K-pop stars Song Min-ho, Bobby to air new songs on SBS K-pop artists Song Min-ho and Bobby have released their new album “The MOBB.” / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aWINNER’s Song Min-ho and iKon’s Bobby will give the first performance of their new songs on SBS music program “Ingikayo” Sunday.The hip-hop duo, who recently formed “MOBB,” will perform “Full House” and “Hit Me,” released on Friday.“We are presenting our songs as a unit without the title of iKon and WINNER,” Bobby said. “I feel grateful that I got a chance to show the new side of me with a song that I really want to perform.”Song said: “I am excited to perform the songs in front of the audience as we put so much effort into them. We will do our best.”The unit topped iTunes music charts in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand with their new mini album “The MOBB,” as of 1 p.m. Friday. Sep 11, 2016
Crown J, Seo In-young release new duet Crown J and Seo In-young, also known as the “ant couple” from MBC’s “We Got Married,” released new hip-hop number “The Best” on Saturday. / Courtesy of Flyboy EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aA former couple from MBC’s “We Got Married” have returned with a new song, “The Best.”Rapper Crown J and singer Seo In-young released the song at midnight Saturday, eight years after their duet “Too Much.” “The Best,” produced and written by Crown J, is a hip-hop song dedicated to the fans who supported the couple during the original season of “We Got Married” -- a TV reality show in which celebrities act as newlyweds.Crown J and Seo, also known as the beloved “ant couple,” rose to fame after their appearance on the show in 2008. “Too Much” swept domestic music charts in May 2008.Sep 11, 2016
The beat goes on: New Beatles album released after 40 years The official live album of The Beatles was released Friday. /Courtesy of Universal Music By Lee Jin-aUniversal Music has released “The Beatles: Live At the Hollywood Bowl,” an album that includes recordings of the legendary British band at their three concerts in Los Angeles between 1964 and 1965.The American-French music corporation said the new album is a companion to Ron Howard’s film “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years,” which is set to premiere in October in Korea.“The Beatles: Live At the Hollywood Bowl” is a remixed and remastered version of the 1977 album of the same name. The new release features four never-issued tracks from the concerts: “You Can’t Do That,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Everybody's Trying to Be my Baby” and “Baby’s in Black.”Giles Martin, Grammy-winning producer and The Beatles producer George Martin’s son, worked on remastering the album.The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, debuted with the album “Please Please MSep 11, 2016
Se7en speaks out on sex massage scandal - three years later Se7en took to social media on Friday to debunk a rumor from more than three years ago that he had visited an illegal massage parlor while on mandatory military duty. / Korea Times fileBy Ko Dong-hwanMore than three years after being embroiled in an illegal massage parlor scandal, K-pop singer Se7en has taken to social media to debunk the rumor and insist he is innocent.“It was mentally stressful to ponder from yesterday where to start,” the star, 32, said on Instagram Friday morning. “I have let myself believe that fans will someday find out the truth. But, apparently, it turned out to be my fault not to have explained myself earlier. I was reluctant to speak up.”The star, whose name is Choi Dong-wook, was doing mandatory military duty in the city of Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, in 2013 when he left the camp without permission with other celebrity colleagues and allegedly visited an illegal massage parlor. Photos of him and his friends outside the venue were spread online.“Media reports had people believe that I had visited an illegal massage parlor to reSep 9, 2016
Psy adds extra star quality to Korean 'Entourage' Psy from "Gangnam Style" music video By Ko Dong-hwanIt caused a ruckus back in March when Korean cable TV network tvN said it would remake HBO’s hit series “Entourage,” in a world first. And the news has just got more exciting with K-pop singer Psy, 39, confirming he will feature in a cameo.A network insider told The Fact on Friday that the singer of “Gangnam Style," "Hangover" and "Daddy" will soon join the show’s filming. But the informant would not reveal details of the star’s role, which are not even known to the other actors.“We can only say Psy will appear as a cameo,” the online outlet reported.It has been four years since Park Jae-sang, the singer’s name, acted on TV, in KBS drama “Dream High: Season 2,” in which he played a Korean marine force training officer.Korean cable TV network tvN is remaking HBO's hit series "Entourage" (2004-2011).“Entourage Korea” features cameo appearances by tens of celebrities, including actors, singers and athletes. But Psy is considered “king” of theSep 9, 2016
K-pop's Se7en dating actress Lee Da-hae From close friends to a dating couple: Se7en and Lee Da-hae. / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-sooK-pop singer Se7en, whose name is Choi Dong-wook, is dating Korean actress Lee Da-hae, according to Dispatch, a Korean online entertainment tabloid.Eleven9, Se7en’s one-man agency, and JS Pictures, Lee’s agency, admitted the stars’ relationship on Wednesday.The media outlet said earlier the two had been seen together at a six-star hotel in Bangkok.Se7en and Lee, both 33, were close friends before they started dating, their agencies said.Lee, who won the 2001 Lady Chunhyang Pageant, is best known for roles in K-dramas including “My Girl” (2005), “The Slave Hunters” (2010), “Miss Ripley” (2011) and “Hotel King” (2014).Se7en, who dated actress Park Han-byul for 12 years until 2014, debuted in 2003. Sep 7, 2016
Man convicted of false accusation against actress Lee Young-ae A man surnamed Oh, 53, was convicted of making a false accusation against actress Lee Young-ae. / Korea Times FileBy Lee Jin-aA man has been convicted of making false accusations against popular actress Lee Young-ae.Seoul Eastern District Court said Monday it had sentenced the man, surnamed Oh, aged 53, to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for making groundless allegations that the actress stole a pine tree, two wooden pavilions and three bronze statues from his land in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Oh was indicted in a countersuit from the actress, who claimed the man labeled her as a “thief” without evidence.The dispute stemmed from a contract signed in October 2012 between Oh and a real estate development company to install facilities, including the disputed pavilions and statues, on Oh’s land.The actress was involved as a promotional figure.After finding the pavilions and statue missing, Oh named the actress as a prime suspect. But it was later proven that the pine tree was relocated within Oh’s land and that the pavilions and statuSep 5, 2016
SNL Korea season 8 returns with Tak New crew members and for season 8 of “SNL Korea” pose during a press conference at Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Wednesday. From left are Lee Se-young, Lee Soo-min, Tak Jae-hoon and Kwon Hyeok-su. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heun“Saturday Night Live (SNL) Korea,” a Korean version of NBC's long-running late-night sketch comedy show, returns for season 8, including singer-turned-entertainer Tak Jae-hoon as a new cast member. Tak appeared as a host in an episode of SNL Korea season 7 and his gift of gab led to his much-antcipated return this time.“We expect the most from Tak for season 8,” said the show’s main producer Min Jin-ki during a press conference at Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Wednesday.“In the first half, we will keep our comedy sketches from the previous season led by Shin Dong-yup, Tak will take an emcee role in a new unscripted segment called Night Line and he will ad-lib throughout the live comedy show. We will send captions ahead of the segment and remind him that the sSep 2, 2016
British news outlet red-faced over naming Korean actress Moon So-ri in red carpet fall An Asian actress falls on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in this photo captured from the Mail Online. The British outlet has mistaken the woman for Korean actress Moon So-ri, who is attending the festival as a judge. By Park Si-sooBritish news outlet Mail Online has made a big mistake in its reporting of an Asian actress who fell on the red carpet at the star-studded 73rd Venice Film Festival Thursday (local time).It runs more than 10 photos capturing the moment of the actress’ collapse in an article headlined “Going, going gone! South Korean actress Moon So-ri falls in style on the Venice Film Festival red carpet.” But the unfortunate actress was not Moon So-ri, who is attending the festival as a judge. It was confirmed by her agency C-JeS Entertainment in Seoul. Moon So-ri smiles for the cameras on the Venice Film Festival red carpet on Thursday (local time). / Yonhap While the Asian woman in the controversial article is wearing an elegant emerald gown with a long train and a layered pearl necklace, Moon was confirmed to have walked the Sep 2, 2016
T-ara's Soyeon dating Japanese wakeboarder? T-ara's Soyeon, left, and Shota TezukaBy Ko Dong-hwanK-pop girl band T-ara’s Soyeon could be dating Japanese wakeboarder Shota Tezuka.MBK Entertainment, the band’s agency, said the pair met three years ago and began considering dating in August. The agency said it will confirm the issue with the singer.Soyeon, 28, who dated former K-pop boy band Click-B member and musical actor Oh Jong-hyuk for six years until July, met Tezuka, 22, because she is interested in wakeboarding.Netizens said they saw the pair holding hands at an international wakeboarding championship on Aug. 19-21 at Seoul’s Han River. They also said their SNS pages showed photos of them in Florida.Tezuka turned pro aged 12 in 2005 and won silver at the IWWF World Wakeboard Championships in 2013.Soyeon, whose name is Park So-yeon, debuted with the band in 2009. Sep 2, 2016
