Latest news with #KCONLA
Pink Villa
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Weekly Top Korean News: Mini BTS reunion, All of Us Are Dead Season 2 update, Kim Sae Ron's family's claims called 'fake' and more
This week's Korean entertainment news features Han So Hee's family legal issues and a surprise BTS mini-reunion during Jin's livestream. KISS OF LIFE was also removed from KCON LA amid controversy. Park Sung Hoon is set for a comeback after past backlash, while Roh Yoon Seo steps back from a major drama. Plus, a new claim about a manipulated audio recording involving Kim Sae Ron sparks debate. Read more to know the details. Han So Hee's mother faces suspended sentence for gambling operations Han So Hee is facing renewed attention due to legal issues involving her mother, Ms. Shin. Her mother was recently sentenced to one year in prison for running multiple illegal gambling operations. The sentence is now suspended for two years, meaning she won't serve jail time if she stays law-abiding during that period. Ms. Shin is also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. She operated seven underground gambling venues disguised as adult PC gaming rooms, mostly in Wonju, Ulsan, and Gyeongju. She used special access codes from a larger gambling network via Telegram. Han So Hee's agency clarified that the actress was unaware of the situation and distanced her from her mother's actions. Despite this family controversy, Han So Hee remains popular and continues to succeed professionally. BTS mini-reunion: Younger members crash Jin's livestream BTS fans got a special treat when the younger members surprised Jin during his livestream for his second album, Echo. While Jin discussed the music video for Don't Say You Love Me, J-Hope and Jimin popped into the comments, showing their support. Soon, V and Jungkook joined, turning the chat into a playful hangout, much to Jin's amusement and disbelief. All four are currently serving in the military but will be discharged within a month. Jin expressed excitement about their promotions and upcoming return. He also mentioned SUGA and RM, who are close to finishing their service and had personally congratulated him. The members enjoyed guessing songs from Jin's drawings and explored Echo's features together. Eventually, Jin playfully asked them to leave as the fun banter went on, promising fans they'd reunite soon. KISS OF LIFE dropped from KCON LA amid controversy Just days after being announced for KCON LA 2025, KISS OF LIFE was removed from the lineup, sparking fan speculation. On May 16, organizers and S2 Entertainment jointly confirmed the group would no longer participate, apologizing to disappointed fans but not explaining the reasons. The timing closely follows backlash over an April birthday livestream where the group used an old-school hip-hop theme. Fans criticized the use of exaggerated Black stereotypes, including mannerisms, braided hairstyles, and a parody rap name, Lil Taco. Despite official apologies from the agency and members, many fans felt the response was insufficient. Though neither KCON nor S2 explicitly linked the removal to the controversy, fans widely believe it influenced the decision. KCON LA 2025 will continue in August, with more artists to be announced. Park Sung Hoon returns with new drama after Squid Game post controversy Park Sung Hoon is moving past the Squid Game controversy and gearing up for a new project, Efficient Dating of Single Men and Women. It was confirmed by JTBC on May 15. The romantic comedy, based on a webtoon, stars Park alongside Han Ji Min and Lee Ki Taek. The story follows Lee Ui Yeong (Han Ji Min), a hotel procurement team leader navigating blind dates with two men, exploring mature and sensible approaches to love. This marks Park's first role since leaving The Tyrant's Chef. It was due to backlash over a controversial Instagram post involving an adult parody of Squid Game. Despite the controversy and his replacement in that drama, Park is now ready to return with this promising new role. The cast recently attended a script reading session. Roh Yoon Seo likely out of All of Us Are Dead Season 2 Rising star Roh Yoon Seo has reportedly stepped away from the highly anticipated second season of All of Us Are Dead. According to a May 14 OSEN report, the reason is scheduling conflicts. This news contrasts earlier rumors about her joining the cast, which had remained unconfirmed. The first season, a global hit on Netflix, follows high school students battling a sudden zombie outbreak. Despite this setback, Roh Yoon Seo's career is thriving. She recently won Best New Actress at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards for Hear Me: Our Summer. Still, fans remain hopeful for an official update and a possible appearance in the series. Lee Jin Ho claims Kim Sae Ron audio was AI-manipulated YouTuber and former journalist Lee Jin Ho released a detailed exposé on May 13. He alleged that the controversial audio involving late actress Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun was manipulated using AI voice synthesis and modulation. The recording sparked major backlash after being presented by Garosero's Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's lawyer. In it, Sae Ron claimed a physical relationship with the actor during her middle school years. Lee Jin Ho revealed he obtained two versions of the audio: one sent to Kim Soo Hyun and another to himself. Audio experts found signs of heavy editing, unnatural breaks, and synthetic voice segments. He also pointed to contradictory evidence from past KakaoTalk messages that disputed the recording's claims. Lee urged Kim Se Ui to act responsibly, stressing the need for truth when lives are involved.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
KISS OF LIFE will NOT participate in 'KCON LA 2025' amid cultural appropriation backlash
Popular K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE has recently come under public scrutiny due to a controversy. Following backlash over their controversial comments and behaviour towards Black people, the group has faced widespread criticism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amid the ongoing issue, the group has now withdrawn from a major music festival. KISS OF LIFE withdraws from 'KCON LA' amid controversy The organisers released a statement on social media, saying: "Regrettably, after careful consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, 'KCON' and S2 Entertainment have mutually decided that KISS OF LIFE will no longer be participating in ' KCON LA 2025 '." They added: "We sincerely apologise to the fans who were looking forward to the performance and ask for your understanding." While the official statement did not provide a specific reason, the timing lines up with the backlash the group is facing over accusations of appropriating Black culture during a live stream. More about KISS OF LIFE's controversy The controversy began during a livestream in April, where fans took issue with the group using exaggerated expressions and mannerisms associated with Black culture. This included wearing braided hairstyles as costume elements and adopting an old-school hip-hop theme for styling. The group also introduced a parody rap name, 'Lil Taco', which sparked further criticism and accusations of cultural insensitivity. Online criticism and backlash faced by the girl group In response to the growing backlash, the group's management agency issued an official apology, expressing regret for using 'stereotypical imagery and expressions'. A few days later, the members posted handwritten apology letters on their social media accounts and fan platforms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, many fans were not satisfied with the apologies, calling them shallow and lacking sincerity. Several argued that the group still failed to directly address the core issues. More about KISS OF LIFE KISS OF LIFE rose to popularity following their debut in 2023 with a self-titled EP. The group's name symbolises their aim to breathe new life into the music industry through their songs and charisma. About 'KCON USA 2025' ' KCON USA 2025' is set to take place in Los Angeles from 1 to 3 August.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
KISS OF LIFE dropped from KCON LA just 5 days after announcement following fan backlash over cultural appropriation controversy
Just five days after being announced as part of the KCON LA 2025 lineup, KISS OF LIFE has been dropped from the festival, and fans are putting two and two together. On May 16, KCON LA organizers released an official statement confirming the group's removal. 'After careful consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, KCON and S2 Entertainment have mutually agreed that KISS OF LIFE will not be joining KCON LA 2025,' it read. 'We sincerely apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the performance and ask for your understanding.' While the announcement didn't dive into why the group was suddenly out, the internet isn't clueless. The timing lines up closely with the ongoing backlash KISS OF LIFE faced over a controversial birthday livestream in April. During the live, celebrating member Julie, the group styled themselves with an old-school hip-hop theme that many viewers, especially international fans, called out for playing into harmful Black stereotypes. Fans took issue with several things: exaggerated "Black mannerisms," the use of culturally significant braided hairstyles as costume pieces, and a parody rap name, Lil Taco. The moment quickly made waves online, with fans on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) calling out the group for crossing a line and reducing Black culture to a theme party. KISS OF LIFE 's backlash prompted S2 Entertainment to issue an apology on May 4, saying they regretted using stereotypical imagery and expressions. A few days later, on May 6, the members posted handwritten apology letters in English on their social. Still, a part of the fanbase felt the apologies didn't fully address the harm or show a real understanding of the issue. Neither KCON nor S2 Entertainment confirmed that the controversy was the reason behind the group's removal, but fans online aren't buying the 'mutual decision' line without context. To many, it's clear that the fallout from the livestream pushed the organizers to reconsider. KCON LA 2025 will still take place from August 1 to 3, with more artist announcements expected soon. While fans are disappointed, others are saying this move shows that accountability is becoming more important in the K-pop world, especially when artists are performing on global stages. Whether this turns into a teachable moment or a long-term hit to KISS OF LIFE 's image is still up in the air.
