Top 10 Korean entertainment stories in 2018
From K-pop success stories to weddings and controversies, the Korean entertainment industry was all about news that hogged headlines worldwide and clogged cyberspace in the year about to end.
1. BTS and K-pop’s global push
The boy band captured the attention of global audience with their music, especially in the US. They also received numerous awards and clinched achievements including topping Billboard 200 twice, receiving the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit from the Korean government, landing the cover story of TIME magazine, and winning top and favorite social artist at the Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards, respectively.
Other K-pop groups that made great strides on the global stage this year are Monsta X, NCT 127, Wanna One, and BLACKPINK. YG Entertainment partnered with Interscope Records in October for BLACKPINK’s US debut.
2. Controversies and military enlistments
There were many Korean stars who enlisted in the military in 2018 and some of them were embroiled in controversies.
CNBLUE’s Yonghwa enlisted on March 5 after being accused of getting special treatment in his admission to a graduate school at Kyung Hee University. He was charged with obstruction of business. He issued an apology but denied the allegations. Last October, his agency said the singer was acquitted of the charges.
Big Bang’s T.O.P resumed his military service in January 2018, six months after a court convicted him in July 2017 of using marijuana at his home in October 2016. He got a suspended sentence and a fine. He will be discharged in June 2019.
G-Dragon, who enlisted on Feb. 27, also courted controversy after he was accused of getting preferential treatment when he was hospitalized in June for an ankle injury.
3. HyunA and E’Dawn part ways with agency
HyunA and Pentagon’s E’Dawn left Cube Entertainment after admitting they were in a romantic relationship. In early August, the two revealed they were a couple, prompting the agency to cut short their promotion under the project unit Triple H. The agency suspended their activities including E’Dawn being excluded in Pentagon’s promotions.
Last September, Cube Entertainment announced that they kicked out the two artists for breach of trust and loyalty but retracted its statement on the same day after its stock price fell. Last Oct. 15, the agency announced that it had terminated its contract with HyunA and the following month, it ended its contract with E’Dawn.
4. #MeToo Movement
The #MeToo movement gained prominence in South Korea in 2018 and it spread to the entertainment industry with actors and entertainers being accused of sexual harassment.
In February, actors Jo Jae-hyun, Oh Dal-su, and Jo Min-ki were accused of sexual harassment and abuse. Actress Choi Yul accused Jo Jae-hyun of sexual abuse for which the actor apologized. He quit the drama “Cross.”
A theater co-worker of Oh Dal-su accused him of sexual harassment, an incident which happened in the 1990s in Busan, South Korea. The actor denied the allegation.
Jo Min-ki committed suicide after his former students at Cheongju University where he served as professor accused him of sexual harassment. The 52-year-old star was scheduled to be investigated by the police on March 12 but on March 9, he committed suicide in Gwangjin, Seoul.
TV personality and comedian Kim Saeng-min apologized and stepped down from his TV shows after a TV production staff said he sexually harassed her in 2008 during a dinner for the show.
5. Goo Hara and boyfriend trade barbs over assault, blackmail
In September, singer Goo Hara, former member of KARA, was accused by her boyfriend of assaulting him during a fight. Goo Hara retaliated by revealing that the boyfriend threatened to release their sex video. She filed charges of blackmail and sexual violence against him because of it.
6. Boy band The East Light reveals abuse by agency
Boy band The East Light, whose members were all minors, shocked the K-pop industry in October when they revealed that they were victims of violence and abuse by their agency for years. Leader Lee Suk-chul held a press conference on Oct. 19 to reveal that they were hit with a baseball bat, threatened and beaten.
A few days later, the agency announced it had terminated the contracts of members Woojin, Eunsung, Sagang, and Junwook. It was announced on Dec. 20 that agency producer Moon Young Il was jailed on Dec. 15 for violence ahead of his trial.
The abuse prompted the filing of a petition with the website of the office of Korean President Moon Jae-in to support The East Light. More than 233,000 people have signed the petition.
7. Wanna One to end on a high note
After spending one-and-a-half years together, temporary boy band Wanna One will officially disband on Dec. 31. Wanna One, composed of 11 winners of the survival audition TV show “Produce 101” Season 2, debuted in Aug. 7, 2017.
During their stint, Wanna One became one of the most successful and bankable boy bands with numerous product endorsements and legions of fans. In 2018 alone, Wanna One won many awards including Artist of the Year at the Korea Popular Music Awards, New Artist of the Year at the Golden Disk Awards, and Record of the Year at the Melon Music Awards. They held their world tour this year and visited different countries including the Philippines. Despite that they contracts will expire on Dec. 31, they will attend award shows and hold a farewell concert in January.
Several Korean stars passed away in 2018. Actor Jun Tae-soo, who starred in the 2010 Korean TV series “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and brother of actress Ha Ji-won, died on Jan. 21 at age 33. Minwoo, 33, leader of boy band 100%, died on March 25 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Gangnam, Seoul. Kim Dong-yoon, member of boy band Spectrum, passed away July 27 at age 20.
Several Korean celebrities got married and dated in 2018.
Big Bang’s Taeyang, 29, and actress Min Hyo-rin, 32, got married on Feb. 3. Hallyu star Choi Ji-woo of “Winter Sonata” fame married her non-showbiz boyfriend on March 29 in a secret wedding. F.T. Island member Minhwan and former Laboum member Yulhee tied the knot on Oct. 19 after their first baby was born in May. Singer Suzy and actor Lee Dong-wook were announced to be dating in March but broke up months later. “Boys Over Flowers” star Kim Bum and actress Oh Yeon-seo confirmed that they were dating in March.
Many K-pop and Korean stars visited the Philippines in 2018 for different events including concerts, fan meetings and launchings.
SF9’s “Be My Fantasy In Manila” was held on Jan. 6. Boy band JBJ held their “Come True: 1st Fan Meeting In Manila” on Jan. 14. Jisoo held his fan meeting in Manila in February. EXO held their “EXO Planet #4: The ElyXiOn” tour in Manila on April 28. Big Bang’s Seungri performed as a DJ in Cebu and Manila on June 1 and 2. 2PM’s Nichkhun and ex-UKISS member Alexander Lee launched the “One Night Food Trip” International Edition season 2 in Manila on June 22.
Korean actor Jung Hae In held his “Smile” fan meeting in Manila and Super Junior held their “Super Show 7” world tour in Manila on June 30. BTOB’s Sungjae and TV personality Jung Joon-young graced the launch of the Viu reality show “Hello K-Idol” on July 13. Sandara Park and Nam Joohyuk headlined the Penshoppe FanCon on July 29. K-pop girl group Momoland met the Philippine media on Aug. 18.
Wanna One held their Manila concert on Sept. 1 while Jung Joon-young held his Manila fan meeting on Sept. 22. Seventeen’s concert was held on Sept. 29. K-pop stars EXO, The Boyz, Weki Meki, MXM, Xeno-T, and Hyeongseop x Euiwoong performed at MBC Music’s TV program “Show Champion” in Manila on Oct. 28. Winner and iKON held back to back Manila concerts on Nov. 10 and 11. Actor Lee Jong Suk Fan Meeting Tour Crank Up in Manila on Nov. 18.
Momoland held a presscon on Dec. 10 for their January 2019 Manila fan meeting while Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon held her first solo concert in Manila on Dec. 14.