By Kim Tong-hyung
Here's your midweek update on the stories in entertainment and media you might have missed while being consumed by the profound weirdness of Psy at the inauguration, Seth MacFarlane at the Oscars, or because your life is probably a lot more fulfilling than ours.
Actor, police trade blows in rape investigation
Police investigating a rape case filed by an aspiring actress against movie and television star Park Si-hoo are increasingly frustrated over what they see as feet-dragging by the actor who has been unavailable for questioning.
After Park postponed a scheduled appearance for the second time on Sunday, an angered Seoul Western District (Seobu) Police Office official said they will consider seeking an arrest warrant for the 35-year-old if he refuses to show up on the next date set for March 1.
Park's legal representatives balked at the threat and accused investigators at the Seobu office for criticizing the actor publically and sharing unconfirmed suspicions with reporters. They requested the case to be transferred to the Gangam district police office in southern Seoul, only to be rejected by Seobu officials in a millisecond.
The alleged victim, a 22-year-old woman, claimed that Park raped her after sharing a late-night drink earlier this month. Park admitted that he had sex with the woman but claimed it was consensual.
Police say that the testimony of Park and another actor who drank with them at the night of the incident would be critical to the case. Police had investigated the possibility that the woman was drugged, as CCTV footage showed the woman leaving the bar on her own strength, but carried on the back of the other actor when they entered Park's apartment.
However, the National Forensic Service appears to have found no traces of drugs after it tested the woman's blood and hair samples.
Park gained popularity for his role in television shows such as "Iljimae" and "The Princess Man'' and starred in last year's thriller "Confession of a Murderer."
Celebrities date, marry and divorce
These have been busy times in what we like to call the "Celebrity Circle of Love." Comics Yoon Hyung-bin and Jung Kyung-mi, both on-and-off members of the KBS television sketch comedy "Gag Concert," officially tied the knot. Movie stars Han Jae-suk and Park Sol-mi plan to do the same in April.
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, actress Bae Doona may or may not be dating her "Cloud Atlas" co-star Jim Sturgess. K-pop songstress Victoria ― member of popular goirl group F(x) ― may or may not be dating Max Changmin, from boy band TVXQ.
The divorce between actor Lee Se-chang and actress Kim Ji-yeon, who had been married for about a decade, has so far been the highest profile break-up of the year. Singer Kim C may or may not be living separately with his wife.
Star anchor leaves MBC
Oh Sang-jin, news anchor and popular show host, is leaving MBC after seven years.
The 33-year-old, who had been a member of the reporters' union at the television network, has been an outspoken critic of MBC's management, which he claims has been compromising journalistic independence in keeping a close relationship with the government.
Oh hasn't appeared in any of MBC's news and entertainment programs since participating in the company's reporters' strike last year.
It's hard to imagine Oh being unemployed for long, as other than comics Yoo Jae-suk and Kang Ho-dong, there isn't a more in-demand emcee in the Korean television scene.
In a broadcasting culture where networks require their "anchors'' to be more Ryan Seacrest than Peter Jennings, Oh was one of the few who pulled off being both. Now, he is the television sector's biggest free agent.
G-Dragon set for world tour
In K-pop news, G-Dragon, the cocky lead singer of popular boy band Big Bang, said he will kick off his solo world tour next month in Seoul.
He will then perform in the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya, but the schedule is undetermined after that. It's hard to imagine his concept of "world" gaining Galileo's approval.
The tickets for the Seoul concerts, titled "G-Dragon 2013 World Tour: One of a Kind," scheduled for March 30-31, will go on sale starting March 5 on electronic commerce site G-Market.
Here's your midweek update on the stories in entertainment and media you might have missed while being consumed by the profound weirdness of Psy at the inauguration, Seth MacFarlane at the Oscars, or because your life is probably a lot more fulfilling than ours.
Actor, police trade blows in rape investigation
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| Park Si-hoo |
After Park postponed a scheduled appearance for the second time on Sunday, an angered Seoul Western District (Seobu) Police Office official said they will consider seeking an arrest warrant for the 35-year-old if he refuses to show up on the next date set for March 1.
Park's legal representatives balked at the threat and accused investigators at the Seobu office for criticizing the actor publically and sharing unconfirmed suspicions with reporters. They requested the case to be transferred to the Gangam district police office in southern Seoul, only to be rejected by Seobu officials in a millisecond.
The alleged victim, a 22-year-old woman, claimed that Park raped her after sharing a late-night drink earlier this month. Park admitted that he had sex with the woman but claimed it was consensual.
Police say that the testimony of Park and another actor who drank with them at the night of the incident would be critical to the case. Police had investigated the possibility that the woman was drugged, as CCTV footage showed the woman leaving the bar on her own strength, but carried on the back of the other actor when they entered Park's apartment.
However, the National Forensic Service appears to have found no traces of drugs after it tested the woman's blood and hair samples.
Park gained popularity for his role in television shows such as "Iljimae" and "The Princess Man'' and starred in last year's thriller "Confession of a Murderer."
Celebrities date, marry and divorce
These have been busy times in what we like to call the "Celebrity Circle of Love." Comics Yoon Hyung-bin and Jung Kyung-mi, both on-and-off members of the KBS television sketch comedy "Gag Concert," officially tied the knot. Movie stars Han Jae-suk and Park Sol-mi plan to do the same in April.
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, actress Bae Doona may or may not be dating her "Cloud Atlas" co-star Jim Sturgess. K-pop songstress Victoria ― member of popular goirl group F(x) ― may or may not be dating Max Changmin, from boy band TVXQ.
The divorce between actor Lee Se-chang and actress Kim Ji-yeon, who had been married for about a decade, has so far been the highest profile break-up of the year. Singer Kim C may or may not be living separately with his wife.
Star anchor leaves MBC
Oh Sang-jin, news anchor and popular show host, is leaving MBC after seven years.
The 33-year-old, who had been a member of the reporters' union at the television network, has been an outspoken critic of MBC's management, which he claims has been compromising journalistic independence in keeping a close relationship with the government.
Oh hasn't appeared in any of MBC's news and entertainment programs since participating in the company's reporters' strike last year.
It's hard to imagine Oh being unemployed for long, as other than comics Yoo Jae-suk and Kang Ho-dong, there isn't a more in-demand emcee in the Korean television scene.
In a broadcasting culture where networks require their "anchors'' to be more Ryan Seacrest than Peter Jennings, Oh was one of the few who pulled off being both. Now, he is the television sector's biggest free agent.
G-Dragon set for world tour
 |
| G-Dragon |
He will then perform in the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya, but the schedule is undetermined after that. It's hard to imagine his concept of "world" gaining Galileo's approval.
The tickets for the Seoul concerts, titled "G-Dragon 2013 World Tour: One of a Kind," scheduled for March 30-31, will go on sale starting March 5 on electronic commerce site G-Market.
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