This week in Korean entertainment, BTS members surprised fans with a mini-reunion during Jin’s livestream, while controversy continued over AI-manipulated audio involving late actress Kim Sae Ron. Han So Hee’s mother received a suspended sentence for illegal gambling, and KISS OF LIFE was removed from KCON LA following backlash. Park Sung Hoon is making a comeback, and Roh Yoon Seo may not return for All of Us Are Dead Season 2.
Han So Hee’s Mother Gets Suspended Sentence for Illegal Gambling
Han So Hee’s mother, Ms. Shin, was sentenced to one year in prison but received a two-year suspension, meaning she won’t serve jail time if she stays out of legal trouble. She was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.
Ms. Shin operated seven illegal gambling venues disguised as adult PC gaming rooms in Wonju, Ulsan, and Gyeongju. She used Telegram to manage access codes for a larger gambling network. Han So Hee’s agency clarified that the actress was unaware of her mother’s activities. Despite the scandal, Han So Hee remains active in her career.
BTS Members Reunite During Jin’s Livestream
BTS fans were thrilled when J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook joined Jin’s livestream for his second solo album, Echo. The members, currently in military service, playfully interacted in the chat, guessing songs from Jin’s drawings and discussing his music.
Maknae line and their leader Jewhope spamming Jin’s live. WE’RE SO BACK, EVERYONE. pic.twitter.com/MNvaiSA7XN
Jin expressed excitement about their upcoming discharge and hinted at future group activities. He also mentioned SUGA and RM, who are nearing the end of their service. The livestream ended with Jin jokingly asking the members to leave, promising fans a full reunion soon.
KISS OF LIFE Removed from KCON LA After Backlash
KISS OF LIFE was dropped from KCON LA 2025 shortly after their announcement. The decision followed criticism over an April livestream where the group used exaggerated Black stereotypes, including fake braids and a parody rap name, “Lil Taco.”
[NOTICE] Dear KCONers,
Thank you for your continued interest and support for KCON LA 2025.
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… pic.twitter.com/ddXDODamXU
Fans called the apology from S2 Entertainment insufficient. While neither KCON nor the agency linked the removal to the controversy, many believe it influenced the decision. KCON LA will proceed in August with other artists.
Park Sung Hoon Confirms New Drama After Squid Game Controversy
Park Sung Hoon is set to star in Efficient Dating of Single Men and Women, a romantic comedy with Han Ji Min and Lee Ki Taek. The drama follows a hotel executive navigating blind dates.
The cast for JTBC's upcoming webtoon-based drama, "Efficient Dating For Singles" has been officially announced. The series stars Han Ji-min, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Ki-tae, Jung Hye-sung, and Kim So-hye.
The drama, set to air in 2026, centers on a woman seeking love who goes on a… pic.twitter.com/gH6nbW8rZR
This marks Park’s return after leaving The Tyrant’s Chef due to backlash over an adult parody Squid Game post. The cast recently held a script reading, signaling his comeback.
Roh Yoon Seo Likely Out of All of Us Are Dead Season 2
Roh Yoon Seo may not appear in All of Us Are Dead Season 2 due to scheduling conflicts. Earlier rumors suggested her involvement, but no official confirmation was given.
The Netflix zombie series was a global hit, and fans hoped for her return. Roh recently won Best New Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Hear Me: Our Summer.
Lee Jin Ho Claims Kim Sae Ron’s Audio Was AI-Manipulated
YouTuber Lee Jin Ho accused Garosero Research Institute of releasing a fake audio recording of Kim Sae Ron. The clip allegedly featured her claiming a past relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was underage.
Lee presented forensic analysis showing AI voice manipulation, unnatural edits, and background noise. He also revealed that the same scammer sent altered audio to Kim Soo Hyun’s agency.
Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team dismissed the recording as fabricated. The controversy continues as Kim Sae Ron’s family maintains their claims, while Lee Jin Ho insists the audio was manipulated.
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