• NewJeans Show Respect for Jeju Air Tragedy with Black Ribbons During Japanese Live Broadcast, Winning Big Despite Heavy Hearts

    NewJeans made a powerful statement during a live broadcast in Japan as they appeared wearing black ribbons to mourn the victims of the Jeju Air disaster.

    On December 30, the group attended the 66th Brilliant! Japan Record Awards (referred to as the "Record Awards"), a prestigious event that was broadcast live. NewJeans took home the Excellence Award for their hit song "Supernatural", making it their second consecutive win after receiving the same honor last year for "Ditto".

    South Korea is currently in a national mourning period until January 4, following the tragic Jeju Air crash.

    In a heartfelt statement, their agency ADOR shared, "We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this tragic accident and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families enduring profound grief."

    They further explained their decision to continue with scheduled events, saying, "After comprehensive consideration of the potential impact on the event organizers, we have decided to proceed with the scheduled activities. However, it is with a heavy heart that we engage in these events at this time. We ask for the understanding of our fans."

    To show respect and honor the lives lost, NewJeans wore black flower-shaped ribbons on their outfits during the event. The group also shared a touching post on their "jeanzforfree" account with the caption, "With condolences in our hearts."

    Photos from the event captured the members performing on stage, their black ribbons standing out as a solemn tribute amid the dazzling lights.

    After their emotional appearance at the Record Awards, NewJeans is set to perform at "Countdown Japan 24/25", one of Japan's biggest year-end indoor festivals, on December 31.

    Meanwhile, the Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and was bound for Muan Airport, crashed on December 29. The plane attempted to land at Muan Airport without its landing gear deployed, leading to a catastrophic collision with airport structures and a fire.

    This tragedy claimed 179 lives out of the 181 people onboard, including passengers, pilots, and crew members. In response, the South Korean government has declared a seven-day national mourning period.

    NewJeans’ heartfelt gesture serves as a reminder of the grief shared by the nation, even as they continue to shine on the global stage.

    Source: [1]

  • BTS' Jin visits Andong to help wildfire victims, serves meals at Baek Jong Won’s relief center

    BTS member Jin has touched hearts once again with his kind gesture to support those affected by wildfires.

    On April 3, Jin visited Gilan Middle School in Gilan-myeon, Andong, to serve meals to disaster victims and firefighters. His actions brought much-needed comfort to the people in the area.

    Gilan Middle School is where celebrity chef Baek Jong Won, a close friend of Jin, has been running a free meal service through his company, The Born Korea.

    Since March 28, The Born Korea has been providing meals for the wildfire victims, preparing 300 to 700 servings each time to ensure that the affected people and firefighters receive warm food.

    Jin quietly made his way to Andong, a region that suffered extensive damage from the wildfire, to lend a helping hand.

    Big Hit Music, Jin’s agency, shared, “Jin wanted to provide even a small amount of help to those affected by the wildfires, which is why he decided to participate in this volunteer activity.”

    This heartwarming gesture follows BTS's large donations for wildfire recovery efforts. Jungkook donated a whopping 1 billion KRW, while V gave 200 million KRW, and RM, J-Hope, and Suga each contributed 100 million KRW to aid in the recovery.

    Source: [1]