Latest news with #MoneyToday
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Squid Game's blunder turned woman's life into a nightmare until a 100 million offer from a politician. But did she take it?
Squid Game Season 3 is all set to drop its first six episodes on Netflix on June 27, bringing fans back to the deadly, high-stakes world that first shocked global audiences in 2021. With its trademark suspense and social commentary, the third and final season picks up where it left off—Gi-hun's mission to take down the organisation behind the games intensifies, even as the mysterious Front Man remains two steps ahead. But as fans clear their schedules and prepare for binge-watching, few may recall that the show's incredible success also brought real-life chaos to someone who never signed up for the game. When Fiction Dials Reality In Season 1, the protagonist Seong Gi-hun receives a cryptic business card with symbols and a phone number—an invitation to the deadly game. It was meant to deepen the show's aura of mystery. However, when fans dialled the eight-digit number out of curiosity, their phones automatically added South Korea's standard mobile prefix '010,' turning the number into a real, functioning line. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Unbeknownst to the showrunners, they had effectively broadcasted the personal phone number of Kim Gil-young , a businesswoman in Seongju who had been using it for over ten years. What followed was nothing short of a horror story—thousands of texts and calls flooded her phone day and night. In an interview with Money Today, Gil-young shared, 'Since Squid Game aired, I've been receiving texts and calls 24 hours a day, to the point where it's difficult to live my daily life… I've had to delete over 4,000 numbers from my phone.' You Might Also Like: Squid Game creator once sold his laptop to pay house rent. Now, fans await season 3 of a billion dollar phenomenon Netflix Intervenes Amid the Chaos At first, Gil-young had no idea what had triggered the barrage of calls until a friend pointed out the connection to Squid Game. The calls weren't just from curious fans; some pranksters reportedly phoned her in the middle of the night asking, 'Can I join Squid Game?' before abruptly hanging up. Changing the number wasn't an option for Gil-young, who used it for business purposes. She turned to Netflix and Siren Pictures , the show's production company, to resolve the issue. In response, Netflix quickly edited the scene and replaced the number with a fictional one, 010-034, just weeks after the show's release. A Guardian report confirmed that Netflix had edited out the real number and issued a statement asking viewers to refrain from prank calls and messages. The company stated, 'Together with the production company, we are working to resolve this matter, including editing scenes with phone numbers where necessary.' An Offer to Buy the Chaos In the media frenzy that followed, the situation escalated in unexpected ways. South Korean presidential candidate Huh Kyung-young reportedly offered 100 million won to purchase the phone number, making headlines for his strange proposition. Meanwhile, reports claimed Gil-young turned down compensation offers of up to 5 million won, though Netflix has never officially commented on these negotiations. You Might Also Like: Squid Game Season 3 sneak peek: Netflix drops chilling 6-minute opener as Player 456 returns in a coffin. Internet reacts By the time Squid Game Season 2 premiered in 2024, the infamous business card returned—but this time, with fictional numbers carefully inserted to avoid another fiasco. Screenshot of presidential candidate Huh Kyung-young's Facebook post offeriung to buy the number that featured on Squid Games. (Image: Facebook) A Lesson in Caution and Consequence The incident became a cautionary tale in entertainment circles, spotlighting the importance of vetting even the smallest production details. According to a trivia post on IMDB, the show originally used only an eight-digit number, not accounting for South Korea's tendency to auto-append the '010' prefix—an oversight that turned fiction into far-reaching reality. For Gil-young, the viral fame was unwanted. Her ordeal may not have involved life-or-death games, but it certainly highlighted how quickly the boundaries between on-screen fiction and real-world consequences can blur. Season 3 Arrives, But the Backstory Lives On As the much-anticipated Season 3 rolls out across global time zones—from 12:30 p.m. IST in India to 5 p.m. in Japan—millions will return to the thrilling universe of Squid Game. But behind the blood-red sets and masked men lies a strange footnote in TV history: a woman whose phone never stopped ringing, thanks to eight digits that should never have been real. Because sometimes, the most surprising twist in a survival drama… isn't even in the script.
Pink Villa
11-06-2025
- Business
- Pink Villa
Kim Soo Hyun wins court approval to seize 2 properties owned by Garosero YouTuber amid Kim Sae Ron scandal, DETAILS
The defamation lawsuit between actor Kim Soo Hyun and YouTuber Kim Se Ui (Garosero Research Institute operator) has reached a major turning point. According to a June 11 report by Money Today, the Seoul Central District Court approved a provisional seizure request filed by Kim Soo Hyun's agency, GOLDMEDALIST. This allows the agency to claim two of Kim Se Ui's luxury residential properties. The court issued its ruling on June 9, just days after GOLDMEDALIST sought court approval to secure assets amid a 12 billion KRW civil lawsuit against the YouTuber. The ruling signals that the court recognizes a reasonable basis for the damages alleged by the agency, at least at this preliminary stage. Two prime Seoul properties tied to case The properties now under provisional seizure include two luxury apartments in Seoul. This consists of a 120.27 square-meter unit located in Seocho Buksan Blooming. The other is a larger 208.65 square-meter unit in the prestigious Hanyang Apartment Complex 4 in Apgujeong-dong. Notably, while the Apgujeong unit is co-owned by Kim Se Ui and his sister, the court ruling applies only to his 50% ownership share. GOLDMEDALIST is seeking a total of 4 billion KRW in secured damages from these two assets: 2 billion KRW allocated to each property. It is a part of its broader civil damage claim for defamation, emotional harm, and reputational damage. Legal experts suggest more action could follow Attorney Noh Jong Eon from Law Firm Jonjae noted that this kind of court ruling reflects the court's opinion that the damage claim is not without merit. 'The court likely found reasonable grounds in the claimed damages,' he explained. He added, 'However, since this is a provisional seizure, Kim Se Ui's rebuttal has yet to be reviewed. The final compensation could change after a full hearing.' Until then, the court's move ensures that Kim Se Ui cannot sell or transfer the properties in question. Loans could complicate recovery The estimated market value of the seized Seocho apartment currently stands at around 2.5 billion KRW. And a similar unit in the Apgujeong complex was recently sold for approximately 8.87 billion KRW, according to real estate insiders. Despite these high valuations, reports indicate that both apartments carry sizable outstanding mortgage loans. It could make it harder for GOLDMEDALIST to recover the full claimed amount if the court eventually awards them damages. Controversy background The legal battle between Kim Soo Hyun and YouTuber Kim Se Ui began in March 2025. Kim Se Ui accused the actor of having an 'inappropriate relationship' with Kim Sae Ron during her underage years, backed by her family. GOLDMEDALIST denied the claims, later clarifying the relationship began in 2019, after she became a legal adult. The controversy escalated quickly. GOLDMEDALIST filed both criminal and civil suits against Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's family for defamation, spreading false information, and violating s*xual violence laws. In response, Kim Sae Ron's family countersued Kim Soo Hyun, citing child welfare violations and false accusations. Legal investigations continue.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kim Sae Ron listed as creditor in father's bankruptcy while carrying $900,000 debt — new details emerge amid Kim Soo Hyun scandal
Almost four months after Kim Sae Ron's heartbreaking death, new reports are shedding light on the financial struggles she faced as the sole breadwinner for her family. These revelations come just as dating rumours linking her to actor Kim Soo Hyun have resurfaced, sparking widespread speculations about her past. Kim Sae Ron was listed as a creditor in her father's bankruptcy According to court filings, as reported by multiple K-media outlets, Kim Sae Ron was registered as a creditor in her father's personal bankruptcy case. She was owed over 250 million KRW (180,000 USD)—money she had used to repay her father's debts after he defaulted on loans from more than 20 creditors. Her father, identified only as 'A,' filed for bankruptcy in December 2020 and was officially discharged by the Uijeongbu District Court in March 2023. Kim was just 20 years old when the bankruptcy was finalized. Failed restaurant investment added to financial burden After her father's bankruptcy, Kim tried to help her family bounce back. In May 2021, she reportedly invested in a family-run restaurant, registering it under a friend's name. She poured financial resources into the business and promoted it using her entertainment industry contacts. But despite her efforts, the restaurant shut down in 2024 due to unpaid rent and operational fees, causing her to lose even more, including the security deposit. The DUI incident that changed everything In 2022, Kim was involved in a drunk driving incident, crashing into a transformer in Seoul. The case quickly spiralled into a public controversy. More than just a reputational hit, the crash reportedly impacted multiple nearby businesses, leading to civil compensation claims and a wave of legal expenses. During her DUI trial in 2023, her legal team stated that Kim had been the family's sole breadwinner, citing ongoing financial strain. They described her as taking on significant monetary responsibilities for herself and her relatives. Over 1.2 billion KRW in confirmed debt Reports from Money Today, bnt News, and allkpop detail the extent of the former child actress' financial struggles, with public records showing her confirmed liabilities totalled over KRW 1.2 billion (around USD 900,000). This included KRW 100 million each borrowed from two idols and one singer friend, a KRW 60 million loan from her agency to cover medical expenses, and a massive KRW 700 million owed to her former agency, Gold Medalist, as repayment for pre-paid breach-of-contract penalties following her 2022 DUI incident. Despite the staggering total, it remains unclear how exactly these funds were used—whether for personal needs, legal fees, or to support her family. Family disputes posthumous claim In April 2025, a month after Kim's death, her family's legal team released a statement denying the narrative that she had been the family's sole provider. They dismissed the reports of financial mismanagement and wealth being squandered as 'unworthy of attention.' Still, the court filings and business records tell a different story—one where Kim appeared to be taking on a role far heavier than her age. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Pink Villa
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Did Kim Sae Ron date K-pop star from 7-member boy band? Actor-idol relationship rumor debunked
As the days go by, Kim Sae Ron 's dating scandal is spiraling deeper, dragging in more names and controversies. From fake voice notes to her DUI incident and her family's legal case against ex-boyfriend Kim Soo Hyun — it's become a storm of headlines. According to Money Today, it was revealed that the late actress reportedly dated a famous idol, known only as A, around 2018. Rumors began to swirl that one of her exes belonged to a well-known 7 member idol group. However, the alleged relationship with this K-pop idol has since been proven false. Through Garosero, Kim Sae Ron's side claimed she dated actor Kim Soo Hyun from late 2015, when she was still a minor, until 2021. Other claims suggest she also dated singer WOODZ briefly from 2021 to 2022, including the alleged 'A' somewhere in between. There were also reports that Kim Sae Ron and Mr. A briefly dated in 2019 and got back together in 2022 — around the time she was involved in her DUI case and facing financial difficulties. Allegedly, Mr. A lent her a large sum of money during that time. Industry insiders stated that Kim Sae Ron continued to meet with Mr. A even after their breakup. However, at no point has it been officially stated that Mr. A was part of a seven-member idol group, making those earlier rumors completely baseless. Sources also noted that Kim Sae Ron never hid her relationship with Mr. A, often introducing him to acquaintances as her boyfriend. While her past relationships have been mentioned, no official list of ex-boyfriends has been confirmed. Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun's ongoing legal case continues to take shocking turns. According to Edaily, South Korean police are currently investigating 10 legal cases connected to Kim Sae Ron. At a press conference on May 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency revealed that 7 of those cases are being handled by the Gangnam Police Station, while the other 3 fall under the Seodaemun Police Station. Notably, 7 of these cases were filed by Kim Soo Hyun. In addition, he now faces accusations from Kim Sae Ron's grieving family, including a charge of violating the Child Welfare Act.
Pink Villa
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Did Kim Sae Ron borrow money from idol boyfriend after DUI case? New claims surface amid Kim Soo Hyun row
The Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron dating row tok a new turn as the late actress was alleged to have dated numerous men after breaking up with Kim Soo Hyun. The men in question were commoners and celebrities, including idols and actors. Recently, new claims regarding her relationship with her ex-boyfriends were made, including her being financially indebted to them following her DUI case. The development was reported by K-media outlet Money Today on May 21. The report recorded her relationship timeline with her alleged senior idol boyfriend, referred to as A. According to it, Kim Sae Ron dated A from around 2018, broke up with him briefly in early 2019 and then reunited in early to mid 2022. New accusations claim that, after their patch up, the actress borrowed huge sums of money from A. Kim Sae Ron, who was drowning in debt back then due to her May 2022 drunk driving incident, reportedly held on with A's financial help. Back then, Kim Sae Ron faced significant financial strain due to a 20 million won fine, license revocation, and settlement costs stemming from crashing into an electrical transformer and causing a power outage in Seoul. With her acting career stalled due to the incident's negative impact on her reputation, she struggled to earn the needed funds, leading to borrowing money. Previously, it was reported that a singer friend of hers took care of her flat's rent deposit, by paying it under his name. It was claimed that he and another acquaintance of Kim Sae Ron paid around 50 million KRW worth of her house deposit, before her untimely death. There's a possibility of the singer 'friend' being ex-boyfriend A, however, nothing has been confirmed yet. Besides the money lending details, what's even more jarring to the netizens and fans is the time period of Kim Sae Ron and A's relationship. The duo being romantically involved with each other in 2018-19 serves as a rebuttal to the bereaved family's previous statements. The actress' family members claimed that she dated Kim Soo Hyun since 2015, when she was a minor of 15 till 2021. In that case, is either party lying or did she date two men simultaneously? Several such questions and speculations have been going on after the latest details surfaced.
