Red Velvet’s Irene has officially launched her solo career with the release of her first mini album, Like A Flower, and it's already a huge success.

Released on November 26, Irene's Like A Flower sold over 250,000 copies on its first day, according to the Hanteo Chart. The album also claimed the top spot on the Circle Chart's daily retail album chart, showing just how much fans were excited for her solo debut.

In addition to its impressive sales in South Korea, Like A Flower topped iTunes' Top Album Charts in 21 countries, including New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Finland, and Brazil, among others.

The album also hit number one on China’s QQ Music Digital Album Sales Chart and dominated Japan’s AWA Real-Time Rising Chart, where its tracks claimed the top 1-3 positions.

The mini album features 8 tracks in various genres, all rooted in pop, with the title track Like A Flower standing out.

The song blends lively Afro rhythms with smooth, dreamy sounds and carries a message of courage and growth, comparing life to a flower blooming beautifully.

Irene will also be appearing on SBS PowerFM’s Wendy’s Young Street on November 27 at 8 PM, continuing to promote her successful debut.

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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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