Heo Young Ji from KARA is parting ways with DSP Media after a decade together, marking a new chapter in her career.

On September 5th, Heo Young Ji posted on her social media, "I am leaving DSP, which has been with me for 10 years, to start a new journey."

She added, "DSP has been a precious company that shared all the moments of my 20s from the very beginning. It will always be a cherished company for me," sharing her heartfelt feelings about the agency.

Heo Young Ji also expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thanks to everyone’s support and love, I will come back as an even better version of myself."

Earlier that day, DSP Media confirmed the end of their exclusive contract with Heo Young Ji. DSP stated, "The exclusive contract period with Heo Young Ji, who has been with us for 10 years, has concluded."

They continued, "We sincerely thank Heo Young Ji for bringing positive energy both on and off the stage as our artist, and we will support her future endeavors."

Heo Young Ji joined KARA in 2014 and has been active not only as an idol singer but also as an actress in dramas like 'Another Miss Oh' and 'Moment at Eighteen.'

KARA celebrated their 15th debut anniversary in 2022 with the special album 'MOVE AGAIN' and made a full-group comeback after seven years. They also released a new single 'I DO I DO' in July.

Last month, KARA held solo concerts titled 'KARA THE 5th JAPAN TOUR 2024 "KARASIA"' in Tokyo on the 17th-18th and in Osaka on the 24th-25th, meeting with fans.

Source [1]

Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

Source: [1]