One-person media channel coming to TV From left are DIA TV creators Kangna, Lamuqe, Calary Girl A and SSIN. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunEntertainment conglomerate CJ E&M will launch a new TV channel for its Multi-Channel Network (MCN) broadcasting “DIA TV” on Jan. 1, providing one-person media content to both digital and TV viewers.CJ E&M launched Digital Influencer & Artists TV (DIA TV) last May to support 400 local content creators in preparation to take a leading position in Asia’s MCN sector. Now the entertainment conglomerate has nearly 1,000 creator teams ready to collaborate on producing digital content across various genres including beauty, food, game and children’s shows.Whereas one-person media broadcasting was previously only available on mobile devices or PCs before, CJ E&M will air its favorite content on cable TV for the first time in the world to broaden the choice of platforms.“By launching a special one-person media network on TV, we have entered into a Multi-Platform Network (MPN) era past the MCN era,” said Rhee Hak-sung, director of DIA BNov 23, 2016
S.E.S to release new song after 14 years S.E.S. / Korea Times fileBy Kwon Mee-yooS.E.S, one of the first-generation girl groups that led the K-pop boom in the 1990s, makes a comeback with new song "Love [Story]" on Nov. 28. This is the group's first new song in 14 years.SM Entertainment, the trio's original agency, announced the comeback project "Remember" including the new song, an upcoming album and year-end concerts, Wednesday.The return of S.E.S celebrates the group's 20th anniversary. Debuting in 1997, S.E.S is composed of Bada, Eugene and Shoo and known for hit songs such as "I'm Your Girl," "Dreams Come True" and "Just a Feeling."After officially disbanding in 2002, Bada remained active as a singer as well as a musical actress, starring in "Notre Dame de Paris" and "Carmen," while Eugene pursued a career in acting and took part in hit dramas such as "Bread, Love and Dreams" (2010) and most recently "All about My Mom" (2015). Shoo has been out of the spotlight for years and made an appearance on the TV show "Roommate" with her twin daughters in 2015.The new track "Love [Story]" is a rearrangement of the group's hit "LNov 23, 2016
'Romantic Doctor' tops 20 percent viewership A scene from “Romantic Doctor”By Park Jin-haiSBS’ new medical drama “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim” is gaining greater popularity among TV viewers week after week.The Monday-Tuesday series posted a viewership rating of 20.3 percent in Seoul after its sixth episode aired Tuesday, according to media ratings company Nielsen Korea, making it one of the most popular K-dramas this season. Viewers’ ratings for the nation recorded 18.9 percent.“Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim,” starring veteran actor Han Suk-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin, tells the story of a celebrated surgeon who leaves his former workplace to work in a small hospital, where he becomes “Teacher Kim” and teaches two young doctors the true meaning of being a doctor.The 20 percent viewership is a remarkable feat, considering any program netting over 10 percent viewership is regarded as a success. Viewers gave high marks to the plot that features the doctors’ struggle against the powerful figures at the big hospital. Actor Han’s strong performance as welNov 23, 2016
Hallyu falls victim to Korea-China diplomatic row Jun Ji-hyun, left and Lee Min-ho in “The Legend of the Blue Sea” / Courtesy of SBSChina toughens regulations against Korean starsBy Kim Jae-heunChina has strengthened its regulations against Korean stars performing on the mainland and appearing on TV series in retaliation to Korea’s continued pledge to deploy a U.S. missile defense system in the country.Cheong Wa Dae and the U.S. agreed to install the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Korea in July and are showing no signs of withdrawing the plan despite strong criticism from the Chinese government. Beijing has decided to ban hallyu, or the Korean wave, in its territory.According to a report from China’s culture ministry on Tuesday, no Korean singer has been approved to perform in the country since October.Industry sources said no Korean stars have performed in China not only because people are discouraged to organize concerts there and the number of applications has decreased but also because some applications have been turned down by the Chinese government.Actor Kim Soo-hyun who gained Chinese fNov 22, 2016
BigBang returns with December album The cover of BigBang’s new album. / YG Entertainment TuesdayBy Lee Han-sooWorld-famous K-pop boy band BigBang is set for a comeback with a new album on Dec. 12, according to YG Entertainment Tuesday.The album completes BigBang’s “M.A.D.E Project,” which started last year. It also will also be the band’s first regular album in eight years.The release date coincides with band member Seungri’s birthday and it will be the last album before T.O.P, the oldest member, joins the police force on Feb. 9 next year.The album will have two title songs, with one music video shot in North Chungcheong Province and the other in Seoul.After releasing the album, BigBang plans to hold a concert ― “BigBang 10 The Concert 0.TO.10 Final in Seoul” ― at the Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome from Jan. 7 to 8.Nov 22, 2016
박근혜 앞으로 나와! 외치는 정우성 영상 이른바 ‘문화계 블랙리스트’로 알려진 영화배우 정우성이 영화 무대 인사에서 소신발언을 해 화제가 되고 있다.지난 20일 정우성은 영화 ‘아수라’ 팬 단체 관람회 현장에 깜짝 등장을 했다.팬들이 그에게 즉흥 연기를 요청하자 그는 ‘아수라’ 내의 악역인 박성배의 이름 대신 박근혜 대통령의 이름을 외친 것이다.“박성배 앞으로 나와!”가 아닌 “박근혜 앞으로 나와”를 있는 힘껏 외치는 그의 모습은 소셜미디어에 공개되며 큰 화제가 되고 있다.영상을 본 네티즌들은 “역시 정우성, 소신 있다,” “내가 다 속 시원하다” 같은 반응을 보였다.디지털뉴스부@Nov 22, 2016
JYJ's Junsu, BIGBANG's T.O.P to join military service in Feb. Two South Korean boy band members will begin their mandatory military service in February, their agencies said Tuesday.Junsu of the K-pop trio JYJ, also known as Kim Jun-su on the musical scene, and T.O.P of BIGBANG will start their two-year service at police departments in February.Both 29 years old, the two idol singers will together report to the initial training camp in Nonsan, some 160 kilometers south of Seoul.Junsu will serve in the public relations unit of Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, according to a government notice. T.O.P was accepted to the band unit of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.The two singer-actors will continue with existing arrangements to the last minute before the conscription date.T.O.P's BIGBANG is slated to release a new full-length album in December, which will conclude the band's ongoing "MADE" project.Junsu will throw his year-end concert tour in South Korea and Japan in December, and star in the new musical "Death Note" that kicks off in January. (Yonhap)Nov 22, 2016
'Legend of the Blue Sea' criticized for poor editing A scene from “Legend of the Blue Sea” / Courtesy of SBSBy Park Jin-hai SNS’s much-anticipated star-studded fantasy romance “Legend of the Blue Sea” has been criticized for bad editing.The newly launched drama which aired its first two episodes last week features big-name stars Jun Ji-hyun (Sim Cheong) and Lee Min-ho (Huh Jun-jae). The love story between a mermaid and a conman was slammed by viewers for its loose plot and lack of chemistry between its main characters.In terms of viewership ratings, the drama didn’t do as poorly. Its first episode hit 16.4 percent and its second episode aired last Thursday recorded 15.1 percent.However, many viewers have since expressed their disappointment with the much-hyped drama. The drama’s online message board has seen comments calling the drama distracting and childish.When special director’s cuts of the two episodes were aired over the weekend, with a full 16 extra minutes of footage, viewers raised the editing problem.“When I watched the director’s cut, I learned that some iNov 21, 2016
Choi scandal opens floodgates for political mockery K-pop singer Lee Seung-hwan sings his popular song with rearranged lyrics to carry an anti-Park Geun hye message during a mass rally, where some 1 million people turned up, calling for her resignation, in downtown Seoul, on Nov. 12. / YonhapBy Park Jin-hai In the third mass anti-president rally in downtown Seoul on Nov. 12, where 1 million citizens holding candles chanted slogans calling for scandal-plagued President Park Geun-hye’s immediate resignation, K-pop singer Lee Seung-hwan graced the finale of a street concert.Saying that he nowadays suffers severely because of President Park and her band of corrupt confidants, Lee sang his popular song with rearranged lyrics to carry an anti-Park message.Lee, who previously hung a placard calling for ousting the president on his own company building in Seoul, might be one of the most vocal critics, but he is not alone.Many celebrities, including TV hostess Kim Mi-hwa and show host Kim Je-dong who were on an alleged government blacklist of 9,000 artists by the culture ministry for their critical views of the government, also joinNov 20, 2016
Three bands take honors at K-pop awards Bangtan Boys / Courtes of TwitterBy Ko Dong-hwanK-pop boy bands Bangtan Boys (BTS) and EXO, and girl band TWICE won the top three awards at the 2016 melon Music Awards on Saturday.BTS from Big Hit Entertainment won the top album award in the eighth year of the awards at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul."This is the best award ever since our debut," said BTS' Rap Monster, according to Yonhap news agency, which said his bandmates J-Hope and Jin cried.Three years after its debut, the band has become one of the hottest K-pop bands. Its latest full-length album “WINGS” ranked as high as 26th on the Billboard 200 chart ― the highest of any K-pop band to date.EXO / Courtesy of Wikipedia CommonsBoy band EXO claimed five awards ― top artist, best dancer, Kakao hot star, TOP 10 and the netizen choice award.BTS was EXO's biggest rival for the dance award, but EXO had more music downloads and album sales.GFriend / Courtesy of WikipediaGFriend, last year's winner of the rookie award, won the best female dancer award. The band from Source Music competed in the category with S.M. EntertainmentNov 20, 2016
