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BTS’ J-Hope Shares Update After Basic Military Training Graduation

J-Hope has finally graduated from basic military training. The BTS rapper celebrated the milestone with new photos he shared on Weverse and Instagram.

J-Hope Graduates From Basic Military Training In Awesome New Photos

J-Hope shared the new images on Weverse and Instagram. He also confirmed his graduation in the caption.

“ARMYs !!! I finished it well,” he wrote. “I was able to complete training well because the letters of support you sent me were very helpful!!!“

“I will do my best for the rest of my military service and show you my best! I love you!!” J-Hope then added, “The cell phone is fascinating…”

J-Hope underwent five weeks of basic military training at the recruit training center of the 36th Infantry Division in April. He then attended the completion ceremony and is now awaiting his station at a military base.

In related news, BIGHIT MUSIC previously asked fans to refrain from sending letters and gifts to J-Hope during his basic military training.

“Please refrain from sending letters and gifts even after he has finished his military recruit training and gets stationed at his military base,” the statement read.

“If a large number of letters and gifts from the fans arrive at the center all at once, it would be difficult to store them and they could be easily lost,” it continues. “We ask that you please refrain from sending anything by mail.”

The statement adds, “BIGHIT MUSIC will assist in making sure that J-Hope is able to personally see any kind and warm messages fans leave on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_j-hope_from_ARMY.”

J-Hope confirmed his enlistment early last month and began his basic military training on April 18, 2023. He is the second member of BTS to enlist for mandatory military service after Jin in December 2022. Jung Hoseok is expected to be discharged on October 17, 2024.

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BIGHIT MUSIC Asks ARMYs To Refrain From Sending Letters to J-Hope During Military Enlistment

BIGHIT MUSIC is asking fans to refrain from sending too many letters and gifts to J-Hope during his military service. The agency issued a statement regarding the excess number of presents being sent to the BTS member.

BIGHIT MUSIC Issues Statement Regarding ARMYs’ Gifts and Letters To J-Hope

BIGHIT MUSIC released a statement about ARMYs trying to reach out to J-Hope while he is at training camp. The statement informs fans of the guidelines on how to continue sending the BTS rapper their warm messages so he can personally see them.

“Please refrain from sending letters and gifts even after he has finished his military recruit training and gets stationed at his military base,” the statement read.

“If a large number of letters and gifts from the fans arrive at the center all at once, it would be difficult to store them and they could be easily lost,” it continues. “We ask that you please refrain from sending anything by mail.”

The statement adds, “BIGHIT MUSIC will assist in making sure that J-Hope is able to personally see any kind and warm messages fans leave on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_j-hope_from_ARMY.”

Additionally, the statement shared guidelines for J-Hope’s recruit training graduation ceremony.

 

“In order to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, we ask fans to please refrain from visiting the site,” it reads. “Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts.”

J-Hope began his military enlistment on April 18, 2023. He was the second member of BTS to enlist for mandatory military service after Jin enlisted in December 2022. Since the two were assigned to different training camps, Kim Seokjin found alternative ways to reach Jung Hoseok.

Earlier this month, Jin left a comment under a fan’s Weverse post. The comment was a message for J-Hope asking how his basic training has been going.

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SM Entertainment Announces New NCT Unit, SM Rookies Debut, and Upcoming Girl Group

SM Entertainment has revealed their plans for their upcoming groups. The company announced a new NCT unit and the debut of several SM Rookies. In addition to that, the agency confirmed a new girl group will be debuting this year.

SM Entertainment Shares Plans For New IP in 2023

The official SMTown YouTube channel uploaded a new video titled “SM 3.0: NEW IP 2023”. In the video, SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk discusses the launch of a new IP this year.

Jang Cheol-hyuk revealed that NCT’s next subunit will be the final part of the group’s ongoing expansion. The new subunit will feature more Japanese members and two SM Rookies will be joining the unit. The other new members of the subunit will be chosen through a pre-debut reality show.

It was also confirmed that Shohei will not be joining the new NCT subunit due to health reasons. Shohei was previously revealed as part of SM Rookies. He will carry out individual activities instead.

Jang Cheol Hyuk also confirmed that former NCT members Sungchan and Shotaro will debut in a new boy group with SM Rookies Eunseok and Seunghan. The new group will also feature other members of Korean and American nationalities.

SM Entertainment had previously announced that Sungchan and Shotaro are leaving NCT to promote as members of a new boy group.

“As NCT members, SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO have presented wondrous performances,” the statement read.

“However, they will be closing their chapter with NCT and debuting in a new boy group that will launch in 2023,” it continued. “We express our deepest apologies and appreciation for the fans that have been supporting and eagerly waiting for the to debut as part of the new NCT group.”

Jung Sungchan and Osaki Shotaro debuted as part of NCT in October 2020 and were initially slated to join its next subunit.

The third announcement confirmed that a new girl group will debut later this year. Details about the new group were not provided. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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Sungchan and Shotaro Leaving NCT For New Boy Group

Sungchan and Shotaro are moving to a new group. SM Entertainment officially announced that the two newest members of NCT are leaving to promote as part of the agency’s upcoming group.

Sungchan And Shotaro Officially Leaving NCT For New SM Entertainment Boy Group

SM Entertainment issued a statement regarding Sungchan and Shotaro’s status in NCT. The company revealed that the idols, who joined the group in 2020, will join a new group. This is a new development considering that the two were expected to join the next NCT unit.

“As NCT members, SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO have presented wondrous performances,” the statement read.

“However, they will be closing their chapter with NCT and debuting in a new boy group that will launch in 2023,” it continued. “We express our deepest apologies and appreciation for the fans that have been supporting and eagerly waiting for the to debut as part of the new NCT group.”

The statement also revealed new details about the next NCT subunit.

“NCT’s newest group will become the final group to be a part of NCT’s infinite expansion, so we aim to launch one with a distinct worldview that is truly representative of a regional identity,” it read. “In alignment with this, we will be increasing the number of Japanese members, unveiling new members and sharing their debut journey with the fans.”

Jung Sungchan and Osaki Shotaro debuted as part of NCT on October 12, 2020. They were featured as part of the group project NCT 2020 and participated in the album ‘NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1’. SM Entertainment initially planned for the two idols to become a part of a new NCT unit.

Sungchan and Shotaro’s departure comes shortly after Lucas’ exit from NCT. Earlier this month, Lucas Wong decided to leave NCT and the subunit WayV. Lucas will pursue a career as a solo artist represented by SM Entertainment.

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Shownu Hypes Up MONSTA X Subunit With Hyungwon

Shownu is getting ready for his first major project since his military discharge. The MONSTA X leader is hyping up the group’s first subunit with fellow member Hyungwon. In addition to that, Son Hyunwoo shared his thoughts on seeing his fellow members doing promotions during his military service.

Shownu Shares Details On First MONSTA X Subunit With Hyungwon

Vogue Korea recently unveiled photos from Shownu’s latest photoshoot for the magazine. In the accompanying interview, the MONSTA X main dancer discussed the plans for the group’s first subunit. Shownu revealed that Hyungwon has already written songs for the new group unit.

“They’re all good. When I ask for song recommendations, he sends them through KakaoTalk and he mainly listens to songs he could’ve written. Good and modern music,” he said.

He also confirmed that he and Hyungwon have a great bond that will make their new subunit work well.

“What’s great about when I’m with Hyungwon is that I’m comfortable. The reason we hang out often is just because it’s comfortable,” Shownu said. “We don’t speak much and don’t bother each other.”

“Good synergy can be created when you’re uncomfortable, but since we have a comfortable relationship I’m not sure what kind of chemistry will come out,” he said.

“We’re both not the greedy type and have similar body types. I have a desire to showcase good performances and visuals but nothing’s been decided yet,” Shownu added.

Shownu Opens Up About Watching MONSTA X Perform Without Him

The still-unnamed subunit will be Shownu’s first major project since his return from military service. However, he admitted that he also enjoyed seeing the other MONSTA X members’ promotions while he was serving the country.

“I was curious about their performance and my members’ conditions but it was all incredibly cool,” Shownu said. “Since I know that the first week [of promotions] is the hardest, I watched while assuming they were exhausted but also thinking ‘this is interesting!‘”

He then added that being able to watch his fellow members from afar was refreshing.

“I did slightly miss the anticipation of preparing an album from the perspective of a singer but it was fun watching from the perspective of a fan,” he said.

The first MONSTA X subunit with Shownu and Hyungwon is expected to debut in the Summer of 2023.

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SULLI Short Film ‘Persona 2’ To Be Released on Netflix

The story of the late SULLI is coming soon to a major streaming giant. Netflix has confirmed that the short film “Persona 2” which focused on the late idol will stream on the service.

SULLI’s Short Film ‘Persona 2’ Added To Netflix Brazil Catalogue

A recent social media post revealed that “Persona: Sulli”, also referred to as “Persona 2”, was added to Netflix Brazil’s catalogue. The short film is reportedly scheduled to premiere on June 16, 2023.

Since then, fans have expressed excitement about the film. The project is SULLI’s final work before her unexpected passing in 2019. Originally intended to be a five-part series, SULLI was only able to shoot the first two episodes before her death in October 2019.

So is it true that “Persona 2” will air on Netflix? The source from the streaming service issued a statement regarding the film.

“‘Persona: Sulli’ is a project produced by Mystic Story,” they said. “Currently, general discussion is underway including on whether to stream [the film] on Netflix along with the final release date.”

“Persona 2” is the sequel to the successful 2019 anthology series starring South Korean superstar and SULLI’s friend IU. The original series featured four different stories with Lee Ji-eun in the lead.

The sequel was intended to have five episodes. However, Mystic Story decided to suspend filming after SULLI’s passing. She was only able to film two episodes of the series by the time of her death.

SULLI made her debut as a child actress in the 2005 series “Ballad of Seodong”. After signing a record deal with SM Entertainment, she debuted in the girl group f(x) in 2009. Despite her success in film and music, Choi Jin-ri suffered from health issues leading to her departure from f(x) in 2015.

In June 2019, SULLI released her solo debut single “Goblin”. It would become her last musical project prior to her passing.

On October 14, 2019, SULLI’s brother found her dead in her house in Seongnam. The “Real” actress had reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself. She was 25 years old.

“Persona: Sulli” aka “Persona 2” has not yet been officially announced by Netflix. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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E’LAST Agency To Take Legal Action Against Tour Organizer Following NYC Concert Cancellation

E’LAST has been forced to cancel a concert in New York at the last minute and their agency isn’t happy. E Entertainment announced they are taking legal action against the US tour organizer.

E’LAST Agency To Take Legal Action Against US Tour Organizer

E Entertainment recently issued a statement regarding E’LAST’s New York concert scheduled for May 21. According to the agency, they were informed of the show’s cancellation by tour organizer MC Entertainment. Despite their best efforts, the agency could not find a way to push through with the concert.

In the same statement, E Entertainment announced they will take legal action against MC Entertainment for “breach of contract.”

“During the past month or so that we have been on tour, MC Entertainment has not fulfilled various parts of their contract, such as not having booked airplane tickets or hotel rooms, not having made proper preparations in advance at concert venues, pressuring [E’LAST] to hold concerts at venues where it would be impossible to hold a concert, and more,” the statement read.

“However, out of consideration for the local fans who had been waiting for this tour, both our agency and the artist tried as much as we could to proceed with the concerts whenever possible,” it continued.

“We will take all legal action that we can against this breach of contract, and we decided to take legal action against MC Entertainment in order to prevent these kinds of incidents from occurring in the future,” the statement concludes.

E’LAST ‘THRILL’ Tour Faces Several Problems

E’LAST kicked off the North American leg of their ‘THRILL’ tour earlier in May. However, each show was criticized for poor mismanagement by the organizer. According to fans, the concerts would start late and they would be kicked out of the venue without receiving merchandise they paid for. In addition to that, several meet-and-greet and hi-touch events that were scheduled after the concert never took place.

E’LAST is not the only South Korean group that is affected by MC Entertainment’s poor organization. WEi was previously forced to cancel the Latin America leg of their ‘PASSION’ world tour due to issues with the organizer.

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Taiwanese Influencer Apologizes for Grabbing IU at Gucci Event

Molly Chiang has issued an apology for her recent behavior at a fashion event. The Taiwanese influencer apologized after experiencing backlash over her rough treatment of IU.

Taiwanese Blogger Molly Chiang Apologizes To IU For Rough Behavior At Fashion Event

On May 16, Vogue Taiwan posted a video of Molly Chiang roughly grabbing South Korean superstar IU at the Gucci Cruise 2024 fashion show. Although the clip was deleted, netizens had already seen it and began criticizing the Taiwanese influencer.

Molly Chiang has since addressed the controversy. She shared an apology on Instagram for the way she treated IU at the fashion event.

“I want to sincerely apologize for this,” Chiang wrote. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for the fans who support me, and I’m again sorry for disappointing them.”

Chiang further explained that she had sent the apology to IU.

“With the help of a friend who speaks Korean, I translated the apology to IU,” the Taiwanese blogger wrote. “I sent it to IU’s agency along with the English version.”

She added, “My action was not appropriate. I should have been more careful, as everyone comes with a different personality, individuality, and culture.”

Chiang concluded, “I brought this controversy on myself. I’ve learned that I shouldn’t touch people I don’t know. I will make sure to correct this behavior.”

In related news, the people who have worked with IU are defending the “Dream” actress in the face of plagiarism allegations. Mystic Story president Jo Young Chul, who produced IU’s early albums, pointed out that the plagiarism claims have no clear basis.

“While I’ve monitored all the songs that continue to claim plagiarism on YouTube and were recently accused, I was unable to discover any suspicion of plagiarism,” Jo wrote.

On May 10, a Korean citizen filed a lawsuit alleging that IU plagiarized the works of other artists. The suit claimed that the “Blueming” singer had plagiarized a total of six songs. Since then, IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment has denied the allegations and the company is planning to pursue legal action.

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GOT7’s BamBam Worries About Losing Instagram Followers

BamBam is undoubtedly one of the most famous idols right now. Still, he worries about what’s happening on social media. The GOT7 rapper recently noticed that he is losing followers on Instagram and immediately asked AHGASEs about the situation. Luckily, fans were quick to explain the shocking trend to the “Ribbon” singer.

BamBam Wonders Why People Are Unfollowing Him On Instagram

BamBam recently took to Twitter to ask his followers an important question. “Why do people keep unfollowing my IG?” he asked, adding a sad face emoji.

AHGASEs were quick to assure the GOT7 rapper. Fans told BamBam that they will always support him in all of his projects. They also pointed out that inactive accounts may have been deleted by Instagram.

https://twitter.com/BamBam1A/status/1660152938680176641

But why is BamBam losing followers on Instagram in the first place? One Twitter user revealed that the platform is currently deleting spam and inactive accounts. Instagram is also becoming more strict with bots and deleting bot accounts as of late.

Although BamBam is the only one who has noticed he is being unfollowed, other users are also losing followers due to deleted accounts. Luckily, this means that BamBam’s real supporters have never abandoned him. He currently has 17.5 million followers on Instagram.

BamBam recently gave AHGASEs an awesome treat by confirming he and fellow GOT7 member Mark got matching tattoos. The “Sour & Sweet” singer shared a photo of himself and Mark Tuan showing off their “7” tattoos on their backs.

The tattoos also tease that the other GOT7 members might get it as well. However, JB, Jinyoung, Jackson, Youngjae, and Yugyeom have yet to reveal their own “7” tattoos.

In related news, BamBam recently wrapped up the first season of his YouTube talk show “Bam House”. The final episode featured (G)I-DLE member Minnie who shared her hilarious first impression of the GOT7 member.

“Bam House” is reportedly set for a second season which will air when BamBam moves to a new house.

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GOT7’s BamBam & (G)I-DLE’s Minnie Reminisce First Meeting Through BLACKPINK’s Lisa

BamBam and Minnie have once again proven their remarkable friendship. The GOT7 member invited the (G)I-DLE main vocalist to a “Bam House” episode to chat about their first meeting. Interestingly, the idols’ first interaction involved Thai superstar BLACKPINK’s Lisa!

BamBam Welcomes Minnie For Final Episode of ‘Bam House’

In the latest episode of “Bam House”, BamBam welcomed Minnie who arrived with cake and a gift for the GOT7 rapper’s birthday. The (G)I-DLE singer was happy to be the guest for the show’s final episode. She also pointed out that she hasn’t visited the “Ribbon” singer’s house since Lunar New Year in 2022.

BamBam couldn’t remember Minnie’s last visit but he asked if she recalled their first meeting. “Wasn’t it at KCON?” she wondered, but he said that was incorrect.

“No, no. It was when you didn’t have bangs,” BamBam said. He then pointed out that BLACKPINK’s Lisa was present during the interaction.

“Lisa asked me if I knew who you were, and I said I did,” he stated.

Minnie then remembered the moment. “That must have been when I went bowling with Lisa. Did we meet up with you after bowling? That was the year I debuted.”

BamBam pointed out, “I thought I knew you since before your debut, but it turns out, that’s not the case.”

Although there is some confusion about how they first met, Minnie clearly remembers her first impression of BamBam. She revealed that she had seen the rapper before her debut because of the vicinity of their dorms.

“Before I debuted, we lived in a dorm that was across the street from GOT7’s dorm,” Minnie revealed. “One day, I was on my way to the company, and I saw you walking in front of me,” she said to BamBam.

“You were wearing very pointy boots and super skinny jeans. In my head, I thought, ‘Why is he so thin?’. That was my first impression of him,” Minnie said.

“Bam House” is expected to get a second season when BamBam moves to a new house. (G)I-DLE is currently promoting their sixth mini album ‘I Feel’ with the title track “Queencard”.

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