#SHOWBIZ: Teresa Teng's nephew joins K-pop idol search
Deng Jiajun, 22, is contestant number 148, and one of nine Taiwanese participating in the show.
Jiajun, the son of the late Teng's brother Jim, is 1.8 metres tall and used to work in a luxury boutique.
HK01 reported recently that the late singer's elder brother Frank, who is the chairman of the Deng Lijun Foundation, said: "Jiajun joined the competition for fun and because it's his interest.
"We're thankful for the attention he's received."
Teng died at the age of 42 in 1994 while Jiajun's father died in Shanghai in 2008 aged 55.
The show will first kick off with its 154 contestants divided into two groups, Boys II Planet K, which is made up of trainees from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other countries, and Boys II Planet C for Chinese contestants.
Both groups will be combined later on in the competition, with the top trainees debuting as an idol group.
Boys II Planet K will air on July 17, and Boys II Planet C will premiere on July 18.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Mingyu's visit sparks fan backlash over influencer privileges at Snickers Malaysia pop-up event
HUNDREDS of Carats, the official fandom of South Korean boy group Seventeen, flocked to Sunway Pyramid yesterday to catch a glimpse of member Mingyu at a Snickers Malaysia pop-up event but the excitement was quickly overshadowed by backlash over crowd management and influencer access. The appearance by the K-pop star set social media abuzz, with the hashtag #SNICKERSwithMINGYU trending on X (formerly Twitter). However, many fans voiced frustration over what they described as unfair treatment of long-time queuers in favour of invited influencers. Some fans claimed they had queued from as early as midnight to secure a good spot, only to be pushed behind influencers who arrived shortly before the event. 'Give some respect to CARAT pls,' wrote user @Bling1230Tae. 'People waited from midnight with no sleep, and those who came five minutes before got in just like that. It's CRAZY.' User @bbimbimbapp added:'Imagine fans spending thousands, queueing from the parking lot, only for influencers to get the front spots.' Others criticised the event layout, saying it made it difficult to view the stage from most angles. 'Carats queued since 3am. They came late and still got to sit in front,' said @rainalee_30. 'The layout was terrible. Most of it was blocked off — you could only see from a corner if you were downstairs.' While some defended the use of influencers as a standard marketing tactic, others questioned the decision to seat them in prime spots over contest winners and fans. 'Isn't it normal to have KOLs for marketing purposes?' asked @aritaylli. 'They're paid to make content so Snickers gets publicity.' 'But still, whether you're a hardcore CARAT or just casually like K-pop, shouldn't everyone get fair access?' added @iam_ein. Others were more critical:'Let them mingle with the fans in the middle. Not one of them is even that known. Who are they influencing at this point?' said @linana9742. 'Normalise not inviting influencers to K-pop events for free,' wrote @yb_yoonified. 'It's the fans who stream, spend, and support the idols — not influencers.' As of now, Snickers Malaysia has not released an official statement. However, the strong online reaction underscores the need for better planning and fan engagement, especially at events involving passionate communities like K-pop fandoms.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Park Sung-hoon says it was fun to film Squid Game & Queen Of Tears at same time
Hyun-ju (right) or Player 120 is a highly trained ex-Special Forces soldier. Photo: Handout Park Sung-hoon recalls that, for a while, he was viewed unfavourably by the public. That's because he had just come off playing two particularly unlikeable characters – first in The Glory (2022), then in Queen Of Tears (2024). In both dramas, the characters he played made life miserable for the leading ladies. 'I played two villains back-to-back, and whenever I went out to eat, some people would actually be mad at me for those roles,' the 40-year-old actor tells StarLifestyle with a laugh over Zoom. Fortunately, things began to change when the second season of Squid Game premiered at the end of 2024. In it, Park portrays Hyun-ju, also known as Player 120 – a highly trained ex-Special Forces soldier who was discharged after coming out as a trans woman. She enters the deadly competition to win the cash prize in order to foot her transition surgery. 'I'm really happy that I have played Hyun-Ju, who is such a cool character. She kind of turned everything around for me and made people like me,' says Park fondly of his character. 'Actually, I was shooting Squid Game and Queen Of Tears almost simultaneously, and it was really fun for me, going back and forth between two totally opposite characters,' he adds. Hyun-ju quickly became a fan-favourite thanks to her courage and always trying to do the right thing, even in dangerous situations. Park Sung-hoon says his character in 'Squid Game' is a cool person. Photo: Handout However, when the series premiered, there were criticisms about casting a male actor instead of a transgender actor for the role of Hyun-ju. Series creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk told an American outlet that he did anticipate that this matter would crop up. 'In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor... When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans,' he explained to Entertainment Weekly . Nonetheless, Hyun-ju stands out among the players in Squid Game especially in the scenes where she's interacting with Geum-ja (Player 149, played by Kang Ae-sim) and Jun-hee (Player 222, played by Jo Yu-ri). According to Park, the camaraderie among cast members helped strengthen their on-screen chemistry, even though they were always filming intense, emotionally charged scenes. 'We often talked about our performances, and about life in general. After wrapping for the day, we'd sometimes go for drinks just to relax and chat,' he says. 'I think the bond formed really naturally. Since most scenes were shot in chronological order, we didn't have to force the chemistry – it built up on its own, with emotions stacking scene by scene. 'So even though some scenes were emotionally draining, the connection made it all feel easier.' South Korean stars Kang Ae-sim (lef) and Park Sung-hoon bonded while making the show. Photo: AFP Next up for Park is a new drama opposite Han Ji-min, set to premiere in 2026, an entertainment portal reported. Only earlier this year, he was dropped from another K-drama, The Tyrant's Chef , after receiving backlash for uploading on social media an image of a porn video parodying Squid Game . Reflecting on the Squid Game experience, Park says: 'Over the past few months, I've been doing promotions overseas and met so many people – it's been fascinating to see how many of them already know me and welcome me so warmly. 'It still hasn't fully sunk in, especially since I look a bit different now with a new hairstyle, but people still recognise me instantly. 'It's been such a cool experience. And I really hope it opens up more opportunities for me to be part of global projects in the future.' Squid Game is available on Netflix.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Barbie Hsu's family reportedly needs Wang Xiaofei's wife's permission to visit
Barbie Hsu's children are currently under the care of their father, businessman Wang Xiaofei, and his new wife, Mandy Ma. Photos: Mandy Ma/Instagram, Lin Huei-chin/Instagram Since the sudden passing of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu in February this year, her two young children have been living with their father, businessman Wang Xiaofei, and his new wife, Mandy Ma. However, Ma's role as stepmother has sparked controversy – with many feeling she's overstepping her bounds. According to a Sin Chew report citing Taiwanese media, members of Hsu's family now have to get Ma's permission before they can visit the children. During a livestream, Ma explained that although the children are attending school in Taiwan and have formed their own social circles, they still need time to adjust to their new home life. As a result, even close relatives on Hsu's side reportedly face difficulties seeing them, due to what many view as Ma's strict gatekeeping. The report also noted that the children were previously photographed visiting the home of Taiwanese TV host Blackie Chen. However, Ma has allegedly banned any future visits, claiming the environment is not suitable for the children. This move may be linked to past controversy surrounding Chen, who was accused of sexual harassment in 2023 by a former artiste from his agency. Chen has denied the allegations and subsequently sued the actress for defamation. Hsu, also known by her stage name 'Big S', died at the age of 48 on Feb 2 after she came down with influenza-related pneumonia while on vacation with her family in Japan. She was later cremated in Japan.
