K-pop band 2PM tops Oricon Chart in Japan K-pop boy group 2PM topped the daily Oricon Chart on Monday with “Promise (I’ll be).” / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aK-pop boy band 2PM’s new Japanese album, “Promise (I’ll be),” topped the daily Oricon Chart on Monday.The album, released on Oct. 26, took just five days to rank first on Japan’s major online music chart.Band member Taecyeon wrote and composed the album’s title track. The album also includes “WOW” and “Mayday,” composed by members Junho and Chansung, respectively.The six-member group debuted in 2008 with a single album, "Hottest time of the day," and has gained popularity through several hit songs, including "Heartbeat" (2009), “Again & Again” (2009) and "Go Crazy!" (2014). The group held its 100th concert in Japan last week -- “The 2PM in Tokyo Dome” -- where nearly 100,000 fans gathered. Nov 1, 2016
Actor sues rumormongers amid Choi Soon-sil scandal Park Hae-jin from tvN's "Cheese in the Trap" (2016)By Ko Dong-hwanActor Park Hae-jin will sue rumormongers who said he is connected to Ko Young-tae, a close friend of Choi Soon-sil, the longtime confidant of President Park Geun-hye who is suspected of meddling in state affairs.Park’s agency, Mountain Movement, said on Oct. 31 that it will act “without mercy” against cyberbullies and media outlets spreading the rumors. It said it will soon file a lawsuit after securing evidence, according to online media outlet The Fact.The rumor started with a photo taken 14 years ago, in which Ko and Park posed with two other men. Those who spread the photo had said the four were employees of a “host bar” ― an adults-only salon where men provide services to women. The photo was recently circulated again after Ko began attracting attention amid the influence-peddling scandal, or so-called “Choi Soon-sil scandal.”“Just because Park was in the photo with Ko, rumormongers began to add a lie to another lie that they were somehow closely acquainted,” MNov 1, 2016
Choi Soon-sil scandal shakes up entertainment circle Fitness trainer Jung A-reumActress Kim Nam-joo Korea Times file photosActor Park Hae-jinBy Park Jin-haiAs the prosecutors continue with their raid of the presidential office in search of documents related to Choi Soon-sil, who is suspected of meddling in state affairs as President Park Geun-hye’s confidant, the so-called “Choi Soon-sil gate” has shaken local entertainment circles.Celebrities allegedly related to Ko Young-tae, 40, a former host bar worker who had a relationship with Choi, have been weary that they too might become embroiled in the mudslinging.Ko has managed The Blue K and Widec Sports, paper companies Choi set up in Korea and Germany allegedly to funnel money away from the Mir and K-Sports foundations. Ko is known to have many celebrity friends.Actor Ko Joo-won faces a rumor that he is Ko Young-tae’s cousin and the one who introduced him around in the entertainment circle. Jung A-reum, a celebrity fitness trainer and former Miss Korea, has been rumored to have choreographed an exercise routine for the public with Cha Eun-taek, a commeOct 31, 2016
Entertainment firm finds future in Culture Technology S.M. Entertainment chief producer Lee Soo-man speaks about the New Culture Technology plan during a press conference at SMTOWN in COEX Artium, southeastern Seoul, on Jan. 27. / Courtesy of S.M. EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunSince Lee Soo-man founded S.M. Entertainment in 1995, the company has been playing a leading role in paving the way for K-pop music to the global scene.SM’s early idol group H.O.T., who were very popular in the mid- to late ‘90s, became the first Korean group to hold a solo concert in Beijing, China. Many believed it was the beginning of hallyu, or the Korean wave.In 2002, BoA became the first Korean artist to top the Japanese Oricon Chart with her first album in Japan “Listen to My Heart.” Nine years later, the collection of SM artists named SMTOWN gained another title as the first singers from Asia to hold a concert in Madison Square Garden in New York.S.M. Entertainment’s new K-pop boy band Neo Culture Technology (NCT). Lee explains that all these achievements were possible because of SM’s strategy that he calls cultOct 31, 2016
Park Hae-jin to take measures against malicious rumors Park Hae-jinActor Park Hae-jin plans to take strong measures against rumors involving his relationship with Ko Young-tae, a close friend of Choi Soon-sil, who is suspected of meddling in state affairs as President Park Geun-hye's confidant."Park Hae-jin's name is continuously being exposed next to the name Ko Young-tae on web portals and internet community websites since Thursday," his agency Mountain Movement said Friday on Park's fan club website, adding that this has "seriously damaged Park's image as an actor."The agency added that it will "take strong measures against posts that carry groundless false information."At the moment, a picture of Ko and three other men, one of which is identified as Park, is being circulated online. The picture was taken 14 years ago. Netizens suspect there is a personal connection between Ko and Park, casting doubts about his past. Ko is known to have worked in a "host bar" where men provide services to women. There is circumstantial evidence that Ko met Choi at the host bar and has since been in a close relationship with the President's confidant, Oct 30, 2016
Hyunjoo to leave K-pop band April Hyunjoo of K-pop girl band April permanently leaves the group. / Courtesy of DSP MediaBy Lee Jin-aHyunjoo of K-pop girl band April will leave to make her debut as an actress.“Hyunjoo will no longer be part of April and will start her acting career,” her agency, DSP Media, said Saturday.“She will be trying out a new road not as April but as an actress. She will be promoting herself individually.”The agency said it would continue to support Hyunjoo while reorganizing April with a new member.The agency did not rule out the possibility that the band would get more than one new member.Hyunjoo, 19, debuted last year as a member of April with a mini-album “Dreaming.”The five-member group is best known for its songs “Muah! (2015),”and “Tinker Bell(2016).”Oct 30, 2016
Actor Uhm's wife suffers miscarriage amid husband's sex case scandal Uhm Tae-woong, right, with his wife Yoon Hae-jin and daugher from KBS's "The Return of Superman" / Courteys of KBSBy Hong Dam-youngKorean actor Uhm Tae-woong’s wife has had a miscarriage. It followed a storm of controversy over her husband’s sex case scandal.Korean media reported on Thursday that Uhm’s wife, Yoon Hye-jin, 36, a former ballerina, lost the couple’s second child about three weeks ago.Uhm’s agency, Key East Entertainment, said: “Yoon was not in good health from the beginning of the pregnancy.”Yoon is now resting, according to reports. Yoon was about five weeks into her pregnancy in August when Bundang Police Station began investigating Uhm, 42, over allegations of sexually assaulting a woman at a massage parlor in the city of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The alleged victim filed a lawsuit against Uhm a month earlier, claiming he sexually assaulted her at the parlor in January.The couple married in 2013. / YonhapOn Oct. 14, police cleared Uhm of rape but charged him with prostitution. They said Uhm had paid to have sex with Oct 28, 2016
K-pop girl band rainbow disbands after seven years Rainbow has decided to disband after seven years. / Courtesy of DSP Media By Lee Jin-aK-pop girl group Rainbow is breaking up seven years after debuting.Its agency, DSP Media, said Friday the band has decided to disband once its contract expires on Nov. 12 due to members’ diverging career paths.“Although we discussed with Rainbow members Kim Jae-kyung, Go Woo-ri, Kim Ji-sook, Noel, Oh Seung-ah, Jung Yoon-hye, and Cho Hyun-young their futures, they have decided to go their separate ways,” the agency said. “We hope that like a rainbow that shines bright anywhere, the members will be remembered for their bright, positive image and that people will continue to send their wholehearted support and encouragement for their future activities.” The group debuted in 2009 with mini album “Gossip Girl” and released hits including “A” (2010), “Tell Me Tell Me” (2013) and “Whoo” (2016). Oct 28, 2016
PHOTO Korea caught in 'Bo-gum magic' Actor Park Bo-gum, who played Crown Prince Yi Young in the recent KBS fantasy period drama “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” smiles before an interview at a café in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Lee Jin-aPark Bo-gum, the star of KBS hit “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” has stirred the hearts of female viewers in the role of “Prince Yi Young” in the fantasy period drama.Fans have coined the term “Bo-gum magic,” which means that once people look at Park they cannot take their eyes off him.Fans also came up with phrase “Park Bo-gum is love” to express their affection for the actor because of his well-known gentle personality and good looks.After the drama ended on Oct. 18 with a 22.9 percent rating, the actor and co-star Kim Yoo-jung held a fan event at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul the next day. About 5,000 fans showed up, proving his popularity.On Wednesday, the actor did an interview with The Korea Times at a café in central Seoul and talked about his role in the drama. The photos below show ParkOct 28, 2016
Park Bo-gum says 'I had hard time portraying prince' Actor Park Bo-gum, who portrayed Crown Prince Yi Yeong in the recent KBS fantasy period drama “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” poses prior to an interview at a cafe in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Hankook Ilbo photo by Choi Jae-myungPark Bo-gum says support from staff gave him confidenceBy Park Jin-haiPark Bo-gum, the star of recently aired fantasy period drama “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds” and best known for his great personality and killer smile, said he had a hard time adjusting to the role of Crown Prince Yi Young at first.“When I received the scenario, I had confidence that I could portray the character well. But when I learned the names of the other cast members in the drama, who are for me like the Avengers of veteran actors and actresses, I quickly lost my confidence,” said the 23-old actor during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday. Through the 18-episode fantasy period drama, dealing with the romance between the prince and his eunuch servant Ra-on, Park has emerged as a national heartthrob forOct 26, 2016
