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Dong Sun-hwa

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K-pop

VIDEO IZ*ONE resets girl band's first-week album sales

Korean-Japanese project team IZ*ONE has sold more than 132,100 copies of its album “HEART*IZ”. Courtesy of Off The Record EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaKorean-Japanese project group IZ*ONE, comprised of the 12 finalists from Mnet's idol survival show “Produce 48,” has set a record for album sales of K-pop girl bands during the first week of its release.From April 1-7, the group sold more than 132,100 copies of its second mini-album “HEART*IZ,” according to Korean website Hanteo Chart. The previous record was held by nine-member girl group TWICE, when its first studio album “Twicetagram” sold more than 129,600 copies in a week in 2017. Album sales during the first week are considered a crucial barometer, which most agencies use to decide how many more albums to release. The music video of IZ*ONE's lead track “Violeta” has had more than 17 million views on YouTube as of Monday. Watch the MV of “Violeta”: bit.ly/2TMpOjcThe group, which debuted in October with the lead track “La Vie en Rose,” will stage its

Apr 8, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
IZ*ONE resets girl band's first-week album sales [VIDEO]
People & Events

Actor Lee Il-jae dies of lung cancer

Actor Lee Il-jae died of lung cancer on Friday. Capture from tvNBy Dong Sun-hwaActor Lee Il-jae, 59, died of lung cancer, Friday. “Lee had been battling the disease but died on Friday,” a spokesperson for his agency said. “His family was around him when he passed away.”His mortuary is at The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, where he had been hospitalized. Lee debuted as a stage actor in 1981 and appeared in the film “The General's Son” in 1990 and drama “Rustic Period” in 2002-03. He featured in the third season of the tvN show “Nest Escape” in 2018 and revealed he had been suffering lung cancer. He leaves a wife and two daughters.

Apr 5, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Actor Lee Il-jae dies of lung cancer
K-pop

After diving mishap, paralyzed rapper asks for money to return from Thailand

A diving accident paralyzed rapper KK. Capture from Instagram of KKBy Dong Sun-hwaKorean rapper KK, who was paralyzed in a diving accident in Thailand, will return to Korea on Saturday. He asked people for money on Instagram, Wednesday, to pay his medical bills and transfer cost. Only a day later, reports said he would be back here and receive intensive care. It is unknown whether he got the money from the fundraising. On Wednesday, his wife uploaded an online post on his behalf. He has been paralyzed since breaking his neck in a diving accident at a swimming pool in Chiang Mai, according to the post. “I broke my fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae (neck bone) diving into the pool at my accommodation,” the post reads. “I am now living from day to day at the intensive care unit at a hospital in Chiang Mai. I am feeling helpless about unaffordable medical bills here.”He has been hospitalized for about 10 days and the medical cost is over 60 million won ($53,000), according to the post. He said he also needed 10 million won to be transferred back to Korea. “

Apr 5, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
After diving mishap, paralyzed rapper asks for money to return from Thailand
K-pop

Ex-Wanna One's Bae Jin-young to return with first solo album

By Dong Sun-hwaBae Jin-young's teaser image for his coming solo album. Courtesy of C9 EntertainmentBae Jin-young from disbanded K-pop boy band Wanna One excited fans Thursday by disclosing a teaser photo for his first solo album. His agency C9 Entertainment unveiled the image on its official Twitter, hinting at an April release of the album. The photo has a sentence that reads “COMING SOON,” and features Bae hiding one eye with his hand.“People might be able to see unprecedented features of Bae through the new song,” a spokesperson for his agency said. But the exact date of the release is not known. Bae is also set to hold “BAE JIN YOUNG 1ST ASIA FANMEETING TOUR IN SOUL 'IM YOUNG'” on Apr. 27-28 at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University, Seoul. Bae was a member of project group Wanna One, which comprised the 11 top-rankers from the second season of Mnet's survival reality show “Produce 101.” The group disbanded in 2018.

Apr 4, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Ex-Wanna One's Bae Jin-young to return with first solo album
Films

Food in movies conveys more than taste

Kim Ku-chul, the deputy head editor of Munhwa Ilbo, gives a lecture on the “Present and future of K-movies and the story of food scenes in movies,” Tuesday, at the residence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Korea, Dr. Chafik Rachadi. Courtesy of CICIBy Dong Sun-hwaFood is often used as an important tool in a movie to convey a particular message or create a certain atmosphere. While most viewers have a vague grasp of the purpose of this important prop, they can't put their finger on the exact mechanism of effect as the director intends.This situation has prompted a new genre ― checking out the foods appearing in movies and explaining them. Kim Ku-chul, one of the first experts in this field, said, “The power of 'movie food' is mighty,” during a lecture at the residence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Korea, Tuesday. “It can facilitate people's understanding of the characters and the storyline.”Kim, also deputy editor of vernacular paper Munhwa Ilbo, talked about how he got involved in the field after being dissatisfied with just watching a movie to gain

Apr 4, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Food in movies conveys more than taste
Shows & Dramas

'Golden Hour': trauma doctor's book to be dramatized

Lee Guk-jong is a trauma specialist. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaThe best-selling book of prominent trauma doctor Lee Guk-jong will be made into a TV series. The dramatized version of Lee's “Golden Hour” aims to premiere in the first half of 2020, according to production company Studio Dragon, Wednesday. Lee Guk-jong wrote the two-volume book “Golden Hour.” Courtesy of Next Wave MediaThe two-volume book is Lee's 17-year record of experiences in the trauma center. It exposes the demanding life of medical staff and unveils stories of patients fighting between life and death. The book has made a splash for featuring the struggles of the medical team to save the lives of as many people as possible, even in tough conditions. Lee sold more than 130,000 books only a few days after its release in October. So Hyun-kyung, the writer of hit dramas including “Brilliant Legacy (2009)” and “My Golden Life (2017)”, will pen the soap opera with a co-writer. “Through the story of Lee and his staff, we want to open up the hidden sides of the trauma center

Apr 4, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
'Golden Hour': trauma doctor's book to be dramatized
Shows & Dramas

Choi Si-won apologizes again over deadly dog bite

Singer-actor Choi Si-won has repeated his apology for the deadly incident caused by his dog. Capture from Choi Si-won's InstagramBy Dong Sun-hwaSinger-actor Choi Si-won has apologized again over his dog's deadly bite that killed his female neighbor in 2017. During a press conference for new KBS 2TV drama “My Fellow Citizens” on Monday, he said: “I learnt I should be more cautious and prudent in handling any incidents linked to me. I am sorry for fueling worries.” He said he would strive for a good performance on the new TV series. Choi has been on a hiatus after his French bulldog bit a restaurant CEO in October 2017. The CEO, surnamed Kim, died of blood poisoning three days later. Choi and his family were criticized for not having the dog on a leash. Choi apologized on social media soon afterward, saying: “I sincerely express my sorrow over the deceased and her bereaved family. I have been deeply remorseful for carelessness that caused a tremendous accident.”Despite his repeated apologies, many people still avoid him. “It is so easy for an e

Apr 3, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Choi Si-won apologizes again over deadly dog bite
Shows & Dramas

INTERVIEW 'People think I can speak 10 languages'

Andreas S.T. Lee, CEO of the Creative Convergence Group, speaks during a recent interview. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Dong Sun-hwaForeign TV personalities often are multilingual and can speak Korean fluently. But what about those who manage them? “Many people believe I have a good command of over 10 different languages,” Andreas S.T. Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “But I do not.” Lee heads a leading firm representing foreign entertainers in Korea. Instead of studying foreign tongues, he has learnt a simpler, but more effective trick ― only using his “perfect” Korean when interacting with his members. Lee is the CEO of the Creative Convergence Group of FMG Entertainment. Christian Burgos of Mexico, German Niklas Klabunde, Wang Xinlin from China and Pakistan's Zahid Hussain are among FMG's foreign talent pool of over 70 from some 40 countries. “Our members are intellectuals, so they could look down on me if I use English,” Lee frankly confessed. This also helps train the contracted foreign talent to learn

Apr 3, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
[INTERVIEW] 'People think I can speak 10 languages'
K-pop

JYP to hold auditions to recruit Japanese-speaking girl band

JYP Entertainment's flagship girl band TWICE. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaJYP Entertainment, one of the “Big 3” music powerhouses, will begin recruiting Japanese-speaking aspiring singers to join a new K-pop girl band.Applications will open in May. Women aged between 15 and 22 who have a good command of Japanese are eligible. Japanese nationality is not a must. Park Jin-young, the founder of JYP Entertainment. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentJYP and Japan's Sony Music will hold auditions in July and August at 10 locations, including Tokyo, Hawaii and Los Angeles. After the auditions, 20 people will be singled out. They will train at JYP's training center for six months, until the announcement of the final line-up in April, 2020. The group will debut in November, 2020 and be managed by Sony. It will be based in Japan, but will target the international market.JYP founder Park Jin-young has called this the “NIZI Project.” “NIZI” is a Japanese term meaning rainbow. “I will keep JYP's color but will launch a global team that could shi

Apr 2, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
JYP to hold auditions to recruit Japanese-speaking girl band
K-pop

K-pop diva Hyolyn to embark on world tour

By Dong Sun-hwaSinger Hyolyn will start her world tour in May. Courtesy of bridgeK-pop diva Hyolyn, a former member of now-defunct girl band Sistar, will begin her first world tour in May. Her agency bridge unveiled a poster for “HYOLIN 1st WORLD TOUR [TRUE]” on Instagram, Monday. The tour will start in Berlin, Germany on May 29, and continue in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia. More concerts will be added later. Hyolyn, whose real name is Kim Hyo-jung, launched her first solo career in 2013 as a member of four-piece girl band Sistar. After the group disbanded in 2017, she established her own label and released several tracks including “Dally.”

Apr 1, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop diva Hyolyn to embark on world tour
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