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K-pop

Japanese rock star donates $87,900 for fire victims in Gangwon

Yoshiki has donated 100 million won for the victims of a fire in Gangwon Province. Courtesy of ChildFund KoreaBy Dong Sun-hwaYoshiki, the leader of Japanese rock band X-Japan, has donated 100 million won ($87,900) for victims of the massive wildfire in Gangwon Province on April 4. The rock star handed the donation to ChildFund Korea via his American non-profit foundation YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA. He was reportedly influenced by Korean actor couple Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung who offered the same amount. Yoshiki and Lee Byung-hun. Capture from Lee Byung-hun's InstagramThe fire started in Goseong. It killed one person and injured 11. Korean President Moon Jae-in declared a state of national disaster over the blaze. “I hope the fire-stricken region of Gangwon Province will recover as soon as possible,” Yoshiki said via the foundation, Wednesday. Lee Byung-hun praised him on Instagram, saying: “Thank you, my friend.” He also posted a photo of himself with Yoshiki. X-Japan debuted in 1985 and shot to fame with smash-hit songs including “Endless Rain&rdqu

Apr 11, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Japanese rock star donates $87,900 for fire victims in Gangwon
K-pop

Former B.A.P. vocalist Youngjae signals solo debut

Youngjae, a former member of now-disbanded K-pop act B.A.P., has been tuning up for his solo debut. Courtesy of JWORLDBy Dong Sun-hwaYoungjae, a former member of now-defunct K-pop boy band B.A.P., disclosed photos for his coming solo album Thursday. Three photos featuring flowers and a geometrical figure were uploaded on his official fan site. Also included in the images is the name of the album, “FANCY,” and an unknown date, “04. 19”. Fans have speculated April 19 is the date of the album's release. “'FANCY' is the term depicting Youngjae's own musical world,” a spokesperson for his agency JWORLD said. “Through the album, he hopes to show his growth as a soloist in a 'fancy' way.”Youngjae debuted as a member of B.A.P. in 2012 with the album “WARRIOR.” The team rose to fame with songs including “1004 (Angel),” but disbanded in February.

Apr 11, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Former B.A.P. vocalist Youngjae signals solo debut
Arts & Theater

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz to throw gigs in Korea in July

Jason Mraz will perform in Korea in July. Courtesy of A.I.MBy Dong Sun-hwaAmerican singer-songwriter Jason Mraz will stage gigs in Seoul and Busan in July. His Seoul gig is scheduled for July 24. The Busan concert will be held on July 26 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO). The venue for the Seoul show has not yet been finalized.Tickets are available from April 17 at YES24 and Interpark. Sales for the Seoul performance begin at 12 a.m. while those for the Busan gig start at 1 p.m. The price for royal seats is 132,000 won ($115). For special seats, it is 110,000 won. The concerts are part of his “GOOD VIBES TOUR” that celebrates the release of his sixth studio album, “Know,” released in 2018. The first leg of the tour was in Cleveland in the U.S. Mraz debuted in 2002 with the studio album “Waiting for My Rocket to Come.” Included in his third album “We sing. We Dance. We Steal Things” was global smash-hit track “I'm Yours.” The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 76 weeks. He also won two Grammy

Apr 11, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz to throw gigs in Korea in July
Law & Crime

Illegal immigrant at massage parlor diagnosed with AIDS before death

An illegal immigrant massage parlor worker was diagnosed with AIDS two days before her death on April 3. gettyimagesbankBy Dong Sun-hwaAn illegal immigrant in her 40s, who worked at a massage parlor in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, was diagnosed with AIDS just days before she died of pneumonia and other complications April 3.The woman was hospitalized March 26 and diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) April 1, according to the public health centers in Pohang, Tuesday.She reportedly visited Seoul and Busan for treatment. Police investigated the massage parlor and its customers. But health officials and police are struggling to establish how many people she had sexual contact with. A search of her rented house turned up nothing, not even a rental contract. “People should get a checkup if they suspect they are infected,” the head of the Pohang City Namgu Health Center was quoted as saying. “Their identities are protected. Their health conditions could rapidly deteriorate without antiretroviral injections to treat AIDS.”

Apr 11, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Illegal immigrant at massage parlor diagnosed with AIDS before death
K-pop

EXO's Xiumin to join army May 7

Xiumin, a member of K-pop titan EXO, will join the army on May 7. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaXiumin of K-pop boy band EXO will start his military service May 7, becoming the first band member to enlist. “Xiumin will join the army and serve active duty,” his agency SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The place and time of his enlistment will not be disclosed. “I will stay healthy (in the army) and come back,” he wrote on EXO's official fan site, Tuesday. “I will be back after throwing concerts (in Japan), so please wait for me.”He will stage “EXO-CBX 'MAGICAL CIRCUS' 2019 ― Special Edition” gigs on April 16-17 and April 27-29 in Japan. EXO-CBX is a sub-unit of EXO comprised of Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, formed in 2016. Xiumin, 29, whose name is Kim Min-seok, debuted as a member of EXO in 2012. The team shot to stardom with hit track “Growl” in 2013.

Apr 10, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
EXO's Xiumin to join army May 7
Shows & Dramas

Actress Moon Geun-young to return to small screen

Actress Moon Geun-young. Courtesy of Namoo ActorsBy Dong Sun-hwaActress Moon Geun-young is set to make her small screen return in the tvN drama tentatively titled “Catch The Ghost.”“Moon will star in the drama following a four-year hiatus,” her agency Namoo Actors said Tuesday.“Catch The Ghost” revolves around subway police officers. Moon will play Yoo Ryung (meaning “ghost” in Korean,) a new officer who cannot tolerate injustice. Kim Sun-ho will be her partner. Moon's acting career began in 1999. She shot to fame in 2000 thanks to the TV series “Autumn in My Heart.” She has featured in dozens of hit programs, including drama “Painter of the Wind” in 2008. The new soap opera will premiere in the second half of this year.

Apr 9, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Actress Moon Geun-young to return to small screen
K-pop

Sulli's drinking party live streaming ignites controversy

Sulli live-streamed her drinking party on Instagram, Monday. Capture from Sulli's Instagram liveBy Dong Sun-hwaSinger-turned-actress Sulli's Instagram live-streaming of her drinking party Monday has sparked controversy. The red-faced Sulli, in a black sleeveless shirt, showed how she enjoyed the party with friends at an eatery. Some 14,000 people watched her and asked questions. When some asked private questions, she said: “You do not have to worry about me. I hate people who 'gaze rape' me.”“Gaze rape” is a newly coined term referring to excessive gazing that makes people feel violated. When another netizen asked her to turn the live-streaming off, she refused, saying: “I do not think such a person is my fan. What are you?” Some claim Sulli was just expressing herself, while others said she should have been more cautious with her words and behavior. Sulli, 24, debuted as a child actress in 2005 and as a member of f(x) in 2009 with the album "LA chA TA." In 2015, she left the group to forge an acting career.

Apr 9, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Sulli's drinking party live streaming ignites controversy
Society

Seoul cabbie loses license for overcharging foreign passengers

A cabbie has had his taxi license canceled for overcharging. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaA Seoul court has rejected a cabbie's bid to reverse Seoul City's decision to revoke his taxi driver's license for overcharging foreigners, it was reported Tuesday. The driver charged the two 8,000 won ($7) after driving 2.43 kilometers to a shopping mall in Jung-gu, downtown Seoul. The correct fare was 4,200 won, according to the meter. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled against the taxi driver in a case he filed to overturn Seoul City Hall's decision to revoke his license. The court ruled: “The driver overcharged foreigners several times. This violates the law on the development of taxis.” City monitors caught the driver. The Seoul Metropolitan Government fined him 400,000 won ($350) and canceled his license. The court rejected the cabbie's case, saying his claims were inconsistent and lacked credibility. The driver was reportedly caught five times between 2017 and 2018 ripping off foreigners. Because of this, he was warned and his license suspended for 30 days.

Apr 9, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Seoul cabbie loses license for overcharging foreign passengers
K-pop

Singer reveals tough experience as idol trainee

Singer MAYDONI: “I wouldn't start so young again.” Capture from YouTube account of “MAYDONI”By Dong Sun-hwaSinger MAYDONI has revealed that she had to reduce her weight to 38 kilograms and could not exchange phone numbers with her male label mates when she was an idol trainee.According to Joongang Ilbo's Monday report, MAYDONI, 28, became a trainee at JYP Entertainment, one of Korea's “Big 3” music powerhouses, when she was 11. She was trained with Sunye, leader of now-defunct girl band Wonder Girls and Jo Kwon of ballad group 2AM. Four years later, she moved to another big name agency YG Entertainment, and trained for four more years. But she still could not make her debut. “I was asked to reduce my weight to 38 kilograms before debut, and this was extremely stressful,” she recalled. “After I exchanged phone numbers with BIGBANG members (who have been represented by YG), a manager deleted the information. I could not even take the same taxi with a male trainee. “When the trainees gathered together, we were compared to each

Apr 8, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Singer reveals tough experience as idol trainee
Shows & Dramas

AOA's Hye Jeong, actor Ryu Eui-hyun confirm dating

AOA's Hye Jeong and actor Ryu Eui-hyun. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment and Wayz CompanyBy Dong Sun-hwaHye Jeong of K-pop girl band AOA and actor Ryu Eui-hyun confirmed Monday that they have been dating. FNC Entertainment representing Hye Jeong released an official statement Monday saying, “They first met on a drama in December, and have been dating since the beginning of this year.”Ryu's agency Wayz Company also said, “They have been seeing each other.”Hye Jeong, 26, and Ryu, 20, co-starred in a web-drama “Can Love Be Refunded” in 2018. They have already told acquaintances about their relationship according to an earlier report. Hye Jeong debuted in 2012 as a member of K-pop girl band AOA. The band rose to fame thanks to hits including “Miniskirt.” Ryu has featured in several works such as the TV series “Shopping King Louie” in 2016 and the web-drama “A-TEEN” in 2018.

Apr 8, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
AOA's Hye Jeong, actor Ryu Eui-hyun confirm dating
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