SM Entertainment Announces Strict Legal Action Against Malicious Posts And Illegal AI-Generated Images Targeting Lim Yoona And aespa’s Winter
SM Entertainment has shared official statements regarding the legal action they are taking to protect the rights of Lim Yoona and aespa’s Winter.
On September 28, SM Entertainment announced that they had filed criminal complaints against those who create illegal AI-generated images of Lim Yoona and spread false information based on such images. The agency also warned that it will take strong legal action against malicious posts targeting aespa’s Winter.
Read the agency’s statements below:
Regarding Lim Yoona
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We would like to provide an update regarding violations of the rights of our artist YoonA (Lim Yoona).
We have recently identified additional cases of illegal AI-generated images created by manipulating YoonA’s likeness without her consent, as well as false information based on such images, being indiscriminately created and circulated primarily on social media and online communities.
Through reports submitted by fans via “KWANGYA 119” and our ongoing monitoring, we are continuously collecting and securing evidence of such illegal posts. Based on this evidence, we have already filed criminal complaints and will respond firmly without leniency or settlement.
Not only can creating or posting illegally manipulated content using AI or other technologies without an artist’s consent constitute violations, but sharing, reposting, or spreading such images and posts may also constitute violations of the Information and Communications Network Act, including defamation, infringement of portrait rights, and editing and distribution of fabricated videos under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
We strongly ask that you immediately stop creating or posting illegal manipulated content or unverified false information, as well as sharing or redistributing such content—including through reposts and quote posts on social media, articles containing such images, and uploads to various online communities. Please exercise particular caution to avoid becoming involved in any legal issues as a result of such activities.
We will continue to closely monitor such activities and take active legal action to protect the rights and reputation of our artists.
Thank you.
Regarding aespa’s Winter
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We hereby issue a stern warning that we will take strong legal action against malicious posts that continue to be circulated about our artist aespa’s Winter.
Currently, malicious posts and content targeting the artist—including the spread of false information, defamation, insults, malicious slander and personal attacks, and sexual harassment—continue to be posted across various platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, TheQoo, Instiz, DC Inside, Women’s Generation, and Nate Pann. Accordingly, following a thorough review by our legal counsel, we plan to proceed with legal action in stages, including filing criminal complaints.
In addition, we will respond without exception to illegal activities carried out on anonymous forums and social media platforms beyond those mentioned above. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are based in Korea or abroad, we will secure the necessary evidence to identify the authors of the posts and trace how the content was created and circulated, and will request investigations by the relevant authorities. We reiterate that those found to be responsible will face strong legal consequences under our zero-tolerance policy, without any leniency or settlement. We urge everyone to exercise particular caution and refrain from engaging in criminal activities.
Through reports submitted by fans via “KWANGYA 119” and our own monitoring, we are regularly collecting and securing evidence of all posts and content that infringe upon the rights of our artists. We will continue to strengthen our legal response to malicious posts in order to protect the rights and interests of our artists.
12 K-Dramas Which Serve Dark Comedy With A Slice Of Entertainment
K-dramas have never been afraid to find humor in uncomfortable places. From dysfunctional families and marital warfare to murder, revenge, and desperate struggles for survival, black comedy allows these dramas to explore the darker side of life without taking themselves too seriously. The humor can be absurd, satirical, or downright macabre, often making the characters’ increasingly outrageous situations even more entertaining.
If you enjoy stories where morally complicated characters find themselves in situations that keep spiralling out of control, these dramas offer plenty of dark laughs alongside their thrills.
“The Affair Was Just the Beginning”
Kyung Hee (Kim Hye Soo) is a successful CEO of an interior design company and a popular influencer who has built an image of a happy, successful family with her husband Jae Hong (Kim Ji Hun). Their seemingly perfect life is disrupted when they become entangled with their neighbors, dermatologist Soo Jung (Cho Yeo Jeong) and her ex-husband Bo Sung (Kim Jae Chul), who are locked in a bitter divorce battle. A secret involving the two families sets off a chain reaction that makes an ordinary affair seem almost trivial.
The drama takes the familiar ingredients of marital secrets and neighborhood rivalry and pushes them into increasingly outrageous territory. The contrast between the polished public images these characters maintain and the chaos unfolding behind closed doors makes for a deliciously dark comedy.
Start watching “The Affair Was Just the Beginning”:
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“Mad Concrete Dreams”
Ki Su Jong (Ha Jung Woo) is the owner of Seyun Building, but mounting debts and problems with his property leave him struggling to hold onto the life he has built for his family. His friend, Min Hwal Seong (Kim Jun Han), desperate to solve his own financial problems, draws him into a fake kidnapping scheme. Kim Seon (Lim Soo Jung), Su Jong’s strong-willed wife, tries to protect their family as the situation spirals, while Yo Na (Shim Eun Kyung), a ruthless operative, has her own interest in Su Jong’s building.
What begins as a desperate attempt to solve a financial problem quickly turns into a dangerous mess. The drama finds its black humor in ordinary people making increasingly terrible decisions while trying to escape problems that only keep getting bigger.
Start watching “Mad Concrete Dreams”:
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“The Escape of the Seven”
The disappearance of a young girl brings together seven people whose lives are already tangled in lies, ambition, and betrayal. Geum Ra Hee (Hwang Jung Eum) is an aggressive drama production company CEO and the girl’s biological mother. Min Do Hyuk (Lee Joon) is a former gangster, while Han Mo Ne (Lee Yoo Bi) is an aspiring idol whose seemingly perfect life hides a web of lies. Cha Joo Ran (Shin Eun Kyung) is a doctor whose relationship with wealthy businessman Bang Chil Sung (Lee Deok Hwa) is driven by money. At the center of the mystery is Matthew Lee (Uhm Ki Joon), the mysterious head of a major mobile platform company.
This is melodrama pushed to deliberately outrageous extremes. Lies, revenge, murder, and betrayal keep escalating, creating a story that’s so excessive that its sheer unpredictability becomes part of the dark fun.
Start watching “The Escape of the Seven”:
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“Bittersweet Hell”
Noh Young Won (Kim Hee Sun) is a successful psychiatrist whose carefully constructed family life begins to fall apart. Her mother-in-law, Hong Sa Kang (Lee Hye Young), is a mystery writer with her own secrets, while Young Won’s husband Choi Jae Jin (Kim Nam Hee) and a mysterious young woman, Lee Se Na (Yeonwoo), become part of the increasingly complicated situation.
At its heart, this is a story about a family that looks perfect from the outside but is riddled with secrets. The increasingly bizarre battle between family members gives the thriller a wickedly comedic edge.
Start watching “Bittersweet Hell”:
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“The Kidnapping Day”
Kim Myung Joon (Yoon Kye Sang) is a financially desperate father who agrees to kidnap Choi Ro Hee (Jeon Yu Na), the daughter of a wealthy family, in order to pay for his own daughter’s medical treatment. But Ro Hee is no ordinary kidnapping victim. After losing her memory, the remarkably intelligent girl becomes an unexpected partner to her inexperienced kidnapper. Detective Park Sang Yoon (Park Sung Hoon) investigates the case, while Myung Joon’s ex-wife Seo Hye Eun (Kim Shin Rok) is also caught up in the story.
The unlikely relationship between a bumbling kidnapper and an exceptionally clever child gives this thriller much of its humor. The story gradually becomes more than a crime plot, mixing mystery, emotion, and dark comedy.
“Fifties Professionals”
Jung Ho Myung (Shin Ha Kyun), Bong Je Soon (Oh Jung Se) and Kang Beom Ryong (Heo Sung Tae) were once at the top of their respective fields. After a mysterious incident forced them into exile on Yeongseon Island, the three men have spent years away from the action. A new turn of events brings their old skills back into play as they set out to uncover the truth about what happened a decade earlier. Ma Gong Bok (Lee Hak Joo) is among the characters connected to their story.
The drama mixes action with comedy built around three middle-aged men being pulled back into a world they thought they had left behind. Their age, past reputations, and very different present-day lives create plenty of opportunities for humor.
Start watching “Fifties Professionals”:
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“The Penthouse”
Set in the ultra-luxurious Hera Palace, the show revolves around three women from very different backgrounds. Shim Soo Ryeon (Lee Ji Ah) is the elegant woman at the top of the social hierarchy. Cheon Seo Jin (Kim So Yeon) is a wealthy, ambitious soprano who will go to extraordinary lengths to protect her status, while Oh Yoon Hee (Eugene) comes from a poor background and is determined to enter the world of high society for her daughter. Joo Dan Tae (Uhm Ki Joon), Soo Ryeon’s husband, is a wealthy businessman with his own ruthless ambitions.
“The Penthouse” is melodrama at its most excessive, with revenge, murder, betrayal, and social ambition constantly raising the stakes. Its outrageous twists and larger-than-life characters make even its darkest moments strangely entertaining.
Start watching “The Penthouse”:
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“A Killer Paradox”
Lee Tang (Choi Woo Shik) is an ordinary young man whose life changes after he accidentally kills someone. He soon discovers that the people he kills may themselves be criminals, leading him down an increasingly dangerous path. Detective Jang Nan Gam (Son Suk Ku) begins investigating the murders, while former detective Song Chon (Lee Hee Joon) is also hunting Lee Tang.
The drama takes the familiar serial killer thriller and gives it an absurd moral premise: what if the victims really are people who deserve punishment? Its deadpan humor, strange situations, and morally ambiguous characters make it an unusual black comedy.
“Vincenzo”
Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong Ki) is a Korean-born Italian mafia consigliere who returns to Korea and becomes involved in a battle against a powerful conglomerate. Lawyer Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Been) becomes his ally, while Jang Joon Woo (Taecyeon), who initially appears harmless, hides a very different personality. Together, they take on a ruthless corporate enemy using methods that are anything but conventional.
“Vincenzo” mixes mafia drama, revenge, and courtroom battles with broad, often deliberately absurd comedy. The eccentric residents of Geumga Plaza add another layer of humor to a story where the line between hero and villain is intentionally blurred.
“Agent Kim Reactivated”
Manager Kim (So Ji Sub) appears to be an ordinary office worker and a devoted single father to teenage daughter Kim Min Ji (Seo Su Min). But when Min Ji goes missing, his carefully hidden past comes to light: he was once a highly skilled agent.
The biggest source of fun is the contrast between Manager Kim’s quiet life as an ordinary father and the lethal operative he has kept hidden. The transformation from mild-mannered dad to highly trained agent gives this action thriller plenty of comedic moments.
“Mask Girl”
Kim Mo Mi is an ordinary office worker who has always dreamed of performing but is deeply insecure about her appearance. At night, she becomes “Mask Girl,” an anonymous internet broadcaster who hides her face behind a mask. The character is played by three actresses at different stages of her life: Lee Han Byeol portrays Mo Mi before plastic surgery, Nana plays her after surgery, and Go Hyun Jung portrays her later in life.
“Mask Girl” uses dark humor to explore beauty standards, loneliness, obsession, and the desire to be seen. Its increasingly twisted story turns an ordinary woman’s secret online identity into a disturbing chain of events.
“Family Matters”
Han Young Soo (Bae Doona), Baek Chul Hee (Ryoo Seung Bum), Baek Kang Seong (Baek Yoon Sik), Baek Ji Hoon (Lomon), and Baek Ji Woo (Lee Su Hyun) appear to be an ordinary family, but they are actually a group of people with extraordinary abilities who escaped from a facility where they were subjected to brutal training. They now live together while trying to maintain the appearance of a normal family and protect themselves from dangerous criminals. Young Soo also has the ability to manipulate memories.
The idea of a dysfunctional surrogate family with superpowers already gives the drama an unusual comedic streak. Add violent criminals and extraordinary abilities, and “Family Matters” becomes a quirky mix of thriller, crime, and dark humor.
Start watching “Family Matters”:
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Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Jing Bo Ran and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Drama,Features,TV/Film,A Killer Paradox,Agent Kim Reactivated,bittersweet hell,drama,Family Matters,Fifties Professionals,Mad Concrete Dreams,Mask Girl,Soompi Spotlight,The Affair Was Just the Beginning,The Escape of the Seven,The Kidnapping Day,The Penthouse,VincenzoA Killer Paradox,Agent Kim Reactivated,bittersweet hell,drama,Family Matters,Fifties Professionals,Mad Concrete Dreams,Mask Girl,Soompi Spotlight,The Affair Was Just the Beginning,The Escape of the Seven,The Kidnapping Day,The Penthouse,Vincenzo#KDramas #Serve #Dark #Comedy #Slice #Entertainment1790430609
WJSN’s Eunseo And SeolA Part Ways With STARSHIP Entertainment
WJSN’s Eunseo and SeolA have both parted ways with STARSHIP Entertainment.
On September 17, STARSHIP Entertainment released official statements announcing Eunseo and SeolA’s departure from the agency.
Read the agency’s statements below:
STARSHIP’s Statement for Eunseo
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Eunseo, who has been with STARSHIP for a long time.
We will cherish and remember all the moments and precious memories we made together for a long time to come.
As Eunseo prepares for a new beginning, we sincerely wish her happiness and all the best in every step she takes moving forward.
Thank you.
FROM. STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT
STARSHIP’s Statement for SeolA
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to SeolA, who has been with STARSHIP for a long time.
We will cherish and remember all the moments we shared and the precious memories we made together for a long time to come.
As SeolA embarks on a new beginning, we sincerely wish her happiness and all the best in every step she takes moving forward.
Thank you.
FROM. STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT
We wish Eunseo and SeolA all the best in their future endeavors!
Watch SeolA in her drama “Love in Black Hole” on Viki below!
Go Soo Parts Ways With BH Entertainment After 15 Years
Actor Go Soo is parting ways with his longtime agency BH Entertainment.
On September 15, BH Entertainment announced, “Go Soo has been with BH Entertainment for approximately 15 years since renewing his exclusive contract with the agency in 2017. After thorough discussions, both sides have decided to part ways amicably while supporting each other’s future endeavors.”
The agency added, “We sincerely support Go Soo’s new beginning and will continue to look forward to and support the diverse activities he will pursue as an actor.”
Go Soo is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming SBS drama “Nine to Six,” which is scheduled to air in the second half of this year.
SUPER JUNIOR-M’s Zhoumi Appointed CEO Of SM Entertainment And Tencent Music Entertainment Group Joint Venture
SUPER JUNIOR-M’s Zhoumi has been named the CEO of a Chinese joint venture established by SM Entertainment and Tencent!
On August 27, SM Entertainment announced the establishment of STE, a joint venture with Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) in Beijing, China, and appointed Zhoumi as its CEO. The joint venture was established based on a memorandum of understanding signed by SM and TME in May last year.
Building on the partnership between the two companies, STE will oversee SM Entertainment and TME’s project to develop a new Chinese idol group, with the goal of debuting the group within two to three years. The company will handle the entire process from casting auditions to local management in China after the group’s debut.
Beyond the new group, STE will also oversee the local activities of SM artists in the Chinese market. In particular, STE will handle the Chinese management of NCT DREAM member Renjun and WayV members YangYang and Xiaojun, including local promotions and support for their entertainment activities.
Zhoumi said, “I’m pleased to serve as the representative of the joint venture, which was created based on the strong trust and strategic vision of SM and TME. By combining SM’s strengths in IP and content production with the characteristics of the Chinese market, I will present differentiated content and create meaningful results as a bridge between the two companies.”
All NCT DREAM Members Renew Contracts With SM Entertainment
NCT DREAM will be continuing their journey together as a group!
On August 20, SM Entertainment confirmed that Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung have renewed their exclusive contracts with the agency following Haechan, who renewed earlier this year along with the NCT 127 members.
Read the full statement below:
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We are pleased to announce that Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung have renewed their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment, following Haechan, who previously renewed his contract. This decision reflects the strong bond and mutual trust the members have built over the years as well as their shared commitment to continuing their journey together as NCT DREAM.
Since their debut on August 25, 2016, NCT DREAM has shared messages of hope and positivity through their youthful energy and passion. Over the past 10 years, the group has continued to grow and evolve, turning countless dreams into reality and establishing themselves as one of K-pop’s leading acts.
We sincerely thank all of the members for everything they have accomplished together over the past decade, as well as the fans around the world whose unwavering love and support have been a constant source of strength throughout their journey.
SM Entertainment will continue to fully support NCT DREAM and help the group reach even greater heights in the years ahead.
We ask for your continued love and support for NCT DREAM and hope you will look forward to their upcoming activities throughout the second half of this year.
Thank you.
NCT DREAM is currently gearing up to celebrate their 10th anniversary with their fan meeting “THE SWEET DREAM HOTEL” on August 22 and 23.
Watch NCT DREAM’s Jisung on his on-air show “ALL or NOTHING” below:
TWICE’s Jeongyeon Personally Confirms Departure From JYP + Signs With VARO Entertainment
TWICE’s Jeongyeon will be parting ways with her longtime agency JYP Entertainment.
On August 10, Jeongyeon personally took to Instagram to share a handwritten letter and announce her departure from JYP Entertainment.
Following her announcement, VARO Entertainment announced the same day that they signed an exclusive contract with the artist. The agency shared, “We are sincerely happy to create a special connection with Yu Jeongyeon, who has diverse charms and limitless potential. We deeply resonated with Yu Jeongyeon’s authentic attitude and sincerity toward acting.” They added, “With the global presence Yu Jungyeon has built over a long time as an artist as foundation, we will become a reliable partner who provides unwavering support in various ways so that she can take on new challenges as an actress while also continuing her group activities smoothly.”
Read Jeongyeon’s letter below:
Hello, this is Jeongyeon.
After giving a lot of thought to how to express my feelings, I am sharing this letter with you all. JYP has been my second home since my teenage years; a place where I’ve spent so much time and created so many cherished memories. I am now preparing to start a new chapter in a new place.
Leaving a place that feels so familiar to me was daunting at first, but I was able to find the courage thanks to my members and our ONCE who have always believed in me. I am deeply grateful to my members and ONCE; words cannot fully express my gratitude. I am also very grateful to the JYP family who helped me grow into the person I am today.
The one thing I truly want to tell ONCE is that even though I am moving on to a new chapter to take on new challenges, TWICE, the center of my life, will remain unchanged, just as it is now. Standing before ONCE as a member of TWICE will always be my very first priority.
I will prepare step by step with all my heart—both for my journey as TWICE’s Jeongyeon, whom you have loved so much, and for the new challenges ahead as Yu Jeongyeon.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and always staying by my side. Since we still have so much time ahead of us to create new memories, I will work hard to fill those moments even more beautifully with ONCE.
Thank you always.
Jeongyeon debuted as a member of TWICE in 2015. VARO Entertainment is home to actors including Jeongyeon’s sister and actress Gong Seung Yeon as well as Byeon Woo Seok, Jin Goo, Lee Chae Min, and more.
Wishing Jeongyeon all the best in her next chapter!
Rocket Punch’s Suyun Parts Ways With Woollim Entertainment
Rocket Punch’s Suyun has left Woollim Entertainment.
On August 6, Woollim Entertainment announced that Suyun’s exclusive contract with the agency had come to an end and that the two had mutually decided to part ways.
Back in December 2024, all of Suyun’s fellow Rocket Punch members departed Woollim Entertainment after their exclusive contracts expired. With Suyun’s departure, every member of Rocket Punch has now officially left the agency.
The agency’s full statement is as follows:
Hello, This is Woollim Entertainment.
We would like to inform you that the exclusive contract of SuYun, a member of Rocket Punch, has come to an end.
Following a long period of sincere and extensive discussions regarding her future activities, both the company and the artist have reached a mutual agreement to respect each other’s future paths and to move forward separately.
We will always cherish the time shared with SuYun and would like to express our deepest gratitude for her dedication, passion, and hard work throughout her activities.
Woollim Entertainment sincerely supports SuYun as she embarks on a new chapter in her journey ahead.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all fans who have consistently shown SuYun their unwavering love and support, and we kindly ask for your continued interest and encouragement for her future endeavors.
Thank you.
Wishing Suyun all the best in her future endeavors!
Girls’ Generation’s Yuri Parts Ways With SM Entertainment After 19 Years
Girls’ Generation’s Yuri will be parting ways with SM Entertainment after 19 years.
On July 31, SM Entertainment announced that the company and Yuri had mutually agreed to conclude their exclusive contract, effective August 31. The agency also confirmed that her activities as a member of Girls’ Generation will continue unchanged.
Below is SM Entertainment’s full statement:
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We sincerely thank all the fans who have continuously shown Kwon Yuri their love and support.
After in-depth discussions with Kwon Yuri, we have mutually agreed to conclude our 19-year journey together as of August 31.
Since Kwon Yuri debuted as a member of Girls’ Generation in 2007 and helped lead the global K-pop wave, growing into a representative group of her generation while also shining as an actress, it has been a truly meaningful time for SM Entertainment to be part of every step of her journey.
We are deeply grateful to Kwon Yuri for her remarkable achievements as an all-around artist across music, acting, variety shows, and hosting.
Although our exclusive contract is coming to an end, her activities as a member of Girls’ Generation will continue unchanged in the future.
We will continue to cheer on Kwon Yuri as she embarks on a new chapter.
Thank you.
We wish Yuri all the best in her future endeavors!
Watch Yuri in her drama “Parole Examiner Lee” below:
NCT 127 will continue their journey with SM Entertainment!
On July 15, SM entertainment released a statement confirming that the members of NCT 127—Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan—renewed their exclusive contracts with the agency.
Read the full statement below:
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
First and foremost, we would like to sincerely thank all the fans for their continued love and support for NCT 127.
We are delighted to announce that Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan have renewed their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment. This renewal reflects the unwavering teamwork and strong bond the members have built over the years, as well as the mutual trust between the members and the company.
Since their debut on July 7, 2016, NCT 127 has established itself as one of K-pop’s leading acts, supported by the love and encouragement of fans around the world. We are truly grateful to the members for their dedication over the past ten years, and to the fans whose steadfast support has made this journey possible.
SM Entertainment will continue to fully support NCT 127’s activities and remain a trusted partner as the group embarks on its next chapter.
We sincerely ask for your continued love and support for NCT 127.
Thank you.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that NCT 127 will make their comeback with their seventh studio album this summer on August 24. The group also announced their fifth tour “NEO CITY – THE REDLINE,” which will kick off in Seoul from September 18 to 20.
Watch Jaehyun in “Dear.M” below:
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Also watch Doyoung in “Dear X Who Doesn’t Love Me” on VIki:
