On May 31 KST, NCT members Taeyong and Renjun subtly hinted at the group’s ongoing merchandise collaboration with Starbucks Korea.

First, NCT’s leader Taeyong posted a succinct message on his Instagram story: the word “boycott.” Fans speculated that this message was directed toward the collaboration.

Next, Renjun updated his Instagram story with the word “peace” accompanied by specific emojis. These emojis appeared to reference the NCT x Starbucks Korea collaboration.

Meanwhile, the NCT x Starbucks Korea collaboration officially launched on May 30 KST, featuring three limited edition menu items and a variety of merchandise.

Interestingly, many overseas fans—especially in North America—are currently boycotting the global franchise Starbucks due to allegations of its support for Israel in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

When NCT announced their collaboration with Starbucks Korea, North American fans expressed disapproval and vowed to boycott.

However, Korean fans hold a different perspective. They believe that the political stance of Starbucks America does not necessarily apply to Starbucks Korea (SCK COMPANY Co., Ltd.).

The latter operates as a separate corporation, with its owner and largest shareholder being E-MART24 Inc., a subsidiary of the Shinsegae Group.

Although both companies maintain licensing contracts, requiring Starbucks Korea to pay royalties to Starbucks America for using the brand name and logo, the distinction remains.

Source [1]

Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

Source (1)