Latest news with #Cha
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
THE BOYZ's agency chairwoman admits 'failing to properly manage' Ju Haknyeon amid AV star scandal: 'We humbly accept…'
Following the controversy involving Ju Haknyeon, the leadership of ONE HUNDRED Label has broken its silence. On June 18, Chairwoman Cha Ga Won delivered a formal apology on behalf of the agency. She acknowledged the gravity of the situation and accepted responsibility for what she described as serious shortcomings in artist supervision. Ju Haknyeon, once a member of the K-pop boy group THE BOYZ, found himself at the center of a scandal. He was spotted with AV actress Asuka Kirara at a Tokyo bar in late May. In response, ONE HUNDRED Label announced his immediate departure from the group. They terminated his exclusive contract, citing 'personal issues' at first. But fans and the media were already piecing together the full story. Cha Ga Won's statement In a statement, Chairwoman Cha 'deeply apologises' to fans, supporters, and the wider public for the controversy surrounding one of their artists. She didn't attempt to shift blame but instead took full responsibility for the fallout. The agency acknowledges that it failed in its duty to adequately oversee and manage the private actions and professional conduct of its artists. 'We humbly accept that we failed to properly manage our artists' private lives and conduct,' Cha said. She added, 'Through this incident, we have come to fully recognize the weight of our responsibility and are reflecting deeply.' She acknowledged that the situation has served as a wake-up call. Cha emphasized that this moment will be used as an opportunity to initiate systemic change within the agency. She explained that ONE HUNDRED Label would take immediate steps to revise its internal management structure. Plans include introducing structured educational programs to raise awareness among trainees and artists about personal responsibility and public expectations. These programs will also address the consequences of private actions becoming public scandals. The timeline: From suspension to termination The scandal first surfaced through a report by Shūkan Bunshun, a Japanese media outlet. The article included photographs showing Ju Haknyeon at a private bar in Tokyo with Asuka Kirara. She's a former adult actress. She was allegedly seen hugging and leaning her head on his shoulder in images. The photos, which showed them in close proximity, fueled controversy online. Fans and netizens criticized the idol's behavior, calling it inappropriate and damaging to the group's image. Initially, the agency responded vaguely. They stated that Ju Haknyeon would be temporarily halting activities for personal reasons. But just two days later, the situation escalated. The agency issued an official statement confirming his full departure from THE BOYZ and the immediate cancellation of his contract.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Glenview Squares celebrates 75 years of square dancing with ‘Denim & Diamonds'
For 75 years, square-dance lovers have heeded the call—or should we say calls—of Glenview Squares. The second oldest square dance club in Illinois has been thriving since it started in September 1950 at the Junior High School Building on Waukegan Road, which later became the site of the old Glenview Police Department. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, the Glenview Squares hosted a 'Denim & Diamonds' dinner and dance on May 16 at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. Nationally-known square dance caller Andy Allemao came from California to call the dances. Janice Cha of Morton Grove, who joined Glenview Squares in 2003, said 130 people attended the Denim & Diamonds event. 'We had a silent auction, photo booths, a raffle, a cash bar and a delicious dinner,' Cha said. 'We had half dancing and half chatting and visiting with friends.' Mundelein resident Marla Schneider, who is president of Glenview Squares along with her husband Kerry Stein, said the event 'was wonderful. It really turned out well. We recognized all our visitors who attended the dance and supported us. We also recognized all of our current board members and committee chairs for all the work they've done in the past year. And then we introduced the newly elected board. Then we danced and celebrated the night away.' A video of photos from the past 75 years was going and there was a writeup about the history of the club, Schneider said. The start of Glenview Squares was part of a trend, Cha indicated. 'Seventy-five years ago, square dance clubs were popping up all over the place,' she said. 'You could have found a square dance club in almost every town.' She believes that the reason Glenview Squares is still going strong is because, 'We had the right people in place—people who were able to envision different ways of doing things.' That was particularly apparent in 2014 when Glenview Squares reduced the teaching list from 100 calls to 50 calls. 'That's way too much for people to learn,' Cha explained. Cutting the number of calls to learn in half allowed the club to offer lessons twice a year and welcome more new members. There are currently around 110 members in the club. In order to become a member, you have to have learned the first 50 calls. The membership fee is $125, which covers all regular club dances between June and May. There are dances the first and third Friday of each month, September-May. The main dance venue is First Presbyterian Church, 824 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield. Cha reported that Glenview Squares has done fun things over the years. 'I took it into my head that we should do flash mobs,' she said. 'Pre-pandemic, I helped spearhead several flash mobs.' The first flash mob was near the Bean sculpture in Millennium Park. The group has done demonstrations of square dancing at such places as Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo. 'During the pandemic, we took square dancing online,' Cha said. 'When the weather got better, we took square dancing from Zoom to outside in a parking lot.' The club is run by 17 members—elected officials and committee chairs. Some club members take the next step, as did Cha's husband, James Cha, who became a caller in 2017. After taking two classes in calling, 'I got hooked,' he said. 'I kept going to caller school and I kept working with much more senior established callers and I learned how to call.' He described square dancing as a puzzle. 'Everybody starts on a square called their home spot,' James Cha said. 'My job is to move them all around into different formations, have them interact with the other members of their square, and then get them back home using only square dance calls. There's a lot of strategy in moving folks around and making sure that they end up back with their original partner back home.' Club President Schneider praised 'the teamwork, the camaraderie, and the fellowship' of belonging to Glenview Squares. 'Also, it keeps your mind very active.' Cha concluded, 'Square dancing is such a natural way to meet people who are generally nice folks and learn something that will keep you active well into your later years, challenging your body and your brain at the same time.' Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Korea Herald
12-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Suspect in murder of 2 brothers, stabbing of 2 others indicted
ANSAN, South Korea, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The suspect in the killing of two brothers and stabbing of two others was indicted Thursday on charges of murder and attempted murder, the prosecution said. Cha Cheol-nam, a 56-year-old Chinese national of Korean ethnicity, is accused of killing the brothers of the same Chinese-Korean background in Siheung, just southwest of Seoul, last month. He is also accused of stabbing a convenience store owner and his landlord in separate incidents, causing them serious injuries. The Ansan branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office said Cha was indicted on the murder and attempted murder charges while remaining under arrest. During questioning by investigation agencies, Cha claimed to have committed the crime out of anger after the brothers failed to repay him a loan of 30 million won (US$21,500). He also said the convenience store owner had spoken ill of him, while the landlord had looked down on him. Cha began planning the murders six months beforehand by altering his weapon to make it comfortable for use and getting a prescription for sleeping pills to give to the brothers, according to the prosecution.
Korea Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Interview: K-pop idol-turned-actor Cha Hak-yeon comes into his own
From boy band leader to leading man, the former Vixx star carves a steady path on screen At 35, Cha Hak-yeon still carries the youthful spark that gave him a commanding presence in Vixx a decade ago. Turn back the clock to the days of the group's greatest hits, like "Voodoo Doll" and "Error," and that same electrifying energy, now channeled with more restraint, powers his transition from K-pop idol to seasoned actor. While fans may still remember him as the boy band's charismatic leader and main dancer, N, Cha has spent nearly a decade building his acting chops across television. Most recently, he's stepped into lead roles in the breakout hit "Castaway Diva" and the currently airing "Oh My Ghost Client." 'My experience with movement and choreography helps a lot with acting,' Cha tells The Korea Herald at a Samcheong-dong cafe. 'I can memorize a 5-6 minute action sequence in one rehearsal and nail it in a single take,' he laughs. Now he brings that confidence to "Midnight Sun," a remake of the 2007 Japanese tearjerker. In it, he plays Min-jun — a fruit vendor by day, aspiring actor by night — who falls for Mi-sol (played by Jung Ji-so), a singer living with a rare condition that prevents her from being exposed to sunlight. It's Cha's first lead role in a feature film, an opportunity that came rather naturally. 'The director said my energy aligned perfectly with Min-jun's,' he recalls. 'He told me to just bring what I already have rather than create something new.' Now, the actor exudes this relaxed assurance, articulating each word with quiet, thoughtful precision — but that wasn't always the case. 'When I first started acting, ignorance was bliss — I thought I could just wing it,' he says. 'Soon, I realized I needed to take a step back and really build my foundation.' After years of steady work, he's found his rhythm. 'I have this ease now that lets me trust the process and the people around me.' The film itself presents a difficult puzzle for the actors and viewers alike. "Midnight Sun" is largely a tonal misfire — its earnest, PG-13 wholesomeness feels awkwardly splattered across what should be devastating melodrama. The emotional crescendos, especially Mi-sol's inevitable goodbye, somehow manage to feel dead despite all the tragic weight they carry. It's the cinematic equivalent of watching someone cry through a gauzy, pastel-tinted Instagram filter. The role's earnest optimism seems to have left a lasting mark on the actor, though. Min-jun's try-anyway-even-if-you-fail attitude resonated so deeply, Cha claims, that it reshaped his outlook on future roles. 'Those lines felt like the character was speaking directly to me,' he says. 'It gave me the courage to take on more challenging roles' — including his upcoming lead in the BL (boys love) drama "The Killer Next Door." After more than a decade in the industry, Cha still finds strength in familiar places. Though he sat out Vixx's recent comeback due to scheduling conflicts, the group — and its fans — continue to be a grounding presence in his life. 'Starlight (Vixx's official fandom) gives me strength and motivation,' he says. 'I'm not someone who thrives in isolation. Having people who always believe in me — that's what pushes me forward.' The sentiment rings especially true following Vixx's 13th anniversary celebration last month, where the group shared a commemorative photo that had fans feeling all kinds of nostalgic. The members also showed up for him at the screening. 'Some of them even burst into tears,' he says. As for what's next, Cha prefers to keep things simple. 'Right now, I want to carry a full project on my own. I've learned so much from senior actors who create this amazing energy on set. I'd love to become that kind of presence.'
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
SK hynix unveils 30-year DRAM road map
SK hynix, the world's largest DRAM supplier by revenue, unveiled a new DRAM technology road map for the next 30 years at a symposium in Japan on Tuesday. Participating in this year's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Very Large Scale Integration Symposium in Kyoto, the chipmaker also presented its direction for sustainable innovation, the company said. In a keynote titled 'Driving Innovation in DRAM Technology: Towards a Sustainable Future,' SK hynix Chief Technology Officer Cha Seon-yong addressed the challenges chipmakers face in improving performance and capacity using current scaling technologies. 'To overcome these limitations, SK hynix will apply the 4F2 VG (Vertical Gate) platform and 3D DRAM technology to sub-10-nanometer nodes through innovation in structure, materials and components,' Cha said. Historically, semiconductor progress has focused on fitting more transistors into limited space, but this approach is now facing physical limitations. The 6F2 cell design enabled the development of 10 nm-class DRAM chips, but it is increasingly seen as insufficient to meet the performance demands of AI. SK hynix said its next-generation 4F2 VG cell and wafer bonding technology would relocate the circuit portion beneath the cell area, improving cell efficiency and electrical characteristics. The envisioned 4F2 VG platform is expected to minimize DRAM cell area while enabling higher integration, faster speeds, and lower power consumption through its vertical gate structure. Cha also emphasized 3D DRAM as a key pillar for future development, alongside VG. While some in the industry have raised concerns about the rising cost of stacking layers in 3D DRAM, Cha said such challenges can be addressed through continued technological innovation. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to developing a new growth engine by advancing key materials and components essential to DRAM, laying a technological foundation for the next three decades. 'Until around 2010, it was widely believed DRAM technology would hit a wall at 20 nanometers, but we've pushed far beyond that through continuous innovation,' Cha said. 'SK hynix will continue to lead long-term innovation and hopes to inspire the next generation of DRAM engineers. We will also maintain collaboration across the industry to bring the future of DRAM to life.' On Thursday, the final day of the event, Park Joo-dong, vice president and head of the Next Gen DRAM Task Force, will present findings from his recent research on how VG and wafer bonding technologies affect DRAM's electrical characteristics, the company said. SK hynix recently claimed the top spot in the global DRAM market for the first time, surpassing rival Samsung Electronics in the January–March period. According to market tracker TrendForce, SK hynix secured a 36 percent market share with $9.71 billion in revenue in the first quarter, compared to Samsung's $9.1 billion and 33.7 percent share.
