IVE's Jang Wonyoung and her agency, Starship Entertainment, are currently embroiled in a legal dispute with a YouTube channel known as 'Sojang', which they've identified as a purveyor of fake news. They've now scheduled a mediation session for May.

The Seoul Central District Court is set to oversee the mediation proceedings on May 17th. This is part of the lawsuit where Jang Wonyoung is seeking damages of 100 million won from Ms. A, the person behind 'Sojang'.

Previously, the court decided to refer the case for mediation. This is a process where both parties attempt to reach a mutual agreement to resolve the lawsuit. If an agreement is reached, the lawsuit concludes. However, both Jang Wonyoung and Starship Entertainment have made it clear that their position remains firm.

Starship Entertainment has been outspoken about their ongoing legal battles against 'Sojang'. They allege that the channel has continuously harassed their artists and spread false information, causing significant harm to the artists and their fans. They're committed to holding the channel accountable through their ongoing lawsuits.

Jang Wonyoung's lawyer, Jeong Gyeong Seok, has downplayed the significance of the court's decision to refer the case for mediation. He stated that their primary focus is on securing compensation from the defendant. He also mentioned that there has been no contact with the other party yet, but discussions might occur during the mediation.

In May 2023, Starship Entertainment received an order from the US District Court for the Northern District of California to provide information. This month, they obtained significant information about the operator of 'Sojang' from Google's US headquarters. They've expressed their strong intention to take legal action against 'Sojang' with Google's cooperation.

Starship Entertainment managed to secure a partial victory for Jang Wonyoung in October 2023 without any argument or judgment announcement from the court. However, Ms. A is currently trying to avoid paying compensation by appealing against the judgment, applying for a stay of enforcement of the lawsuit result, and even depositing 100 million won.

During the second hearing of the lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court, Jang Wonyoung's lawyer argued that it's not clear what proportion of the total profit made by Ms. A's defamation or business interference is. He mentioned that it might be possible to distinguish it, but Ms. A deleted the account, so only the total profit is known.

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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