• Stray Kids' Hyunjin Wins #1 on 'March Birthday Idol' Ranking for the 2nd Year in a Row, Plus Big Surprise for His Fans

    Stray Kids' Hyunjin has once again claimed the top spot in the "March Birthday Idol" ranking, making it two years in a row!

    According to the global fan platform UPICK, Hyunjin topped the rankings in a vote held from January 21 to February 5, proving his worldwide popularity is stronger than ever.

    As a reward for his victory, Hyunjin will get a special birthday celebration ad made by his fans! The ad will be displayed on the digital signage at Hongdae Airport Railroad in Seoul, celebrating his big achievement.

    On top of this, Hyunjin’s group, Stray Kids, has been making waves internationally! They recently earned their eighth Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their mini-album Maxident.

    This recognition comes after they reached over 500,000 sales in the U.S. Stray Kids now has eight Gold certifications under their belt, including for popular singles like "God's Menu" and "MANIAC," as well as albums like ★★★★★ (Five Star) and 樂-STAR (Rockstar). This just shows how big they’ve become in the U.S.

    Looking ahead, Stray Kids is all set for their dominATE world tour starting in March, where they’ll meet their fans across Latin America, Japan, North America, and Europe. Fans worldwide are in for a treat.

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  • Is Disney+ Ignoring the Kim Soo Hyun Scandal? - Fans are Frustrated as they Compare it to Netflix’s Quick Response

    With the Kim Soo Hyun controversy still making headlines, Disney+’s upcoming series Knockoff, originally planned for next month, is now facing uncertainty.

    Fans and industry insiders are frustrated as Disney+ has remained silent for over two weeks, making no official statement or decision.

    Knockoff began production in July last year as the follow-up to Hyper Knife and wrapped up filming earlier this year. The series was planned as a two-season project, with Season 1 originally set to premiere in April.

    However, due to the ongoing scandal surrounding Kim Soo Hyun, its release now seems impossible. The drama tells the story of a man whose life changes drastically after the IMF crisis, turning from an ordinary office worker into a powerful figure in the global counterfeit market.

    What’s frustrating many is Disney+’s lack of response. Despite more than ten days passing since the controversy began, the platform has yet to make any announcement regarding the drama’s fate, leaving sponsors and actors' agencies in limbo.

    People are now comparing Disney+’s inaction to Netflix’s swift handling of Yoo Ah-in’s drug scandal. The Match, starring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, was set for a Netflix release last year after finishing filming in 2021. But when Yoo Ah-in became embroiled in a legal investigation, Netflix quickly postponed its release indefinitely.

    Netflix took immediate action, pressuring the film’s distributor, Acemaker Movieworks, to the point of almost canceling the contract before transferring distribution rights to By4M Studio. The film is now set for a theatrical release on the 26th.

    Netflix also made proactive moves in other projects. In the 12-episode drama Goodbye Earth, Yoo Ah-in’s role was significantly reduced, though the series still failed to impress audiences. For Hellbound Season 2, Netflix swiftly replaced Yoo Ah-in with Kim Sung-cheol despite his praised performance in Season 1.

    With Netflix taking such decisive actions, Disney+’s continued silence is only adding to the frustration. Many are now wondering—will Disney+ finally address the issue, or will Knockoff be stuck in limbo forever?

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