December saw major K-pop events, including SHINee's Key's hiatus, PSY's police investigation, and Kim Woo-bin's wedding.
December/31/2025 17:58
In December, various events occurred, from popular idols' activity suspensions, love rumors, to star couples' weddings. What was the most read article on Kstyle? We reflect on the Korean entertainment industry through the 'December Article Rankings'. [1st Place] SHINee's Key announces activity suspension #December 17, 2025. Comments on relationship with 'Injection Aunt'. SHINee's Key has announced a suspension of activities. Previously, allegations arose that Park Na-rae received illegal medical treatment from a person known as 'Injection Aunt', causing controversy. After it was reported that this person also had connections with Key, his agency SM Entertainment released a statement saying, 'We learned for the first time that A is not a doctor, and we are very confused and deeply regret our ignorance.' They also stated, 'Recognizing the seriousness of the matter, we have decided to withdraw from scheduled activities and ongoing programs.' [Related Articles] SHINee's Key to suspend activities... SM comments on the 'Injection Aunt' relationship. [2nd Place] PSY, police search his agency and vehicle #December 11, 2025. Directed manager to receive psychiatric drugs. The Korean police searched PSY's agency P NATION and his vehicle. They obtained materials related to the allegations through digital forensics from PSY's phone and are considering future summons investigations. Diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders, PSY had been receiving prescriptions for psychiatric drugs without in-person consultations since 2022, and it was revealed he directed his manager to receive them. The agency acknowledged part of the allegations, stating, 'There was no proxy prescription, but a third party received psychiatric drugs on behalf of him.' [Related Articles] 'Gangnam Style' PSY, police search agency and vehicle... suspected medical law violations. [3rd Place] BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter dating rumors arise #December 5, 2025. Attention on arm tattoos. Dating rumors have surfaced between BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter. Photos of the two with similar designs of three puppies tattooed on their arms spread through online communities. Additionally, their previous instances of wearing similar items and Jungkook attending aespa's performance during his military leave have drawn renewed attention. Regarding this, Winter's agency SM Entertainment briefly stated, 'We have no comment.' [Related Articles] BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter, similar puppy tattoos? Dating rumors reignite... agency comments. [4th Place] Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina finally marry #December 20, 2025. Wedding photos like a movie scene released. Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina have finally tied the knot after 10 years of public dating. The wedding took place at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, with many stars, including EXO's D.O., BTS's V, and Lee Byung-hun, congratulating them. It was reported that on their wedding day, they donated a total of 300 million won (about 3 million dollars) to several institutions, including hospitals in Seoul. Additionally, monochrome wedding photos reminiscent of a movie scene were released, attracting attention. [Related Articles] Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina marry today (12/20)! Donated about 3 million dollars before the ceremony. [5th Place] NewJeans announces Daniel's contract termination and Hani's return #December 29, 2025. Minji is under discussion. ADOR announced the termination of Daniel's contract with NewJeans, explaining, 'Violations occurred, such as engaging in solo activities and damaging the group's reputation.' They also announced plans to file a lawsuit against Daniel on the same day. Meanwhile, Hani has returned to the group, and discussions regarding Minji are ongoing. Prior to this, in November, Hae-rin and Hae-in announced they would continue activities with ADOR. Following that, the remaining three members expressed their intention to return, but ADOR stated, 'We are confirming the true intentions' and will continue discussions through individual meetings.
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In honor of BTS member V's 30th birthday, fans donated a symbolic bench at the Trianon Gardens of Versailles. This marks the first tribute to a foreign figure since the palace's bench donation campaign began in 2014. The project, led by global fan clubs, reflects V's artistry and message of peace. BTS is currently preparing for a comeback in 2026 after fulfilling military duties.
K-POP artists, especially Stray Kids, have dominated global concert scenes, achieving top Billboard rankings and breaking records. Stray Kids ranked 10th on the Billboard Top Tours 2025 chart, while other groups like SEVENTEEN and BTS also made significant impacts. Their tours attracted millions, showcasing K-POP's global influence.
Park Na-rae's 'Injection Aunt' has been banned from leaving South Korea after being suspected of illegal medical practices. The Seoul police are investigating her for violating medical laws, as she allegedly provided illegal treatments to celebrities. If confirmed, she could face up to five years in prison or fines up to 50 million won.
The 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen will air tomorrow, featuring Korean artists aespa, ILLIT, and &TEAM. ILLIT and &TEAM will participate in a special medley, while Iroha and Maki will attempt a kendama world record. The event also reflects on the history of Korean artists at Kohaku.
The first lineup for DREAM CONCERT 2026 has been announced, featuring headliners EXO-CBX, MAMAMOO's Hwasa, SHINee's Taemin, and THE BOYZ. The concert will take place on February 6-7, 2026, in Hong Kong, marking a significant event in K-POP history and a step towards global expansion.
ADOR has initiated a lawsuit against Daniel, a former member of NewJeans, her family, and ex-CEO Min Hee-jin, seeking 431 billion won in damages. The lawsuit, citing breach of contract, has been assigned to the Seoul Central District Court. ADOR claims Daniel's departure caused significant issues, leading to the contract termination.
Chung Hyun-moo expressed deep regret to viewers during the MBC awards for the controversies surrounding 'I Live Alone,' including allegations against cast members. He emphasized his commitment to improving the show and acknowledged the challenges faced by the production team, promising a refreshed format for 2026.
On the afternoon of the 30th, aespa departed for Japan via Gimpo International Airport to participate in the 76th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. They announced that they would perform as a trio since NINGNING is infected with influenza. This information comes from local media coverage. Please note that there may be variations in the photos provided.
NINGNING from aespa will not participate in the 76th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen due to ongoing health issues and a confirmed influenza infection. The agency announced that the remaining members, KARINA, GISSELE, and WINTER, will perform. NINGNING had also missed a recent event, raising concerns about her health.
ADOR has launched legal action against individuals making malicious posts about its artists, including harassment and defamation. They are actively monitoring social media and music platforms, collecting evidence, and have involved external experts for serious cases. Additionally, they are cooperating with authorities on deepfake crimes. The company emphasizes its commitment to protecting artists' rights and has announced the termination of Daniel's contract due to his family's involvement in recent disputes, while Hani has decided to return to the group after a respectful dialogue with ADOR.
