logo
Kim Seon-ho returns to spotlight with iconic dimpled smile in new photos, fans declare 'It's his year'

Kim Seon-ho returns to spotlight with iconic dimpled smile in new photos, fans declare 'It's his year'

Gulf News24-04-2025
It clearly is the year of Kim Seon-ho and fans are here for it.
The actor, who has been keeping a relatively low profile till late, has unveiled new profile images, which signals an exciting new chapter in his career.
On April 24, the actor's new agency, Fantagio, released updated profile photos of the actor, giving fans a fresh look at the star. Known for his charming smile and dimples, Kim Seon-ho's new photos reflect a sense of warmth and familiarity that his fans have been missing.
The new photos come shortly after his performance in When Life Gives You Tangerines, he played IU's lover and left viewers rather emotional with his performance.
Seon-ho made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with roles in popular dramas like 100 Days My Prince, Start-Up, and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. His ability to bring depth to his characters, mixed with his natural charisma, quickly earned him a devoted fanbase. He took a break from mainstream spotlight, while starring in rather off-beat films. His return to the spotlight after taking a break has been met with excitement, and fans are especially thrilled to see his signature smile and dimples again in the latest photos. Moreover, fans have been busy with the his 'smile' trend, inspired by the famous wedding scene in When Life Gives You Tangerines, where he pretends to 'faint' on seeing IU.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Love K-Pop Demon Hunters? Try These K-Dramas Next
Love K-Pop Demon Hunters? Try These K-Dramas Next

UAE Moments

time27-06-2025

  • UAE Moments

Love K-Pop Demon Hunters? Try These K-Dramas Next

Why 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' Fans Will Love These K-Dramas Netflix's animated hit 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' captivated audiences by blending idol culture with supernatural action. With fans obsessed over its voice cast and plot twists, it's the perfect time to dive into live-action K-dramas that peel back the colorful veneer of K-pop life. You're Beautiful (2009) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki This classic follows the fictional pop-rock band When actress Park Shin-hye goes undercover as her twin brother, she navigates love, secrets, and fame. Though ratings were modest on broadcast, it later earned a loyal cult following—complete with sold-out soundtracks and fan festivals. Dream High (2011) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki Set in an elite arts school, 'Dream High' follows six aspiring idols finding their voices and selves. Featuring stars like Suzy, Taecyeon (2PM), IU, and Kim Soo‑hyun, it offers an insider's view of the idol-making process. The show's huge impact includes a Japanese stage adaptation and sequel. Top Management (2018) Where to Watch: YouTube (1theK) A fresh take combining fantasy and idol drama. Follows Seo Eun-soo, a former trainee with psychic powers, who steps in as manager for rookie group S.O.U.L. A deep dive into industry politics, featuring Ahn Hyo‑seop and ASTRO's Cha Eun‑woo. Reply 1997 (2012) Where to Watch: Viki Step into the golden age of K-pop with this nostalgic look at first-gen fandom. Centered on teenage fangirls and their favorite boy band, the show stars H.O.T. and a cast including Jung Eun‑ji, Seo In‑guk, and Hoya —a perfect cultural time capsule. Idol: The Coup (2021) Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video Not all idol stories end with fame. This gritty drama follows struggling girl group Cotton Candy fighting for one last shot. With EXID's Hani leading, this series shines a light on the sacrifices of idols outside the spotlight. The Big Picture Fans of 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' love the bold mix of flashy idol life and unexpected drama. These K-dramas deliver that same thrill—minus the demons—and offer a deeper, more emotional look at the K-pop grind: If you're hooked on the idol-drama tension of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', these K-dramas are your next binge. They bring charisma, ambition, heartbreak, and fierce shine straight from the K-pop machine—no demon slaying required.

Why podcasting is gaining ground in MENA marketing
Why podcasting is gaining ground in MENA marketing

Campaign ME

time25-06-2025

  • Campaign ME

Why podcasting is gaining ground in MENA marketing

For years, brands in MENA have spoken at audiences; through TV, digital, outdoor, and with the right message, the right timing, and the right data. But what happens when people stop trusting the voice of the brand and start craving something real? Something unfiltered? That's where audio enters the chat. Something about this lo-fi medium seems to spark authenticity…something about stripping away the layers of overly scripted content, and returning back to the most base of human activities, the lost art of conversation, seems to bring with it that much sought after relatability and emotion – something real. We're in an era of algorithm fatigue. Consumers are exhausted by relentless performance marketing and endless short-form content optimised for clicks, not connection. In contrast, podcasts feel like an antidote: slower, more intimate, and deeply human. They let brands build trust over time, not impressions overnight. You can see this even when it comes to podcasting analytics and metrics, they're not yet at the stage where there's a million metrics to choose from. Your success is measured almost entirely in how many people listened to you. Podcasting is honest, and honestly is refreshing. Think: a founder telling the origin story in their own words, patchworking together an audio journey through out-loud musings, candid conversations, city soundscapes and subway thoughts, like Alex Blumberg did when he captivated a massive audience with Start-Up – a very meta podcast about the creation of his podcasting network, Gimlet Media. For me and many others, we were absolutely on this journey with Alex. Going with him to meetings with venture capitalists, practicing his pitches with him, feeling the pains of rejection and frantically celebrating the joys of success. And that for me, was one of those real turning points in how I understand the power of content – as both a creator and a consumer. Podcasting in MENA is not just growing, it's maturing. We're seeing a distinct shift from expat-led shows and repurposed Western formats to locally-rooted narratives told in Arabic, Khaleeji, and regional dialects. And that's not just a creative evolution … It's an opportunity. Local listeners gravitate toward voices that sound like them, talk like them, and reflect their reality. What works? Relatability. Relevance. Respect for nuance. The tone doesn't need to be overly slick, it needs to be honest. A host navigating topics like ambition, identity, or even mental health with empathy and zero artifice, but with a deeply resonating cultural tone that makes the listeners of our region feel themselves in turn, heard. These are the shows that drive repeat listens, cult followings, and long-term brand loyalty, so we could maybe have our own regional success story like Gimlet Media that eventually sells to Spotify too. For brands looking to enter the space, the playbook is evolving. It's no longer about shoehorning a 30-second audio ad into a podcast's intro. It's about integration and alignment. Co-creating branded content that audiences actually want to spend time with. Think series sponsorships where brand and theme align naturally, or even white-label podcast productions that don't scream 'ad' but whisper 'we get you'. What makes podcasting special is the sacredness of the format. You're not fighting for 1.5 seconds of attention. You're being invited into someone's commute, kitchen, or evening walk. That's a privilege. And with that comes responsibility. If you're a brand, ask yourself: Are we adding value to the conversation? Are we bringing new perspectives, new voices, or new utility to this audience? Or are we just trying to talk louder? Have we earned our space in this busy person's life? The best podcast partnerships are built on shared values, not vanity metrics. Listen-through rates, completion stats, and episode drop-offs are all useful, but don't discount the less measurable impacts: brand warmth, cultural relevance, and becoming part of a weekly ritual. As podcasting continues to evolve in MENA, the real opportunity lies in leaning into what makes audio so compelling: voice, vulnerability, and the ability to sit with an idea, and not just scroll past it. Audio listeners have a longer breath, they can listen to you, truly listen to you, if you captivate them. If brands are willing to relinquish a bit of control, to speak with people instead of at them, they may find something surprising: an audience that not only listens, but believes. Because in a world of noise, the most powerful thing a brand can do is not just sound like a human, but to fully lean into their humanity, their values, and strengthen their connection with their audience by reviving the humble and undervalued art of conversation. By Tala Mukaddam, Business Lead, Brand & Podcasts, Create.

Mastercard and OSN+ break the rules of traditional retail advertising with Amazon Ads
Mastercard and OSN+ break the rules of traditional retail advertising with Amazon Ads

Campaign ME

time25-06-2025

  • Campaign ME

Mastercard and OSN+ break the rules of traditional retail advertising with Amazon Ads

Neither brand, Mastercard nor OSN+, sells any physical products through Amazon, yet both orchestrated compelling campaigns that turned Amazon's touchpoints into their playground and helped them reach and engage new audiences in MENA. Their success stories reveal how Amazon's first-party signals and insights combined with their creative canvas solutions are redefining what's possible in advertising, whether you're selling travel experiences or streaming dragons. Mastercard, a global brand synonymous with delivering priceless experiences, set out to engage travellers during the summer holiday period. Their objectives were clear: drive top-of-mind awareness ahead of holiday planning, boost consideration for Mastercard's travel experiences, and deepen the brand's lifestyle appeal. Mastercard launched a two-phase campaign across key locales in the Middle East, that turned Amazon into a destination for travel inspiration. In Phase One, a summer-long custom landing page on showcased culinary and travel offers, supported by a full-funnel campaign that included Amazon DSP and a Homepage Hero Takeover that drove high visibility whenever shoppers landed on Phase Two kicked off with an interactive, gamified product selector on Mastercard's custom landing page, recommending Parisian culinary experiences. Though Mastercard doesn't sell physical products on Amazon, the team innovated by adapting Amazon's native product selector to link potential travellers directly to Mastercard's website. This seamless journey, from discovery on Amazon to purchase on Mastercard's website, allowed new and returning users to explore and book experiences. Click here to discover the full campaign results. When OSN+, a streaming service in the MENA region, set out to launch the second season of HBO's House of the Dragon (HOTD), it wanted something that went above and beyond a typical media plan. Before the series premiered, OSN+ and Amazon Ads orchestrated a series of teasers designed to stoke anticipation. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over 350,000 specially designed Amazon delivery boxes were produced, with the aim of transforming routine deliveries into delightful doorstep moments. Each box bore striking imagery from HOTD and included a QR code that drove customers to the OSN+ Brand Store on Wondering what the custom Amazon boxes looked like? Click here to find out. Moreover, OSN+ transformed into an immersive House of the Dragon battlefield, where visitors chose between Team Black and Team Green through an interactive Brand Store experience allowing fans to explore exclusive trailers and character histories through a tailored experience that revealed the secrets and rivalries of their chosen house. This dual-path content journey helped visitors delve deeper into each house's story, further increasing engagement on the page while creating a natural journey to the OSN+ website, where viewers could subscribe to watch the new season of HOTD. During the launch day, the campaign utilised the homepage takeover, draping the website in black or green, piquing curiosity among Amazon shoppers who might not have been die-hard fans of the show, and tapped into Twitch, with a hero headline on the service's homepage and a First Impression Takeover, where viewers would see an OSN+ pop-up during their first Twitch broadcast of the day. Click here to learn more about the impact and results the campaign drove.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store