• Kim Soo Hyun Faces another Shocking Loss as Popular Chinese brand completely Cuts Ties amid Ongoing Scandal

    Kim Soo Hyun is facing another setback as foreign brands continue to distance themselves from him.

    On March 18, Cuckoo China released an official statement, saying, "We are completely halting all brand promotional activities related to Kim Soo Hyun and will immediately replace all images of him posted on our official platforms."

    The company further added, "We will suspend all related marketing plans currently in preparation and establish a special task force to track further developments."

    Following this decision, the brand has completely stopped Kim Soo Hyun's promotional activities in China and removed all of his advertisements.

    Kim Soo Hyun was previously selected as Cuckoo’s model for China, Vietnam, and Indonesia on March 1, raising hopes for a stronger presence in the Chinese market amid expectations of the "Hallyu ban" being lifted. However, as multiple personal controversies have surfaced, his brand endorsements are now being suspended, with further discussions ongoing.

    The actor is currently embroiled in serious allegations, including claims that he was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor and that he pressured her to repay debts, allegedly leading to her tragic passing.

    His agency, Gold Medalist, has strongly denied these accusations, but the controversy continues to spread.

    As the situation worsens, several brands have already ended their contracts with Kim Soo Hyun. Luxury brands such as Prada, Dinto, and Tous Les Jours have reportedly either terminated their deals or chosen not to renew them.

    Meanwhile, concerns are also rising over his upcoming fan meeting for the Seven-Eleven Sakura Festival in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on March 30. If the event is canceled, industry insiders estimate that the cancellation fee alone could reach 30 million yuan (approximately 1.32 billion KRW).

    Currently, Kim Soo Hyun is an ambassador for more than 10 brands, and the growing controversy is expected to cause further ripples in the industry.

    Source (1)

  • Yook Sung Jae and Bona’s new drama ‘The Haunted Palace’ dominates Netflix charts and beats all SBS shows with double-digit ratings from the start

    SBS's new fantasy historical drama The Haunted Palace is already making waves both in South Korea and around the world.

    Starring Yook Sung Jae and Bona, the show exploded in popularity during its very first week — topping Netflix charts in multiple countries and hitting double-digit TV ratings straight out of the gate.

    On Korean television, The Haunted Palace shocked viewers with a strong start. Episode 1 pulled in a peak nationwide rating of 10.7%, instantly breaking the double-digit barrier.

    The Seoul area rating and the national average were both 9.2%, making it the highest-rated premiere of any SBS drama in 2025 so far.

    It also beat out other SBS dramas like Love Scout and Buried Hearts, and even took the #1 spot among all mini-series aired that week, showing that this drama isn’t just trending — it’s leading the pack. (According to Nielsen Korea)

    And the success didn’t stop on TV.

    As soon as The Haunted Palace dropped on Netflix, it jumped straight to #1 on “Today’s Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea”, proving its massive popularity on streaming platforms.

    Globally, it also ranked #1 in the TV series category in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, showing that international fans are just as hooked.
    (According to FlixPatrol, April 21)

    The drama is also doing incredibly well on South Korea’s own streaming trend charts. On KinoLights — a platform that tracks trends across all streaming services — The Haunted Palace ranked #1 overall, beating both films and dramas. (As of April 19)

    Fans are loving the unique story, which mixes fantasy, comedy, and creepy mystery. The drama follows Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Kang Cheol I, a mythical Imoogi spirit trapped inside her first love’s body. Together, they face off against a terrifying ghost called Palcheok Gui — who has a dark grudge against the royal family.

    Episode 2 added even more excitement, with Kang Cheol I hilariously struggling to live like a normal human after 1,000 years.

    At the same time, Yeori starts hearing the voice of Yoon Gap’s spirit and tries to save him. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Prince Wonja (played by Park Jae Joon) is going mad due to Palcheok Gui — and that the ghost has already consumed Yoon Gap’s soul. The showdown between Kang Cheol I, Yeori, and the evil spirit is just getting started.

    With high ratings and top OTT rankings, The Haunted Palace is quickly becoming one of the biggest drama hits of the year.

    Episode 3 of The Haunted Palace airs on Friday, April 25 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.

    Source: [1]