[Kang Il-hong's Today Entertainment] Kim Soo-hyun's side demands Garo Sa Yeon's closure: "Deletion alone is not enough"

Day, from the 'Winter Sonata' OST to a super-new song... Is it a global leap?Friday, October 23, Kim Soo-hyun/Lee Soo-man/Haru/BTS/Charge Me[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Actor Kim Soo-hyun's side is drawing attention by taking a meaningful gesture against the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, also known as 'Gaseyeon'.It's not just a matter of asking for a few videos to be taken down. They officially requested YouTube to delete 30 related videos and to shut down the channel itself. The core reason cited by Kim Soo-hyun's side is 'violation of harassment and cyberbullying policies'.Legal representative lawyer Ko Sang-rok stated that this action is not a mere protest, and expressed his determination to achieve the result of 'channel closure'. He emphasized that this would set an important precedent in Korean society.Then why did Kim Soo-hyun's side take such a strong stance? It's because they determined that blocking revenue alone could not prevent the damage. Gaseyeon's monetization has already been suspended, but videos related to Kim Soo-hyun still remain and are accumulating views. Kim Soo-hyun's side believes that as long as the videos are distributed, defamation and secondary damages can be repeated.In addition, they cited the revision of the Information and Communications Network Act, known as the 'Cyber Lorry Prevention Act', and YouTube's own operating policies as grounds. It also implies holding the platform accountable for how it should respond to false and illegal information and the scope of its responsibility.Of course, whether the channel will actually be shut down depends on YouTube's policy review and legal judgment. The essence of this issue is not just a fight between one celebrity and a specific YouTube channel. It's a question of 'To what extent should a platform be responsible when someone's reputation is defamed by false information?'What Kim Soo-hyun's side seeks to achieve through this response may be a standard to prevent similar damages from recurring in the future, beyond just deleting videos. Will the closure of the Gaseyeon channel become a reality? Attention is focused on the impact this decision will have on the domestic YouTube ecosystem.Bada's reverse offering and Sunny's accompaniment... Has Lee Soo-man's counterattack begun after leaving SM?Lee Soo-man's name has become a topic of discussion again in our music industry. This is because Lee Soo-man, the former general producer who left SM Entertainment and even settled his shares, is embarking on a new K-pop project with the rookie groups A2O SOUL and A2O LITE.The success of this new group's debut is garnering significant attention. The movements of seniors and juniors who made K-pop history with Lee Soo-man at SM in the past are also drawing attention.Bada, a former member of S.E.S., has garnered attention for her reverse offering for her juniors. She prepared gifts for the members of the junior groups A2O SOUL and A2O LITE, as well as for the fans.She personally made stickers with the group's name and included bread baked at the bakery run by her husband. It was described as more than just a simple gift, but a scene that conveyed the warm support and loyalty of a senior.Bada also expressed her gratitude, saying that producer Lee Soo-man not only helped her create her musical color but also supported her university tuition when she knew of her difficult family circumstances. For Bada, Lee Soo-man is more than just a producer; he is a benefactor who helped shape her life and music.The activities of Girls' Generation and SUNNY are also noteworthy. SUNNY, Lee Soo-man's niece and a member of Girls' Generation, appeared on a radio program with A2O LITE, expanding her interactions with the juniors. Having joined A2O Entertainment, founded by Lee Soo-man after leaving SM, this meeting is interpreted as a significant scene for promoting the new group.Then why is the music industry paying attention to Lee Soo-man again? Lee Soo-man's greatest asset is his long-accumulated experience and system in producing idols. Throughout the growth process of K-pop, from H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA, TVXQ!, Girls' Generation, EXO, to NCT, he has developed star discovery, training, and global market-oriented planning.Of course, past success does not guarantee the success of new projects. The key point is whether his unique production philosophy and global network can lead to new achievements even after leaving the giant system of SM.The potential for the success of A2O SOUL and A2O LITE also depends on this. The support of seniors and the name Lee Soo-man are important assets that can generate initial public interest. However, long-term popularity will ultimately be determined by the quality of the music, the members' individuality, stage competitiveness, and continuous communication with fans.In particular, if the two teams clearly showcase their different charms and musical colors, they have the potential to grow into a new K-pop brand beyond a single project. Lee Soo-man's return is not simply the reappearance of a producer. It is also a stage to test whether the K-pop production formula he built can work in a new environment.The music industry's interest is hotter than ever in whether A2O SOUL and A2O LITE can write a new success story for Lee Soo-man."Signs of a big hit song emerging after a long time"... Stirred by anticipation, even expecting Japanese debutHaru, a singer who emerged like a comet through an audition program, has been actively engaged in concerts and broadcasts throughout the year and is preparing for another leap forward.She reinterpreted the mega-hit OST of the drama 'Winter Sonata', 'From the Beginning Until Now', with her own sensibility and released it on the 20th. The response has been enthusiastic.It is reported that she is preparing another ambitious work. In particular, this new song is known to feature participation from Korea's top hit composers, raising the expectations of music fans.It is by no means easy to create a hit song in the current music industry. Not only singers from audition programs, but even veteran singers who have enjoyed top popularity for decades are fiercely competing to find new hit songs.Amidst this, some music industry insiders who have heard Haru's new song demo have reportedly given positive feedback, expecting the birth of a major hit song after a long time.Of course, the actual results will have to be observed after the official release and the public's reaction, but attention is focused on whether Haru can create her representative song with this new song. In addition, the recently released drama OST remake song 'From the Beginning Until Now' is also noteworthy.Through 'Winter Sonata', Haru reinterpreted this famous song, which was loved not only in Korea but also in Japan, with her unique sweet vocals and delicate emotional expression. In particular, her agency senior, singer Jo Jung-min, participated in the arrangement and played the piano, completing a lyrical charm different from the original.At the recent fan concerts in Seoul and Busan, Haru captivated the audience with her emotional vocals and diverse performances. Approximately 4,000 fans attended the two concerts, and at the Busan concert, Taiwanese press and overseas performance officials visited, showing overseas interest in Haru.What's even more eye-catching is her future global activities. 'From the Beginning Until Now' is expected to be a meaningful starting point for introducing Haru's musical charm to the Japanese market. In addition, with the possibility of her joining a large stadium concert in Japan with popular K-pop singers, expectations for Haru's Japanese debut are growing.As interest continues in the Southeast Asian market, including Taiwan, attention is also focused on whether she can create new opportunities on the global stage beyond her domestic activities. Haru, who has shown musical depth with emotional ballads, and her new song prepared with the goal of a major hit song,Can Haru create a new wave in the music industry with this new song? Fans' fervent anticipation for Haru's new song, along with the remake of the timeless OST masterpiece 'From the Beginning Until Now', is already making people curious about how it will be received in Japan and Southeast Asia.BTS's global influence is expanding beyond music to K-culture as a whole. Amidst this, BTS's new song '2.0' music video has surpassed 200 million views, proving the passionate interest of their global fandom. /Big Hit MusicCaptivated the 600 million Latin American market... Expanding K-culture's global presenceBTS, BTS's global influence is expanding beyond music to K-culture as a whole. In the Latin American market, which has about 600 million consumers, not only K-pop but also K-content and K-food are gaining popularity.In addition, BTS's new song '2.0' music video has surpassed 200 million views, proving the passionate interest of their global fandom. First, it's BTS's ticket power that has captured Latin America.Through the world tour 'Arirang', BTS will perform a total of 14 concerts in five Latin American countries, starting with Colombia, then Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. The originally planned 11 concerts were extended by three due to the enthusiastic response from local fans.The music performance is also noteworthy. The full album 'Arirang' recorded 78.6 million streams in Brazil and 75.9 million streams in Mexico in its first week of release. This is a higher achievement than the number of streams in Korea during the same period.BTS's global presence continues online. The music video for '2.0', a track from their full album 'Arirang', surpassed 200 million YouTube views in about six months after its release. This is the first record achieved among the tracks from 'Arirang'.The song, which combines one-take action reminiscent of the movie 'Oldboy', unique props, and powerful choreography, captivated fans' attention. This song, which captures BTS's new stage after changes and growth, also entered the US Billboard main singles chart 'Hot 100', continuing its global popularity.From K-pop to Pinkfong's Spanish content and Shin Ramyun, the expanding touchpoints of K-culture in Latin America, and BTS's activities that span concert halls, music charts, and YouTube, demonstrate the global competitiveness of Korean cultural content. Attention is focused on the growth trend of K-culture on the world stage.Global box office success at No. 2 in just 2 weeks... TOP 10 in 64 countries worldwideThe global popularity of K-dramas is once again heating up. Netflix series 'Charge Me', starring Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin, has reached No. 2 in the global non-English shows category in its second week of release, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide.According to Netflix's official TOP 10 rankings, the series recorded 6.4 million viewerships from the 12th to the 18th. The viewership time in the second week reached a staggering 67.8 million hours. It continues its global success, ranking in the TOP 10 list in 64 countries worldwide, including Korea, Argentina, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.Since its release on the 9th, it entered the non-English shows at No. 3 in just three days, and in its second week, it rose one more spot, maintaining its top position for two consecutive weeks. The charm of this series lies in its unique premise and the romantic chemistry between the two lead actors.The meeting between Chaebol 3rd generation Baekho who runs out of artificial heart battery, and Na Bo-bae, a drama writer with electricity flowing through her entire body! Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin humorously portray their story, which begins with a special contract disguised as charging and gradually leads to them falling for each other.In particular, as the excitement grows, light bulbs flicker, and streetlights turn on when the two meet, drawing attention with creative directing that utilizes their electrical abilities.The response from global viewers is also enthusiastic. Online, there are praises for the chemistry between the two actors and Chae Soo-bin's lovely acting, as well as comments that it is a light and enjoyable romantic comedy.'Charge Me', which adds a fantasy element to the familiar K-romance, is expected to continue its global popularity.eel@tf.co.kr