K-pop’s rising stars UNIS are making waves in 2024! On September 3rd, the girl group—comprised of Jin Hyun Joo, Nana, Jelly Dangka, Kotoko, Bang Yoon-ha, Alicia, Oh Yoon-ah, and Im Seo-won—took home the prestigious 'Rookie Girl Group of the Year' award at the '2024 Brand of the Year Awards'.

This accolade is particularly special as it’s determined by nationwide consumer voting. From July 8 to 21, fans cast their votes, and UNIS emerged as the standout new girl group of the year, cementing their place as a hot new act capturing public interest.

In a heartfelt statement through their agency, F&F Entertainment, UNIS expressed their gratitude: “We are incredibly grateful to receive such a meaningful award just six months after our debut. We will work hard to show even better music and performances in the future.”

UNIS has been making impressive strides since their debut. Their first album, WE UNIS, released in March, achieved the 8th highest first-week sales among debut girl group albums of all time. The group has also made notable appearances on various domestic and international music charts, signaling their strong start.

Their latest single album, CURIOUS, has set new career highs. The album topped iTunes charts in five countries upon release and saw first-week sales surpassing their previous works, highlighting their ongoing growth and popularity.

In addition to their recent win, UNIS has already collected four trophies this year, including the Asia Star Award for Idol Star at the '2024 Korea Best Brand Awards - Korean Wave Entertainment Awards', the Popularity Award for Female Groups and K-Pop World Dream Music Icon Award at the '2024 K WORLD DREAM AWARDS', and now the 'Rookie Girl Group of the Year' at the '2024 Brand of the Year Awards'.

Fans can look forward to seeing more from UNIS as they continue to engage with their audience through various music activities, broadcasts, and exciting content.

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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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