Even with the joyous wins of SM artists, netizens noticed the absence of a familiar name in their acceptance speeches.

On the afternoon of the 18th, aespa and NCT won the Digital Song of the Year Award (July) and the Physical Album of the Year Award (1st Quarter) respectively at the "Circle Chart Music Awards 2022" held at KSPO Dome (Gymnastics Stadium) in Bangi-dong, Seoul.

aespa, who was named the Digital Song of the Year Award winner for July, said, "We want to thank everyone who has supported and liked us a lot. Thank you for loving our 'Girls' album so much last year."

They continued, "No matter what activities we do in the future, please give us a lot of attention as we come back with great music. Thank you to our company colleagues and our sisters and brothers, and please continue to support us."

aespa added, "We are grateful to our fans who support us more than anyone else. Please expect us to come back with great songs this year. Please also look forward to our concert next week."

Representing NCT, who was named the Physical Album of the Year Award winner for the 1st Quarter, member Doyoung, who took the stage, said, "I am really grateful to receive this award. I would like to thank our fans who support us and the NCT members who could not attend because of their schedules".

He continued, "NCT was able to receive this great award thanks to the fans who support us and our sisters and brothers who are always there for us. We will work hard without being shaken by anything as long as we have our sisters and brothers." He pledged, "NCT will become even cooler and bigger this year. Please look forward to NCT of the Year."

It is notable that there was no mention of Lee Soo Man, the former general producer of SM, who appeared as a regular at every award ceremony where SM-affiliated artists won awards.

SM artists have never missed the chance to mention "Thank you, Teacher Lee Soo Man" in their acceptance speeches for big and small awards.

However, amid the current conflicts within SM's management, with Lee Soo Man sold his shares to HYBE and allegations of overseas tax evasion through subsidiaries, his name was missing from the acceptance speeches of SM-affiliated artists, which was a meaningful trend.

Source[1]

Yoo Byung Jae has opened up about his relationship with his girlfriend, Lee Yoo Jung, and the reactions have been overwhelming!

On December 22, the popular web variety show DdeunDdeun aired a special video from the "2nd Pinggyego Award".

A star-studded event with celebrities like Cha Seung Won, Park Shin Hye, Lee Dong Wook, and many more. But all eyes were on Yoo Byung Jae as he talked about his girlfriend.

During the show, Yoo Byung Jae casually mentioned his romance, saying, "Many people around me were surprised, but I’ve received a lot of support, and we’re loving each other beautifully."

His relationship was one of the hot topics during the ceremony, with fellow stars asking him lots of questions about his girlfriend.

Ji Seok Jin asked if Lee Yoo Jung was okay with their relationship going public. Yoo Byung Jae shared, "I asked for her consent several times, and she gave me a clear answer, so we decided to go public." He confirmed that they were both happy with their decision.

When asked why Lee Yoo Jung is dating him, Yoo Byung Jae seemed a bit caught off guard. Hong Jin Kyung jokingly asked, "Why is your girlfriend dating someone like you?"

Yoo Byung Jae answered honestly, saying, "She said she likes my atmosphere, how I treat her, and my consideration. I always sleep later than her and wake up earlier," showing off his hardworking side.

As for nicknames, they haven't come up with one yet! Yoo Byung Jae said, "We just call each other by our names."

When the topic of marriage came up, Yoo Byung Jae shyly replied to Jo Hye Ryeon’s question about singing "Anakanna" at his wedding, saying, "If I do get married, I’ll ask you then." So, no wedding plans for now, but their love seems strong!

For those who don’t know, Yoo Byung Jae’s girlfriend, Lee Yoo Jung, is a beauty instructor and DJ. Born in 1997, she's 9 years younger than Yoo Byung Jae, who was born in 1988.

She gained attention for her appearance on Love Catcher in Bali, and many have noticed she resembles stars like Han So Hee and Song Hye Kyo. With over 115,000 followers, she’s definitely catching eyes!

Yoo Byung Jae's relationship is sparking a lot of curiosity, but for now, they're focused on enjoying their time together—no wedding bells just yet!

Source: [1]