Actor Lee Jung Jae has established himself as a global actor.

On October 21, the 31st Gotham Awards (the Gotham Awards) released the nominee list for 'Outstanding Performance in a New Series' and Lee Jung Jae was nominated for the category for the Netflix original 'Squid Game'.

Along with Lee Jung Jae, Ethan Hawke ('The Good Road Bird'), Anya Taylor-Joy ('Queen's Gambit'), Jennifer Coolidge ('White Lotus'), Michael Grace ('Rutherford Falls'), Debri Jacobs ('Boho 'Dogs in the District') were also nominated.

The Gotham Awards is an annual awards ceremony for independent films held in New York, USA, and is one of the most prestigious awards in the US. It is hosted by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), an independent film support organization in the United States, and awards are decided through votes by IFP members. As the awards ceremony that kicks off the awards season in the United States, it is considered a place where you can predict the results of future awards ceremonies.

In the midst of a life crisis in 'Squid Game', Lee Jung Jae received a business card from a mysterious person and took on the role of Sung Ki-hoon, who participates in the game after thinking about it. In particular, he succeeded in transforming his acting into a friendly character that is completely different from his previous work, and deeply portrayed the inner side of the conflict in an extreme situation.

Lee Jung Jae, who received favorable reviews not only in Korea but also abroad, was nominated for the Gotham Awards.

The 31st Gotham Awards will be held on November 29.

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NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

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