Amid the Korean film industry picking up steam, rumors and controversies that have stirred up the entertainment industry are continuing. Song Hye Kyo and Hyun Bin were rumored to be dating out of the blue, and singer-songwriter The Film’s Hwang Kyung Seok was reportedly questioned by police on charges of illegal filming and distribution. We look back at the entertainment industry issues that have been on the rise last week.
▲Lee Hyori & Yoon Mirae’s “LINDA” Hits the Music Charts
As SSAK3, the project group of How Do You Play?, swept the K-POP scene, Linda G (Lee Hyori)’s solo song “LINDA” with Yoon Mirae topped the music charts upon its release. Lee Hyori, who has been at the center of the talk as Linda G, has set a milestone in the K-POP industry by winning the music shows from the 1990s to the 2020s for the first time.
▲ Steel Rain 2: Summit, Following Peninsula, Becomes a New Box Office Hit & Night in Paradise Invited to Venice Film Festival
The depressed movie theater seems to be reviving with a series of box office hits. Peninsula surpassed the break-even point with a cumulative audience of 3.4 million as of August 2. Released on July 29, Steel Rain 2: Summit surpassed 1 million viewers on the fifth day of its release despite the bad weather. There was also another good news in the movie industry. Director Park Hoon Jung’s new film Night in Paradise was the only Korean film officially invited to the non-competition category of the 77th Venice Film Festival.
▼ Nam Hee Suk Publicly Takes a Shot at Kim Gu Ra’s Attitude
Comedian Nam Hee Suk made headlines for criticizing Kim Gu Ra’s attitude. Nam Hee Suk publicly pointed out on his SNS that Kim Gu Ra, the host of Radio Star, is rude in his show. The post was deleted shortly after, but the captured photo quickly spread online. Netizens said they sympathized with Nam Hee Suk’s posting, but also criticized that it publically targeting a person might not have been a smart choice.
▼ After Reversing His Retirement, Park Yoo Chun Announces the Release of His New Album
Park Yoo Chun, who announced his retirement from the entertainment industry, is preparing to release a new song. On July 31, he announced the release of his new album via his Instagram, signaling his future activities. In other words, he has directly reversed his previous announcement of retirement he made through his agency after he was indicted on charges of taking drugs last year. It may be good for fans who have been waiting for him, but the public is not responding the same way.