Cobra Kai's reel-life villain Martin Kove turns real-life villain at fan convention
The incident took place at Summer Con in Puyallup, Washington, where the cast had gathered to interact with fans, according to a report filed with the Puyallup Police Department.
As detailed in the report, Hannah-Kim — who plays South Korean sensei Kim Da-Eun — approached Kove to greet him when he allegedly grabbed her arm and bit her. She screamed in pain, at which point Kove reportedly began kissing the area where he had bitten her. The bite was described as severe, 'almost drawing blood,' according to Hannah-Kim's statement to police.
When Hannah-Kim and her husband, actor Sebastian Roché, confronted Kove about the incident, he allegedly became defensive and claimed he had done it "for fun."
Law enforcement was contacted, and charges were initially considered. However, Hannah-Kim later chose not to press charges, effectively sparing Kove from potential legal consequences.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Bradley Simpson collaborates with ATEEZ's Hongjoong on new Korean-English version of single Almost
Bradley Simpson has released a new version of his single Almost, featuring Hongjoong of South Korean group ATEEZ. The collaboration blends Simpson's original composition from The Panic Years with new Korean-language lyrics written and performed by Hongjoong. The updated version includes a rewritten second verse and additional vocal harmonies contributed by Hongjoong. In a statement shared on July 25, Simpson described the process as 'very organic,' noting that the collaboration began after Hongjoong posted Almost to his Instagram story. 'We started chatting and he sent a lyric within two weeks,' said Simpson. 'It's really interesting to work with musicians who have different musical styles with me.' Hongjoong also expressed appreciation for Simpson's music and called the collaboration a creative opportunity. 'Everything went very naturally – the way it approached the song made it easier for me to find a match,' he said. 'Our style is different, but it made it even more interesting.' The new version of Almost reflects a cross-cultural creative exchange, with both artists bringing unique elements to the reinterpretation. It follows previous collaborative efforts from Simpson, including work with Nieve Ella on Favourite Band. Bradley Simpson is scheduled to perform at multiple UK festivals, including Together Again, Boardmasters on August 10, and Victorious on August 24.
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Express Tribune
North Korean defectors join new K-pop band
A new K-pop boy band made their global debut on Friday with two members who defected from North Korea and an album that includes a song about the consequences of escaping one of the world's most repressive states. 1VERSE, pronounced "universe", is made up of five men in their 20s from North Korea, Japan and the United States, who go by their first names, Hyuk, Seok, Aito, Nathan, and Kenny. At midnight, the group performed a live-streamed showcase of their first EP The 1st Verse featuring three tracks, including the debut single Shattered. A video to accompany the song dropped later on Friday. Recorded earlier this year, it shows the group sporting make-up and slick hairstyles, dancing against a stroboscopic background. Yu Hyuk, originally from the northeastern county of Kyongsong in North Korea, has been living in South Korea since 2013. As well as enjoying the freedom to show off his talent to the world, the 25-year-old also appreciates being able to eat three meals a day. In North Korea, he started work at the age of nine and said he was sometimes forced into desperate measures to get food, eating spoiled rice or worse, and resorting to theft. "After I was caught stealing, I was beaten hard until I was bleeding. I was really hungry and instinctively I was thinking about survival," he told Reuters at the group's studio in the South Korean capital. North Korea has stepped up control over people's lives since the COVID-19 pandemic when all borders were sealed, and abuses such as executions, forced labour and reports of starvation continue, a UN official investigating rights in the isolated state told Reuters last month. Hyuk escaped North Korea as a child – fleeing to China and then across other international borders with the help of a broker arranged by his mother, who was already in South Korea. While he is happy with his new life, he recalls that it was a wrench to leave his home. "I was hungry and tired, but I was happy surrounded by the people I like which made it tougher for me to want to come here at first," he said. The song Shattered encapsulates his feelings when he learned about the death of his father in North Korea, he said. Kim Seok, the other North Korean defector in the group and also 25, used to live in a border town near China. He was exposed to K-pop by a friend who shared music videos on a portable media player, including Psy's 2012 smash Gangnam Style. Seok escaped with his father and grandmother when he was 20 years old. Reuters
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Four women, one phenomenon
"Blackpink in your area": This tag line is sending many K-pop fans wild with excitement. Blackpink is more than a girl group — they're a real movement, a lifestyle, a cultural phenomenon. As per DW, since their debut in 2016, the South Korean girl group Blackpink has risen to become one of the top pop exports worldwide — and they are not just travelling the globe as musicians. Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa take on alternating roles as fashion icons, brand ambassadors and influencers, too. Their Deadline World Tour, which is whisking them across the globe on the big stage, kicked off on July 5. Six days later, they also released a single, Jump, their first new track in three years. The new banger reminds some music fans of the 1997 Berlin Love Parade track, Meet Her at the Love Parade, by German DJ Da Hool. "Girlfriend sends me the Blackpink song, I send girlfriend Da Hool back. Glad I'm not the only one who thought of this song [and whose] brain instantly flashed back to the '90s," wrote one user under the official video of the 1997 track. 'Korean wave' Blackpink was founded by YG Entertainment — one of the biggest companies in the K-pop industry. As is common in South Korea, the young women underwent years of training in singing, dance, languages and stage presence. Their debut, a double single featuring the songs Boombayah and Whistle, came out in 2016. The combination of electronic beats, spoken singing, catchy refrains and lyrics in Korean and English was a sensational hit — even outside of Asia. With their music, elaborate music videos and a very distinct style concept, Blackpink quickly rose to become one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time. Their breakthrough epitomises the "Korean wave" (in Korean hallyu) — the international rise in South Korean culture since the 2000s. Despite Blackpink's success and the impending comeback of the boy group BTS, this music genre hasn't been booming as much in recent years, according to Adam Zulawnik, a researcher and teaching specialist in Korean Studies at the University of Melbourne. But he adds that the South Korean entertainment industry is extremely resilient and innovative - not least thanks to special support from the government. The aim is not only to boost the economy, but especially to pursue the national strategy for so-called soft power: This sector is meant to help reinforce South Korea's positive image through cultural exports such as K-pop or Korean Netflix series. Four personalities Unlike many other K-pop groups, Blackpink features just four members - and each one has their own special vibe. Jennie, who grew up in New Zealand, is known for her fashion style and her role as a brand ambassador for Chanel. Jisoo is the group's visual icon and is also a successful actor. Rosé was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia, and enthralls audiences with her soulful voice and melancholic style. Lisa, originally from Thailand, enthuses audiences with her precise dancing skills and international social media presence. This diversity has enabled the group to appeal to a broad variety of target groups worldwide — both through their music and visually. "Many South Korean artists have, indeed, either transcended or perhaps even discarded a certain 'Korean'ness' in favour of a more general artistic style," Adam Zulawnik told DW. "A prime example would be Blackpink's Rosé and Bruno Mars' fairly recent hit single APT, a tune that you would hardly associate with traditional forms of K-pop or anything Korean save the title/theme and Bruno Mars enthusiastically waving a South Korean flag mid shot — in fact, many netizens saw the more general 'pop/rock' style as refreshing." Fashion and beauty Blackpink is famous for more than their music — they're also big-name fashion and beauty influencers. All four members collaborate with international luxury brands, including Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent or Celine, alongside cosmetic brands like MAC or Hera. Fans imitate their looks all over the world. The overlap between pop culture and the fashion industry stems from the South Korean entertainment industry's comprehensive marketing strategy. Zulawnik lists some examples, "from BTS meals at McDonald's in Australia to 17 branded snacks in the People's Republic of China." He adds that this is particularly visible in Southeast Asia — one of the primary markets for the K-pop industry — with various collaborative projects between K-pop groups and local brands and businesses. A crucial component of Blackpink's success is their strong online presence. The girl group runs one of the top YouTube channels in the world. More than 90 million people follow them for their music videos, rehearsal clips and a peek into their lives. On platforms such as Instagram, TikTok or the Korean fan platform Weverse, the group maintains close contact with their fan community — the "Blinks." This digital proximity to their community amplifies their impact, making them appear approachable without losing their glamor factor. For a long time, boy groups dominated the South Korean music business but Blackpink has permanently changed that. They show that girl groups can enjoy international success without conforming to stereotypical roles. They radiate self-confidence, professionalism and creativity — making them role models for many artists-to-be. They have also influenced many other K-pop groups with their formula of a small group with distinct profiles, a limited number of successful releases and global public relations. The so-called Blackpink effect is now an established concept in the sector, meaning the four young women remain an influential force for pop culture — as they will show fans worldwide during the Deadline World Tour.
