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Yoo Yeon Seok And Esom Talk About Their Roles In Upcoming Drama "Phantom Lawyer"
February Rising Singer Brand Reputation Rankings Announced
Moon Sang Min And Go Ah Sung Share Thoughts On Their "Pavane" Characters, On-Screen Chemistry, And More
February Rising Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Announced
Min Hee Jin Addresses Lawsuits And Makes Proposal To HYBE At Press Conference
5 K-Pop Idols Whose Recent Renaissance Proves It’s Never Too Late To Find Your It Girl Era
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Yoo Yeon Seok And Esom Talk About Their Roles In Upcoming Drama "Phantom Lawyer"
Yoo Yeon Seok and Esom shared their thoughts on their upcoming drama “Phantom Lawyer” in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Korea. “Phantom Lawyer” is a quirky yet heartwarming legal drama that follows the adventures of Shin I Rang (Yoo Yeon Seok), a lawyer who can see ghosts, and elite attorney Han Na Hyun (Esom) as they resolve the lingering grievances of their very unusual clients—ghosts—through the law. In the interview, Yoo Yeon Seok was asked about his experience acting possessed in the drama. He replied, “I just went for it without holding back. I wondered when else I would ever get the chance to completely throw myself into a role like that and let go of myself entirely if not now with the possession concept.” He continued, “In the past, when I performed in musicals, I used to find it fascinating to watch actors playing multiple roles change costumes and step back on stage. I always found that very appealing, but this was my first time playing such a wide range of characters within a single project.” Regarding the challenges of portraying Shin I Rang possessed by various characters, from an aspiring idol to a scientist, he said, “During rehearsals on set, I would observe the actors playing the ghosts or listen to recordings of them. I tried to incorporate their specific gestures and habits into my performance. Usually, towards the end of a drama, you start to feel comfortable and familiar with your character, but this set always felt brand new.” When asked what he never wants to change as an actor, he responded, “When choosing projects, I want to keep seeking out characters I haven’t played before. I want to switch up genres, and if I’ve played a good guy, I want to try a villain next. I think my fans support me in exploring different sides of myself, and I want to keep trusting that as I move forward.” Esom, who plays Han Na Hyun, an elite lawyer from a major law firm who assists Shin I Rang, was asked what she focused on while preparing for the role. She replied, “I kept wondering, why does she live while hiding her wounds? Does she really have to live so strictly by the rules? The more I looked into Na Hyun, the more I realized that if you look deep enough, everyone has wounds and loneliness. In the end, we are all just human.” When asked what the drama left her with as an actress, she answered, “I have no regrets. It wasn’t easy to fully understand Na Hyun, so I had countless conversations with the director. Whenever a new script came out, I would go to him and go over each line together, and that process continued through all 16 episodes. I think I worked like Na Hyun herself. I really wanted to shape the character well, without any regrets.” Yoo Yeon Seok and Esom’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar Korea. Meanwhile, “Phantom Lawyer” will premiere on March 13 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
February Rising Singer Brand Reputation Rankings Announced
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for rising singers! The rankings were determined through an analysis of various rising singers’ media coverage, consumer participation, interaction, and community awareness indexes, using big data collected from January 20 to February 20. WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn) shot to the top of the list this month after seeing a staggering 128.60 percent increase in his brand reputation index since January, bringing his score to a total of 2,611,148. Trot singer Kim Yong Bin took second place for the month with a brand reputation index of 2,447,678. Meanwhile, Stray Kids ranked third for February with a brand reputation index of 2,124,514. RIIZE came in at a close fourth with a brand reputation index of 2,097,119, marking a whopping 153.46 percent rise in their score since last month. Finally, Car, the garden rounded out the top five with a brand reputation index of 1,848,230, marking an impressive 136.65 percent increase in his score since January. WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn) Kim Yong Bin Stray Kids RIIZE Car, the garden KiiiKiii ALPHA DRIVE ONE TWS DAY6 BIBI Park Ji Hyeon Park Seo Jin ENHYPEN Rowoon HANRORO BABYMONSTER EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.) Son Tae Jin ZO ZAZZ BTOB’s Changsub QWER KATSEYE XLOV Jung Seung Hwan Lee Mujin Hearts2Hearts Kim Hee Jae Woody Ahn Sung Hoon WJSN’s Dayoung
Moon Sang Min And Go Ah Sung Share Thoughts On Their "Pavane" Characters, On-Screen Chemistry, And More
The lead actors of Netflix’s “Pavane” recently participated in a photo shoot with ELLE Korea! Based on the best-selling novel “Pavane for a Dead Princess,” “Pavane” tells the story of three young adults struggling to love themselves. As these emotionally closed-off individuals find solace in each other’s company and slowly become a ray of light for one another, they ultimately learn to face life and love again. In the interview that followed the shoot, Go Ah Sung shared her thoughts on playing Mi Jung, a character who lives with her heart closed off. “I felt that Mi Jung has a switch that opens and closes her heart depending on the situation,” she commented. “Even after she falls in love, she is someone who feels fear before happiness.” She also noted that sentences from the original novel served as crucial groundwork for her acting process. She explained, “Sentences not directly featured in the film naturally translated into my expressions and energy on set.” Regarding his first impression of the script, Moon Sang Min, who took on his first leading role in a film through “Pavane,” stated, “It was a project I did not want to miss.” He went on to reveal that while portraying Gyeong Rok, a young man who dreams of becoming a dancer, he focused more on the character’s expressions and demeanor than on dialogue. “I thought that while he might look listless, his face shouldn’t appear emotionless,” explained Moon Sang Min. “I worked hard to maintain that subtle state.” He added that he took particular care to ensure that the character was naturally introduced in the scene early on in the film where he makes his first appearance. Both actors praised each other’s synchronization with their characters. Go Ah Sung commended Moon Sang Min by saying, “He was already Gyeong Rok when he arrived on set,” while Moon Sang Min commented, “Go Ah Sung was Mi Jung from the very beginning.” They went on to explain that their attitudes on set and the deliberate distance they maintained in their relationship was naturally reflected in the way their characters’ relationship developed in the film. The two actors also noted that the depth of their characters’ emotions grew even stronger toward the latter part of the movie. Recalling a scene in which Gyeong Rok expresses emotion after Mi Jung’s disappearance, Moon Sang Min said, “All my emotions poured out at once on set.” Meanwhile, Go Ah Sung shared, “The feeling that I had to let the character go lingered strongly.” Both actors agreed that “Pavane” was a film that left lingering emotions long after filming ended. Moon Sang Min and Go Ah Sung’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the March issue of ELLE Korea.
February Rising Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Announced
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for rising actors! The rankings were determined through an analysis of various rising actors’ media coverage, consumer participation, interaction, and community awareness indexes, using big data collected from January 25 to February 25. Koo Kyo Hwan topped this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 3,831,223 for February. Park Ji Hoon came in at a close second with a brand reputation index of 3,751,970, while Park Jeong Min took third with a score of 3,540,951. Go Youn Jung ranked fourth with a brand reputation index of 3,421,871, and Byeon Woo Seok rounded out the top five with a score of 3,091,272. Koo Kyo Hwan Park Ji Hoon Park Jeong Min Go Youn Jung Byeon Woo Seok Park Seo Joon Ji Sung 2PM’s Lee Junho Kim Go Eun Lee Je Hoon Kim Hye Yoon Lee Jung Jae Lee Jong Suk Mun Ka Young Lee Jun Hyuk Jin Se Yeon EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.) Choi Woo Shik Heo Sung Tae Lee Joo Bin Ahn Bo Hyun Moon Sang Min Kim Sun Young Kim Se Jeong Shin Sia Nam Ji Hyun Jung Woo Han Hye Jin Kang Ha Neul Choo Young Woo
Min Hee Jin Addresses Lawsuits And Makes Proposal To HYBE At Press Conference
Min Hee Jin proposed that HYBE bring all cases to an end in exchange for her giving up the 25.6 billion won she is supposed to receive through her put option. On the afternoon of February 25, Min Hee Jin, CEO of ooak records, held a press conference, where she personally addressed the outcome of the first trial and ooak records’ future plans. Hello. This is Min Hee Jin. First, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the court for taking the time over this long period to examine the essence of the case and for clearly confirming the truth through its ruling. From our victory in the 2024 injunction proceedings to the police decision in 2025 not to forward the case to the prosecution, and now to this victory in today’s 2026 first trial sentence—it has truly been a long tunnel. The court has made clear that the sensational framing of “a management-control takeover” and “tampering” was nothing but an illusion, and it recognized that the concerns I raised regarding creative ethics were, as the head of a company, legitimate management judgments I was duty-bound to make. This outcome of the lawsuit felt to me like comfort that washed away the wounds of the past two years. At the same time, I feel a sense of indebtedness for the fatigue I unintentionally caused the public throughout this process. Now, I intend to repay that debt with a new vision for a new era of K-pop. The reason I am standing here today is to tell you that I have decided to exchange the 25.6 billion won (approximately $17,856,000) I would receive as the price of winning for something else—something of greater value. 25.6 billion won is an enormous amount that most people could hardly ever come into contact with even if they devoted their entire lives to it. And for me, having just announced a new beginning, it is also an incredibly precious resource. But because there is a value I desire far more earnestly than this massive sum, I have called this press conference to make a meaningful proposal to HYBE. Of all the reasons behind this decision, the NewJeans members are the most urgent and heartfelt reason. In exchange for relinquishing the 25.6 billion won, I propose that we immediately halt all ongoing civil and criminal litigation and bring all disputes to a complete close. This proposal includes not only me personally but also the NewJeans members, our outsourced partner companies, all former ADOR employees—and even the termination of every complaint and accusation directed at the fandom that has been drawn into this fight and hurt along the way. Only when all of these legal disputes come to an end will there be no further reckless noise and conflict—not only for the artists but for their families and the fandom as well. I can no longer stand by and watch the reality in which five members, who should be happily on stage, are forced into a situation where someone is on the stage while someone else is in the courtroom. The members on stage will suffer, and not only the fans watching this unfold but no one at all can view this situation with happiness. And with hearts torn to pieces like this, you can never create good culture. As I have said many times, there are many values more important to me than money. Now that my sincerity has been confirmed, I want to show the world that there are values more precious than money. I hope that this decision—to trade the enormous sum of 25.6 billion won for other values—will be transformed into broader progress and reconciliation across the K-pop industry. The place HYBE and I belong is not the courtroom but the stage of creation. When I launched NewJeans, I had a creative vision. I’m deeply saddened that I couldn’t see it through to the end—but precisely because of that, I ask that the current ADOR make it a reality to keep the promise mentioned in court: “If NewJeans returns, we will treat them well.” Please create an environment where all five NewJeans members can come together and freely pursue their dreams to their hearts’ content. Opening a path for the artists to shine again—that is the only role adults should be playing. To me, 25.6 billion won is not greater than the value of restoring a healthy K-pop ecosystem and the artists’ peaceful everyday lives. Now, I hope all of us will do our best on our respective paths so that we can offer fans an even better stage. I propose that we adults return to our proper place—competing not in courtrooms but through our abilities in music and on stage. The longer this dispute drags on, the more the ones who suffer together are the artists—the true protagonists of this industry. HYBE and Chairman Bang Si Hyuk: now, let’s meet not in court but in the place of creation. In an era when corporate responsibility has become more stringent—such as with the July 2025 amendment to the Commercial Act—choosing reconciliation and removing risk from the entertainment industry will be the wisest management decision for shareholders and fans alike. I will now take off the label of “former ADOR CEO” and walk a new path as the “CEO of ooak records.” Going forward, I will pour all of my energy into nurturing new artists who can represent the K-pop industry and into building businesses with a new direction. To all members of the press who came to this conference despite your busy schedules, thank you. I hope there will be no more wasteful press conferences after today. From now on, I will meet you not in a press conference hall and not in a courtroom but on the stage of creation. And I will devote myself to what I do best: creative work. I sincerely hope that my heartfelt message today is conveyed and that it becomes a turning point where the entire K-pop industry can breathe healthily again. Today, the KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) broke through 6,000. I hope HYBE will give this proposal—so that we can coexist and thrive together—serious and forward-looking consideration. Thank you. Earlier this month, the Civil Agreement Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Nam In Soo) ruled in favor of Min Hee Jin in the lawsuit she filed against HYBE seeking payment of the purchase price for shares. The court ordered HYBE to pay Min Hee Jin 25.5 billion won and also to pay 1.7 billion won and 1.4 billion won, respectively, to two of Min Hee Jin’s close associates—Mr. Shin, a former ADOR vice president and Mr. Kim, a former director—who had jointly notified HYBE of their exercise of put options. Top Photo Credit: Xportsnews
5 K-Pop Idols Whose Recent Renaissance Proves It’s Never Too Late To Find Your It Girl Era
Not every idol finds their peak popularity right at debut. For some idols, it takes K-pop fans a bit of time to recognize just how incredible they are! As long as they stay true to themselves, their renaissance is on the horizon. Here’s proof that patience builds an It Girl even stronger! IVE’s Gaeul The oldest member of IVE, Gaeul is the group’s main dancer. However, she’s been garnering attention recently with her It Girl energy—thanks in part to her incredible visuals! Her soft features make her look ethereal, and she’s shining in IVE’s latest comeback. It’s good to see her getting the love she deserves! NMIXX’s Jiwoo NMIXX’s Jiwoo packs some serious dance and rap skills. However, she’s recently blossomed as NMIXX’s up-and-coming It Girl with her confidence and visuals! Her wide eyes and small face make her look like a fairy, and fans love her heart-shaped smile. She deserves every ounce of the popularity that she’s gained! ILLIT’s Yunah Yunah, ILLIT’s oldest member, has a chic and refined look that can be at odds with ILLIT’s bouncy, bright concept. In the group’s most recent era, Yunah’s flawless visuals really shine! She’s become a new It Girl on the scene with her sharp eyes and femme fatale charm. Not everyone can be as cool as Yunah! aespa’s Giselle aespa’s main rapper, Giselle, has garnered a global fanbase for her charms both onstage and off. Not only is she a great performer, but she’s the epitome of cool girl! Her Instagram posts speak to a personal style that just can’t be recreated. She really shines with aespa’s recent concepts and shot into stardom! TWICE’s Jihyo TWICE’s leader, a vocal queen, and a dance queen—not everyone is doing it like Jihyo! Her tanned skin and muscular figure have amassed her a massive following. She’s casually cool but also shows endless passion for performing on the stage. Jihyo has been putting in the work since day one, and It Girl status has been achieved!