Actor Jang Hyuk opened up about his deep respect for his father, who had a job in the Middle East, including Iraq, back in the 1980s.

On May 19th, Jang Hyuk graced TV Chosun's 'Heo Young Man's Food Travel' as a guest. Together, they embarked on a culinary adventure to Ganghwa Island.

As a dad who's been living the 'migratory bird' life for two years now, Jang Hyuk has sent his two sons, one daughter, and wife overseas for their studies.

During the show, Jang Hyuk took a trip down memory lane, sharing, "When I was a kid, my dad also spent a lot of time working abroad. He was part of the construction boom in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the 1980s."

He added, "As a kid, the airport was like a treasure trove for me. My dad would bring home the coolest robot toys, thermal lunch boxes, gaming consoles, button pencil cases, and more."

Jang Hyuk also admitted, "I look up to my dad. Becoming a father myself, I started to see my parents in a new light. I often find myself wondering, 'What was I like back then?' It's led to more heart-to-heart talks with my parents."

Source[1]

NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

Source: [1]