[Kang Il-hong's Issue Talk] Ha Jung-woo&Cha Jung-won to marry in December after 6 years of 'secret dating'

A2O LITE's debut song hits No. 1 on Melon... Did Lee Soo-man sharpen his knives for 3 years?BTS's 'Arirang' surpasses 5 billion streams... rewriting world music historySinger Sungri's bitter parting with C2K Entertainment... "Is he leaving because he succeeded?"[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] The first issue this week is wedding news. Actors Ha Jung-woo&Cha Jung-won will have a private wedding ceremony on December 13th.In the entertainment industry, there are quite a few couples who date for a long time but eventually break up due to differing interests and practical issues. Amidst this, the news of actors Ha Jung-woo and Cha Jung-won getting married after a long secret relationship seems to be drawing more attention.Of course, the news of their marriage is not entirely new. Their close relationship has long been known among acquaintances, and with Ha Jung-woo's father, Kim Yong-gun, mentioning it earlier this year, the marriage was already anticipated.Their long secret relationship was first acknowledged in February when their relationship became known to the public. In particular, the fact that they have maintained trust and support for each other despite an 11-year age difference is noteworthy.Ha Jung-woo revealed at official events that Cha Jung-won has consistently shown affection and support, and Cha Jung-won also shared that Ha Jung-woo spared no support and encouragement while monitoring her work.The two, who have been active in their respective fields while being a strong support for each other, have protected their love in their own way rather than revealing every moment to the public eye.Ha Jung-woo, who has established himself as a representative actor in Chungmuro since his debut in 2002, and Cha Jung-won, who has expanded her acting range through various works, has garnered increased attention since they were revealed to be a couple. Born in '89, she debuted in the entertainment industry in 2012 with the movie 'Horror Stories'.Since then, she has steadily built her acting career by appearing in dramas such as 'She Was Pretty', 'My Fellow Citizens!', and 'Absolute Boyfriend'. She is also known for her excellent fashion sense and recently expanded her activities by appearing in the tvN fashion survival program 'Kill It: Style Creator War'. She also played a leading role in the movie 'No Turning Back'.Now, the two are standing at a new starting line as a couple who will spend their lives together, beyond being colleagues and lovers in the entertainment industry. Their love, which shows that consistent trust in each other is more important than the dazzling spotlight, if the news of their marriage after 6 years of dating is true, it is expected that there will be much congratulations and support for the second act of their lives that they will write together.This morning, news also broke that singer and artist Solbi and actor Lee Gyu-han will be getting married next year. The two decided to marry based on deep trust and conviction in each other, and recently completed a family meeting with both sides and are currently preparing for their wedding in earnest while looking for a venue.The two appeared together on the entertainment program 'Seeking Old Encounters' last year. More attention is being paid to their surprise wedding news, as their relationship was not even known.Group A2O LITE is showcasing a vibrant stage at 'WELCOME TO SOULITE From A2O SOUL A2O LITE' held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 12th. /Goyang=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolA2O Lite, No. 1 on Melon in 29 hours after debut, 'Epic Return'Another issue this week was the news that global producer Lee Soo-man has returned to the K-pop production scene. His return as a veteran producer has become a hot topic, as he is the one who laid the foundation for K-pop's current status.However, the results of his first work are extraordinary. The rookie girl group A2O LITE is shaking up the music industry by reaching the top of Melon TOP100 with their debut song.What exactly did they prepare for 3 years? On the 12th, producer Lee Soo-man unveiled the 9-member girl group A2O LITE and the 15-member multinational boy group A2O SOUL.The songs released that day were 'NEON' and 'SUPERSTAR', showcasing the performances of 24 members, the global team composition, and intense visuals. It showed the makings of a large-scale project from the start.In particular, A2O LITE's 'NEON' became a hot topic on short-form platforms and online communities immediately after its release. Member Aijing, who opened the song, even drew reactions comparing her to BoA in her early days.And then, an astonishing record was set. 'NEON', released at 6 PM on the 13th, reached No. 1 on Melon TOP100 at 11 PM on the 14th, just 29 hours later. According to the provided data, this is the shortest time to reach No. 1 for a debut song since the Melon chart reorganization in 2021.This achievement, before even starting official music show promotions, is even more noteworthy. So, what is A2O LITE's charm?The key is that they are not simply a girl group composed of pretty members. The eye-catching member composition, performance-focused stage, and musical elements that are good for spreading on short-form platforms are all part of a strategy to combine elements that can succeed in the global K-pop market.In addition, producer Yoo Young-jin, who has worked with Lee Soo-man for a long time, has also joined. There is great interest in how his producing experience accumulated since his SM days will lead to results in this new project.After leaving SM in 2023, Lee Soo-man faced restrictions on his domestic music production activities. With the expiration of the non-compete agreement, he has introduced a new group to the domestic market for the first time in about 3 years. Of course, initial chart performance does not guarantee long-term popularity and fandom. The real test will be what competitiveness they show in music shows and subsequent activities.However, one thing is clear. The name Lee Soo-man still evokes strong interest in the K-pop market. Will Lee Soo-man be able to create a new K-pop formula with the A2O project, unveiled after a 3-year hiatus? We will have to watch how far A2O LITE's sprint will continue.3 years and 9 months of waiting, 5 billion moments of emotion... Have they captivated the world?The record-breaking feat by BTS was also a hot topic. BTS has once again left a huge footprint on the world music scene. Their 5th full album 'Arirang' has surpassed 5 billion cumulative streams on Spotify, the world's largest music platform. This is the highest streaming record for an album released worldwide in 2026.So, does this record simply mean that BTS's popularity is still hot? There are three points to note.First, BTS's competitiveness is not limited to a single hit song. While the title track 'SWIM' is nearing 1 billion streams, all 14 songs on the album have been played over 200 million times. This means that the entire album, not just one or two hit songs, has been chosen by fans worldwide.Second, the long hiatus could not break the solidarity of their global fandom. BTS, with all members returning after a hiatus of about 3 years and 9 months. Their return was not just a new album release, but a moment of reconnection with the fans who had been waiting. The number 50 billion is not only a measure of music consumption but also an indicator of how strong that waiting and support is.Third, the fact that the album title is 'Arirang' is also significant. By combining Korea's traditional sentiment with modern popular music and presenting it to the world market, it shows that K-pop's competitiveness is now expanding to the issue of how to share Korean cultural identity with the world.Of course, a single streaming record cannot evaluate the entire musical value. However, the fact that listeners from all over the world are repeatedly listening to an album named after Korea is certainly noteworthy.Therefore, BTS's 50 billion streams are not just numbers. It is a record that encompasses the influence K-pop has built in the global market, the sustainability of its fandom, and the possibility that Korean culture can resonate beyond language and borders.BTS, who promotes Korea through music and communicates with the world through Korean culture, is why we look forward to their next record.Leaving C2K Entertainment for a new nest... Bitterness of loyalty left after successFor our final talk today, let's discuss Sungri. As always, there were many interesting stories in the entertainment world this week. The entertainment industry is so volatile that celebrities' presence changes constantly, from yesterday to today, and from today to tomorrow.It has been confirmed that singer Sungri has recently left his agency, C2K Entertainment. It is common to leave and join new agencies based on interests, and then leave again. However, the perception that he abandoned the nest where he endured many frustrating and difficult times together is spreading among music managers.While transferring to a new agency after the contract expires is his own choice, the former agency, which poured all its efforts into the artist's success through tears and hardship, has been virtually abandoned.They had been eagerly waiting for their agency's artist's success, and now that they can finally make a living, he is leaving. Of course, there is no contractual issue, but among music managers, there are many discussions about the lack of 'loyalty' or 'humanity' in sharing a warm meal, even for a short time, that they couldn't afford to eat during their poor days.Sungri's singing career was never smooth. He knocked on the doors of auditions, experienced failures, but challenged himself again on stage. He endured with the spirit of 'seven tries and eight failures', not giving up after one setback, but continuing to challenge until he succeeded.And finally, he won MBN's 'Rookie Legend' and became the first legend. For Sungri, who had spent time close to being unknown, it was a precious moment that proved his skills and perseverance.The agency's role in that process must have been significant. In the entertainment industry, where success cannot be achieved solely through the artist's efforts, management is the foundation of activities and a partner for growth. However, Sungri is now preparing for a new start at a new agency.Of course, exclusive contracts can vary depending on the judgment and interests of the parties involved. Just because they have been together for a long time does not mean they must continue their journey together forever. Artists have the right to seek better opportunities, and companies can also make practical judgments.Then why does this parting leave a bitter taste? It is because the time and trust built together since his unknown days can ultimately be settled in the face of individual calculations and future strategies. The patience and companionship before becoming a star are easily spoken of, but the relationship after success faces a different test of reality.However, since the specific background of this breakup and the true feelings of the parties involved have not been fully confirmed, it cannot be attributed to the fault of one side. For Sungri, this transfer can be a breakup with the past and a new opportunity.What matters is not which company's name tag he wears, but how much further he can bloom his hard-earned value on a new stage.We will have to see whether Sungri, who finally reached the top after numerous failures, will make another leap with his new agency, or if this will remain another example showing the harsh reality of the entertainment industry.eel@tf.co.kr