Lim Young Woong has finally spoken out after 21 days of silence following the "What?" controversy.

On December 27, the popular singer held his solo concert, Lim Young Woong Recital, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where he greeted his fans for the first time since the incident.

This concert marked his first public appearance after the direct message (DM) scandal, which had been a hot topic. During the concert, Lim Young Woong took the opportunity to apologize to his fans, saying, “I’m sorry for causing you worry and concern.”

He continued, “I am a singer. I am someone who sings to bring joy, comfort, and happiness,” expressing his desire to come back stronger and more developed than ever. The crowd responded with loud cheers and applause, showing their support.

The controversy started when Lim Young Woong posted a photo on December 7 to celebrate his pet dog’s birthday. In the photo, he wore heart-shaped sunglasses and stuck out his tongue. On the same day, a candlelight protest for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol was happening, coinciding with a critical vote in the National Assembly.

A netizen shared a DM conversation from Lim Young Woong's account, where they sarcastically asked, “What are you doing at this time?” referring to his dog’s birthday post. Lim Young Woong replied bluntly with, "What?"

The netizen then criticized him, questioning why he was silent during such a significant national event, pointing out that his demographic was particularly affected by recent political tensions.

Lim Young Woong responded, “Am I a politician? Why should I speak up?”

Despite the growing controversy, Lim Young Woong and his agency, Fish Music, stayed silent for 20 days without making any public statements until now.

Fans are glad to see him back and moving forward, as he reassures them with his apology and commitment to bring joy through his music.

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Red Velvet’s Yeri has touched fans with a heartfelt tribute to her late friend Kim Sae Ron.

On March 12, Yeri posted a photo on her social media, showing herself with a woman believed to be Kim Sae Ron. The two were seen affectionately linking arms, reminding fans of their close friendship.

But what really caught attention was the message Yeri shared alongside the photo. She included lyrics from Jennie’s song "Slow Motion (feat. Zico)", which has gained meaning after Jennie revealed she wrote it "for one special friend."

Yeri specifically highlighted this line:
"I didn't leave ya, I still see ya."

Yeri and Kim Sae Ron were known to be best friends in the entertainment industry. Their bond was so strong that when Yeri took her first-ever vacation, she chose to travel to Bali with Kim Sae Ron.

Seeing Yeri’s emotional post, fans left messages of support, saying:
"This is so heartbreaking..."
"Yeri and Sae Ron had such a precious friendship."
"We miss you, Sae Ron."

Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron’s family recently made shocking claims through the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute. They alleged that she had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Soo Hyun since she was 15 years old and that her former agency, Gold Medalist, initially covered the ₩700 million KRW (~$530,000 USD) for her DUI accident, only to later demand repayment after her contract ended.

It was also claimed that Kim Sae Ron had posted an old photo with Kim Soo Hyun in an attempt to get in contact with him or his agency, as they had allegedly cut her off.

However, Gold Medalist firmly denied all allegations, stating, “The claims made by Garo Sero Institute regarding actor Kim Soo Hyun are completely false.”

As more details continue to unfold, fans are remembering Kim Sae Ron for the person she was, not just the controversies surrounding her. Yeri’s post has reminded everyone of the beautiful friendships she had in the industry.

What are your thoughts on Yeri’s emotional tribute? Let us know in the comments.

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