K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty will return this summer — but not as a full lineup. One member will sit out the promotions to focus on recovery, the group’s agency confirmed. In a notice released on Monday, agency Attrakt said member Hana has been on hiatus since March due to health issues and is currently concentrating on her recovery. “After discussions with the members and Hana herself, it was decided that this album’s promotions will proceed with a four-member system,” the company said. The group is preparing a new release slated for early June, marking its first comeback in about seven months. Fifty Fifty last released the digital single “Too Much Part 1” in November. Prior to that, the group drew attention with its third mini album title track “Pookie,” which saw a surprise resurgence on music charts — a phenomenon often referred to in Korea as a “reverse run,” where a song climbs back up rankings after its initial release. The upcoming comeback is expected to test whether the group can sustain that momentum, particularly as it returns without one of its members

Singer Eric Nam is opening up about a painful chapter behind his career pivot, revealing that severe health issues — including suffering from panic disorder and temporary paralysis — played a key role in his decision to step back from Korean broadcast activities. In a YouTube video uploaded in March on creator Jaykeeout’s channel, the singer-actor appeared as a guest in a street-interview-style segment titled “Running into Eric Nam and suddenly busking.” The casual encounter turned into a candid conversation about the toll his earlier career in Korea took on him. Reflecting on his time promoting in the country, Nam said, “To be honest, there were a lot of things that were really hard while living in Korea. My mental health got worse, and overall my physical health declined too.” When the host expressed surprise — noting his consistently upbeat on-screen image — Nam pointed to that very contrast as part of the problem. “That was the hardest part,” he said. “On screen, I looked positive, bright, kind and fun. But inside, I was really struggling. Even just sitting do

BUSAN, May 5 (Yonhap) -- Public-run accommodations for foreign visitors in Busan...