K-pop group Ive and Japanese manga artist Junji Ito have teamed up.

On April 17, Ive revealed an album cover drawn by Ito on its official X account in Japan. It is for Ive’s fourth Japan album, 'LUCID DREARM'. A track on the album, 'JIGSAW', was selected as an OST for an Ito work.

The album’s limited-time production edition will feature a special design drawn by Ito.

• Tomie as 6 people… ‘Japanese manga master’ Junji Ito collaborates on Ive album cover • Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung’s ‘Mojamussa’ draws mixed reactions… “relatable reality vs hard-to-grasp lines”

JTBC’s new weekend drama 'Mojamussa', which drew attention even before airing for bringing together writer Park Hae-young and actors Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung, has finally begun.

The broadcast showed the harsh and bleak reality facing the main character, Hwang Dong-man, played by Koo. Hwang, who has made a living through part-time jobs for 20 years without a single proper representative work, is portrayed as sinking into deep frustration amid continued disregard and contempt in the film industry.

It was Byun Eun-a, played by Go, who saved Hwang when he was pushed to the brink. Byun is also enduring a tough life, including suffering nosebleeds from extreme stress, but she offered Hwang warm encouragement and became a reliable support.

On online communities and social media, sharply divided reactions poured out, including “I relate too much to Hwang Dong-man’s harsh reality,” “It’s a drama that makes me look forward to the weekend,” “It’s so realistic I feel like I’ll get PTSD so I can’t watch,” and “The lines feel unfamiliar so it’s still hard to understand.”

April, which has been unsettled by yellow dust and an unseasonal cold snap, has passed mid-month. KBS announcer Nam Hyun-jong shared news of his marriage and received congratulations from fans. 2NE1 member Park Bom sent a handwritten letter about her feelings on a past controversy.

• Announcer Nam Hyun-jong to marry in November… “My partner is not a celebrity, we met on a blind date”

Nam said he will get married in November this year. On a KBS2 variety show aired on April 19, announcer Um Ji-in said, “Announcer Nam Hyun-jong is getting married.”

Nam said, “I’m getting married in November this year. My partner is not a celebrity,” stirring the studio. He said, “A friend I’ve known for 10 years suddenly introduced the person,” explaining how they met. Nam also said, “After the blind date, I confessed on our third meeting, but I was firmly rejected with ‘Give me time’,” adding that after continuing to pursue her he eventually won his girlfriend’s heart, creating a rosy mood.

Park Bom, a member of 2NE1, released a lengthy handwritten letter and stated her position after taking aim at Sandara Park.

On April 17, Park posted a handwritten letter on her Instagram that began with, “To the people of the nation,” and shared her feelings. She looked back on returning to South Korea to pursue her dream of becoming a singer after studying in the United States, and on the time leading up to her debut, telling a candid story.

• A month after ‘taking aim at Sandara Park’… Park Bom: “Let the OO story be as if it never happened”

The part of Park’s post that drew the most attention was her mention of a past controversy. She spoke to the effect that she wanted “the unfortunate story to be treated as if it never happened,” laying out her burden over the impact the controversy could have on the team and her painful feelings. She again stressed her affection for the group, saying, “It is like a miracle that the four of us met.”

■ This week’s main K-snapp news?

A case involving a man in his 30s, known as a family member of a famous idol member, has heated up global K-snapp.

Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station said it is investigating the circumstances after recently receiving a report from a female BJ and arresting a man in his 30s in flagrante delicto. The woman who reported it is said to have claimed that after meeting the man at a restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam district and moving to his home, there was unwanted contact. The man’s side is reported to have acknowledged that contact occurred but said there was no coercion. Police are reviewing whether to apply additional charges based on statements and circumstances.

After the case became known, speculation quickly spread online over the suspect’s identity and whether he is a family member of a specific idol. Amid that, the side of Blackpink member Jisoo said, “The matter currently being raised is unrelated to the artist personally or the company,” and said many online claims were unverified speculation or false information.

• [Global PICK] Idol family member accused of molesting BJ… Jisoo signals ‘legal action’ • [OTT ranking] ‘21st Century Grand Princess’ stays firm despite mixed reaction → Song Kang-ho, 20 years younger, in ‘Beef 2’

Despite the film 'The Man Who Lives With the King' posting a major hit by surpassing 10 million moviegoers, its entry into the global K-movie rankings is minimal. By contrast, K-dramas continue a solid global box-office trend.

FlixPatrol, a global OTT content ranking site, showed on April 20 that Disney+ series '21st Century Grand Princess' ranked No. 4 globally in the TV show category as of the previous day.

'21st Century Grand Princess' has sharply split viewers over acting controversies involving leads IU and Byun Woo-seok and a setting somewhat detached from reality. Even so, it is maintaining solid momentum and proving its worldwide popularity on the back of a strong global fandom.

Netflix original series 'Bloodhounds' slipped to No. 8 this week from No. 3 last week in FlixPatrol rankings. On Netflix’s official website Tudum, seasons 1 and 2 placed No. 1 and No. 3 in the global non-English category, showing continued global popularity for K-action.

Also, 'Beef' season 2, released on April 16, newly entered at No. 9 and has started to gain traction. Global viewers have praised Song Kang-ho and Youn Yuh-jung, who drew the biggest buzz even before release, for showing perfect acting chemistry that belies their 20-year age gap.

In late April, when an unseasonal cold wave advisory and yellow dust have arrived, artists will make comebacks to refresh listeners’ ears.

NCT Wish and Super Junior’s Donghae released their first full-length studio albums, and Unchild makes its official first step into the music industry. B1A4 is returning, and Kim Jae-hwan, a member of Wanna One, which has recently reunited to much attention, is set to moisten listeners’ ears.

• [New song hot clip] NCT Wish·Unchild·Kim Jae-hwan… ‘abundant’ from group to solo

Snapp It First. Feel It K. This is an online article published by K-snapp, which provides the fastest and most entertaining entertainment news.