BTS, BLACKPINK's Lisa, Park Sung-hoon and more: Newsmakers of the week

This week's headlines have been dominated by BTS, BLACKPINK's Lisa, Park Sung-hoon, and the ‘Exhuma’ film. Park Sung-hoon recently tackled rumors surrounding his family background. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK's Lisa set tongues wagging with her Instagram update, seemingly confirming her relationship with Frédéric Arnault. On another front, fervent BTS fans, known as ARMYs, directed their ire towards HYBE. And in the realm of cinema, Indian audiences welcomed the release of the Korean mystery horror film ‘Exhuma’. Continue reading for all the details.

Actor Park Sung-hoon addressed rumors about his chaebol background on the variety show ‘You Quiz on the Block’ episode aired on May 1. Reports suggested he hailed from a wealthy family of professionals, comparing his 'Queen of Tears' character to a real-life chaebol status. However, Park Sung-hoon dispelled the rumors, stating, "The chaebol theory is nonsense. When I was in high school, (my family) became extremely poor". He disclosed hardships like waiting alone while friends bought hamburgers due to financial constraints and living in a semi-basement akin to 'Parasite' for seven years. He further recalled a memory, “When I got my first vacation after enlisting, I called my mother and said, ‘I’m going on vacation.’ My mother said, ‘Can’t you just not come out?’ The situation was so bad."

BLACKPINK's Lisa stirred speculation with her latest Instagram update, seemingly confirming her relationship with rumored beau Frédéric Arnault. Previously, an online post circulated online claiming sightings of Lisa and Arnault at Paris's Musée Rodin. Shortly after, Lisa shared her own photos on Instagram, prompting further buzz. What caught attention were the first two pictures, appearing to confirm their ‘date’. Not only did they match the reported location, but Lisa wore the same outfit as in the online photos. The post prompted her fans to express their support for the couple, prioritizing Lisa's happiness above all else. Later on, Lisa and Frédéric also united for an event, making a charming public appearance.

This week, BTS fans demanded HYBE address ‘false news and rumors’ surrounding the group, expressing their concerns through various actions. Flower wreaths, typically a symbol of condolence, were delivered to HYBE's headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan District on Thursday, accompanied by protest trucks bearing the messages of denouncing the company. Additionally, ARMYs placed full-page ads in Korean newspapers declaring, “We support BTS, not HYBE”. Many fans alleged that HYBE's leadership, including Chairman Bang Si Hyuk and CEO Park Ji Won, were using the group as ‘shields’ amid mounting criticism. They demanded HYBE to refrain from media manipulation and defended BTS against defamation through legal measures.

The long-awaited Korean mystery horror film, ‘Exhuma’, has finally made its debut in Indian across 75 theatres. On May 3, audiences across India were treated to the theatrical release of ‘Exhuma’. This supernatural horror flick tells the tale of a shaman who unearths an ancestor's ancient grave to cure a wealthy man's newborn of a mysterious illness, only to unleash terrifying consequences due to the vengeful ancestor's haunting. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, the film stars Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Do-hyun. Originally released in Korean cinemas on February 22, 2024, ‘Exhuma’ quickly became the highest-grossing Korean movie of the year.