Rising K-pop stars NewJeans are continuing their global domination! The group has confirmed their appearance at Japan’s renowned Japan Record Awards for the second year in a row, solidifying their status as one of the hottest acts in the industry.

On December 19, their agency ADOR shared the exciting news. NewJeans—comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—will perform their Japanese debut single, "Supernatural," live at the 66th Japan Record Awards on December 30.

Last month, NewJeans made waves as the only overseas artist to win the Excellent Work Award for "Supernatural," an honor given to 10 songs that achieved massive popularity throughout the year. This win follows their success last year with "Ditto," making this their second consecutive Excellent Work Award. Notably, this achievement also places them in the running for the grand prize.

The Japan Record Awards, one of the oldest and most prestigious music award ceremonies in Japan, has been a staple in recognizing musical excellence since its inception in 1959. The ceremony, hosted by the Japan Composer’s Association, will be broadcast live on TBS, ensuring fans worldwide can tune in to watch NewJeans shine.

Since their official Japanese debut in June, NewJeans has been on a roll. Their fan meeting at the iconic Tokyo Dome was a massive hit, and their popularity in Japan continues to soar. They’ve already made memorable appearances on major Japanese year-end shows like Fuji TV’s 2024 FNS Music Festival and TBS’s CDTV Live! Live! Christmas Special, earning enthusiastic applause.

The group is also set to perform on NTV’s Announcement! Most-Played Songs of the Year on December 28, marking their third consecutive year on the program. And on December 31, NewJeans will make history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at COUNTDOWN JAPAN 24/25, the country’s largest indoor year-end music festival.

NewJeans’ schedule doesn’t stop there! In Korea, they’ll also grace some of the biggest year-end shows and festivals. Starting with KBS 2TV’s 2024 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan on December 19, they’ll hit the stage at SBS’s Gayo Daejeon on December 25, AAA 2024 on December 27, MBC’s Gayo Daejejeon on December 31, and the 39th Golden Disc Awards on January 4, 2025.

With their unmatched talent and endless energy, NewJeans is proving why they’re one of the most sought-after groups in the world! Fans can’t wait to see what they’ll bring to the stage next.

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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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