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K-pop

Countdown begins: why prominent K-pop singers rush to return in November?

EXO and TWICE are making their comeback in November. Courtesy of SM Entertainment, JYP EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaHardly a day passes recently without news of K-pop stars returning to stage ― EXO (Nov. 2), TWICE (Nov. 5), K.will (Nov. 6), Jennie from BLACKPINK (Nov. 12) and Wanna One (Nov. 19). Do you see anything that the dates have in common? “November.” Then a question may follow: Why have so many K-pop household names picked November for their comeback? “Most singers are reluctant to release their albums in months with big events such as national holidays, so they avoid December,” music critic and a radio script writer Kim Ban-ya told The Korea Times. December has a myriad of end-of-year awards and ceremonies, so people's attention is mostly on these occasions instead of singers' new offerings. “Therefore, for those who want to release albums this year, November is virtually the last chance to do so,” Kim added. “In fact, throughout the year, if singers exclude the months with special events, they do not have many options left.”Bal

Oct 28, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Countdown begins: why prominent K-pop singers rush to return in November?
Shows & Dramas

Jang Na-ra's age-defying beauty wows Chinese fans

Jang Na-ra on Sina Entertainment's website. Capture from Sina EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaSinger and actress Jang Na-ra, 37, has wowed her Chinese fans with age-defying beauty. China's entertainment news website Sina Entertainment recently posted photos of Jang, originally released on her Instagram. The website extolled the actress's blemish-free baby face, calling her “a woman who ate preservatives,” an expression used to praise people who look much younger than their age. It wrote: “Today, Jang unveiled her photos while shooting for an upcoming SBS TV series 'Empress's Dignity.' In these photos, she has Korean traditional hairstyle. Although Jang is already 37 years old, her skin is still white and smooth. She looks beautiful and adorable, making people unable to take their eyes off her.”Jang Na-ra in 2002, left, and the actress in 2017. Capture from YouTube account of MBCkpop, YonhapJang, born in 1981, made her debut as a singer in 2001. She starred in MBC TV's sitcom “New Nonstop” (2001-02) and SBS TV's drama “Successful Story of a Bright

Oct 28, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Jang Na-ra's age-defying beauty wows Chinese fans
K-pop

VIDEO Golden Child eyes K-pop mainstream with 'Genie'

Golden Child performs during the press event. Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwa, Park Si-soo Making it on the K-pop scene is increasingly tough ― so much so that an average of 50 hard-trained K-pop bands debut a year but most vanish from the radar after one or two rounds of performances. Given the low survival rate, boy band Golden Child deserves compliments because it recently came back with its third album “WISH” and its agency finds it worth the investment ― although its name and fan base are still not so shining and solid. In a showcase of the new album on Wednesday, the band's 10 members greeted reporters with confident smiles and words hoping that the new album will be a success. But members fell short of completely hiding their inner feelings: a sense of desperation and anxiety. “You may be fans of other stars, but please keep us in your mind too,” Golden Child main rapper Jangjun said after belting out the album's lead track “Genie.”“We will enjoy every moment on the stage and display our desperation at the same ti

Oct 28, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Golden Child eyes K-pop mainstream with 'Genie' [VIDEO]
Films

A-list actors team up for $17 million movie 'Mount Paektu'

From left are actors Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo and Ma Dong-seok, who will star in the new sci-fi film "Mount Paektu." YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaThree A-list actors ― Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo and Ma Dong-seok ― will make a rare team-up for the big-budget sci-fi film “Mount Paektu.” They recently gave final approval for their appearance in the movie, according to reports. Star director Kim Yong-hwa will guide shooting that begins next year with a 20 billion won ($17.7 million) budget. “Mount Paektu” will show covert operatives from the two Koreas struggling to prevent a volcanic eruption of Mount Paektu, a sacred 2,744-meter mountain straddling the North Korea-China border. Lee will play a North Korean agent struggling to prevent an eruption, while Ha is a South Korean agent on the same mission. Ma will appear as a scientist.

Oct 24, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
A-list actors team up for $17 million movie 'Mount Paektu'
K-pop

K-pop diva Seolhyun's sex pest found guilty

Singer Seolhyun was sexually harassed by a man with a mental illness. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaA man in his 40s suffering a mental disorder was convicted of online sex offenses against Seolhyun, a flagship member of K-pop girl band AOA.The Incheon District Court's Bucheon branch found him guilty of violating the special act on sexual crime and prevention, handing down a six-month jail term suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to receive 40 hours of anti-sexual crime education and banned him from landing a job dealing with children and teenagers for five years. The man, 47, was found to be suffering schizoaffective disorder, but the court did not consider this in deciding its verdict. “He sent sexually offensive things (to Seolhyun) repeatedly, and the level of obscenity was over the top,” Judge Sohn Yoon-gyung wrote in a ruling statement. Seolhyun's agency, FNC Entertainment, accused the man in April of repeatedly sending the singer “sexually humiliating” messages and videos via Instagram.Seolhyun debuted as a member of AOA in 2012 with the album &l

Oct 24, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop diva Seolhyun's sex pest found guilty
Films

Posthumous prizes awarded to actor Kim Joo-hyuk

Late actor Kim Joo-hyuk received awards at the 55th Grand Bell Awards. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwa, Park Si-soo Late actor Kim Joo-hyuk was recognized posthumously, winning two prizes at the 55th Grand Bell Awards, one of Korea's most prestigious film awards. Kim, who died in a car accident in October last year, won the best supporting actor award for “Believer” and a special award at the event in Seoul on Monday. In the “Believer,” Kim's last movie released after his death, he played a drug trafficker. The special award recognized his contribution to the film industry. The executive of Namoo Actors received the awards on Kim's behalf. Capture from TV ChosunAn executive from Namoo Actors, an agency that represented Kim, received the awards. “Next week marks the first anniversary of Kim's death,” the executive told the audience. “Kim was considerate. So if he were here, he would have appreciated a lot of people who worked together with him.”

Oct 23, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Posthumous prizes awarded to actor Kim Joo-hyuk
Arts & Theater

British pop star Ed Sheeran to perform in Korea in April

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will hold his second concert in Korea in April. Courtesy of Private Curve Co., Ltd.By Dong Sun-hwaPopular British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will stage his second gig in Korea in April. His first was in 2015. Sheeran, one of the world's best-selling musicians, has sold a staggering 38 million full-length albums and 100 million singles since his debut in 2011. His hit track “Shape of You” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 consecutive weeks. The concert, on Apr. 21 in Incheon, will be a part of his Asian tour that kicks off in April and continues through May. Sheeran was originally scheduled to perform here last year but an arm injury postponed the plan. Tickets for the concert go on sale from Oct. 30. For more information, visit bit.ly/2PLheQp

Oct 23, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
British pop star Ed Sheeran to perform in Korea in April
K-pop

BLACKPINK prepares for US debut with Interscope label

BLACKPINK is now aiming for success in America. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwa, Park Si-soo K-pop girl band BLACKPINK has signed a contract with Interscope Records, a California-based label associated with the Universal Music Group (UMG), in a move widely seen as the group's preparation for a U.S. debut. BLACKPINK's agency, YG Entertainment, revealed the deal on Tuesday. It said it was signed “recently” but didn't give further details, including which company proposed the deal and its duration. Interscope represents several global pop stars such as Madonna, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga. Yang Hyun-suk, founder and CEO of YG Entertainment, welcomed the contract, saying he will fully support BLACKPINK's activities in the U.S. “I hope this case will pave the way for other YG artists to enter the North American and European markets,” Yang said. UMG Chairman Lucian Grainge also expressed high expectations for the band's success in the U.S. in a speech early this month. The American music mogul said at the “UMG Global Leadership Summit&rdqu

Oct 23, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
BLACKPINK prepares for US debut with Interscope label
K-pop

Suzy donates 100 million won for children with incurable diseases

Suzy also recently donated 20 million won to support single mothers. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaSinger-actress Suzy has donated 100 million won ($89,000) to help children suffering from incurable illnesses, as a part of her 25th birthday celebrations. “Suzy handed the donation over this year,” revealed Life Share Association, an organ donation campaign group, on Saturday. “We thank Suzy for taking the lead in creating a bright and healthy society.” The money will be used to treat children with cancer and leukemia. It is not the first time the singer-actress has been involved in philanthropy. She recently donated 20 million won to support single mothers. Suzy, 23, made her debut in 2010 as a member of now-disbanded idol group miss A and has also become a soloist and actress. She will star in the upcoming TV series "Vagabond," with singer-actor Lee Seung-gi.

Oct 22, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Suzy donates 100 million won for children with incurable diseases
Shows & Dramas

VIDEO Actress-turned-YouTuber sexually harassed in Japan

Kang Eun-bi: “A man touched my waist behind me.” Capture from Kang Eun-bi's YouTube accountBy Dong Sun-hwaActress-turned-YouTuber Kang Eun-bi disclosed Thursday on her YouTube that she was sexually harassed by a man while in Osaka, Japan. “A man touched my waist behind me and tried to hug me while I was on my way to the lodge yesterday,” said Kang. “He said he was a model and asked me to have a drink with him.”Watch her video: bit.ly/2NVU73KDespite Kang's rejection, the man continued to harass her until she asked a nearby waiter for help. “I was terrified,” she said. “The man seemed to be in his 40s ― Koreans in their 40s mostly know who I am, so they do not do such a thing to me.” Her claim implies that the man was likely to be Japanese. She added, “I was not even wearing a skirt, but instead put on a hoodie, leggings and sneakers. I also felt that Osaka was unfriendly in general.” Kang debuted as an actress in the film “Wet Dreams 2” in 2005, and has appeared in several productions, including the mo

Oct 22, 2018By Dong Sun-hwa
Actress-turned-YouTuber sexually harassed in Japan [VIDEO]
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