The January 18th episode of Motel California sent shockwaves through viewers, skyrocketing the drama’s ratings to an impressive 5.3%.

Lee Se Young's unforgettable performance as Kang Hee, torn by jealousy and heartbreak over Na In Woo's engagement, left fans on the edge of their seats.

The emotional rollercoaster of the episode unfolded as Kang Hee returned to her hometown of Hana-eup to oversee a motel renovation project.

What should have been a simple work task soon became a painful reminder of her first love, Yeon Soo (played by Na In Woo), who was now engaged to another woman, Nan Woo (Choi Hee Jin).

As Kang Hee wrestled with her growing jealousy, she found it harder to hide her feelings. A major turning point came when she learned about Yeon Soo's engagement from her friend Ah Reum (Lee So Yi).

Despite trying to hold back, the intense emotions became too much to bear. In a heart-wrenching moment, Kang Hee screamed, "You two suit each other so well!"—a line that had fans crying alongside her.

The episode set the stage for the drama's soaring ratings as Kang Hee struggled to avoid Yeon Soo, but fate kept pulling them back together.

From chance encounters at their childhood spots to visits to Yeon Soo's clinic, every moment brought her closer to a breakdown. This emotional clash delivered the drama's highest ratings yet, and fans can’t wait to see what happens next.

Motel California has proven to be a must-watch, drawing in audiences every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM with its gripping mix of love, betrayal, and powerful performances.

With no sign of slowing down, the drama is sure to keep captivating viewers with its intense emotional stakes.

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ADOR is fighting to keep its hold on NewJeans (NJZ) and has revealed in court that the group’s success wasn’t just about talent—it was backed by massive financial support from HYBE.

On March 7, the Seoul Central District Court held a hearing on ADOR’s injunction request to keep managing NewJeans and prevent the members from signing their own advertising deals.

ADOR argued, “NewJeans is one of Korea's top girl groups, and while their talent and hard work are key, that alone doesn’t explain their rapid rise. From their trainee days, our entire team—over 50 staff members, including stylists, choreographers, and directors—dedicated themselves to their success.”

The company then dropped a major revelation, saying, “HYBE invested 21 billion KRW ($15.7 million) in ADOR in two phases. This level of funding for a single group is unheard of. Thanks to this, we built a special fan platform just for NewJeans and spent 10 billion KRW on their debut and marketing alone.”

But that’s not all—ADOR also pointed out that NewJeans heavily benefited from HYBE’s connections, saying, “Before their debut, they were featured in BTS’ music videos and promoted their songs with HYBE artists through challenge videos. They were introduced as ‘BTS’ little sister group’ and marketed as the next BTS—even surpassing BTS.”

This legal battle is far from over. NewJeans made headlines last November when they held a surprise press conference, declaring, “Our exclusive contract with ADOR is over,” and announced their new group name, NJZ. They’re even set to perform at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23, hinting at their future without ADOR.

However, ADOR insists that NewJeans is still under contract until July 31, 2029, and has taken legal action to prevent them from leaving. With both sides standing firm, fans are eagerly watching to see how this high-stakes fight will unfold.

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