• Netizens accused Kim Ji Won of intentionally planning to avoid her real estate tax?

    Previously, it was reported that 'Queen of Tears' actress Kim Ji Won had acquired a multi-million dollar property in Gangnam.

    The building, which cost ₩6.30 billion KRW (approximately $4.57 million USD) in 2021, is situated in a prime location near Gangnam-gu Office Station and consists of one basement and five floors above ground.

    Netizens started to question the purchase when they discovered that it was made through "Jiwon Entertainment Co, Ltd," a company where Kim Ji Won is the sole employee and representative. This led to accusations that she had established a shell company for the purpose of the purchase.

    Further investigation by netizens revealed what they believe to be evidence supporting their claims. The company's business registration shows that Kim Ji Won established Jiwon Entertainment in March 2016, and the registered address for the company is the 4th and 5th floors of her building.

    Netizens were quick to connect the dots, accusing her of deliberately planning to evade taxes. A law exists that exempts companies from certain real estate taxes if they make a purchase five years after the company's establishment.

    Netizens noted that Kim Ji Won established Jiwon Entertainment in March 2016 and purchased the building five years later in June 2021. Given this suspicious timing, netizens have accused her of intentionally planning to avoid this real estate tax.

    Kim Ji Won's management company has not yet responded to these allegations.

    Netizen comments included:

    "Wow, this completely changes how I see her."

    "Jiwon.. I didn't know you were like this."

    "Regardless, all her fans will defend her."

    "It's a shell company. All celebrities do that anyway."

    "I don't know why people are making a big deal. She's buying a building because she can afford it."

    "Reading the comments, it's funny that people are defending her because the building is now in use. She's only using the address for her company. If she's the only employee, then the offices must be vacant."

    "It's confirmed that she established the company in March 2016. If she bought the building after five years of setting up a company, she wouldn't be taxed. She bought it in June 2021. Kim Ji Won has a management company, but she created a company under her own name in advance, and only bought the building when she could avoid tax. It seems like everyone can see through this, and are talking about it."

    What are your thoughts?

    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)