K-pop band I.O.I has new album K-pop band I.O.I will release its final album on Monday. / Courtesy of YMC EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aK-pop girl band I.O.I will make a comeback with its album “Miss Me?”According to the band’s agency, YMC Entertainment, on Sunday, the 11-member group will release its second mini album at 12:00 a.m. on Monday.Composed by Park Jin-young, a singer and founder of the nation’s one of the biggest entertainment agencies, JYP Entertainment, the band’s title track “Very Very Very” is an upbeat song with a fast rhythm and a synthesizer sound. The song’s teaser video was released on YouTube on Oct. 13.Created through cable network Mnet's reality audition program "Produce 101" in April, I.O.I is a project group consisting of 11 female artists from different talent agencies.I.O.I’s album is expected to be its last activity before its members disband to pursue individual activities.Oct 16, 2016
tvN reveals first collaboration TV show with ESG Producer Jeong Jong-yeon of “The Society Game” speaks at a press conference at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heun CJ E&M’s cable TV channel tvN revealed its first show in collaboration with global entertainment content producer Endemol Shine Group (ESG) on Wednesday, the next step in realizing its goal as a global content trend leader, as its slogan says.ESG produces well-known TV shows like “Big Brother,” “MasterChef” and “1 vs 100,” which have worldwide distribution and put the company at the top of its industry.The collaboration project debuts in Korea on Sunday with the title “The Society Game,” on which the director Jeong Jong-yeon worked with ESG in planning the content format first and produced the show in Korea on his own.The series is a mock society game where 22 contestants are divided into two groups and compete for 14 days in a controlled village. One group votes for a leader every morning while the other has one leader reigningOct 14, 2016
Reporters sentenced over actress' sex tape rumor Korean actress Lee Si-young / Korea Times fileBy Hong Dam-youngA court has punished reporters who spread a false rumor about Korean actress Lee Si-young’s alleged sex tape.A reporter from an unidentified magazine, 35, who released the rumor on social media, was sentenced by Seoul Central District Court on Thursday to a year in prison for defamation, suspended for two years, and 200 hours of community service, according to online news outlet Newsis. The rumor surfaced in June 2015. It said: “Lee had been forced by her agency to make a sex video, and that she tried to commit suicide when the video was investigated by prosecutors.”Prosecutors found that a newspaper reporter, then 29, had falsely informed the magazine reporter about the tape while they dined in June 2015. The college alumni meeting was also joined by lawmakers’ secretariesThe next day, the magazine reporter wrote a story about the rumor and released it through social media.The newspaper reporter, who no longer works as a journalist, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspeOct 13, 2016
Korean reggae duo Skull & Haha to appear on Jamaican talk show Korean reggae band Skull & Haha will visit Jamaica after their song “Love Inside” topped local music charts last month. / Courtesy of Quan Entertainment By Lee Jin-aKorean reggae duo Skull & Haha are heading to Jamaica to appear on the popular TV talk show “Smile Jamaica.”Quan Entertainment, the musicians’ agency, said Wednesday the two have been invited to star in Jamaica’s highest-rated TV program. The invitation came after they topped the Jamaican “Pree Dis Top Ten Chart” on Sept. 29 with “Love Inside,” released in March in Korea. The number features reggae legend Bob Marley’s son, Stephen Marley.“I am really in tears right now,” posted Ha Dong-hoon, better known as Haha, on Instagram, after his song hit the music chart in September. “Thank you so much for supporting Korean reggae music.”This will be Skull & Haha’s second visit to the country. In 2014, they participated in a reggae festival in Kingston, Jamaica, and appeared on “Smile Jamaica” with host membOct 13, 2016
Actor Kim Soo-hyun wants to be professional bowler Hallyu star Kim Soo-hyun has this month applied to become a professional bowler. / Courtesy of Daum BlogBy Lee Jin-aActor Kim Soo-hyun will participate in this year’s professional bowling tryouts, according to his agency.Keyeast said Thursday Kim recently sent an application to the Korea Professional Bowling Association to participate in the selection match.Kim Soo-hyun / Courtesy of KeyeastThe first round of tryouts will take place Oct. 22-23, and the second will follow on Oct. 29-30. The final list of professional bowlers will be announced mid-November.The actor, 28, is well known for being a big bowling fan. During his fan meeting in 2014, he said: “I spend most of my free time enjoying bowling. I usually bowl with a 14 or 15-pound ball.”Kim debuted in 2007 in a supporting role in MBC sitcom “Kimchi Cheese Smile.” He is best known for roles in the television dramas “Dream High” (2011), “Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012) and “My Love from the Star” (2013). Oct 13, 2016
Yoo Seung-ho cast as prince in new drama Yoo Seung-hoBy Park Jin-haiActor Yoo Seung-ho, the star of “Remember: War of the Son,” will return to the small screen as a crown prince, the drama’s production company People Story announced Wednesday.“Ruler-Master of the Mask,” scheduled to air on MBC early next year, will be a period romance drama, where Yoo will take the role of 18th-century Joseon prince Lee Seon who fights for justice against the powerful and wealthy officials in an attempt to take back power and control of his country.The new 20-episode fantasy epic series is expected to give the 23-year-old actor a fresh and stronger image. “I’ve been attracted to the drama’s tightly built plot and the role of Lee Seon. Through the drama, I plan to give a different image,” Yoo said in a statement. The production will begin shooting in December.Oct 12, 2016
John Park and Urban Zakapa singer deny dating The agencies of Korean-American musician John Park and vocalist Jo Hyun-ah from trio Urban Zakapa denied a rumor that the pair have been dating for the past two years. / YonhapBy Hong Dam-youngJohn Park, a Korean-American musician, and Jo Hyun-ah, from Korean singer-songwriter trio Urban Zakapa, denied a rumor that they are dating.The rumor emerged Wednesday that the two have been dating for the past two years because they share music as a common interest.But their agencies denied the rumor.Park’s agency, Music Farm Entertainment, said: “It is true that the two are close friends but they are not dating.”The agency said Park denied dating Jo when asked about the relationship a few days ago.Jo’s agency, MakeUs Entertainment, said that the pair are just friends who share a passion for music.The two are well known for their musical talent and careers.Park, 28, a semifinalist in the ninth season of American TV talent show “American Idol,” created a sensation in 2010 when he was a runner-up in Korean TV talent show “Superstar K: Season 2” on Oct 12, 2016
Comedy Big League celebrates 5th anniversary Popular comedians, from left, Lee Se-young, Lee Sang-jun, Lee Guk-joo, Jang Do-yeon, Yang Se-chan, Yang Se-hyung, Park Na-rae, Hwang Je-sung, Lee Jin-ho and Lee Yong-jin of tvN’s Comedy Big League pose during the press conference at Times Square in Yeoungdeungpo, western Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunChief producer Kim Sock-hyun“Comedy Big League” on tvN recently celebrated its 5th anniversary.At the center of the series’ success is chief producer Kim Sock-hyun, a former producer at the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) who directed Korea’s oldest TV comedy program “Gag Concert.”Gag Concert once ruled the small screen in the early 2000s followed by its competitor “Smile People” on SBS throughout the latter half of the decade. However, both shows lost popularity due to mundane and repetitive content overused by the same comedians.For the past few years, comedy shows on television have disappeared with dropping viewer ratings, leaving only Gag Concert to continue.After joining tvN in 2011, Kim decideOct 12, 2016
EXO's Lay blacks out at airport Chinese member Lay from K-pop boy band EXO / YonhapBy Hong Dam-youngLay from K-pop boy band EXO collapsed suddenly at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday and was taken to hospital. He was about to fly to Sapporo in Japan for concerts.The Chinese member, 25, planned to take an Asiana Airlines flight with other members at 2:20 p.m. for concerts on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Yonhap news agency.SM Entertainment, the band’s agency, attributed Lay’s collapse to lack of sleep and fatigue from a heavy schedule. He has been busy after the release of his solo single album, “What U Need,” on Oct. 7.“According to the doctor, he will recover after taking plenty of rest,” the agency said. “Lay still strongly wants to join the concert. We will make a final decision after watching over his recovery.”The rest of the 12-member band will leave for Japan after checking on Lay’s condition.Concerned fans assumed that Lay’s fatigue came from overwork and called on the agency to prioritize his health over his career. Oct 12, 2016
K-pop star CL creates first on Billboard Hot 100 Rapper CL is the first Korean female singer to make Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment By Lee Jin-aCL of girl band 2NE1 has clinched the title of first Korean female solo artist to enter Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, her agency said Wednesday.According to YG Entertainment, the singer-rapper ranked 94th on the chart with her first U.S. single, “Lifted,” on Tuesday (local time).CL, whose name is Lee Chae-lin, released the track on Aug. 19 and has starred on American television shows, including CBS’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on Sept. 16.“Lifted” is a bouncy hip-hop rhythm track with strong beats. It is composed by famous YG songwriter Teddy and American rapper Asher Roth. CL’s music video was made by popular American director Dave Meyers, who won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 2006.The song’s music video recorded almost 17 million views on YouTube as of 11 a.m. Wednesday (KST). Oct 12, 2016
