The Korea Times

Epik High, actor Cha Seung-won re-sign with YG

Epik HighHip-hop group Epik High and actor Cha Seung-Won, 45, have renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment. .Since joining YG in January, Cha’s career has flourished as he appeared in dramas and a reality show, “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village.” He has also appeared in ads for numerous brands and was recently cast in a movie, “Gosanja Daedongyeojido." Meanwhile, Epik High will hold eight concerts at Sogang University’s Mary Hall in Seoul (July 31- Aug. 2, and Aug. 7-9). The group also successfully wrapped up a North American tour.  One of its members, Tablo, 35, established YG’s new sub-label, “High Ground,” with the goal of discovering hidden talents. 

Jul 31, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Epik High, actor Cha Seung-won re-sign with YG

Shows & Dramas

Kim talks about rumors of marriage with Rain

 Actress Kim Tae-heeActress Kim Tae-hee spoke about her relationship with her boyfriend, K-pop star/actor Rain.“As other couples who date, we talk about marriage but there are no definite plans yet,” said Kim, 35, during a press conference Thursday about her upcoming television drama “Yong-pal,” which is about a romance between a money-seeking surgeon and an heiress. The drama is expected to air on SBS starting Aug. 5.The actress said that she has no idea when, and to whom, she will marry, and the continuing reports about her alleged plans to marry Rain are burdensome to some extent.Rain, 33, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is preparing a new album. His debut album, "Bad Guy," was released in 2002. His acting career began in 2004, when he starred in the drama "Full House."

Jul 31, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Kim talks about rumors of marriage with Rain

South Korea

S. Korean industrial output rebounds in June

South Korea's industrial output rose for the first time in four months in June mainly due to greater demand for refined petroleum and machinery equipment products, a government report showed Friday.According to the report by Statistics Korea, production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries gained 2.3 percent last month from May. The increase marks a rebound after three straight months of minus growth and is the sharpest growth since February when numbers also hit 2.3 percent.Compared with a year earlier, industrial production was up 1.2 percent."The rebound was helped by improving exports, resumption of normal operations at local refineries that were closed for regular maintenance in May and companies expanding capacity in electronics," said Jeon Baek-geun, director of the short-term industrial statistics division.The official said that automobile production was up 3.1 percent last month from May.Outbound shipment numbers for Asia's fourth-largest economy were down just 2.4 percent on-year in June from more than a 10 percent drop tallied the month before.Produ

Jul 31, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Park Soo-ae turns into ice hockey player

Actress Soo-aeActress Park Soo-ae, 35, will play the lead in a new movie tentatively titled “Take Off 2.”“Take Off 2” is a sequel to box office hit “Take Off” (2009).The actress will play the role of a North Korean defector who becomes a national ice hockey player. Not only that, other actors offered a role, like Oh Dal-su and Kim Seul-gie, will soon make their decisions.The film will begin shooting in October.

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Park Soo-ae turns into ice hockey player

South Korea

N. Korea contacts Italian firm for hacking software: S. Korean lawmaker

An Italian cybersecurity firm testified that North Korea had contacted the company to purchase hacking software programs, a South Korean opposition lawmaker said Thursday.South Korea's top intelligence agency recently admitted to purchasing similar software from the Milan-based Hacking Team, triggering suspicions that it has carried out illegal surveillance of ordinary citizens."Hacking Team even testified to receiving a negotiation deal from North Korea," said Lee Jong-kul, floor leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).Lee made the remark during a seminar organized by the NPAD and Seoul-based nonprofit organization Open Net Korea at the National Assembly in Seoul.The National Intelligence Service (NIS) maintains that it has used the programs to strengthen cyber warfare capabilities against North Korea.The software programs use Remote Control System (RCS) technology, which allows hackers to manipulate and track smartphones and computers by installing spyware."If North Korea purchased (hacking software programs), security information of both North Kore

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Business

Naver's Q2 net more than triples on upbeat mobile ad sales

Naver Corp., South Korea's top Internet portal operator, said Thursday its second-quarter net profit more than tripled from a year earlier, buoyed by robust revenues from mobile advertising.Net income reached 124.1 billion won (US$107 million) in the April-June period, compared with 39.4 billion won the previous year, the company said in a regulatory filing.The figure, however, falls far short of the median estimate of 150.2 billion won in a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency.Operating profit fell 11.6 percent on-year to 167.2 billion won, while sales gained 13.8 percent to 781 billion won.The company cited a solid gain in mobile advertising and content revenues as part of the main reasons for the upbeat performance.Naver said it has seen a steady increase in the number of users for its mobile shopping platforms, along with the recent launch of its mobile payment tool Naver Pay in June.The portal operator has been shifting its core business to the platform and online-to-offline (O2O) fields as new growth drivers from focusing on the flagship search e

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon to star in 'She Was Pretty'

 Actors Hwang Jung-eum, left, and Park Seo-joon will star in a new drama, "She Was Pretty.”  Hwang Jung-eum and Park Seo-joon both of whom starred in “Kill Me, Heal Me” will reunite in a new MBC drama, “She Was Pretty.” Park will play the role of a handsome magazine subeditor and Hwang will play his first love.  There is more for K-drama fans here. The drama will also feature model/actress Go Joon-hee and Choi Siwon of Super Junior, who will star in supporting roles.  “She was Pretty” will air Wednesdays and Thursdays in September.

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Alleged bank robber a former teacher

The toy gun used at a bank robbery in southern Seoul. / YonhapThe suspect in a bank robbery in southern Seoul is a former teacher and a graduate of the nation's prestigious Seoul National University, Seocho police said Thursday.They said the man, who escaped with 24 million won from a MG Community Credit Cooperative in Jamwon-dong, was a graduate of Seoul National University's College of Education and taught for two years at a Seoul middle school. The suspect, identified only as Choi, 53, reportedly told police he did not fully disclose his school or career records because he was "embarrassed."Choi allegedly threatened bank employees with a fake gun on July 20. He was caught six days later. Police believe Choi may have committed the robbery because of a gambling addiction. Choi told police he went to the casino or racetrack at least two or three times a month.

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

AOA to release single album in Japan

AOAK-pop girl band AOA will release its third mini-album in Japan titled “Heart Attack,” FNC Entertainment said Tuesday.The album will carry three songs including “Heart Attack,” which swept the music charts in Korea in June, but also Japanese versions of “Confused” and “Joa Yo!”The eight members of AOA, which stands for Ace of Angels, will travel first to Nagoya on Thursday, Osaka on Friday and Tokyo on Saturday to promote the new album. The eight are Choa, Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Mina, Seolhyun, Chanmi, Youkyung.The band debuted in Japan in October with the EP “Miniskirt” and released a second EP “Like a Cat” in February. 

Jul 29, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Actor Lee Jong-suk's photo book on sale in 29 Asian nations

 Hallyu heartthrob Lee Jong-suk’s photo book, “Asia Tour Story ~With~” will be sold in 29 Asian nations, his agency, Wellmade Yedang, said Wednesday.The book features photos of the actor, 26, during his tour of seven Asian cities -- Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Taipei, Shanghai and Hong Kong -- from September 2014 to May 2015.The photos capture fan meetings and what went on behind the scenes.Lee has surged in popularity through Korean dramas including "School 2013,” "I Hear Your Voice" and “Pinocchio.”The 200-page book, which also comes with a 120-minute video, will be sold starting Aug. 1 through www.lotte.com and global.lotte.com.  

Jul 29, 2015By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Epik High, actor Cha Seung-won re-sign with YG

Kim talks about rumors of marriage with Rain

S. Korean industrial output rebounds in June

Park Soo-ae turns into ice hockey player

N. Korea contacts Italian firm for hacking software: S. Korean lawmaker

Naver's Q2 net more than triples on upbeat mobile ad sales

Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon to star in 'She Was Pretty'

Alleged bank robber a former teacher

AOA to release single album in Japan

Actor Lee Jong-suk's photo book on sale in 29 Asian nations

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