Latest news with #Highlight
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
K-pop Star Lee Gi-kwang Makes His Big Screen Debut - And We're So Here For It
Lee Gi-kwang, A character with a twist and a splendid action performance that reveals a cruel wildness behind a gentle appearance From Stage to Screen - The Ultimate Career Glow-Up Remember when our Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra and Diljit Dosanjh crossed over to international projects? Well, K-pop is serving us the same energy! Lee Gi-kwang from the legendary boy band Highlight is making his silver screen debut with the thriller " I Kill U ". And honestly, we're getting major goosebumps thinking about this career transition. The film hit theaters on July 23rd, which has already happened. What makes this even more exciting is that "I Kill U" isn't just any random debut - it already made waves at the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and bagged the Best Asian Film award from the Melies International Festivals Federation. Talk about starting strong! The Plot That's Got Everyone Talking "I Kill U" follows Sun-woo (played by Kang Ji-young), a former taekwondo prospect who now works part-time jobs. She becomes entangled in a massive conspiracy while trying to raise money for her mother's medical bills. The thriller showcases intense action sequences that would make even our Bollywood action directors proud. Here's where it gets juicy - Lee Gi-kwang plays Ho-jung, who's Ji-yeon's half-brother and the film's main antagonist. Seeing a K-pop idol take on a villain role is like watching Shah Rukh Khan play the bad guy in "Darr" - unexpected but absolutely brilliant. The main poster and trailer revealed Gi-kwang's transformation into this cruel character, showing a gentle exterior hiding savage brutality. Master Director Behind the Action This isn't just any debut film - it's directed by Yoo Ha, the mastermind behind iconic Korean films like "Marriage Is a Crazy Thing," "Once Upon a Time in High School," and "A Dirty Carnival". Having such an established action genre master helm Gi-kwang's debut adds serious credibility to this career transition. It's similar to how our top directors in Bollywood often launch new talent - the backing of experience makes all the difference.
Pink Villa
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Is HyunA pregnant with her and husband Yong Jun Hyung's first child? Baby shoes spark speculations
K-pop soloist HyunA is once again making headlines for speculations regarding her pregnancy. This time around, the buzz was created due to her social media update. On June 2, she shared a series of photos showcasing her life beyond K-pop stardom, including one image that sparked curiosity among fans– a pair of edible baby shoes. The photo led many to wonder if HyunA was potentially announcing the good news. Why do fans think HyunA is pregnant with Yong Jun Hyung's child? HyunA, who got married to the controversial former Highlight member Yong Jun Hyung, might be expecting her first. Fans have spotted several hints in her latest Instagram post, making them form the theory. HyunA posted a carousel featuring her in an all-black fit, including crop top and comfortable trousers. However, the way she placed her hands on the pants, made fans wonder if it was intended to bring focus on her belly, much like common pregnancy announcement posts. Additionally, a picture of a waffle, shaped like baby crocs added fuel to the rumors. She also looked healthier than before and her skin seemed to glow as well. Many fans took to the comments to ask her if she was indeed pregnant. They couldn't bear the suspense and wanted her to clarify the situation. Notably, this was not the first time discussions regarding her potential conception were made. Previous instance which sparked HyunA's pregnancy rumour HyunA made a highly anticipated comeback on May 11 with her new song Mrs. Nail on SBS' Inkigayo, marking her first major performance in months. While fans praised her stage presence, netizens couldn't help but notice a difference in her appearance, specifically pointing out that she seemed to have gained some weight. Many linked her changed look to a potential pregnancy. However, HyunA later clarified that she was advised to gain weight due to health issues and is actually working on losing weight to feel more comfortable while dancing. She was also rumored to be pregnant before her marriage with Yong Jun Hyung, which she denied as well. With the recent buzz around the same thing, fans doesn't seem to have been convinced with her reasoning back then.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Highlight' member Yong Jun Hyung accuses the agency of wrongful contract termination, says they demanded 1 billion KRW in damages
Idol Yong Jun Hyung, who rose to fame after his 2009 debut with K-pop boy group Highlight, has recently shared a post online accusing his company of mistreatment. From terminating his contract without notice to ghosting him, the idol says that his management failed to fulfill their end of the deal and has been ghosting him. Contract wrongfully terminated, says Jun Hyung Jun Hyung recently took to a popular social media platform to express his worry and anger over his management company's treatment. In a story, the idol penned down a long note detailing how his company dropped him without notice or reason and how he has been unable to reach them. His post read, "Last year on the day of the album release, they suddenly called me and said that they would end my contract without any strings attached because they had to close the label. I didn't understand and said that I was confused, and then they took their words back and just said, Let's do our best.' He continued, saying that even though his company said that they would keep going, almost 2 months later, he ended up getting a message about how his contract had been terminated without reason and that he had to pay some damages fees as well. 'Within 1–2 months, I get a notice asking me to leave the company and pay damages for an investment from a distributor I'd never even heard of or agreed upon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Apparently, there are a bunch of reasons according to the contract, but I don't recall doing anything that went against the contract since I signed it…' shared the 'Lovely Day' singer. Did the company come up with the damages out of the blue? In his post, the idol also shared that his agency had asked him to pay a total of 1 billion KRW in damages for an investment he was not made aware of and had no responsibility over. His post read. 'They came up with 1 billion KRW out of the blue, and they just expect me to pay up? I said I couldn't accept it and asked for them to fulfil their duties as my management company until the end of my contract, and I've been unable to reach them ever since. Who exactly is violating the contract right now?" Currently, Yong Jun Hyung is married to popular K-pop artist Hyuna.
Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Highlight to host Seoul concert in July
Highlight will hold three shows in Seoul from July 13, agency Around Us announced Tuesday. The band will be hosting the stand-alone concert 'Ride or Die' about a year after 'Lights Go On, Again.' The concert title comes from the lyrics of 'Chains,' which fronted Highlight's sixth EP, 'From Real to Surreal.' With the single co-written by Lee Gikwang, the foursome came in first place on a television music chart show. The mini album consists of four tracks, including the prerelease 'Endless Ending.' The band decided to drop it under its previous team name Beast, rights to which it earned back after nine years. The Seoul show will kick off an Asia tour of six cities in the region: Taipei, Macao, Manila, Tokyo, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BTS' Jin and Cha Eun Woo upstaged by THIS 2nd-gen star in May's male K-pop rankings; find out who
May brought more than just blooming flowers and comeback buzz — it brought fierce competition. And in the world of male K-pop idols, few things are as closely watched or hotly debated as the monthly brand reputation rankings. Fans were sure they knew how this one would play out. BTS' Jin, recently back and already radiating post-military charm, took 2nd place. Cha Eun Woo took 3rd place. But rankings have a way of surprising audiences, especially when someone from K-pop's golden era steps in and turns the tables without warning. With no new release or viral moment in sight, it wasn't hype that did it — it was legacy. A quiet storm from the 2nd generation was brewing. And when the results dropped, it wasn't just fans who were stunned — the industry felt the shift too. Who says second-gen idols are done? G-Dragon just reminded everyone — the legends never really leave the stage. They just wait for the perfect moment to strike. For the third straight month, G-Dragon tops the list, proving that real impact doesn't need a constant spotlight — just a legacy and a name that still echoes across generations. With a whopping 4,679,825 brand points, he didn't just rank; he dominated. Over a month, from April 17 to May 17 KST, the Korea Brand Reputation Index analyzed extensive data on 755 male K-pop idols, tracking their influence across fan engagement, media exposure, communication, and community activities. Let's look at how the top ranks shaped up May month: Top 30 Male K-Pop Idols in Brand Value – May 2025 G-Dragon (BIGBANG) Jin (BTS) Cha Eun Woo (ASTRO) Jimin (BTS) Jungkook (BTS) Park Ji Hoon V (BTS) SUGA (BTS) Kang Daniel Yoon Doojoon (Highlight) j-hope (BTS) Wonbin (RIIZE) Heechul (Super Junior) Sung Hanbin (ZEROBASEONE) Yang Yoseob (Highlight) RM (BTS) Hwang Min Hyun Baekhyun (EXO) Key (SHINee) Lee Gikwang (Highlight) Sohee (RIIZE) Kyuhyun (Super Junior) Juyeon (THE BOYZ) Jun (SEVENTEEN) Taeyang (BIGBANG) Sungchan (RIIZE) Kai (EXO) Daesung (BIGBANG) San (ATEEZ) Taemin (SHINee) BTS' Jin secured the second spot with an impressive 4,419,595 points, closely followed by ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo, who claimed third place with a total of 4,343,362 points. Congratulations GD.
