[Kang Il-hong's Issue Talk] 2026 Entertainment Industry Wrap-up, Cha Eun-woo&Ha Young&Park Wi&Hwang Jung-min Controversy

Kim Soo-hyun's 'Court Appearance,' Truthful Battle with Kim Se-ui... Citizen Participation Trial Excluded"Stigmatizing Even the Children"... Writer So Jae-won's Anger at Kim Se-ui's DefamationJennie, K-pop Female Singer's Highest Record... Music and Visuals Both 'Global Top Class'[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] Around this time every year, we look back at the major entertainment news of the year. 2026 has been a year with more shocking events and controversies in the Korean entertainment industry than any other. It was truly a year of constant turmoil.From top stars' tax controversies to private life revelations, illegal medical suspicions, and major entertainment agencies' management crises. As stars beloved by the public were embroiled in various controversies, the entire entertainment industry was shaken.So, what were the major incidents and accidents that shook the entertainment industry this year? We will summarize the top 10 entertainment issues of 2026.First, the controversy surrounding actor Ha Young's descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators. Ahead of Liberation Day, a controversy arose that actor Ha Young's great-grandfather had pro-Japanese activities. Ha Young faced fierce criticism as her past remarks about her great-grandfather on a broadcast gained attention again, and she eventually released a handwritten apology. The controversy caused a major stir in the entertainment industry, even leading to the suspension of promotional schedules for her projects.Second, the controversy over Cha Eun-woo's tax collection of 20 billion won. The news that singer and actor Cha Eun-woo was notified of tax collection exceeding 20 billion won came as a shock. Although approximately 13 billion won in taxes was paid afterward, the controversy continues as legal proceedings are underway to dispute the tax assessment. This incident showed that even top stars beloved by the public are not exempt from tax issues.Third, the controversy surrounding actor Hwang Jung-min's private life. Hwang Jung-min, a representative box office actor in the film industry, was also caught up in suspicions related to his private life. The controversy escalated as recordings and messages released by a woman spread online, and it was analyzed that this had a negative impact on the box office performance of his films. While this is a case that requires careful verification of the facts, it was cited as a prime example of how a celebrity's private life controversy can affect their work and the production team.Fourth, the indictment of Won Hundred CEO Cha Ga-won. Cha Ga-won, the CEO of Won Hundred, an entertainment agency that housed idol groups and famous singers, was arrested and indicted on charges of fraud amounting to approximately 30 billion won. The charges allege that he received large advance payments for businesses related to the intellectual property rights of his affiliated celebrities and failed to fulfill the business. This led to disputes over settlement payments and exclusive contracts with affiliated celebrities such as THE BOYZ and Lee Seung-gi, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry. CEO Cha's side denied the charges in court.Fifth, the suspicion of HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk's violation of the Capital Markets Act. Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE, a global K-pop company, was investigated by the police on suspicion of deceiving investors before the IPO to sell his shares. The police, believing that unjust profits of approximately 263.1 billion won were made, sent the case to the prosecution in September. As the head of the company that nurtured BTS into a global group became the subject of an investigation, significant attention was focused on the domestic and international entertainment industries.Sixth, the controversy surrounding actors Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron. The suspicion of a romantic relationship between a minor, which has continued since last year, heated up the entertainment industry again this year. Kim Soo-hyun's side denied the allegations and took legal action, and the police decided not to forward the case in July due to insufficient evidence regarding charges such as violation of the Child Welfare Act. Subsequently, in October, it was reported that some individuals involved in the spread of false information related to the case were sent to the prosecution. This is a representative case involving revelations, rebuttals, and legal battles.Seventh, the controversy over broadcaster Park Na-rae and the so-called "Joo-sa-i-mo's" illegal medical practice. The controversy escalated as broadcaster Park Na-rae, along with SHINee's Key and YouTuber Ipjalsaetnim, were investigated by the police for related suspicions. In particular, the key issue was whether medical procedures were received from individuals without medical licenses. The issue of celebrities' medical management and illegal procedures by non-medical personnel expanded into a social controversy.Eighth, YouTuber Park Wi's KTX fall accident and CCTV release controversy. YouTuber Park Wi, who was loved for his inspiring journey of overcoming disability, experienced a fall accident while using a train. Subsequently, the release of CCTV footage led to controversy not only about the circumstances of the accident but also about the appropriateness of releasing the video, the privacy of the related staff, and secondary damages. This incident showed the potential side effects of online video releases beyond the accident itself.Ninth, the controversy over MBC's entertainment show 'I Live Alone's' trip to Kazakhstan. Doubts were raised that Jeon Hyun-moo's impromptu overseas trip might have been pre-planned or sponsored. The production team explained that there was no filming support or sponsorship, but they admitted to not properly checking the necessary document procedures when using a rental car locally. This case highlighted the importance of the authenticity of entertainment programs and the meticulous verification by the production team.Tenth, the news of the breakup between IU and Lee Jong-suk. The two, who had been in a public relationship for four years and received much support from fans, have broken up. Both agencies officially confirmed the breakup in July and stated that they would remain good colleagues. Fans expressed their disappointment at the news of the breakup of a representative celebrity couple who had received numerous congratulations.So far, we have looked at the top 10 incidents and accidents that heated up the Korean entertainment industry in 2026. This year, the entertainment industry once again showed that popularity and fame alone cannot maintain public trust.Tax and legal issues, private life controversies, fairness and responsibility in broadcasting – the public is now demanding higher ethical standards and accountability from celebrities. With only about a month and a half left in 2026, we hope that the remaining period will bring more welcome and heartwarming news rather than disappointing incidents.Now, let's look at this week's hot issues. It was just yesterday, wasn't it? Actor Kim Soo-hyun attracted a lot of attention by appearing as a witness in the trial of Kim Se-ui, the representative of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute.The first hearing of the case, where Kim Se-ui is accused of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., and violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, was held at the Seoul Central District Court at 2 p.m. on the 11th.Kim Soo-hyun arrived at the court around 1:40 p.m., 20 minutes before the trial began, but did not appear before the reporters. In particular, the trial was converted to a closed session about 30 minutes after it began, as witness testimony regarding Kim Soo-hyun was to be conducted. This measure was taken considering that the case includes charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.So, what was Kim Se-ui's position? Kim Se-ui's lawyer denied all charges, claiming that the content broadcast by their channel was not false and that they had confirmed the related materials through bereaved families and others. Kim Se-ui himself was given an opportunity to speak and requested bail, stating that it was difficult to verify materials and conduct interviews while in custody.The core of this case is the accusation that Kim Se-ui spread suspicions of a romantic relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time, and that Kim Sae-ron's death was due to Kim Soo-hyun's pressure to repay debt, through YouTube and other platforms.During the investigation, it was also alleged that materials were manipulated, such as changing the name and profile picture of the sender in the SNS chat screenshots provided by Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family to Kim Soo-hyun. Furthermore, the investigative authorities determined that the voice recording file released at the press conference was also manipulated using AI.In addition, Kim Soo-hyun's side has filed a lawsuit seeking 10 billion won in damages against Garo Sero Institute. Previously, Kim Se-ui had claimed that his apartment worth 10 billion won was provisionally attached and that he had no reason to flee to protect his family and assets.Another point to note is the decision to exclude the citizen participation trial. Kim Se-ui's side had requested a citizen participation trial, but the court did not accept it and decided to proceed with a general criminal trial.The importance of fairness in the trial and objective fact-finding is noteworthy. Especially in cases like this, which attract significant public attention and public opinion, it is necessary to consider the external influences that could affect the jury's judgment.Ultimately, this trial is expected to be a crucial turning point, going beyond a simple dispute over celebrity-related suspicions to determine the truthfulness of the spread of false information and the legal responsibility arising from it. Attention is focused on what testimony Kim Soo-hyun will provide during his witness examination and how Kim Se-ui's charges will be judged in court.Kim Se-ui, the CEO of Garo Sero Institute, is currently on trial in custody for the Kim Soo-hyun case, as mentioned earlier, but he is facing resentment from more than just one or two people. Kim Se-ui, the CEO of Garo Sero Institute, has been indicted on charges of defamation against writer So Jae-won, the original author of the movie 'Hope.'The core of the case is that Kim Se-ui made statements on his broadcast implying that writer So Jae-won was an employee of an entertainment establishment, and So Jae-won's side filed a lawsuit claiming this was false information. The prosecution has decided to proceed with a formal trial for this case.However, writer So Jae-won is even more enraged for another reason. He revealed on social media that he had been subjected to the absurd rumor of being a "national male escort" and that as a result, even his children were hurt. He even had to move with his family.Writer So Jae-won introduced himself as a writer who has lived his life advocating for the voices of the vulnerable and appealed that his writing career and his family's honor were destroyed by Kim Se-ui's broadcast. He then said to Kim Se-ui: "I can never forgive you. Do not beg for forgiveness."What we need to focus on here is the responsibility of the media and YouTube. Raising suspicions about someone may be freedom. However, if unconfirmed claims about private life are broadcast as facts, it goes beyond freedom of expression and becomes an issue of destroying the dignity of others and the lives of their families.Ultimately, the core of this trial is one thing: just as broadcasting has influence, one must also take responsibility for their words.Black Pink JENNIE has once again surprised the world. This time, it's with music. The song 'Dracula,' featuring Jennie, reached number 3 on Billboard's main singles chart, the 'Hot 100,' tying the record for the highest ranking by a K-pop female artist.This song, a collaboration with Australian musician Tame Impala, was first released last year. After the remix version featuring Jennie was released in February of this year, it gained immense popularity, especially on short-form platforms, and succeeded in a reverse run. Notably, this third-place ranking is the same as the record previously set by Black Pink member ROSÉ with 'Apartment.'Jennie has once again proven her unrivaled presence in the global music market. She is now solidifying her status not just as a popular idol but as a solo artist who commands the attention of the global music scene. Furthermore, she has become the center of attention in her daily life outside of the stage.Her bikini photos recently shared on social media have garnered significant interest. Wearing an olive-colored bikini, Jennie enjoyed a leisurely break in a natural, unadorned manner. Her signature straight shoulders, balanced silhouette, and model-like visuals elicited admiration from fans.Her healthy and free charm, distinct from her charismatic stage presence, was highlighted. Jennie, who achieves top-tier results on the Billboard charts with her music and leads global trends with her fashion and visuals, is a name that the world watches both on and off stage, making it understandable why people exclaim, "As expected, it's Jennie."eel@tf.co.kr