Byeon Woo Seok is currently the talk of the town! His role as Ryu Seonjae in tvN’s Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Lovely Runner’ has catapulted him into the limelight, making him one of the most sought-after actors today.

The drama has captivated viewers in the 20-49 age bracket, making it a hot topic.

As ‘Lovely Runner’ continues to gain traction, Byeon Woo Seok’s responsibilities have also increased.

For starters, fans have started referring to him as “Ryu Seonjae”, the character he plays in the drama. This is not only due to the strong impact of his character but also because of Byeon Woo Seok’s stellar performance.

Much like actor Park Sung Hoon, who earned a second name as Jeon Jaejun from ‘The Glory’, Byeon Woo Seok has also gained a new moniker, Ryu Seonjae.

Moreover, Byeon Woo Seok seems to be on the verge of an unexpected singing debut. ‘Lovely Runner’ is a time-slip romance where a passionate fan, Im Sol (played by Kim Hye-yoon), travels back to 2008 to save her favorite artist, Ryu Seonjae (played by Byeon Woo Seok), after his death leaves her in despair.

In the drama, Ryu Seonjae is the lead vocalist of the top band Eclipse. Byeon Woo Seok has been nailing his role, even showcasing his idol acting skills during performance scenes.

He has even lent his voice to Eclipse’s songs ‘Shower’, ‘Run Run’, ‘You and I’, and ‘I’ll Meet You’, enhancing the overall immersion of the drama.

As the drama’s popularity soars, rumors about the existence of Eclipse and Ryu Seonjae have started to circulate. Eclipse’s song ‘Shower’ has made it to the top 100 on Melon, Korea’s largest music site, and continues to climb the charts. Even popular singers are finding it hard to break into the top 20.

Fans, in response, have been showing their support and expressing their desire to see Eclipse perform live. They have been requesting appearances on music shows and concerts. Since Byeon Woo Seok himself sang the songs, a music show appearance would essentially be his singing debut.

Given the immense popularity of ‘Lovely Runner’, tvN is reportedly planning various events to show appreciation for the viewers’ support. While nothing has been finalized yet, Byeon Woo Seokhas confirmed his appearances on the SBS entertainment program ‘Running Man’ and tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’.

He is also engaging with fans through fan meetings and has joined the fan community Weverse.

Source[1]

Actor Chun Jung Myung has opened up about a devastating betrayal by his former manager, who swindled tens of billions of won from his family. The former manager, who had been trusted like family, is now serving prison time for his actions.

In the December 8 episode of SBS’s My Little Old Boy, Chun Jung Myung shared the shocking details of his financial fraud ordeal with fellow cast members Lee Sang Min and Kim Heechul.

He explained, "I was financially defrauded by the manager I had worked with for 16 years since my debut. He forged documents to steal money and even caused huge financial losses for my parents."

A close source confirmed on December 9, "The manager mentioned on the show ultimately couldn’t repay the damages and is now serving his prison sentence for fraud."

The source also revealed that Chun Jung Myung suffered losses in the tens of billions of won. The emotional toll was severe, leading to social anxiety, and he even considered retiring from the entertainment industry due to the devastating betrayal.

Chun Jung Myung debuted in 1999 with the drama School 2 and became a household name with roles in Beijing, My Love, Fashion 70s, and What's Up Fox? However, after his role in the 2019 drama Urban Cops: KCSI, he suddenly disappeared from the spotlight, sparking concerns from fans.

An entertainment agency CEO weighed in, saying, "Celebrities, especially those with limited real-world experience, are vulnerable to scams because of their public status. Some get trapped and lose vast amounts of money after being used as figureheads."

An entertainment law expert added, "Fraud cases are tricky because proving the intent to steal is difficult. If someone makes an enticing offer, always ask, ‘Why me and not them?’ Skepticism is key."

Source: [1]