• Korean Figure Skater Cha Jun Hwan Reunited With Jin Ji Hee After 11 Years And They Exchanged Contact Numbers

    Cha Jun Hwan revealed an anecdote with actor Jin Ji Hee.

    Figure skater Cha Jun Hwan appeared on SBS YouTube's web entertainment show "MMTG", which was released on the 24th, and talked about various things.

    On that episode, Jae-jae mentioned the figure skating entertainment show "Kim Yu Na's Kiss & Cry", in which Cha Jun Hwan appeared with actor Jin Ji Hee in 2011.

    Jae-jae asked Cha Jun Hwan, "Aren't you caught up in rumors of a feud? They said that you scold someone who is learning figure skating for the first time to practice 20 times a day at the rink?"

    In response, he shivered, saying, "The program was survival. Looking at it, I guess I was greedy. It was in 2011, so I can't remember well".

    When Jae-jae asked, "Have you not contacted that someone since then?" he said, "I got a number, but I accidentally broke my cell phone".

    Then Jae-jae called Jin Ji Hee and attempted an instant interview. Jin Ji Hee, who answered the phone, said, "I couldn't make a call because I didn't know Jun Hwan's number."

    Upon hearing this, Jae-jae said, "There is a difference of opinion from each other. They exchanged numbers and they said the numbers haven't changed since then", Jin Ji Hee said, "I haven't changed my number since then either".

    After 11 years of talking on the phone, the two of them laughed at how awkward they were.

    Back in 2011, SBS launched a figure skating reality program titled "Kim Yuna’s Kiss & Cry". The ice dancing competition series involved partnering one professional skater with a star celebrity skater with the nation’s figure skater, Kim Yuna as the host and judge of the program. The show involved an impressive star cast, such as f(x)‘s Krystal, TVXQ‘s Yunho, IU, and more.

    Amongst the many impressive professional skaters, however, was one particular contestant that stood out to the viewers—and it was none other than Cha Jun Hwan!

    Only 11-years-old at the time, Cha Jun Hwan took on the role of being a professional skater while his star celebrity skater partner ended up being actress, Jin Ji Hee.

    The two adorable skaters gave it their absolute all, as they poured out their heart and soul for each episode on "Kim Yuna’s Kiss & Cry". However, it was one particular episode that started making headlines due to Jin Ji Hee and Cha Jun Hwan’s “bickering.”

    During one of their practice sessions, Cha Jun Hwan could be seen leading Jin Ji Hee around on the ice rink. The now-Olympic skater showed off his impressive skills, even at his young back then, taking the lead and sharing his ice skating knowledge with the actress.

    However, it didn’t take long for Cha Jun Hwan’s strict figure skating coaching skills to kick in. Just a few minutes into their practice, he adorably “scolded” his partner by telling her that she needs to practice more—specifically “20 times a day.

    While she was trying her absolute hardest, Jin Ji Hee couldn’t hold in her frustrations and shared her disappointment with her teacher.

    "You’re a professional and I’m a beginner. You can’t get mad at me and teach like that!" - Jin Ji Hee

    During a solo interview shot, the actress shared her ongoing frustrations, explaining how Cha Jun Hwan shot her a look of anger during their practice.

    "He shot me an angry look, like this." - Jin Ji Hee

    However, it wasn’t just the adorable actress who was frustrated with the situation. Cha Jun Hwan also shared his perspective about their “clashing personalities.”

    "I don’t know if we have clashing personalities, but…" - Cha Jun Hwan

    As the “tension” between the two young skaters remained on the ice, Jin Ji Hee couldn’t keep her cool any longer. As Cha Jun Hwan continued to “scold” her, she eventually left the ice rink to calm herself down. A confused Cha Jun Hwan could be seen following her in defeat.

    And while the two lovable stars had their little misunderstanding during practice, they were able to make up and finish up their routine with no hiccups!

    "Kim Yuna’s Kiss & Cry" was over a decade ago but now, Cha Jun Hwan is an Olympian figure skater while Jin Ji Hee is one of South Korea’s sweetest actresses.

    Source[1]

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)