MUSIC‘1st Debut Anniversary’ All Hours, February ComebackThe group ALL(H)OURS (Gunho, Yumin, Jaden, Minje, Masami, Hyunbin, ON) will make a comeback in February with their third mini-album, ‘Smoke Point’. This is their first new album in 7 months. On this day at midnight, ALL(H)OURS released a mood board and a 3D moving album poster that give a glimpse into the concept of their new album through their official SNS. The props, such as a skateboard, Wanted poster, graffiti-decorated piano, and sofa, showed a rough and dynamism coexisting, stimulating curiosity about the new album that ALL(H)OURS will present. ALL(H)OURS, who debuted on January 10th of last year with their first mini-album ‘ALL OURS’, surprised fans by announcing their comeback news through a live broadcast on the first anniversary of their debut. In particular, All Hours expressed their gratitude to their fans by releasing an image with a heart pose to celebrate their first anniversary of debut. Through their debut title song ‘Euratchacha (GOTCHA)’, they showed off their outstJan 10, 2025
SPECIALGujal, Maldives Beach is not visible… Refreshing + thrilling bikini figure [DA★]Uzbek broadcaster Gujal showed off her charm that combines freshness and sexiness. On the 9th, Gujal posted photos from her Maldives trip on her Instagram. In the photos, Gujal is posing in various poses at a hotel pool with a Maldives beach in the background. She is wearing a white bikini and shows off her fresh yet dizzying sexiness, drawing attention. Gujal, who debuted through ‘Beauties‘ Chat’, is currently communicating with fans as a travel expert YouTuber. Reporter Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com jhj@donga.comJan 10, 2025
TVAhn Jung-hwan boasts “I was the number 1 kicker under Coach Hiddink during the 2002 World Cup” (Mungchan)Coach Ahn Jung-hwan and coach Kim Nam-il will reveal the behind-the-scenes story of the 2002 World Cup. The episode of JTBC‘s ‘Let’s Cool 3’, which will air on the 12th, will depict the ‘Somehow New Avengers’, who are about to conquer the ‘Early-morning Soccer TOP 100’, conducting a mock penalty shootout. Coach Ahn Jung-hwan experienced the bitterness of defeat in a penalty shootout against ‘Early-morning Soccer Ranking No. 1’ Shinjeju Soccer Club two years ago, so attention is focused on whether he will be able to overcome this through this mock test. Meanwhile, Coach Ahn Jung-hwan adds interest by revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 2002 World Cup ahead of the mock penalty shootout test. He emphasizes the importance of the number one penalty kicker, who is the most reliable player on the team, and boasts, “Coach Hiddink made me the number one kicker during the 2002 World Cup.” Then, he caught everyone‘s attention by revealing evidence written in the secret notebook of coachJan 10, 2025
MUSICThe Rose‘s Woosung Kim to release remix album today (10th)Singer-songwriter and member of the band The Rose, Kim Woo-sung, will release a remix album, ‘4444: Reborn (4444: 리본),’, of his second full-length album released in October of last year at 2 PM on the 10th. ‘4444’ is an album that explores Kim Woo-sung‘s self-discovery, inner reflection, and clarity. Through the remix album, Kim Woo-sung will reinterpret the album’s main tracks and present eight tracks that transcend genres with artists beloved around the world. This remix album features Italian duo Mathame, who recently gained attention for the official remix of Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding‘s hit song ‘Free (프리). Mathame recreates Kim Woo-sung’s unique sound in a cinematic and immersive style. Here, Raiden, a legend in the Korean EDM scene, adds a dynamic touch, and Park Gyu-jeong of the famous domestic producer duo Groovy Room introduces a new DJ persona, IÖN.Jan 10, 2025
MUSICWEi, A Page of Youth… Additional Concept Photos ReleasedThe group WEi sequentially revealed the ‘Apprehensive’ and ‘Delight’ version concept photos of their 7th mini album ‘The Feelings’ through their official SNS on the 9th and 10th. First, WEi expressed the fluttering hearts of anxious youth with the concept photos of the ‘Apprehensive’ version. WEi catches the eye by staring at the camera with even more solid eyes in a dreamy atmosphere. On the other hand, the ‘Delight’ version concept photos contain the splendid appearance of youth shaking off all their worries and moving forward. The members showed off their free-spirited charm by shouting loudly toward the sky with bright smiles. In this way, WEi foreshadowed a deeper atmosphere by depicting various emotions felt by youth, such as confusion, excitement, frustration, and anxiety, with four concepts: ‘Turmoil’, ‘Manic’, ‘Apprehensive’, and ‘Delight’ ahead of their comeback. ‘The Feelings’ is WEi‘s first album released in June 2023.Jan 10, 2025
TVCha Hwa-yeon, reckless criticism of juniors… What will happen to Jung Ji-so’s debut? (Suspicious Partner) [TV Comprehensive]Cha Hwa-yeon and Jung Ji-so had a conflict over the issue of idol debuts. On the 8th episode of KBS 2TV‘s Wednesday-Thursday drama ‘Suspicious Partner’ (directed by Park Yong-soon/written by Heo Seung-min), which aired on the 9th, Daniel Han (played by Jin Young) became angry at Kim Ae-shim (played by Cha Hwa-yeon) for treating Oh Doo-ri (played by Jung Ji-so) rudely. In that day’s broadcast, Ban Ji-sook (played by Seo Young-hee) informed her family that she would be moving while eating with Janet (played by Kim Hae-sook), Doo-ri, and Choi Min-seok (played by In Kyo-jin). Janet coldly said, “Why did you go on and on about how you no longer need that annoying old mother?”. Doo-ri, who was listening to Janet and Ji-sook‘s conversation, hurriedly left, making people feel sorry for her. Then, when Soo-jin (played by Hyun Jae-yeon) collapsed during practice, Doo-ri hurriedly asked Daniel for help and asked him to take Soo-jin to the hospital. After that, Doo-ri showed genuine concern for SoJan 10, 2025
SPECIALSon Na-eun, a colorless and dizzying leggings look that rivals Dong Jang-gun… Kim Ji-soo “Cold wave, Na-eun” [DA★]Son Na-eun‘s photos have been revealed. Son Na-eun posted several photos on her Instagram account on the 10th. In the photos, Son Na-eun is enjoying the winter by showing off the so-called ‘leggings look’. She leaves footprints in the snow and shows off her ‘short-sleeved outfit’ despite it being the middle of winter. In the process, Son Na-eun’s body without an ounce of fat is admirable. She boasts a silhouette that is not at all humiliating. Actress Kim Ji-soo, who watched Son Na-eun like this on SNS, worried, saying, “It‘s a cold wave, Na-eun”. Kim Ji-soo and Son Na-eun seem to have a special relationship as they acted as mother and daughter in the JTBC drama ‘Family X Melo’ last year. Meanwhile, Son Na-eun recently made a special appearance in the JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Madam Ok’s Story’ (written by Park Ji-sook, directed by Jin Hyuk). She is also preparing for her next work. Hong Se-young, Donga.com reporter, projecthong@donga.comJan 10, 2025
MUSICCIX, Thunder and Lightning, Then Sword… Fantasy Concept Photos RevealedThe group CIX is foreshadowing a strong comeback with cool visuals. CIX (BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, Hyunseok) released the second individual concept photos for their seventh EP album ‘THUNDER FEVER’ on their official SNS at midnight on the 10th. CIX, who playfully expressed the moment of encountering thunder and lightning in the first concept photo, continued their dynamic transformation by utilizing swords in these photos. The sharp gazes of the members and their unwavering momentum in a space reminiscent of a battlefield capture attention. CIX, equipped with a chic mood in black outfits, maximized the cool atmosphere with poses where each member holds a sword in their hand. The chaotic background and the alluring yet dark charisma of the four members combine to create a dizzying sense of immersion, like watching a fantasy thriller movie. The theme song of ‘THUNDER FEVER’, which connects thunder and lightning with fever, is slowly revealing CIX‘s upgraded concept digestion and visuals. CIJan 10, 2025
TV10th Jeong-suk, the end of a night of sorrow… rushing to Mr. Baek Kim (Nasol Sa-gye) [TV Comprehensive]‘I‘m Solo,’ Season 10‘s Jeong-sook had a tense war of nerves with Season 10’s Yeong-sook and Mr. Baek Kim this time, not Season 10‘s Yeong-ja. On SBS Plus and ENA’s ‘I‘m SOLO, Then Love Continues’ on the 9th, Season 10’s Jeong-sook, after spending a ‘night of resentment’, was shown approaching Mr. Baek Kim again, while Season 16‘s Yeong-ja and Mr. Bae declared ‘Today is the 1st’, showing a high-speed romance that immersed viewers. Previously, Season 10’s Jeong-sook was shocked when Mr. Baek Kim chose Season 10‘s Yeong-sook for the ‘Midnight Cabbage Pancake Date’, and vented her anger all night long. On this day, when the selection of the ‘Rainy Date’ began, 10th generation Jeong-suk declared to the other single women, “After being so angry at Mr. Baek Kim, you are choosing (Mr. Baek Kim)!”, making everyone burst into laughter. Immediately after, 10th generation Yeong-suk was indecisive between Mr. Baek Kim and Mr. Park, and chose Mr. Park, and 22nd generation Yeong-suk also chose Mr. PJan 10, 2025
TVOh Sang-wook, did you come out on a variety show to be like this? He eats so well (Handsome Guys)Oh Sang-wook shows off his extraordinary appetite. In the 6th episode of tvN‘s ‘Handsome Guys on Sunday’, which will air on the 12th, BTS’s Jin, who reappeared as a guest, will be divided into Team Handsome with Kim Dong-hyun and Lee Yi-kyung, and Team Guys with Cha Tae-hyun, Shin Seung-ho, and Oh Sang-wook, and they will have a bingo race in the second half with the theme of ‘Exploring the Architecture of the Beautiful Island Jeju’. In particular, in the previous episode, Jin, who ambitiously announced a revenge match, swept up all the good chances, raising the excitement by starting the race in an absolutely disadvantageous situation for Team Guys. In the process, the youngest Shin Seung-ho and Oh Sang-wook, who decided to pursue certain pleasure rather than the joy of a low-probability victory, became more into eating black pork than racing, making leader Cha Tae-hyun sweat. Meanwhile, in the episode airing on the 12th, Oh Sang-wook is expected to completely let go of the reins of eJan 10, 2025
MUSICBVG Girl, 3-color flower visual concept photos releasedThe group BBBIRLS (Minyoung, Eunji, Yuna) has released the concept photos for their second single ‘LOVE 2’. In the photos, BBBIRLS are standing side by side in sensual outfits and looking at the camera. The three of them show off perfect chemistry while relying on each other, drawing admiration. In another photo, BBBIRLS exudes a unique aura even in the midst of gorgeous flower decorations. In particular, BBBIRLS‘ flawless visuals that make it impossible to take your eyes off them for a moment stimulate curiosity about their new album. ‘LOVE 2’ is BBBIRLS’s new album, released approximately 1 year and 5 months after their double single ‘ONE MORE TIME’ in 2023, and is their first album since joining GLG. It will contain a heart-warming story of BBBIRLS overcoming a crisis and becoming stronger. BVB‘s second single ‘LOVE 2’ will be released on various music sites in Korea and abroad at 6 PM on the 15th. Reporter Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com jhj@donga.comJan 10, 2025
MUSICDynamic Duo and Spider, First Collaboration… ‘Take Care’ Released on the 15thDynamic Duo and singer Gummy will be releasing their first collaboration song, ‘Take Care’, on the 15th. Dynamic Duo (Gaeko, Choiza) and Gummy revealed the title of the new song and the release date by posting profile images and album cover images on their agency Ameba Culture‘s official SNS on the 8th and 9th ahead of the release of their first collaboration single, ‘Take Care’. In the profile images, Dynamic Duo and Gummy foreshadow a special synergy with their classic visuals. The overwhelming aura of Dynamic Duo and Gummy, who exude a simple yet deep mood, is displayed in one frame. The album cover image, designed with a sweater tag, catches the eye with its warm atmosphere. Phrases such as ‘TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF’, ‘100% LOVE’ written on the laundry label also increase curiosity about this new song. ‘Take Care’ means a calm farewell saying ‘Take care’. Dynamic Duo, who has formed a rapport with the public with their unique realistic speaking style and honest stories, is showing offJan 10, 2025
MUSICBBUP, ‘4 Life’ to be released today (10th)… New member Jiyoon‘s voice debutsThe group VVUP (Bibiup/Kim, Pan, Suyeon, Jiyoon) will release the special digital single ‘4 Life’ through various music sites today (the 10th) at 6 PM. ‘4 Life’ is an R&B genre song with captivating, overwhelming energy. It depicts the excitement and confidence of the moment of falling in love with a warm, yet trendy sound, further heightening the strong aftertaste of the song. In particular, ‘4 Life’ is the first song that new member Jiyoon has sung since joining the team. VVUP, who reorganized as a four-member team, is showing their first R&B sound since their debut, raising expectations for their musical growth. In addition to releasing the special digital single, VVUP will also release special videos on their official YouTube channel twice, on the 10th and 13th. This is a gift from the members to the fans who have been sending their unsparing love and support to VVUP, who officially debuted in the music industry in April last year. Also, they have been consistently working with VVUJan 10, 2025
MUSICBoynextdoor, the power of the ‘Lifestyle’ groupAs the group name suggests, they have captured the tastes of the MZ generation with their familiar charm, just like the boys next door. Boynextdoor has proven their power as a representative of the 5th generation of K-pop by hitting the music charts with their new song ‘Only Today I Love You’. Boynextdoor‘s new digital single ‘Only Today I Love You’, released on the 6th, has maintained the top ranks of the real-time and daily popularity charts of major music platforms such as Melon, Bugs, Naver Music, and Flo as of the 9th, three days after its release. In particular, Melon is home to hit songs by music powerhouses such as G-Dragon, Espa, and Day6, and is gaining popularity with the song ‘Concrete TeaJan 10, 2025
MUSIC‘Comeback’ GOT7, Begins Handsome Attack… First Concept Photos RevealedThe group GOT7 has announced their 11th anniversary comeback with a black aura. Kakao Entertainment released the WINTER version concept photos of the new mini-album ‘WINTER HEPTAGON’ through GOT7‘s official SNS on the 9th and 10th. First, the individual cuts of JAY B, Mark, Jackson, Park Jin-young, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom proved the expectations of global fans by surpassing 300,000 Twitter retweets and 2 million Instagram likes in just one day. The splendid visuals of the seven members, who are meeting again with a GOT7 album after a long time, caught everyone’s attention. GOT7, who matched their style with an overall black tone, showed off each member‘s own deep mood by utilizing odd-eye lenses, scar makeup, and costumes and props with snake patterns. The members’ eyes, which contain the chicness of winter, are also receiving a hot response from fans. In the group cut released today (the 10th), the seven members of GOT7 completed a harmonious composition with special chemistry tJan 10, 2025
TVMovies and dramas dealing with cryptocurrency attract attentionAs interest in virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) grows worldwide, works based on this material are attracting attention in theaters and home theaters. The movie ‘Plummet’, which will be released on the 15th, is a crime drama based on the true story of the Luna Coin crash that shook the world with the loss of 50 trillion won in 2022. It is the last work of the late Song Jae-rim, who passed away in November last year, and stars Ahn Woo-yeon, Min Sung-wook, and Cha Jung-won. The production team of ‘Plummet’ conducted a thorough preliminary investigation and meticulous legal investigation as it deals with a case in which there were 280,000 victims in Korea alone and no judicial judgment has been made to date.Jan 10, 2025
TVLook forward to Lee Se-young‘s first love!… Drama ‘Motel California’Lee Se-young is challenging herself with back-to-back hits. She will emerge as a ‘viewer maker’ through her new lead drama ‘Motel California’. After her previous works ‘Red Sleeves’, ‘Mrs. Park‘s Marriage Contract’, and ‘What Comes After Love’ were all box office hits at home and abroad, she is set to show off her ‘star power’ once again. ‘Motel California’, which will be aired for the first time on the 10th, tells the story of a female protagonist who was born and raised in a rural motel, returns to her hometown she ran away from 12 years ago, and reunites with her first love. It is based on the popular 2019 novel ‘Home, Bitter Home’ by Shim Yoon-seo. This drama is about Lee Se-young’s return to her previous romantic dramas.Jan 10, 2025
MOVIESIm Si-wan “‘T.O.P, G-Dragon and ’O-Game‘, Variety Show Breathing… Big Bang = Celebrity‘s Celebrity”[Interview]Im Si-wan and Jo Yu-ri, who joined the global hit Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 as ‘new faces, said they are “still in a daze” about the pouring global attention. They smiled, saying, “It‘s a great honor”, from the time they heard the news that they were confirmed to join Season 2 until now. In Season 2, they played the roles of Myung-gi (Im Si-wan), a coin (cryptocurrency) YouTuber who ran away from debt collectors and subscribers after causing huge losses for himself and his subscribers through bad investments, and Joon-hee (Jo Yu-ri), Myung-gi’s ex-girlfriend who invested in him and lost a huge amount of money. They reunite in ‘Game of Death’Jan 10, 2025
MOVIESAir Challenge, Round and Round Remix… ‘Ogem2’ Popular, K-Play and Children‘s Songs Global PopularityAs Season 2 of Netflix‘s ‘Squid Game’ is sweeping global content charts, global attention is also being drawn to the various Korean games that appear in the drama, the so-called ‘K games’. The game that is receiving the most attention in Season 2 is ‘Air Play’ that appears in Episode 4. The video of Kang Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul), a former Marine and game participant, succeeding in the air play mission with his outstanding skills was produced as a short-form video and is receiving attention with over 10 million views on TikTok, a platform dedicated to short-form videos. The YouTube video ‘How to Play Air Play’ that was uploaded 6 years ago is also receiving belated attention and has seen an explosion of views.Jan 10, 2025
TVLee Jin-wook, Lee Jong-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok ‘Lawyer Showdown’The battle of wits between lawyers is unfolding in the living room theater. Following the hit drama ‘Good Partner’ last year, in which Jang Na-ra appeared as a divorce lawyer, a series of dramas depicting stories about lawyers will be released this year as well. Lee Jin-wook and Hye-ri will be joining forces in the new drama ‘Esquire’. The drama is set in a large law firm and tells the story of lawyers handling all kinds of lawsuits. ‘Esquire’ is a word that originally came from a medieval knight‘s assistant or a knight trainee who followed him with a shield, and is used to refer to lawyers in official documents. In the drama, Lee Jin-wook and Hye-ri play lawyers side by side and fight fiercely in court.Jan 10, 2025