. 'I know that a lot of you are curious to know, but I really can't help but approach (talking about Knock Off) with a lot of caution. Just because what I say could unintentionally hurt someone, so I'd rather hold back on commenting," Jo Bo Ah said, as quoted by Koreaboo. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the project, the actress optimistically added, 'I will say Knock Off is a project where everyone involved poured a lot of energy and affection into, and I believe that effort will be recognized someday and lead to a good outcome." At the press conference, she was further asked about her honeymoon plans, which she had previously cancelled due to the shooting schedule for Knock Off. Reacting to it, Jo Bo Ah cautiously told the reporters that she doesn't have any plans as of now. She got married to her non-celebrity husband in Seoul, South Korea, in October last year. Jo Bo Ah was cast as the female lead opposite Kim Soo Hyun's character in Disney+'s Knock Off, which was initially included in the streaming platform's 2025 lineup. Written by Han Jung Hoon and directed by Park Hyun Seok, the drama will tell the tale of a guy whose life changed after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He would go from being a regular office worker to becoming the global counterfeit market king. Others to star in the K-drama are Yoo Jae Myung, Kim Eui Sung, Bang Hyo Rin, Choi Gyu Ri, Kim Hye Eun and others. Reportedly, Knock Off has been produced on a budget of $42 million, with Kim Soo Hyun's fee alone said to have reached a whopping $6.29 million. And if the Queen of Tears actor is sued by Disney+, he might have to pay a hefty penalty. First Published:
