• "All of Us Are Dead" Director Reveals He Feel Pressured To Meet Viewers Expectations Because of "Squid Game"

    Director Lee Jae Kyu, who directed "All of Us Are Dead", talked about the popularity of "Squid Game".

    Director Lee Jae Kyu cautiously said in an interview with Netflix's original "All of Us Are Dead" (written by Chun Sung Il, directed by Lee Jae Kyu) on the morning of February 7th, "It is also true that the invitation of "Squid Game" is burdensome".

    Director Lee Jae Kyu continued, "When 'Squid Game' was first released in September, didn't an explosive response occur after hearing worldwide favorable reviews?", adding, "At that time, I was very surprised and happy", he said.

    Director Lee Jae Kyu said, "I was close to director Hwang Dong Hyuk, so I thought about texting him", adding, "As a friend, I texted him, 'My work is going out next year, but I'm dying of pressure because of the Squid Game', and he replied, 'What's the pressure, I just left the door slightly open. Don't feel pressured and just do it'".

    He continued, "Rather, he told me an anecdote saying, 'Thank me', and said, 'Nevertheless, it is true that it is a burden. It is more burdensome to be compared with the Squid Game, an insurmountable four-dimensional wall. However, it seems true that many people around the world have become interested in Korean content through "Squid Game". Since the window is slightly opened, good Korean works must be delivered continuously through the open door. I think, in that sense, I hope your work will succeed the Squid Game'".

    Unlike Director Lee Jae Kyu's exaggeration, "All of Us Are Dead" has topped the world at the same time as it was released and has maintained its top position for nine consecutive days already. It is 323 points ahead of "Black Desire", which is ranked second in terms of Flix Patrol.

    Regarding this popularity, director Lee Jae Kyu said, "It's amazing that so many people talk positively and have fun. When I heard that I was the world's No. 1 player, two years passed by like a flash. I never expected this to happen. I was expecting that they would feel the emotions and stories contained in the work, but I didn't expect the work to go this well".

    Source[1]

  • Hwanhee’s Agency Hits Back Against Shocking Claims of Favoritism on ‘King of Singers Season 2’—Vows to Defend His Reputation

    Hwanhee's agency, BT Entertainment, is firing back after serious fairness allegations were raised regarding the popular show ‘King of Singers Season 2’. They’ve denied all accusations and promised strong legal action for defamation.

    On February 5th, the agency issued a statement through their official fan cafe, saying, “We want to correct the false claims.”

    They explained that Hwanhee was initially approached to join the show in August 2024 by the production team. However, after checking with the event planning company, Dion Communication, they confirmed Hwanhee had no connection to the show or any related performances.

    Despite this, the agency pointed out that certain media outlets published unverified articles, wrongly suggesting that Hwanhee’s involvement could compromise the fairness of the program.

    BT Entertainment was quick to defend their artist, stressing the damage done to both Hwanhee's reputation and the agency itself due to these false claims. They added, "This has caused great harm to Hwanhee, who joined the program after careful consideration."

    The statement didn’t stop there. BT Entertainment made it clear that they won’t stand for any further defamation. They said, “We are taking legal action against these baseless reports” and emphasized their commitment to protecting Hwanhee from any further harm.

    They also reassured their fans, stating, “We will take swift action against any future misinformation to avoid any further harm to Hwanhee and his supporters.”

    This controversy started after a media outlet raised concerns on January 23rd about Hwanhee’s participation in the show. The report claimed that BT Entertainment’s CEO, who is also a director at Dion Communication, had invested 1.1 billion KRW in the ‘King of Singers Season 2’ concert, leading to suspicions of favoritism towards certain contestants.

    In the meantime, ‘King of Singers Season 2’ continues its intense competition, with Hwanhee making it to the semifinals. Fans are watching closely as he currently holds 1st place in the first round of the semifinals, cementing his position as a strong contender to represent Korea in the Korea-Japan King of Kings battle.

    Source: [1]