#KOREA IS DOMINATING IN 2025

[bl-bam-beyond]

HEESU IN CLASS 2 (2025, KOREA)

Episode 9

The Penultimate episode of an absolute treasure of a series. And it was everything. Heesu (AHN JI HO) has yet to confess his feelings to Seung Won (LEE SANG JUN) but faced a lot instead with his best friends and his family.

The inner turmoil of trying to say out loud that you are not the same as everyone else. This series captured that for me so well.

In the end a confession was made. Heesu confessed to Chan Young I LIKED YOU (past tense)

And now can Chan Young be an actual friend to Heesu

@pose4photoml @just-another-boyslove-blog @wanderlust-in-my-soul

[othernightslikethis]

SPRING LOVE

3,6k words

Smut, Bf x Gf

Kim Minju x Male Reader

Ahhhh she is so beautiful 😍😍😍

As the current centre-back for Paris Saint-Germain, you’ve become the missing piece in the squad, which now sits comfortably in Ligue 1 and advances in the Champions League after knocking out Liverpool. With solid performances and impeccable skills, the press and fans don’t hesitate to call you "the new Maldini."

But none of that mattered. Not when you were with her.

Kim Minju.

She was your girlfriend. You met through mutual friends when you were both just nineteen. Back then, she was still a K-pop idol, and you were a rising star in Korean football—much skinnier than you are now. To say it was love at first sight would be... a lie. You got along well, but at the time, you agreed to stay just friends, as too many things between you seemed too different.

But everything changed after six months of deep conversations, shared laughter, and moments that brought you closer. That was when you finally confessed your feelings for each other. Your relationship was celebrated with joy, and your teammates were incredibly kind, offering advice—some of them a bit too much.

You never got to meet the members of Minju’s group, but it was never an issue. When IZ*ONE disbanded, it was a tough time for her, but you supported her unconditionally as she pursued an acting career.However, there was a moment when your relationship became fragile: when you received the offer from Paris Saint-Germain at twenty-two. The club was restructuring after the departures of Neymar, Messi, and Verratti—brilliant players who hadn’t managed to secure PSG’s long-awaited Champions League title.

You told Minju about the offer, and she celebrated with you, but both of you knew the distance would be an immense challenge. It wasn’t just moving cities—it was continents, cultures, routines. After many emotional conversations, you decided to break up and remain friends.

But that decision didn’t last long. At the start of 2025, you rekindled things, choosing to try a long-distance relationship. You agreed that if it didn’t work out, you’d part ways peacefully, with no regrets. Since then, whenever your schedule allowed, you’d fly to Korea to see her. And when she wasn’t busy filming, she’d appear in Paris, bringing a piece of home to your life in Europe.

It was hard, yes. The long nights and hectic days tested both of your patience. But every video call, every message exchanged in the dead of night, every reunion—it was all worth it. Because, in the end, no title, no trophy, no praise from the fans could compare to her smile.

That was what mattered. Her.

Kim Minju.

That was why your lovely girlfriend was there, in your mansion in France, a few days before the match against Aston Villa.

Minju had managed to carve out a break from her hectic schedule to spend four days exclusively by your side, especially to watch the game. Everything seemed perfect—the romantic atmosphere, the breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower framed by the mansion’s large window, the cosy silence of the evening... But in that moment, none of those details mattered.

What dominated the dimly lit room were Minju’s soft, breathy moans, echoing off the walls like a forbidden melody. She was lying on the sofa, completely naked from the waist down, wearing only an oversized hoodie of yours that barely covered her delicate frame. The muted light accentuated the glistening wetness on her thighs, where a tantalising slick had begun to trickle, betraying just how aroused she was. Her fingers moved with perfect precision inside herself, curling in just the right way to draw out another high-pitched sigh.

— Baby... Just like that... — She arched her back, lips parting in a mix of pleasure and frustration. — fuck, it’s not fair, ahnn... You promised you’d let me be on top today!

Her voice was a blend of complaint and provocation, but she barely managed to finish the sentence before throwing her head back, fingers clawing at the sheets as her thighs clamped involuntarily around your hand. Her eyes, usually so sweet and bright, were now darkened with desire, locked onto you with an intensity that nearly made you give in.

She was right, of course. You had promised. But the truth was, Minju was rubbish at being dominant. There was something irresistibly adorable about the way she’d try to take control, only to crumble minutes later, whimpering and writhing beneath you. It was as if her submissive nature always betrayed her attempts at command—and you loved every second of that contradiction.

— You say that like I have a choice... — you murmured, leaning over her as your fingers deepened their movements, feeling her shudder. — But we both know you prefer it this way.

Minju let out a sound between a moan and a protest, but the shiver that ran through her body and the way her legs fell open even wider were answer enough.

— Ah! No— not like this, baby...

Minju gasped as your third finger joined the other two, pressing lightly against her entrance before sliding in all at once, filling her completely. You weren’t exactly experienced with women—Minju was only your second girlfriend—but your time in Paris had granted you a few casual encounters. Minju, however, was different. She was the only one who could take three fingers. Her soft, slender frame might have been deceiving, but you knew just how well she could handle every inch of what you gave her.

— It’s too... ahn... much— she moaned, her fingers digging into your shoulder, nails biting into your skin.

You smirked, feeling how she was already clenching around your fingers, hot and tight, even as she complained.

— Bollocks. You fit just fine.

And then you began moving your hand with a firmer rhythm, three fingers sinking deep before pulling almost all the way out, only to push back in, faster this time. Minju cried out, her voice breaking into a sharp whine, and you felt her pulse quicken, her body twisting between the urge to pull away and the desperate need to press even closer.

— Fuck, stop! Stop for a bit! — she whined, but the trembling in her legs and the way her cunt pulsed betrayed her real plea: don’t you dare stop.You leaned over her, whispering against her neck as your fingers kept working, now with a curling motion that made her shudder.

— You can take three, can’t you? Want me to take one out?

— N-no! — She shook her head, eyes glazed with pleasure. Just— ahn— slower...

But you already knew she didn’t want slower. She wanted to be pushed to the edge, even if she pretended to resist. So instead of easing up, you added a slight twist of your fingers inside her, your thumb finding her clit at the same time.

Minju screamed your name, her body arching violently, and then—she fell apart.

Her muscles clenched like a fist, hips jerking uncontrollably, and you felt the warm rush of her release spilling over your fingers as she came, desperate moans tearing from her throat.When she finally stopped trembling, she was panting, face flushed, lips swollen from biting down on them.

— You... wanker... — she breathed out, still trying to recover.

You laughed, bringing your wet fingers to your mouth and licking them slowly, never breaking eye contact.

— Promise you’ll be on top next time.She let out a weak chuckle, both of you knowing full well neither believed that.

— Shut up and pull it out, come on.

Minju was still breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, but her gaze challenged you even as her body trembled with post-orgasm sensitivity. You obeyed, slowly withdrawing your fingers, feeling how she still pulsed around them—warm and soft. A trickle of desire dripped between her thighs, and you couldn’t resist—you ran your thumb over her, gathering some of that nectar before bringing it to your mouth, keeping your eyes locked on hers.

— Disgusting... — she murmured, but the blush creeping up to her ears and the way her legs shyly pressed together betrayed her words.You smirked, leaning over her, bracing yourself on your arms to avoid crushing her completely.

— You love it.

She tried to look away, but you gently cupped her chin, forcing her to meet your gaze. — Do you really want me to stop?

Minju bit her lower lip, hesitating. You knew that expression—it was the face she made when torn between what she should want and what she actually desired.

—...No.

The answer came in an almost ashamed whisper, and it was enough to make your blood boil. You captured her lips in a voracious kiss, feeling her melt against you, her hands gripping your back as if afraid you might vanish.

When you pulled apart, she was even more breathless, her eyes glazed.

— Then show me how you want it.

Minju hesitated for a second before rolling over, pushing you back against the sofa cushions. She settled onto your lap, still wearing that oversized hoodie that only amplified her aura of perverse innocence. Her hands trembled slightly as she undid your trousers, but when she finally freed your erection, her gaze darkened with desire.

— You’re... Big today. — She murmured, wrapping her hand around you experimentally.

You clenched your teeth, feeling her heat even in that minimal contact.

— Your fault.

Minju smiled then—one of those rare, wicked smiles that only appeared when she was especially confident or aroused.

— Then I should apologise properly, yeah?

Before you could respond, she leaned forward, taking you between her lips in a slow, deliberate motion. You groaned, your hands instinctively tangling in her hair. She wasn’t the most experienced, but the way she looked up at you with those big, pleading eyes as she sucked you like you were her last sip of water in the desert—fuck.

— Minju... Your warning came out more as a moan.

She ignored you, deepening the movement until you felt her throat constrict around the head. You arched your back, muscles tensing.

— If you don’t stop, I’m gonna—

Minju pulled back at the last second, letting you slip from her mouth with an audible pop. Her face was flushed, lips glossy and swollen.

— I want you inside me.

She didn’t need to ask twice.

In one fluid motion, you pulled her up, aligning her with your length. She was already so wet that she slid down without resistance, taking you all in one smooth movement. The two of you moaned in unison—her, at the sensation of being stretched open again; you, at the unbearable heat of her tightening around you.

— fuck… — Minju arched her back, her hands gripping your shoulders. — So full…

You held her hips, helping her find a rhythm.

— You can take it. You always can.

She began to move, hesitant at first, but soon gaining confidence. You watched, mesmerised—the way her breasts swayed slightly under her hoodie, the mix of concentration and pleasure on her face, the obscenely wet sound every time she sank down to the base.

It was beautiful. It was filthy. It was Minju.And when she started losing her breath, her movements growing uncoordinated, you took control, flipping your positions in one swift motion. She gasped in surprise, but you were already between her legs, lifting one over your shoulder to plunge even deeper.

— I said you could be on top… — you growled, thrusting hard. — Didn’t say for how long.

Minju cried out, nails digging into your back, but her hips were already meeting yours. She was close again—you could tell by the way she clenched around you, by the way her moans turned higher, more desperate.

— Come on. — You ordered, rubbing her clit between your fingers. — Come for me.

She obeyed with a sharp cry, her body arching violently as the wave hit her. You held her through it, drawing out every spasm until your own back tingled, the pressure becoming unbearable.

— Inside? — You asked, already knowing the answer.

Minju nodded frantically, eyes brimming with tears.

— Inside, inside, please—

That was enough. You pulled her flush against you, burying yourself to the hilt as you came, her name spilling from your lips like a mantra.

When the haze of pleasure finally began to fade, Minju lay sprawled across your chest, utterly spent, her fingers tracing idle patterns on your skin.

— Still think I don’t let you be on top? — You teased, brushing sweat-damp hair from her face.

She gave your chest a weak slap, no real force behind it. — Prat…

Minju mumbled against you, but the satisfied smile on her lips gave her away. She was exhausted, but you knew her body would still respond to touch, always so sensitive after the first climax. Your hands slid down her back, exploring every curve, before gripping her arse firmly.

— Think we’re done? — You whispered in her ear, feeling her shiver.

She lifted her head, eyes slightly unfocused. —You still not satisfied?

You laughed, rolling onto your side to face her. —Not even close.

Your fingers found her clit again, rubbing slow circles as she writhed against you.

— Let’s try it like this. — You suggested, guiding her leg over your hip.

Minju understood what you wanted and adjusted, letting you slide back into her. She was so soft and warm inside, still sensitive but ready for more. You started with slow, deep strokes, feeling every inch of her stretch around you.

— This good?

She bit her lip and nodded, fingers clutching your arm. — Slower… just a bit…

You obliged, keeping the pace steady, but after a few minutes, she began rocking her hips against yours, asking for more.

— Fancy a different position? You asked, already knowing the answer.

She shook her head, breathless. — Want you… from behind.

You didn’t need convincing. Gently, you helped her turn, positioning her on all fours on the sofa. She arched her back perfectly, and you couldn’t resist—running your hands over her curves before lining up and sliding in smoothly.

—Fuck… You groaned, feeling her even tighter like this.

Minju buried her face in the sofa, muffling her moans, but you knew she loved it. You gripped her hips and picked up the pace, each thrust harder than the last.

— More… more… — She begged between ragged breaths.You gave in, losing yourself to the rhythm until she trembled again, her body clenching around yours. This time, you didn’t hold back—letting yourself go with her—until a wicked idea struck.You leaned down, letting saliva drip onto her even tighter hole, her arse, feeling her tense and glance sharply over her shoulder.

— Wait, what? Hang on, we’ve never done anything there! You can’t just assume I’d—

You raised a brow and smirked, pulling back and lining up against her again.

— You can take it.

— Like hell I can, you’re big, really huge! I’ll die if you—

She cut off with a gasp as the head of your cock pressed slowly into her arse.

— Relax… — you murmur, holding her hips firmly as you slide just the tip inside her, feeling her initial resistance. — Take a deep breath… like this…

Minju moaned, her fingers digging into the sofa cushions, but she obeyed, inhaling slowly as her body adjusted to the gradual intrusion. You could feel the tension in her muscles, the near-suffocating heat, and you had to restrain yourself from losing control right then. Your heart pounded wildly, as if trying to escape your chest, and the air around you felt charged with electricity.

— Does it hurt? — you asked, stopping completely to let her adjust, your eyes fixed on her face for any sign of discomfort.

She shook her head, breathless, her lips slightly parted.

— No… just strange. Keep going, but… slowly.

Her voice was a silken thread, trembling faintly, sending a shiver down your spine.

You obeyed, advancing inch by inch, each movement calculated not to startle her. Until, finally, her body yielded and accepted you fully. A rough groan escaped your throat when she was completely filled, and Minju arched her back, her lips forming a perfect ‘o’ of surprise and pleasure.

— Fuck… you fit so perfectly here… — you muttered, almost breathless, the words gritted between your teeth. The sensation was indescribable—as if she enveloped you in a completely new way, tighter, more intense, as if she’d been moulded just for you.

She didn’t respond, but the flush on her cheeks and the way her muscles clenched around you said it all. You began to move, slowly at first, testing her limits, but soon found a rhythm that drew higher, more desperate moans from her. Your bodies intertwined, creating a symphony of muffled sounds and skin against skin.

— That’s it… just like that… — she whispered, tossing her head back when you hit that spot, her hands gripping the sheets tightly.

You smirked, mischievous, and repeated the motion, firmer this time, making her cry out.

— You like that, don’t you? Want me to go deeper? — Your voice was rough, thick with desire, and you felt your own pulse quicken further at her reaction to your tone.

She nodded frantically, her fingers now clutching the arm of the sofa as if it were her only anchor.

— Don’t stop… please, don’t stop…

Her plea was almost childlike in its sincerity, and a wave of possessiveness surged through your chest.You had no intention of stopping. Your hips rocked against her with increasing force, each thrust deeper than the last, until she began trembling uncontrollably, her moans turning almost tearful. The sound was intoxicating, and you leaned down to drag your tongue along her neck, savouring the salt of her sweat.

— Gonna come again? — you teased, feeling her walls clench around you. — Want to feel you squeezing me like this… all of you…

She couldn’t answer, only let out a high-pitched moan as her orgasm hit, her entire body curving as she clung to you like she was drowning. You held her steady, prolonging every spasm, until your own resistance gave way and you buried yourself to the hilt, spilling inside her with a muffled growl against her shoulder.

For a long moment, the two of you stayed like that, panting, glued together by sweat and body heat. The air around you seemed frozen in time, and you closed your eyes, committing every detail to memory—her scent, the sound of her breathing, the way your bodies fit together perfectly.You finally pulled out, and Minju collapsed onto the sofa, utterly spent, her eyes closed.

— I… hate you… — she murmured, without any conviction, her voice hoarse from moaning.

You laughed, lying beside her and pulling her against your chest. — Liar. You love me.She didn’t reply, but the small, satisfied smile on her lips was answer enough.

— You were insatiable today...

Minju breathed deeply, still catching her breath, her body relaxed and heavy against yours. You could feel her warmth mingling with yours, their skin slightly sticky with sweat. Gently, you ran your hand along her back, tracing soft lines up to her nape, where the muscles were still tense.

— You alright? — you asked quietly, your fingers massaging slow circles into the spot, loosening invisible knots.

She let out a barely-there sigh, sinking further into your embrace. — Mm-hmm… just tired.

Her voice was drowsy, and you felt such overwhelming fondness it almost hurt.You smiled, understanding perfectly. You knew that even after the high, her body would still be sensitive—especially after what you’d done. Without hurry, you reached for the hoodie that had been discarded earlier and draped it over the two of you, covering yourselves partially. The soft fabric was warm and familiar, and Minju nuzzled into it with a murmur of contentment.

— Hang on. — You got up for a moment, heading to the bathroom to fetch a damp cloth and a clean towel. When you returned, she was lying on her side, eyes half-lidded but still awake. — Come here.

Minju turned with slight hesitation, and you began cleaning her skin with gentle strokes, running the warm cloth over her thighs, her stomach, her breasts—all with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the intensity from before. She watched in silence, but you noticed the gleam in her eyes, the wordless gratitude.

— Did it hurt? — you asked, pausing when she winced slightly as you wiped between her legs.

— Just a bit… but that’s normal, right?

She shrugged, as if trying to downplay it, but you knew every microexpression of hers.

You didn’t reply, just leaned down and pressed a light kiss to the inside of her thigh, almost paternal. — Here.

You grabbed some lotion from the coffee table and dabbed a bit onto your fingertips before applying it where you knew she’d be most tender. The massage was slow, almost therapeutic, and she let out a deep sigh, melting under your touch.

— You’re good at this… — she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut, her voice fading to a whisper.

— It’s the least I can do. — You chuckled softly, finishing up before lying back down beside her. You pulled the hoodie over both of you, creating a cocoon of warmth between your bodies, and wrapped your arms around her. — Sleep. I’ll stay here. Night.

— Mhm, night. Love you.

Her voice was so soft you almost missed it, but the words reverberated in your chest like a bell. Within seconds, her breathing slowed, her face finally relaxed. You stayed there, listening to the quiet rhythm, your fingers playing with strands of her hair as the night passed slowly. The world outside could wait.

— Love you too.

[lara635kookie]

K-Profiles for Kpop Demon Hunters with my headcanons part 2: (People please keep in mind that we know way more about the girls than about them, so aside from Jinu, the other guys I based purely on my imagination, guesses and the vibes I got from them and with time I'll update with the canon)

Saja Boys Members Profile (Updated!)

Saja Boys Members Profile and Facts

Saja Boys (사자 보이즈) is a South Korean 5-member boy group under 2M Entertainment. The group consists of Jinu, Abby, Baby, Romance, and Mystery. The Saja Boys debuted on XX/XX/2025 with the lead single "Soda Pop" on the mini album "Saja Storm."

Group Name Meaning: Saja means "lion," who is a symbol of bravery, courage, fierceness, power, and domination.

Official Greeting: "We're your lions. Hello, we are the Saja Boys!"

("우리는 사자예요. 안녕하세요, 사자 보이즈입니다!")

Saja Boys Official Fandom Name: Pride (자부심)

Fandom Name Meaning: The Saja Boys, the lions, are the protectors who protect the souls of their fans, and their fans support them with all pride and give them strength to go on.

Saja Boys Official Color: Red.

Saja Boys Official Dorm Arrangement (Since 2025): Jinu and Abby share Dorm 1. Baby, Romance, and Mystery share Dorm 2.

Saja Boys Official Logo:

Saja Boys Official Accounts:

Instagram: @thesajaboys

YouTube: Saja Boys

X (Twitter): @sajaboysofficial

Facebook: @sajaboysofficial

Official website: 2ment.sajaboys.com

Official fancafe: Saja Boys

Tik Tok: @thesajaboys

Weverse: Saja Boys

Saja Boys Members Profile:

Jinu

Stage Name: Jinu (진우)

Birth Name: Choi Jinu (최진우)

English Name: Paul Choi

Position(s): Main Vocal, Leader, Center, Face of the Group, Visual

Birthday: 17/08/2002

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Horse

Height: 188cm (6'2")

Weight: 70kg (154lbs)

Blood Type: AB+

MBTI Type: ENTJ

Nationality:Korean-Canadian

Color: Black #000000

Instagram: @paulchoijinu

Jinu Facts:

- Jinu is born in Seoul, South Korea.

- When he was 7 years old, his family moved to Canada, so he was raised in Toronto, Ontario.

- He is fluent in Korean, English, French and Japanese.

- For his killer and almost hypnotizing charisma and magnetism, he's been nicknamed "X Generation It Boy", "The Prince of Korea" and "Korea's Number One Charmer".

- He is a classical music enthusiast.

- Since his childhood, he's been musically gifted, not only having a versatile voice but also being a prodigy in playing bipa, lute, mandolin, violin, cello, and harp.

- He graduated from The Glenn Gould School and almost went to college at The Royal Music Conservatory in Toronto, but decided to become an idol in Korea instead.

- He described his ideal type as a girl who is authetic, passionate and intense.

- Since XX/XX/2025 he's been an MC for KBS Music Bank with HUNTRIX's Rumi, both of them being praised for their professionalism and chemistry.

- His duet with HUNTRIX's Rumi of the Saja Boys "Soda Pop", their first MC Stage, went viral.

- He is a global ambassador for Gucci, Valentino, Jacquemus and Ralph Lauren.

- He is a hapkido black belt.

- According to the other members, his cooking skills are superb, being the group's "personal chef".

- He's been on the cover of GQ Korea.

- Due to his recent debut as an actor, he went to the Cannes Festival.

- He was rumored to be dating Korean-British actress Samantha Rachel Hari Shin, or simply Samantha Shin, one of his co-stars for the movie "X" in which they have a song together in the sound track, what 2M firmly denied.

- Aside from the irony of the group's symbol being a lion, his favorite animals are tigers because they represent strength and in Korean mythology they are seen as a protector against evil spirits and a guardian of good fortune. He also likes birds a lot.

- He likes to study ancient Korean History, specially myths about mystical beings.

See more Jinu fun facts...

Abby

Stage Name: Abby (애비)

Birth Name: Abbott Park

Korean Name: Park Abeom (박아범)

Position(s): Lead Vocal, Visual, Rapper

Birthday: 20/06/2005

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Rooster

Height: 190cm (6'3")

Weight: 80kg (176lbs)

Blood Type: B-

MBTI Type: ENTP

Nationality:Korean-Australian

Color: Yellow #FFFF00

Instagram: @abeompark

Abby Facts:

- Abby's birth location in Korea is unknown, but he was adopted by an Australian-Korean couple and raised in Sydney with his adoptive family.

- He used to suffer bullying due to his name in the past and almost changed, but instead decided to embrace it proudly.

- According to the other members, he is the most fashionable of the group, taking the longest to get ready.

- He loves to practice sports in his free time.

- It was revealed he wanted to be a professional athlete and go to the Olympics one day, but he decided to become an idol instead.

- The other members described him as a golden retrivier.

- Due to his athletic background, he is very competitive and won ISAC (Idol Star Athletic Championships) in ssireum (korean wrestling).

- He described his ideal type as a girl who is tall and assertive.

- His family has a golden retrivier.

- His favorite sport is surfing.

- He is the most active member in social media, frequently making lives on Instagram.

- Abby can speak English, Korean, KSL (Korean Sign Language) and Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) due to his father being deaf.

- Due to his father's condition, he has always been very vocal about accessibility and inclusivity, specially for the deaf community.

-He knows the basics of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and even some Australian Aboriginal languages due to his graduation from The Australian International School.

- He is a global ambassador for Calvin Klein, Burberry, Armani and Ferragamo.

- He has been on the cover for GQ Australia.

- He loves to watch Formula 1 and his favorite F1 driver of all time is Ayrton Senna.

- He's been allegedly linked to HUNTRIX'S Mira, just like Romance, according to insiders, information neither 2M or Sunlight has released statements about.

See more Abby fun facts...

Baby

Stage Name: Baby (아기)

Birth Name: Kwon Seong-ho (권성호)

English Name: Samuel Kwon

Position(s): Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Vocalist, Maknae

Birthday: 09/03/2006

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Dog

Height: 181 (5'11")

Weight: 65kg (143lbs)

Blood Type: O+

MBTI Type: ISTP

Nationality: Korean

Color: Seafoam #3DED97

Instagram: @seong_hokwon

Baby Facts:

- Baby was born in Busan, South Korea.

- His dance specialties include hip-hop, popping, krump, and contemporary fusion.

- Fans often call him a panther because of his feline-like, precise dance moves and sharp gaze.

- A known foodie, especially passionate about street food — his vlog series about it is a fan favorite.

- He wants to get a tattoo in the future.

- He is a global ambassador for Prada, Jean Paul Gaultier and Schiaparelli.

- Before his debut, Seong-ho participated in the MNET reality show series "Stage Fighter", being one of the winning contestants.

- At first he wanted to be a soloist rapper, but was persuaded by 2M to join the group.

- Kendrick Lamar's Remix Version "Not Like Us feat. Seong-ho of Saja Boys" went viral, specially on Tik Tok.

- His cute appearance aside, he prefers when the group goes for a darker concept.

- He is fluent in Korean and English due to his time as an exchange student in New Zealand.

- He graduated high school from the ACG Parnell College.

- He is the member that can handle spice the best.

- He loves to read and often gives fans book recommendations on his live streams.

- He is a football fan and his favorite player is Lionel Messi.

- As he is the shortest member, he often uses hats on his head to look taller.

- He is really smart, with an IQ of 150.

- Baby can reach more than 10 SPS (syllabes per second).

See more Baby fun facts...

Romance

Stage Name: Romance (로맨스)

Birth Name: Lee Yong-jae (이용재)

Position(s): Lead Rapper, Vocalist, Dancer

Birthday: 01/11/2004

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey

Height: 185cm (6'1")

Weight: 68kg (149lbs)

Blood Type: A-

MBTI Type: ISTJ

Nationality: Korean

Color: White #FFFFFF

Instagram: @leeyong_jjae

Romance Facts:

- He is born and raised in Daegu, South Korea.

- His hobbies include photography and making sculptures.

- He is ambidextrous, being able to perfectly master anything with both of his hands.

- He prefers to keep his hair long and is always dying it.

- Romance is a global ambassador for Loewe and Versace.

- The other members described him as a "flirt" and a "heartthrob", so much that he adopted a heart as his official symbol.

- According to the other guys, he wears his heart on his sleeves and is a ladies men.

- He knows a lot about gardening.

- His favorite flower are Asian Bleeding Hearts.

- His groupmates tease him about his knowledge about flowers being only to impress girls.

- He is the member who loves fashion the most, even having his own collection with Versace.

- When it comes to fashion, he also promotes a lot of Korean national brands he has worked with.

- He can speak Korean, English and is conversational in Afrikaans and Zulu due to his time modelling in South Africa as a teen.

- It is rumored he wants to make an exhibition of his photographs and sculptures soon.

- One of his dreams is to collab with Ed Sheeran.

- His favorite movie is the 2019 Oscar Winner "Parasite".

- He loves to play videogames and has an Xbox and a Playstation.

- He makes lives on Twitch playing games such as "Resident Evil", "The Last of Us", "FIFA", etc.

See more Romance fun facts...

Mystery

Stage Name: Min-kyu (민규)

Birth Name: Han Min-kyu (한민규)

Position(s): Main Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: 30/12/2004

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey

Height: 183cm (6'0")

Weight: 67kg (147lbs)

Blood Type: AB-

MBTI Type: INTJ

Nationality: Korean

Color: Silver #C0C0C0

Instagram: @mkhanminkyu

Mystery Facts:

- Mystery is born in Incheon, South Korea.

- He loves to sleep and is often described as a sleepy head.

- According to him, he's only energetic when he dances.

- He goes full out when he's dancing, being praised by his versatility and already considered one of the best kpop dancers of his generation.

- His favorite dance style is break dancing.

- He has worked with famous choreographers like Kyle Hanagami, a close friend of his.

- Mystery has a sweet tooth, and he loves any type of desserts.

- He is the most introvert and shy member of the group, but according to the Saja Boys members, he is a menace.

- Him and Abby often box together.

- Despite his bangs, his hair leaves little spaces he can still see through.

- He is a global ambassador for Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu.

- His chess skills are exceptional.

- Mystery is good at equitation.

- He is a certified geek and he has a lot of action figures and miniatures he loves to collect.

- He participated in the choreographing process for some artists in the west, such as Normani and Tate McRae.

- His dream collaborations are Rihanna, Shakira and Britney Spears.

- His childhood dream was to be an astronaut.

- He likes to keep his hair long so no one knows what he's looking at, but he said he's usually stargazing and he likes astronomy.

See more Mystery fun facts...

As I said, Jinu is the one we got the most material to work with, specially because he's pretty much almost Ahn Hyo-seop fully head to toe, but with the other ones I'm completely in the dark, but I tried my best and I hope you liked it, so anyway here is the poll, vote wisely

[rannie-moon]

“The Industry’s Most Successful Fangirl” — Lee Heran Announced as One of the Artists on the F1 Movie Soundtrack

What can’t the IT girl do?

Accidentally headlining Coachella and breaking global viewer records, topping the Billboard charts with her experimental EP Leak This!, spearheading an ENHYPEN comeback, and now—landing a coveted spot on the official F1 movie soundtrack, all within a span of two months?

Her name is Lee Heran.

The much-anticipated F1 film, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), was officially announced on July 5, 2024, immediately uniting movie buffs and Formula 1 fanatics alike. And as of May 1, 2025, the official soundtrack lineup was revealed, featuring global icons such as RAYE, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and the industry’s elite—BLACKPINK’s Rosé and ENHYPEN’s very own Lee Heran.

While Rosé’s continued rise in the U.S. charts makes her presence a welcomed expectation, Heran’s inclusion has sparked its own buzz. Why? Because if there’s one thing the 21-year-old is known for outside of her sharp vocals and genre-bending artistry—it’s her undying, unapologetic love for sports.

From her sporty-chic airport fashion to her spontaneous race-day live tweets and signature football jerseys in casual wear, Heran has steadily built a reputation as K-pop’s ultimate sports girlie. Her fans have long dubbed her “the industry’s most successful fangirl”—and this moment solidifies it.

In fact, this isn’t her first brush with a crossover between fandom and opportunity. One of her most iconic moments to date came in 2022 during the final round of the EAFF E-1 Football Championship hosted in Japan. A day before her 18th birthday, Heran joined ENHYPEN as part of Korea’s honorary delegation and stepped onto the pitch to take the opening penalty kick.

A former high school football team captain, Heran launched the ball into the top corner of the net with such precision and power that the stadium roared to life. National team captain and Tottenham Hotspur star and captain Son Heung-min later posted a photo with Heran to Instagram with the cheeky caption: “Scored us a goal so I’ll be popping in for an Inkigayo performance soon 🤗🩷”

And let’s not forget the signed Lionel Messi jersey she once casually wore during rehearsals—a gift fans are still debating how she secured.

As for Formula 1, Heran has been vocal about her support for years. A die-hard McLaren fan (her phone case even sports the team logo), she’s frequently spotted engaging with race updates, watching qualifying rounds live, and talking about the countless Grand Prix's she attended as a child, having no shame in skipping school for a few days.

Her track for the film, titled “Just Keep Watching,” is said to blend synthwave elements with pulsing alt-pop production—staying in line with the “Sports Car” motif that dominated Leak This! Both thematically and sonically, it promises to match the high-speed adrenaline of the racetrack.

In a brief message to fans on Weverse, Heran wrote: “This one’s for the fans who’ve ever screamed at a screen because your driver got undercut in the pits. Hope you feel like you’re in the car when you hear it.”

If her previous track record is anything to go by, “Just Keep Watching” is set to be more than just a soundtrack cut—it’s going to be a defining moment for pop culture’s intersection with sport, fandom, and unapologetic passion.

The F1 film hits theatres worldwide on June 27, 2025. Buckle up.

taglist: @angie-x3@deluluscenarios @chaeryyeongz @akitoshi39i@sparklydoll444 @yunjiiin @kaitieskidmore97 @yb763@reibelhearts @enhaverse713586

[timothysnyder]

Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base. This scenario can be resisted and prevented, if we have the courage to listen, interpret, and act. And this Saturday we will have the occasion to act.

In his speech, Trump claimed that seizing undocumented migrants in 2025 shows the same courage as fighting in the Revolutionary War, or the First World War, or the Second World War, or Korea or Vietnam. It would have been news to the soldiers at the time that charging a trench or jumping from a plane is no different than ganging up on a graduate student or bullying a middle-aged seamstress.

All of this, of course, trivializes actual US military achievements. The actual battles of our history just become a "show," to use one of Trump's keywords. They are deeds performed for the pleasure of a Leader who then invokes them to justify his own permanent power. Denuded of all context, military glory becomes a spectacle into which any meaning can be injected. And he who injects the meaning is he who rules. That is the fascist principle that Trump understands. There is no politics except struggle, and he who can define the enemy in the struggle can stay in power. But whereas historical fascists had an enemy without and an enemy within, Trump only has an enemy within. The world is too much for him. The army is just for dominating Americans. In his speech, Trump was trying to transform a legacy of battlefield victory around the world into a future willingness to take illegal orders regarding his own policy on the territory of the United States. The defiance of the law was clear. Trump cannot, for example, legally just rename those bases. The forts were named by an act of Congress. And he cannot legally deploy the Marines to Los Angeles. He has no authority to do so. The president is expressly forbidden by law from using the armed forces to implement domestic policies. This can only succeed if it goes unchallenged. All of us can think about his words and their implications. Officers and soldiers can remember that not all orders are legal orders. Those in the media can interpret Trump's speeches clearly rather than just repeating them or seeing them as one side in a partisan dispute. Our courts can name the limits of his authority. And even a Republican Congress can recognize when its powers are being usurped in a way that risks the end of our country.

Thousands of Americans across the land, many veterans among them, have worked hard to organize protests this Saturday — against tyranny, for freedom, for government of the people, by the people, for the people. Join them if you can. No Kings Day is June 14th.

[misfitwashere]

Trump's civil war

And our new birth of freedom

TIMOTHY SNYDER

JUN 12READ IN APP

Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base. This scenario can be resisted and prevented, if we have the courage to listen, interpret, and act. And this Saturday we will have the occasion to act.

The listening is important. The speech was given at the base now known again as Ft. Bragg. The fort was named for a confederate general. It was renamed Ft. Liberty. Under this administration, it was renamed Fort Bragg, now ostensibly to honor another American serviceman, not the confederate general. It is a dishonest pretense that dishonors everyone. The fort is now named again after a confederate general, as Trump made clear. The tradition that is now in fact being honored, that of oathbreakers and traitors.

In Trump's speech, the existence of the United States is placed in doubt. We are not a country but a divided society in which some of us deserve punishment by others. He made no mention of the world today, nor of any common American interest that might necessitate national defense. There was no concern about threats from China or Russia. Middle Eastern dictatorships, the only countries that Trump singled out, garnered great praise because their leaders gave Trump money. There was no mention of any wars that are actually underway, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Trump invoked of battlefields across the decades to create a sense of individual heroism, in which of course the history the the US Army is very rich. But that individual heroism is usually cited by commanders in chief as evidence of a nation that is worthy of defense. No such America figured in Trump's speech. America did not exist Trump's speech, except as a cult to him personally.

In the actual history of the United States, one war is central: the Civil War. Trump, who has never seen the point of the Union Army defending the republic, now seems now to have moved on to the position that the Confederacy should have won. He promised to rename Fort Gregg-Adams, the first base named for African-Americans, to Fort Robert E. Lee. The base in question hasn't been known by the full name of the confederate commander since 1950. Lee was a traitor, an oathbreaker, a defender of slavery and the commander of a force whose mission was to break up the United States of America.

In his speech, Trump claimed that seizing undocumented migrants in 2025 shows the same courage as fighting in the Revolutionary War, or the First World War, or the Second World War, or Korea or Vietnam. It would have been news to the soldiers at the time that charging a trench or jumping from a plane is no different than ganging up on a graduate student or bullying a middle-aged seamstress.

But here we see the magic of Trump's rhetoric: he seeks to transform the courage of the past into the cowardice of the future. He is preparing American soldiers to see themselves as heroes when they undertake operations inside the United States against unarmed people, including their fellow citizens.

All of this, of course, trivializes actual US military achievements. The actual battles of our history just become a "show," to use one of Trump's keywords. They are deeds performed for the pleasure of a Leader who then invokes them to justify his own permanent power. Denuded of all context, military glory becomes a spectacle into which any meaning can be injected. And he who injects the meaning is he who rules. That is the fascist principle that Trump understands. There is no politics except struggle, and he who can define the enemy in the struggle can stay in power. But whereas historical fascists had an enemy without and an enemy within, Trump only has an enemy within. The world is too much for him. The army is just for dominating Americans.

In his speech, Trump was trying to transform a legacy of battlefield victory around the world into a future willingness to take illegal orders regarding his own policy on the territory of the United States. The defiance of the law was clear. Trump cannot, for example, legally just rename those bases. The forts were named by an act of Congress. And he cannot legally deploy the Marines to Los Angeles. He has no authority to do so. The president is expressly forbidden by law from using the armed forces to implement domestic policies.

Trump defined himself not as a president but as a permanent Leader. In repeatedly mocking his predecessor, he was summoning soldiers to defy the fundamental idea that their service is to the Constitution and not to a given person. “You think this crowd would have showed up for Biden?” Whether or not it is unprecedented, as I believe it is, such mockery certainly dangerous. It suggests that something besides an election, something like individual charisma, some personal right to rule, is what matters. That soldiers should follow Trump because he is Trump, and not for any other reason.

In general, we imagine that the US Army is here to defend us, not to attack us. But summoning soldiers to heckle their fellow Americans is a sign of something quite different. Trump seized the occasion to summon soldiers to join him in mocking the press. Reporters, of course, as the Founders understood, are a critical check on tyranny. They, like protestors, are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Trump was teaching soldiers that society does not matter, and that law does not matter. He "loves" soldiers. He is personally responsible for the pay raises: "I gave you so much money for four years it was crazy." "We're giving you an across-the-board raise" This is the way a dictator speaks to a palace guard, or a fascist to a paramilitary.

Trump is putting himself above the army and the army above the country: "we only have a country because we first had an army, the army was first." That ridiculous: the Continental Army was formed in 1775 from the people, for the very specific and time-limited purpose of ending colonial oppression. Trump wants the armed force to be the end in itself, and freedom to be its enemy. Generally, presidents who speak to soldiers of military glory have had in mind the defense of American freedoms, such as the freedom of expression, including the freedom of the press and the freedom to assemble. Trump said nothing about freedom, except as a "flame" or a "shield." He said nothing about rights. There was not a word about democracy.

We are witnessing an attempt at regime change, rife in perversities. It has a historical component: we are to celebrate the oathbreakers and the traitors. It has a fascist component: we are to embrace the present moment as an exception, in which all things are permitted to the Leader. And of course it has an institutional component: soldiers are meant to be the avant-garde of the end of democracy. Instead of treating the army as defenders or freedom, Trump presented soldiers as his personal armed servants, whose job it was to oppress his chosen enemies -- inside the United States. Trump was trying to instruct soldiers that their mission was to crush fellow Americans who dared to exercise their rights, such as the right to protest.

Referring to migration as an "invasion," as Trump did during the speech, is meant to blur the distinction between his immigration policy and a foreign war. But it is also meant to transform the mission of the US Army. The meaningful border here is that between reality and fantasy. If soldiers and others are willing to accept that migration is an "invasion," then they enter into an alternative reality. Inside that alternative reality, they will see those who do not accept the invasion fantasy as enemies. And this is exactly what Trump called for when he portrayed elected officials in California as collaborators in "an occupation of the city by criminal invaders."

The US Army, like other American institutions, includes people of various backgrounds. It depends heavily on African-Americans and non-citizens. One can try to transform the army into a cult of the Confederacy and a tool to persecute migrants, but this will cause, at a minimum, great friction. Beyond this, using the Army to enforce domestic policy risks ruining its reputation. Deploying the armed forces in cities risks US soldiers killing US civilians. It also risks that provocateurs, including foreign ones, including allies of Trump, will try to kill an American soldier to provoke a disaster. (Trump’s birthday parade seems practically designed for such an incident, by the way.) 

Trump will welcome and exploit such situations, of course. He doesn’t have the courage to say things clearly or start conflict directly, but instead sets up others for situations in which they suffer and he profits. The question is whether civil war is the future Army officers and soldiers want. When Trump promises to celebrate Robert E. Lee, he is telling the Army that oath-breakers and traitors will be celebrated in the future. This is not in his gift. Officers who bring the US armed forces to battle American civilians will be remembered by the heirs of a broken republic and as the people who started a second American civil war.

It is clear what Trump is trying to do. He wants to turn everything around. He wants an army that is not a legal institution but a personal paramilitary. He wants it not to defend Americans but to oppress them. He wishes the shame of our national history to become our pride. He wants to transform a republic into a fascist regime by transforming a history of courage into a future of cowardice.

This can only succeed if it goes unchallenged. All of us can think about his words and their implications. Officers and soldiers can remember that not all orders are legal orders. Those in the media can interpret Trump's speeches clearly rather than just repeating them or seeing them as one side in a partisan dispute. Our courts can name the limits of his authority. And even a Republican Congress can recognize when its powers are being usurped in a way that risks the end of our country.

Though he did not mention the Civil War, Trump did refer to "the sacred soil of Gettysburg." It is worth recalling Lincoln's very different sense of the sacrifice of American soldiers in his Gettysburg Address:

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

In the end, and in the beginning, and at all moments of strife, a government of the people, by the people, for the people depends upon the awareness and the actions of all of us. A democracy only exists if a people exist, and a people only exists in individuals' awareness of one another of itself and of their need to act together. This weekend Trump plans a celebration of American military power as a celebration of himself on his birthday -- military dictatorship nonsense. This is a further step towards a different kind of regime. It can be called out, and it can be overwhelmed.

Thousands of Americans across the land, many veterans among them, have worked hard to organize protests this Saturday — against tyranny, for freedom, for government of the people, by the people, for the people. Join them if you can. No Kings Day is June 14th.

[straykidsmedia]

Mixtape : dominATE MASTERLIST

RACHA LOG: Ep.11: YOUTUBE Ep.12: YOUTUBE

Unveil Track: Burnin' Tires: YOUTUBE

Unveil Track: Truman: YOUTUBE

Unveil Track: ESCAPE: YOUTUBE

Unveil Track: CINEMA: YOUTUBE

SKZ CODE: Ep.73: YOUTUBE Ep.74: YOUTUBE Ep.75: YOUTUBE Ep.76: YOUTUBE Ep.77: YOUTUBE Ep.78: YOUTUBE Ep.79: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin's Birthday Live: YOUTUBE

Lee Know & Seungmin "CINEMA" Shorts Video: YOUTUBE

Bang Chan & Hyunjin "ESCAPE" Shorts Video: YOUTUBE

HAN & Felix "Truman" Shorts Video: YOUTUBE

Changbin & I.N "Burnin' Tires" Shorts Video: YOUTUBE

Burnin' Tires MV: YOUTUBE

Changbin & I.N "Burnin' Tires" Behind YT Short: YOUTUBE

HAN & Felix "Truman" MV: YOUTUBE

HAN & Felix "Truman" Behind YT Short: YOUTUBE

Bang Chan & Hyunjin "ESCAPE" MV: YOUTUBE

Bang Chan & Hyunjin"ESCAPE" Behind YT Short: YOUTUBE

Lee Know & Seungmin "CINEMA" MV: YOUTUBE

Lee Know & Seungmin "CINEMA" Behind YT Short: YOUTUBE

Changbin & I.N "Burnin' Tires" Video MAKING FILM: YOUTUBE

HAN & Felix "Truman" Video MAKING FILM: YOUTUBE

SONG by: Ep.9: YOUTUBE Ep.10: YOUTUBE

Bang Chan & Hyunjin "ESCAPE" Video MAKING FILM: YOUTUBE

Lee Know & Seungmin "CINEMA" Video MAKING FILM: YOUTUBE

Bang Chan: CHAN BANG VLOG 5 in Milano: YOUTUBE

Lee Know, Seungmin and I.N "START!" OST MV Teaser: YOUTUBE

Bioré UV x Stray Kids | Interview Video: YOUTUBE

Bioré UV x Stray Kids | Anthem Film (30sec): YOUTUBE

Bioré UV x Stray Kids | Behind the Scenes: YOUTUBE

Bioré UV x Stray Kids | Anthem Film: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin : Hyun.e's Holiday 10: YOUTUBE

Lee Know, Seungmin I.N "START!" OST MV: YOUTUBE

I.N : I.N의 퐁당로그 9 in Busan & London: YOUTUBE

ASTRO - 꿈속의 문(Moon) : Memory of the Moon (ft. Bang Chan): YOUTUBE

본격 필릭스 용안 감상! 병아리 VS 고양이, 필릭스의 선택은?: YOUTUBE

SKZ-TALKER GO! Season 5: Ep.11: YOUTUBE Ep.12: YOUTUBE Ep.13: YOUTUBE Ep.14: YOUTUBE Ep.15: YOUTUBE

Seungmin : Mini's minilog 5: YOUTUBE

studio TEUK | Bias Camping EP.08: YOUTUBE

Stray Kids World Tour <dominATE LATIN AMERICA>: YOUTUBE

📣We’re recruiting PEPERO AGENT:P to take on 4 PEPERO themed missions!: YOUTUBE

I live Alone: Clip 1: YOUTUBE Clip 2: YOUTUBE Clip 3: YOUTUBE Clip 4: YOUTUBE Full Ep: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin for CARTIER x ARENA KOREA video: YOUTUBE

ARENA HOMME+ Interview with Hyunjin: YOUTUBE

PEPERO x Stray Kids: YOUTUBE

A Day-Date with Seungmin, the Man Who Wears Burberry best: YOUTUBE

Gong Cha (Felix): Clip 1: YOUTUBE Clip 2: YOUTUBE Clip 3: YOUTUBE

STAY❤️: YOUTUBE LIVE

Felix say hello to Gong Cha Korea: YOUTUBE

Felix say hello to Gong Cha: YOUTUBE

Gong Cha Interview with Felix: YOUTUBE

PEPERO X SKZ: YOUTUBE

최악의 룸메💙❤️ (Lee Know & HAN): YOUTUBE LIVE

Last Updated: 2025/06/29

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

By Andrew Matatag

On March 30, 2025, delegates from China, Japan, and South Korea held their first economic dialogue in five years. This appears to be a reaction to Trump’s tariff war against the world. Only time will tell what these talks mean for the U.S.-dominated political and economic order, but they may indicate increasing independence from the U.S. However, China, Japan, and South Korea each have different relationships to U.S. imperialism, the nature of which is obscured in the capitalist media. 

[realpersonfacts]

Perhaps the most predictable consequence of an Iran defeat is the acceleration of a global arms race, particularly around nuclear weapons. Iran, a relatively large and sophisticated regional actor, has attempted to deter attack by developing nuclear capabilities, apparently below the threshold of actual weapons for now. If that deterrent fails and Iran’s nuclear program is dismantled, the signal to other regimes will be unmistakable: the only way to ensure your sovereignty in a U.S.-Israeli-dominated world is through acquiring nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

This logic has already played out, but to a far lesser extent. Libya gave up its WMD programs in 2003 only to see its regime violently overthrown. North Korea took the opposite path, developing a credible nuclear deterrent, and as a result has remained largely immune from foreign intervention. After Iran, more states will very likely pursue this path, viewing international treaties and inspections as traps rather than protections.

The risk is not just nuclear proliferation, but the normalization of preventive military action against non-nuclear states. The incentive structure becomes perverse: develop nuclear weapons quickly or risk regime change. The end result is a world more dangerous, more armed, and more unstable.

The Perils of a Victory over Iran (from June 17th 2025)

[heizelnutlatte]

📰 Elle Korea: "Wait, Na Baekjin from 'Weak Hero Class 2' is *this* guy? All the faces of second-year drama actor Bae Nara."

Bae Nara has left a strong impression with his intense, sharply drawn characters.

Netflix’s original Weak Hero Class 2 continues to dominate globally. Just as Class 1 gained immense love for its character dynamics, this season also introduces a wide range of figures shaping new relationships. One standout is villain Na Baekjin (played by Bae Nara), who stands at the peak of a union of delinquent students. Though he appears as pure evil, he carries a tragic backstory from beginning to end.

Bae Nara, who plays Na Baekjin, has drawn significant attention. Born in 1991, Bae Nara wore a school uniform at age 34 for Class 2. Since the release of still cuts, his sharp eyes and tall frame have shown high resemblance to the original webtoon. After the series premiered, his crisp action scenes and acting drew widespread praise. At the recent Weak Hero Homecoming GV, Bae Nara discussed how he interpreted the role: “I acted with the idea that for Na Baekjin, Park Humin (played by Ryeoun) was the only friend who could truly understand him. I focused on Baekjin’s unwavering nature, and thought the growing distance between him and Humin could resonate with viewers.”

Bae Nara’s freshness on screen is largely thanks to the fact that he’s only been in dramas for two years. He debuted in 2013 through the musical Promise, and in 2020 reached the finals of JTBC’s Phantom Singer 3, proving his vocal prowess. He then made his drama debut in Netflix’s D.P. Season 2 as Jang Seongmin, a gay soldier who deserts the army after suffering abuse over his sexuality. In that role, he performed Hedwig numbers “Wig in a Box” and “Midnight Radio” in drag at a club—clips which the original Hedwig creator John Cameron Mitchell shared and praised on his personal social media.

He also left a mark as Kwon Ohjae in ENA’s Evilive. Kwon Ohjae is the loyal right-hand man of mobster Seo Doyoung (Kim Youngkwang), and serves as the brains of the operation. While vastly different from his role in D.P., it shares echoes with his next character: Na Baekjin. Though Baekjin engages in heavy action sequences, there’s a common intensity and control.

And Bae Nara’s next character is already set. He’ll take on the role of Han Seonwoo in Genie TV’s Tastefully Yours, premiering May 12. It marks Bae Nara’s first romantic comedy. In the show, Han Seonwoo is an executive director at a food company locked in a fierce battle for management rights with his younger brother Han Beomwoo (played by Kang Haneul). Once again, Bae Nara is poised to transform completely for this role, his “next face” is already generating high expectations.

Bae Nara - Weak Hero Class 2, 2025

[bl-bam-beyond]

BUSINESS AS USUAL (2025, SOUTH KOREA)

Episode 1: The Dominating One Appears

Adapted From: Eul's Love by Moscareto

Post 2 of 2

Min Joon (CHAE JONG HYEOK) lies his head on Jin Hwan's (SUNG SEUNG HA) shoulder completely enamored with what he believes to be his boyfriend. But some overheard phone calls and cloak and dagger follow as Jin Hwan meets up with another guy.

Then 8 years pass. Min Joon has settled into a monotonous life of an office worker. But his mind can't let go of the man that destroyed his life.

But that very man appears in his life and his job 8 years later. Will things go differently for them this time? Will Jin Hwan's heinous actions be explained?

Can the confident, charming and charismatic Jin Hwan make Min Joon his? Again?

@pose4photoml @just-another-boyslove-blog @wanderlust-in-my-soul @absolutebl

[brihaley213]

FENDI PRINCE; BOY MEETS WORLD

In which Bang Chan and Florentina were the talk at the Fendi Men’s Winter-Fall Show.

February 26 2025 (5:00PM)

Stray Kids member Bang Chan has officially completed his first task as a newly minted Fendi ambassador by attending the brand's fall-winter 2025 coed show in Milan Fashion Week, which celebrated the house's 100th anniversary.

On Feb. 26, 2025, Bang Chan stole the show, arriving at Fendi's iconic HQ in Milan's Via Solari 35 rocking an all-cream 'fit with an off-the-shoulder light knit worn over a sandy camel color tank top with white trims. He rounded off the look with long crepe pants and white sneakers. Aside from the peek of the tank, the only other element breaking up his monochrome look was his black Fendi bag, which he carried like a clutch.

After making his MFW debut with the brand during the spring-summer 2025 season, Bang Chan was announced as a Fendi ambassador on Jan. 16, 2025. Even before landing on Italian soil, the star was already in a Fendi mood. On Feb. 25, Bang Chan was spotted departing from Incheon Airport wearing a matching denim jacket and pants from the brand, which he paired with a white tee and white platform sneakers. As far as accessories go, he rocked a black baguette messenger bag with a cute WolfChan Skzoo pendant attached to it and long silver earrings.

What fans didn’t expect was to see a familiar face alongside Bang Chan at the Fendi Show. Florentina was spotted with the Fendi Prince holding hands. Fans were happy to see her attend the show and support her bf. At first Florentina received the invitation but had almost declined it, until the Fendi Director reached out to her and Bang Chan and persuaded her to attend the show she’s a royal guest.

Flora’s outfit consisted of a Brown twill dress from Fendi. She paired with sneakers to walk around the airport comfortably. She wore her hair down letting her curls fall on her face. She carried around her SKZOO but what caught fans eye was the wolfchan she had hugging her SKZOO on her purse. The dispatch lady asked her is Wolfchan hugging Tina? To which Flora shyly replied yes and smiled big.

When arrived at the show, Florentina was seen in a quite modern: a high slit wrap skirt. The ankle-length design featured draped detailing across the front and one (yes, one) button closure holding everything together. She styled the statement piece with a matching crop top that flashed her toned abs. She went with simple champagne stilettos, a nude Fendi Peekaboo soft bag, and clear avant-garde glasses. The dancer wore her hair in a half-up, half-down style.

Royalty had long been associated with these two ambassadors and some photographers even expressed feeling a sense of admiration when catching their first glance of the couple walking onto the carpet.

Photography Credits; @/Fendi on Instagram

The members who unfortunately could not attend conveyed respect and pride for their leader and their noona through comments on Instagram in which they made sure that fans were aware of just how much work went on behind the scenes, most ending their lengthy speeches with tears - showcasing the genuine love tying these idols together.

The timing for Bang Chan to attend Fendi's momentous fall fashion show certainly does feel like a perfectly planned miracle, as it fits within a small gap between Stray Kids' <dominATE> world tour stops. The octet played two stops in Hong Kong in January, followed by three SKZ 5'CLOCK fan meeting stops in South Korea earlier this month. Before they resume their tour in Latin America in March, there's room for some more Stray Kids fashion month moments — and we will be keeping our eyes peeled.

[subdee]

Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base.... In Trump's speech, the existence of the United States is placed in doubt. We are not a country but a divided society in which some of us deserve punishment by others. He made no mention of the world today, nor of any common American interest that might necessitate national defense. There was no concern about threats from China or Russia. Middle Eastern dictatorships, the only countries that Trump singled out, garnered great praise because their leaders gave Trump money. There was no mention of any wars that are actually underway, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine... In his speech, Trump claimed that seizing undocumented migrants in 2025 shows the same courage as fighting in the Revolutionary War, or the First World War, or the Second World War, or Korea or Vietnam. It would have been news to the soldiers at the time that charging a trench or jumping from a plane is no different than ganging up on a graduate student or bullying a middle-aged seamstress... Denuded of all context, military glory becomes a spectacle into which any meaning can be injected. And he who injects the meaning is he who rules. That is the fascist principle that Trump understands. There is no politics except struggle, and he who can define the enemy in the struggle can stay in power. But whereas historical fascists had an enemy without and an enemy within, Trump only has an enemy within. The world is too much for him. The army is just for dominating Americans

Another banger from Timothy Snyder this morning.

[tomorrowusa]

We've been seeing a flood of news stories that young males have been flocking to rightwing parties around the world in recent elections. But the opposite seems to be true in the recent election in Australia. Men under 30 have apparently swung towards the left of center Australian Labor Party (ALP) which won a landslide victory this month.

(Researcher Intifar) Chowdhury says the 2025 election results stop “any kind of insinuation” that young men in Australia are becoming more rightwing. “If you look at electorates with a higher share of both first-time voters and voters under the age of 30, the higher the percentage, the more likely they are to swing towards Labor,” she says. “I will be very surprised if we see a swing among young men towards the Coalition, because no matter what demographic you’re talking about, there is some swing against the Coalition.” If her hypothesis is correct, it’s bucking global trends. At the 2024 US election, men aged between 18 and 29 turned out in force for Trump, while women of the same age voted for Kamala Harris by an even wider margin. Similarly, men at the 2024 UK election were twice as likely to vote for Nigel Farage’s rightwing Reform UK, while young women were more likely to vote Green. In Germany, there are signs young men under 30 are moving towards the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). China, Tunisia and South Korea have also experienced a surge in support for rightwing candidates among young men. But data suggests young Australians have been repelled by Trump’s leadership style. A March study of voters aged 18-44 found just 23% surveyed said Australia would benefit from a leader like Trump; 58% said “absolutely not”. A sense of dread about social cohesion and the rise of the far right were consistently cited as major issues among a cohort of almost 1,000 young voters who reached out to Guardian Australia over the election campaign. Chowdury describes what occurred this election as the “Trump slump”. “I think Australia just became more moderate, to be honest,” she says.

It's not so much a swing to the left as it is to the moderate left.

All but one of the nation’s five youngest electorates were won by Labor in 2025 after previously being held by the Greens. (Ryan was too close to call at the time of writing.) “Australians in general tend to vote heavily based on their issues of importance,” Chowdhury says. “If you think about the generational grievance of the younger generations, it’s being locked out of the [housing] market, the erosion of the safety net, job precarity.”

This Australian phenomenon seems driven to a large degree by the media scene in the country.

Hannah Ferguson, 26, is head of independent news commentary page Cheek Media Co and co-host of the Big Small Talk podcast, both aimed at younger audiences. She says Australia’s election felt like a “battle of influence”. “Murdoch media were projecting the Coalition to win and endorsing them, and it felt like I was in this bubble where I had to prove myself and push my audience to believe they were the change-makers,” she says. Ferguson says she has often been asked why “all the influencers in Australia are progressive”. She says that, excluding Fox News, America’s mainstream media is perceived as leftwing, allowing influencers to position themselves against the “establishment”. While Australian influencers are also responding to “the establishment”, she notes it’s in a media “heavily dominated by Murdoch”. “The commentators who have risen up in this election are the ones challenging the far-right establishment of media in this country,” she says.

What we in the US can learn from this is that we need to talk more consistently and frequently about the rightwing establishment being responsible for the mess in the US. We should also promote influencers and podcasters who are effective at presenting common sense progressive viewpoints.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Thom Hartmann at The Hartmann Report:

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger is wondering out loud if “President Musk” will force “Vice President Trump” and Speaker Mike Johnson to shut down our government as Musk tweets his orders to the GOP. It’s all about raising the debt ceiling, Trump says, so they can roll out the next round of tax cuts for billionaires, paid for by average working people. It seems like a bizarre power play: The actual story is much more sinister. As Trump is in the process of teaching America, it’s impossible to disentangle democracy-ending authoritarianism from billionaire corruption of government. They require each other. And the way this will play out won’t need a crystal ball to see: Trump has already begun traveling a well-trod path that leads to the destruction of our form of government. While all authoritarians who take over democracies initially come to power on a wave of popular sentiment, presenting themselves as normal politicians bent on “shaking up the system,” once they begin their crackdowns against political opposition their popularity typically collapses. At that point, they need three things: — A compliant, financially, and politically dependent media; — subservient, terrified, or complicit politicians; — and a captured, corrupt judiciary loyal to the idea of oligarchy and beholden to wealthy sponsors (think Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito). With these three elements of democratic capture they can gaslight the public, shovel money to their oligarch buddies, and expand their own power in defiance of increasingly feeble popular, political, and legal challenges. This is nothing new; it’s a formula as old as republican forms of government. It’s how the Greek democracy ended, how Rome was brought down, and how every autocratic government on Earth that started out as a democracy got to where they are today. Russia, Hungary, Egypt, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Venezuela, Turkey, etc., etc.

Most recently, President Yoon tried it in South Korea, but he’d failed to consolidate his control over those three systems that can defend or corrupt democracy, so he failed. Trump and the oligarchs who brought him to power, both in Russia and the US, don’t intend to make the same mistake in 2025. — The first major roadblock to authoritarian capture is the press. As long as the public is well-informed about a wannabee autocrat’s antidemocratic efforts to dismantle government, he’ll encounter significant popular opposition. With a compliant, fawning, or terrified press, however, history shows it’s not that difficult. — The second biggest obstacle to authoritarian (or “fascist”) takeover of government is typically found within the institutions of that government itself. Bureaucrats and agencies protective of their own fiefdoms that have historically defended various aspects of the nation and its democratic government tangle up efforts at regulatory capture, and the senior management of these agencies refuse to go along with the new strongman, as Trump learned in his last term. To destroy a democracy, a strongman must neuter these people and seize control of their agencies.

— Finally, would-be fascist leaders must hobble the judiciary and dominate the police and legal systems of their nation prior to their final takedown of that country’s democracy. Trump learned these lessons in his first term, just as did both Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán in their first terms when Russia and Hungary were both still operating as democracies. Which is why it was only in their second terms that both Putin and Orbán changed their nation’s libel laws so they could use lawfare to cripple the Russian and Hungarian independent press. Reporters, commentators, and news agencies were sued into bankruptcy if they didn’t immediately bow to the Putin’s and Orbán’s demands for positive coverage, and those news agencies surviving were then acquired — as Musk did with Twitter — by friendly oligarchs. Then those two went after the agencies of government itself. During Putin’s second term as Russian president he abolished the direct election of governors, replacing it with a system where Putin loyalists were appointed by the Kremlin, effectively ending regional political autonomy and the ability of local politicians to stand up to him. Similarly, after securing a supermajority in 2010, Orbán's government passed a new constitution that centralized power, curtailed judicial independence, and reduced checks on executive authority. He also instituted term limits on judges so within a few years he was able to remake the Hungarian judiciary in his own image. Over the past 8 years, Trump has done much the same thing through the electoral primary process, purging the GOP of “RINOS” and endorsing MAGA loyalists at both the local, state, and federal levels, as well as in elected state judiciaries. He’s now solidifying that power and cowing any remaining opposition with his threats to persecute, prosecute, impoverish, and imprison Republicans like Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Alexander Vindman who dared stand up to him. Although it’s rarely mentioned in the media, terror is today spreading across what’s left of the non-MAGA GOP at all levels.

Like Orbán and Putin in the early months of their second terms, Trump is also threatening prosecutors and judges, while his captive senators prepare to push through Trump-loyal judges. Just this week, Trump demanded that Republican senators do whatever is necessary to block any more of President Biden’s judicial nominees from ending up on the federal bench. And, like both Putin and Orbán, The New York Times reports that Republicans beholden to Trump are now openly discussing rewriting the US Constitution. Putin then purged Russian federal agencies of anybody showing any signs of independence, replacing senior management of all agencies with his own mostly incompetent and inexperienced toadies or employees of friendly oligarchs. They leaned heavily on Putin precisely because of their own lack of experience and expertise. His purge was particularly radical in Russia’s equivalents of the FBI and CIA, the keys to his seizing total control of the police and intelligence agencies that could be wielded as weapons against his opponents. Deeply corrupt loyalists in these positions were essential to his seizing total power. Trump is similarly appointing profoundly unqualified and incompetent nominees to federal agencies, including numerous Republicans who’ve lost elections and thus are doubly dependent on his good graces for both their political and personal economic futures.

[...] Once he’s crushed dissent and seized total control of state and federal governments, Trump will turn their agencies and powers to enriching himself and his oligarch buddies (including Republican governors), just as Putin and Orbán (and every other autocrat in history) have done. We saw the first indicator of this strategy when he told a group of fossil fuel executives that if they gave him a billion dollars he’d strip out federal environmental regulations that reduce their profits. The Senate Budget Committee, under the stewardship of Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, is currently investigating this naked solicitation of a bribe, but when that committee is taken over by Republican Chuck Grassley in early January that probe will end. That singular moment will signal the beginning of the end — at least for the next two years — of any meaningful congressional resistance to America’s morbidly rich oligarchs and their industries corrupting government to their own advantage while Trump pursues his fantasies of revenge.

Thom Hartmann wrote a solid report on America cannot afford to ignore the dangers of the descent into dictatorship under Trump.

[mariacallous]

Now that Donald Trump is returning to a second term as U.S. president, ascertaining the true state of Russia’s war economy is more important than ever. Trump’s advisors believe that Ukraine must settle for peace by whatever means necessary “to stop the killing.” Implicit in this argument is the view that Russia has the ability to sustain the war for many years to come. On close examination of the evidence, however, the narrative that Russia has the resources to prevail if it so chooses does not hold.

The apparent resilience of the Russian economy has confounded many strategists who expected Western sanctions to paralyze Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine. Russia continues to export vast quantities of oil, gas, and other commodities—the result of sanctions evasion and loopholes deliberately designed by Western policymakers to keep Russian resources on world markets. So far, clever macroeconomic management, particularly by Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, has enabled the Kremlin to keep the Russian financial system in relative health.

At first glance, the numbers look surprisingly strong. In 2023, GDP grew by 3.6 percent and is expected to rise by 3.9 percent in 2024. Unemployment has fallen from around 4.4 percent before the war to 2.4 percent in September. Moscow has expanded its armed forces and defense production, adding more than 500,000 workers to the defense industry, approximately 180,000 to the armed forces, and many thousands more to paramilitary and private military organizations. Russia has reportedly tripled its production of artillery shells to 3 million per year and is manufacturing glide bombs and drones at scale.

Despite these accomplishments, Russia’s war economy is heading toward an impasse. Signs that the official data masks severe economic strains brought on by both war and sanctions have become increasingly apparent. No matter how many workers it tries to shift to the defense industry, the Kremlin cannot expand production fast enough to replace weapons at the rate they are being lost on the battlefield. Already, about around half of all artillery shells used by Russia in Ukraine are from North Korean stocks. At some point in the second half of 2025, Russia will face severe shortages in several categories of weapons.

Perhaps foremost among Russia’s arms bottlenecks is its inability to replace large-caliber cannons. According to open-source researchers using video documentation, Russia has been losing more than 100 tanks and roughly 220 artillery pieces per month on average. Producing tank and artillery barrels requires rotary forges—massive pieces of engineering weighing 20 to 30 tons each—that can each produce only about 10 barrels a month. Russia only possesses two such forges.

In other words, Russia is losing around 320 tank and artillery cannon barrels a month and producing only 20. The Russian engineering industry lacks the skills to build rotary forges; in fact, the world market is dominated by a single Austrian company, GFM. Russia is unlikely to acquire more forges and increase its production rate, and neither North Korea nor Iran have significant stockpiles of suitable replacement barrels. Only a decision by China to provide barrels from its own stockpiles could stave off Russia’s barrel crisis.

To resupply its forces, Russia has been stripping tank and artillery barrels from the vast stockpiles it inherited from the Soviet Union. But these stockpiles have withered since the start of the war. Combining current rates of battlefield loss, recycling from stockpiles, and production, Russia looks set to run out of cannon barrels some time in 2025.

Russia is consuming other weapons, too, at rates far faster than its ability to produce them. Open-source researchers have counted the loss of at least 4,955 infantry fighting vehicles since the war’s onset, which comes out to an average of 155 per month. Russian defense contractors can produce an estimated 200 per year, or about 17 per month, to offset these losses. Likewise, even Russia’s expanded production of 3 million artillery shells per year pales in comparison to the various estimates for current consumption at the front. While those estimates are lower than the 12 million rounds Russian forces fired in 2022, they are much higher than what Russian industry can produce.

We do not know when Russia will hit the end of the road with each equipment type. But there is little the Kremlin can do little to stave off that day. With the Russian economy essentially at full employment, Russian defense companies now struggle to attract workers. To make matters worse, these companies are competing for the same personnel as the Russian armed forces, which need to recruit 30,000 fresh troops each month to replace casualties. To this end, the military is offering lavish signing bonuses and greatly increased pay. Defense producers, in turn, have had to increase wages fivefold, contributing to an inflation rate that reached 8.68 percent in October.

Paradoxically, the same factors that are converging to restrict Russia’s ability to wage war also mean that it cannot easily make peace.

Russia’s economic performance—marked by low unemployment and rising wages—is a product of military Keynesianism. In other words: Vast military expenditures, which are unsustainable in the long term, are artificially boosting employment and growth. Almost all the new jobs are related to the military and produce little of value to the civilian economy, where most sectors have great difficulty finding workers.

Defense spending has officially jumped to 7 percent of Russia’s GDP and is projected to consume more than 41 percent of the state budget next year. The true magnitude of military expenditures is significantly higher. Russia’s nearly 560,000 armed internal security troops, many of which have been deployed to occupied Ukraine, are funded outside the defense budget—as are the private military companies that have sprouted across Russia.

Paring back these massive defense expenditures, however, will inevitably produce an economic downturn. If the Kremlin draws down the armed forces to a sustainable level, large numbers of traumatized veterans and well-paid defense workers will find themselves redundant. The experience of other societies—in particular, European states after World War I—suggests that hordes of demobilized soldiers and jobless defense workers are a recipe for political instability.

The magnitude of the post-war Russian recession will be all the worse because Russia’s civilian economy—particularly small- and medium-sized firms—has shrunk due to the war. In a phenomenon familiar to economists, high defense expenditures have bid up salaries and attracted labor away from nondefense firms. The Russian Central Bank’s policy of raising interest rates, which currently stand at 21 percent, has made it much more difficult for nondefense companies to raise capital through loans. In post-war Russia, a shrunken civilian sector will not be able to absorb the soldiers and workers cast off by the military and defense sector.

Therefore, Russia’s leaders face an unenviable set of dilemmas entirely of their own making. Russia cannot continue waging the current war beyond late 2025, when it will begin running out of key weapons systems.

Concluding a peace agreement, however, poses a different set of problems, as the Kremlin needs to choose between three unpalatable options. If it draws down the armed forces and defense industries, it will spark a recession that could threaten the regime. If Russian policymakers instead maintain high levels of defense spending and a bloated peacetime military, it will asphyxiate the Russian economy, crowding out civilian industry, and stifle growth. Having experienced the Soviet Union’s decline and fall for similar economic reasons, Russian leaders will probably seek to avoid this fate.

A third option, however, is available and likely beguiling: Rather than demobilizing or bankrupting themselves, Russian leaders could instead use their military to obtain the economic resources needed to sustain it—in other words, using conquest and the threat thereof to pay for the military.

Plenty of precedents exist. In 1803, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte ended 14 months of peace in Europe because he could not afford to fund his military based on French revenues alone—and he also refused to demobilize it. In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein similarly invaded oil-rich Kuwait because he could not afford to pay the million-man army that he refused to downsize. In both cases, the mirage of conquest seemed attractive for sustaining overly large defense establishments without having to pay for them.

Russia could likewise exploit its expanded military to extract rents from other states. Even though Russia is running out of key weapons systems for its all-out war on Ukraine, its forces will still be capable of punctual acts of aggression. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine how Russia might pursue such a policy.

Substantial offshore gas reserves have been discovered in the Black Sea within Ukraine’s and Georgia’s internationally recognized exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Whenever Western states are distracted by other priorities, Russia could also renew its aggression against Ukraine in order to gain control of its agricultural, gas, and rare-earth resources. Finally, Russia might use threats of force rather than actually fighting in order to coerce European states to withdraw sanctions, unfreeze Russian assets, or reopen gas and oil pipelines.

Some important lessons emerge. First, Russia’s economy cannot indefinitely sustain its war against Ukraine. Labor and production bottlenecks will condemn Russia to defeat as long as Ukraine’s allies sustain it beyond the second half of 2025. Contrary to the myth of infinite Russian resources, the Kremlin’s armies are far from unbeatable. But Russia’s defeat demands a level of Western patience and commitment that a combination of vacillating Western leaders and volatile domestic politics renders questionable.

Second, the cessation of full-scale fighting in Ukraine will not end the West’s problems with Russia. Russia’s supersized military sector incentivizes the Kremlin to use its military to extract rents from neighboring states. The alternatives—demobilizing and incurring a recession or indefinitely funding a bloated military and defense industry—pose existential threats to Putin’s regime.

However Russia ends its current war, the country’s economic realities alone will generate new forms of insecurity for Europe. Far-sighted policymakers should focus on mitigating these future threats, even as they focus on how the current round of fighting in Ukraine will end.