[SBS Star] Fan's Time Travel Quest to Save Idol's Death Lovely Runner Is Referencing SHINee JONGHYUN?

Lovely Runner viewers are buzzing with speculation over whether the drama subtly references the late K-pop star JONGHYUN. The premiere of tvN's newest drama, Lovely Runner, has ignited discussions among viewers, with some drawing intriguing parallels between the drama and JONGHYUN of SHINee. Lovely Runner delves into the journey of a celebrated K-pop star who meets a tragic end, prompting a devoted fan to embark on a quest to alter fate by traveling back in time. In the debut episode, which aired on April 8, audiences were introduced to the narrative of Yim Sol (actress Kim Hye Yoon), as she transitions from an ardent fan to a determined time traveler, successfully encountering her idol Ryu Seon-jae (actor Byun Woo-seok) when she arrives in 2008. Amid the excitement about this new intriguing drama, however, some viewers have raised concerns regarding it, particularly drawing parallels between the fictional artist's demise and the late JONGHYUN. They also noted that the year 2008, when the female lead embarks on her time traveling journey, coincides with SHINee's debut year, with the first episode airing on JONGHYUN's birthday. They asserted that it was inappropriate for the production company to make references to JONGHYUN in such a manner. Addressing these concerns, the Lovely Runner production company CJ ENM sought to clarify its position later in the day. The production company emphasized that Lovely Runner is adapted from the web novel The Best of Tomorrow (literal translation) and is not intended to portray any specific real-life individual. Explaining the choice of 2008 as the setting for the time travel narrative, CJ ENM highlighted its efficacy in showcasing the contrast between different eras, rather than strictly adhering to the original work's timeline. Lastly, the company dismissed any intentional connection between the drama's premiere date and JONGHYUN's birthday, claiming that programming decisions are made sequentially and do not involve deliberate scheduling. (Credit= 'jonghyun.948' Instagram, tvN Lovely Runner) (SBS Star)

[SBS Star] Oh Se-eun Shares Her Surprise over 'Pyramid Game' Co-Star Ryu Da-in's Dating News

Actress Oh Se-eun expressed her surprise upon hearing about her Pyramid Game co-star Ryu Da-in's dating news with actor Lee Chaemin. Recently, Oh Se-eun sat down for an interview with the press to talk about her recently-ended series Pyramid Game. In Pyramid Game, depicting Class 5 of Baekyeon High School, there were many actors of similar age. When asked if this dynamic aided their acting, Oh Se-eun shared, We still gather and keep in touch. Even on the day that the last episode of 'Pyramid Game' was aired, we got together at Seul-gi's place. We were all like, 'Guys, good job. We worked hard, and it's been a great journey.' She continued, On that day, we also spoke about our next projects, caught up on our lives and discussed acting. We even talked about starting a book club. BONA suggested it, saying, 'Actors should read a lot,' and we all agreed. Just before this interview, Ryu Da-in, who appeared in Pyramid Game with Oh Se-eun, made her relationship public with Lee Chaemin. Reacting to this news, Oh Se-eun said, Yeah, they confirmed their relationship just the other day, didn't they? It really took me by surprise. I was just like, 'When did Da-in start dating someone?!' then added, But yeah, I've met Lee Chaemin once. Da-in introduced him to us at the VIP premiere. Then, she was asked if she noticed any signs indicating that Ryu Da-in was in love beforehand, and Oh Se-eun answered, I really didn't see any, her eyes widening. During our project, I felt we should focus on the work itself. So, asking each other questions like 'Are you dating anyone at the moment? If so, who is it?' felt inappropriate. We carefully brought it up following the news, and I was relieved to hear that their relationship was going well. It was also a relief to see so many people rooting for their relationship. Da-in is incredibly laid-back. She has such a down-to-earth personality. When she acknowledged her relationship with him, I thought it was very typical of her. It was so like her. They both have really cool, easygoing personalities, she added with a smile. (Credit= 'iri_ohseeun' 'rxudain' Instagram) (SBS Star)

[SBS Star] For 4 Min Appearance, We... Yook Sungjae Tells How Demanding Music Show Schedules Are

Yook Sungjae talked about how busy his schedule has been as an actor and K-pop boy group BTOB member. Yook Sungjae and comedian Yang Se-hyung guested on the March 31 episode of singer Jung Jae-hyung's YouTube show. To make a three to four-minute appearance on a music show, we had to leave the house ten hours in advance and start preparing. , Yook Sungjae shared during the show. It goes like this. We rehearse for a music show in between times, and then we go to do other schedules such as fan sign events or mini fan meet-ups. After we perform at the music show, we go to different places to perform at other shows. The following day is a continuation of this. We leave the house ten hours earlier before another music show appearance. But no matter how tiring it may be, I am a K-pop star when participating in those schedules. Fans are waiting outside when I show up for a music show. Yes, I'm exhausted, but so what? Some fans arrive there even earlier than I, waiting to see me. I think I shouldn't complain about how hard my life is while having this profession. , said Yook Sungjae. He continued, The fact that there are still fans who come to support me is what got me through all those years. It's been twelve years since we debuted, and some fans who started rooting for us in their elementary school days are now adults. Some even have become parents, taking their babies to see us. I'm incredibly thankful. The energy they give me is what keeps me going. I do the work because I want to show my best for the fans, no matter how hard it is. , Yook Sungjae remarked, emphasizing, That's my job and what drives me. During the show, Jung Jae-hyung asked Yook Sungjae, now focusing more on his acting career, if he started acting because he wanted to. To be honest, I wasn't interested in pursuing an acting career at first. I took my first project because I thought that was a great opportunity. , Yook Sungjae said, recalling the time he auditioned for KBS' drama 'Who Are You: School 2015'. Back then, many assumed I was cast in the drama only because I'm a K-pop boy group member. And at the drama's first meeting, the director asked, 'BTOB? Who are they?', since we were rookies at the time. Those words hurt my feelings quite much. He continued, With my face flushed, I told the director, 'We are hard-working people who have just started pursuing our dreams and trying to achieve our goals. I think what you just said was unnecessary.'. Guess what? The character I auditioned for was supposed to be short-tempered, and my causing a scene like that landed me the role in the drama. It was pure luck. , Yook Sungjae said, causing Yang Se-hyung and Jung Jae-hyung to burst out laughing. (Credit= '요정재형' YouTube) (SBS Star)

올해 항공산업 새 일자리 5천개…채용 빗장 풀린다

국토교통부가 항공 일자리 취업지원센터를 중심으로 올해 말까지 항공 산업에서 5천여 명 규모의 신규 채용이 진행될 예정이라고 31일 밝혔습니다. 국토부는 최근 항공 수요가 회복됨에 따라 전국 공항 업무가 정상화되고 항공사가 인력 및 기재 확충에 나서는 데 따라 이 같은 지원책을 마련했다고 설명했습니다. 지난 2018년 개소한 항공 일자리 취업지원센터는 항공 분야 취업 기회 및 취업 지원 프로그램을 제공하는 곳으로, 국토부·한국항공협회·인천국제공항공사·한국공항공사가 공동 운영하고 있습니다. 센터는 우선 &'지역별 릴레이 멘토링&'을 확대 운영하기로 하고, 수도권 및 지역에 위치한 항공 관련 대학의 채용 정보 불균형을 해소한다는 방침입니다. 또 월 1회 혹은 상시적으로 &'공항 상주기업 채용의 날&'을 개최함으로써 구직자와 전국 공항 내 상주기업 및 항공 분야 중소기업 간 일자리 매칭을 지원할 예정입니다. 오는 5월부터는 &'항공 일자리 밋업(Meet-up)&' 행사를 론칭해 청년 구직자와 국적 항공사 간 소통의 자리를 마련할 계획입니다. 아울러 지난해부터 시행 중인 공공분야 청년 인턴 사업을 항공 분야로 확대 적용하고 2분기 중 공모를 통해 34세 이하 청년 270명을 선정해 직무별 인턴 기회를 제공하기로 했습니다. 선발된 이들은 국적 항공사와 조업사 등 12개 주요 기업에서 일하게 됩니다. 이 밖에도 센터는 항공산업 잡페어, 일대일 상시 맞춤 취업 상담, 취업역량 강화 특강 등 다양한 취업 지원 프로그램을 추진할 계획입니다. 이윤상 국토부 항공정책실장은 &'항공 일자리 취업지원센터를 활용해 보다 많은 예비 항공인이 역량을 펼칠 기회를 갖도록 할 것&'이라고 말했습니다.

[SBS Star] VIDEO: DARA Tears Up Recounting the Industry's Changed Treatment After 2NE1 Disbandment

K-pop artist DARA shed tears while discussing the altered treatment she received from the industry after the disbandment of K-pop girl group 2NE1. On March 27, DARA appeared as a guest on model Lee So-ra's YouTube show Supermarket So-ra. Since Lee So-ra has a close relationship with another 2NE1's member Park Bom, she asked DARA if she keeps in frequent touch with Park Bom. DARA answered, Yeah, we do. We've been contacting each other more often lately, actually. Out of the four of us, Bom is the one who likes to stay home the most. But if our leader CL organizes a gathering, she would always come out to eat with us. She laughed and continued, There was this one time in the past when we made plans to celebrate her birthday. Although the get-together was organized for her birthday celebration, Bom didn't show up. So, only the rest of us―CL, Minzy and I―just ended up having a meal together without the birthday girl. Hearing this, Lee So-ra exclaimed, You guys must be so close, and DARA replied, We really are. She went on, Because we were always together, there were certainly times when we got upset with each other. But over all these years, we've learned to embrace our differences. Knowing we're unique individuals, we've managed to avoid major conflicts, especially as we've grown older. Since they started speaking about 2NE1, DARA also recalled how devastated she felt after the group's disbandment in 2016. DARA said, I first met the girls when I was 20. CL was 16, Minzy was just 13. We spent half of our lives together. Whenever I'm with them, I get filled with so many emotions―gratitude, happiness, you name it. Back when 2NE1 was active, we weren't big on going out for drinks or partying. So now, it's nice to catch up and chat about life. She then opened up about the impact of the group's sudden disbandment, Our disbandment hit me hard. When it happened, I felt like my world was falling apart. I thought, 'This is it for me. I'll lose my home, and... How will I meet my fans from now on? I won't be able to have concerts or perform on stage anymore as well. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she resumed, And then there was the way people treated me differently after the disbandment. It was so tough. I felt a deep sense of sadness back then. (Credit= YG Entertainment, '슈퍼마�R 소라' YouTube) (SBS Star)