Bullet Points: 24K blacklist past, Hwarang’s clubbing hiatus, S.Coups’ military exemption, TFN disband, VIXX stuff, Ben’s divorce, more

Holy shit, it’s been over a month since I last did this, but thankfully it’s been relatively slow compared to the very start of the year, unless I missed more than I thought.

======

• Yoon Suk Yeol pardoned Kim Ki Choon, the man responsible for the entertainment blacklist under Park Geun Hye

Formally at least, the only K-pop group punished under this was 24K.

——

• Yuehua Entertainment issues apology after TEMPEST’s Hwarang gets caught clubbing
• TEMPEST’s Hwarang to halt activities, Yuehua Entertainment claims he was unable to restore trust

As far as I know, he wasn’t even doing anything problematic in the alleged club sighting, he was just there. I’m confused.

——

• Former The Wind member Jaewon will part ways with With US Entertainment
• MLD Entertainment’s boy group TFN has reportedly disbanded after three years
• VAV have left Ateam Entertainment after their contracts expired
• VIXX’s Leo & Ken leave Jellyfish Entertainment following their contracts expiring
• VIXX’s Leo signs with Big Boss Entertainment
• Kim Woo Seok leaves TOP Media after contract expires, joins Blitzway

The Wind‘s Jaewon left the group earlier, so this isn’t a complete surprise. TFN haven’t had activities since last year, but this was somewhat sudden. Very curious to see what VIXX do from here.

——

• Former NU’EST member Hwang Minhyun will be enlisting in March and will be in alternative service
• Actor Song Kang is enlisting in April and will be active duty
• SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups has been exempted from military service due to ACL/ALL reconstructive surgery

People are mad about the S.Coups exemption, but he had major surgery six months ago. Unless he somehow faked blowing out his knee, it seems pretty straightforward. Given that he’s a dancer, that knee is gonna be fucked by like his 30s, unfortunately.

——

• NXD (RBW’s upcoming boy group) hasn’t even debuted yet and member Hiroto had meniscus surgery

Speaking of injuries … ugh. I hope he’s able to repair that and didn’t just get it scoped to return sooner, cause if that meniscus is gone or wears down, there’s nothing saving that knee from arthritis.

——

• Winners at Day 1 of the 2023 Hanteo Music Awards
• Winners at Day 2 of the 2023 Hanteo Music Awards
• Winners at the 2024 Korean Music Awards

It was funny to watch Hanteo praise how their music show went on successfully as if anybody will remember anything except the shitter.

——

• Hey! Say! JUMP’s Inoo Kei (33) and gravure idol Yukihira Risa (29) are dating
• Former FTISLAND’s Song Seung Hyun has retired from the industry
• Former FTISLAND’s Song Seung Hyun announces he’s getting married
• Singer Ben got divorced from her husband

Ben got custody of their child, and the divorce was reportedly decided to be his fault. The report also mentions the husband was suspected of getting into some kind of crypto investment thing, sooo … yeah.