Actor Won Bin has officially denied rumors linking him to the controversial voice recording source in the late Kim Sae Ron case.

On May 9, a representative from his agency firmly stated, “Aside from attending Kim Sae Ron’s funeral to mourn her passing, Won Bin has no connection to the matter.”

This was in response to speculation that the actor had helped the person who provided the voice recording tied to a major criminal case involving actor Kim Soo Hyun.

The confusion started after a press conference on May 7, held by Garo Sero Research Institute’s head Kim Se Ui, who claimed the recording came from a Korean man in New Jersey, USA, who was later attacked.

During the press conference, a voice recording from the man’s wife was played, where she briefly mentioned Won Bin. “I didn’t know who Won Bin was,” she said, “but he came quietly and showed respect. His kindness meant more to us than words can say.”

This vague comment led to rumors that Won Bin had supported the family behind the voice recording, possibly even paying for Kim Sae Ron’s funeral — but his agency denied all of it, saying those claims are simply not true.

Won Bin and Kim Sae Ron had previously worked together in the 2010 film The Man From Nowhere, and while Won Bin has remained largely out of the spotlight in recent years, he was seen attending Kim Sae Ron’s funeral, drawing attention from fans and media.

Meanwhile, controversy continues to grow around the case involving Kim Soo Hyun, as his team claims the voice recording might be fake and created using AI. Legal battles are now unfolding between Kim Soo Hyun’s side, Kim Sae Ron’s family, and members of Garo Sero Research Institute.

For now, Won Bin has made it clear: he was not involved in any part of the recording, and his only connection was quietly paying his respects to a former co-star.

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]