In a surprising turn of events, Honda Hitomi, who once graced the stage as a member of IZ*ONE and AKB48, has decided to part ways with her agency in Japan. "I'm ready for new adventures," she declared.

The news broke out on May 1st when Mama&Son, her agency, made an official announcement on their website. They confirmed that their exclusive contract with Honda Hitomi had come to an end.

Mama&Son expressed, "As of the end of April 2024, we've officially parted ways with Honda Hitomi. She expressed a desire to embark on a new journey, and we respected her decision, leading to the termination of our contract."

They continued, "Though our time together was brief, we're sincerely grateful for the journey we shared. We hope you continue to show your unwavering support for Honda Hitomi."

Honda Hitomi first stepped into the limelight as part of AKB48 Team 8 in 2014. However, she announced her graduation from the team in August of the previous year.

At the time, she shared, "I want to explore various opportunities in the future and discover my potential." It seems like this is just the beginning of a new chapter for her!

Source[1]

Choi Jin Hyuk opened up about the memorable moment when he was scolded by senior actor Choi Min Soo during their first drama together.

On April 21, Choi Jin Hyuk, Choi Min Soo, and his wife Kang Joo Eun appeared on the personal YouTube channel Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong Yup. During the episode, Shin Dong Yup, a close friend of Choi Min Soo, talked about the special bond between the two actors.

"It’s rare to get really close to someone just by working together on a drama," Shin Dong Yup said. "Choi Min Soo loves all his juniors, but there aren’t many he particularly looks out for." He added that Choi Jin Hyuk’s connection with Choi Min Soo was something unique and special.

In response, Choi Jin Hyuk shared a story from the filming of Pride and Prejudice, his first leading role in a public broadcast drama. He recalled feeling incredibly nervous during the script reading.

"I was stuttering and trembling during the script reading," Choi Jin Hyuk said. "There were cameras filming behind the scenes, and Choi Min Soo told me, ‘Hey, turn the camera off.’ He said, ‘If you mess up the drama, are you going to take responsibility?’ I was so bad at acting that I stayed behind, and he scolded me for a long time."

Despite the harsh criticism, Choi Jin Hyuk took it to heart. He decided to visit Choi Min Soo’s waiting room to ask for guidance.

"I thought the harsh criticism would help me grow, so I went to his waiting room and asked him to teach me," he explained. "He helped me a lot, even getting into character and acting with me. I didn’t want to lose to him, so when we acted together, I stood my ground and didn’t blink. He didn’t blink either."

Choi Jin Hyuk believes that Choi Min Soo appreciated his determination. "When I stood up to him and asked him to teach me, I think he saw it as a good thing. The drama turned out well, and I think he liked me because of that," he said.

The two actors later worked together again on another drama, further strengthening their bond. Choi Jin Hyuk also shared a lighthearted joke, saying, "But I like his wife Kang Joo Eun more than him."

Fans of Choi Jin Hyuk and Choi Min Soo can’t help but admire the touching story behind their strong friendship.

Source: [1]