Red Velvet’s Joy is officially staying with SM Entertainment! On January 14, SM Entertainment made the exciting announcement, saying, "Based on the long-standing trust we've built with Joy, we have completed her contract renewal." They added, "With full support, she will continue her diverse activities with us."

The agency expressed their joy, stating, "We are happy to continue our beautiful journey with Joy, following Seulgi and Irene. We will do our best to help her showcase her infinite talents, not only in Red Velvet’s group activities but also as a solo artist and actress Park Soo Young."

Joy herself also shared her excitement, saying, "Based on the trust and belief we’ve shared for 10 years, I had deep conversations with the people I’ve worked with, and I felt that I want to continue moving forward together in a good direction. I will do my best to show my fans various sides of myself through positive synergy with SM."

Red Velvet, who debuted in 2014, has now surpassed the famous "seven-year curse" and celebrated their 10th anniversary last year. This milestone sparked both excitement and concern about the group’s future.

Earlier, Seulgi kicked off the contract renewal process by announcing her renewal in August 2023, followed by Irene’s renewal in February 2024. Fans were eagerly waiting to see what the remaining members, including Joy, would decide.

Now, Joy is the third member to choose to stay with the agency, leaving only Wendy and Yeri’s decisions still up in the air.

Recently, Wendy made headlines after announcing her absence from the '2025 SM Town Live,' expressing some dissatisfaction with the agency. Fans are now wondering what Wendy and Yeri’s next steps will be.

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Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

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