Weekly Hot Issues in K-Pop

Park Bo-ram’s Passing

On April 11th, singer Park Bo-ram tragically passed away at the age of 30. She was discovered unconscious during a gathering at a friend’s home and was rushed to the hospital, but sadly did not survive. The funeral had to be delayed for an autopsy, and on April 15th, a mortuary was arranged. The results of the autopsy ruled out any foul play or self-inflicted harm as the cause of death.

Kim Hieora Resolves Bully Controversy

After approximately seven months of being accused of bullying, actress Kim Hieora has taken a new stance on the alleged scandal. According to a spokesperson from Kim’s agency, she recently spent time with the accuser, reminiscing on their past and discussing the issues that arose last year. As a result, they have come to understand each other and have decided to support each other in their lives. The public has reacted with mixed opinions, as Kim’s stance appears to hint at her potential comeback.

The celebrity manager secretly installed a hidden camera in the dressing room

On April 9th, actress Kim Hwan-hee went to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul to report the discovery of a hidden camera in the dressing room sofa on the sixth floor of the Gwanglim Art Center building. The individual responsible for installing the camera was identified as a manager from WM Entertainment. In response, WM Entertainment released a statement expressing their understanding of the seriousness of the situation and their commitment to supporting the actress. They also stated that after verifying the truth, the manager was immediately removed from working with the artist and terminated from their position. The company further promised to fully cooperate with the police investigation and closely monitor any related developments.

Kim Sae-ron did not come back

Actress Kim Sae-ron, who had taken a hiatus from her entertainment career following a controversial drunk driving incident and self-made scandal with actor Kim Soo-hyun, had announced her comeback with the play “Dongchimi.”However, the production team later revealed that Kim Sae-ron would no longer be part of the play and her name was removed from reservation sites, despite having already filmed the poster. In May 2022, Kim was fined for damaging street facilities while under the influence of alcohol. More recently, she sparked controversy after sharing an intimate photo with Kim Soo-hyun on her Instagram account.

The love between an idol and a soccer player

Lee Mi-joo, who was previously a member of the group Lovelyz, has acknowledged her romance with soccer player Song Bum-keun. According to her agency Antenna, the couple is taking the time to get to know each other with positive emotions. Furthermore, their love-stagram (a term coined for their joint Instagram account) is generating a lot of buzz.