U.S. version of 'Grandpas Over Flowers' a gigantic hit The cast of “Better Late than Never” meet members of K-pop band Girls’ Generation to feature in a remake of the group’s hit “Gee” music video. / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo“Better Late than Never,” an American TV reality show adapted from Korea’s “Grandpas Over Flowers,” is a major hit.Produced by Universal Television, the show features actor William Shatner, comedian Henry Winkler, former professional boxer George Foreman, ex-NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw and comedian Jeff Dye, the youngest of the group.The program has the five backpacking through Asia without luxuries. They will visit Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand during four episodes.The first episode started with a blast, ranking first in its timeslot with more than 7.35 million viewers.Netflix has already commissioned a second series to be aired next year.The popularity of the Korean TV show’s format has been limited in Asia. But “Better Late than Never” has turned the tide. “The Return of Superman,” KBS’s TVSep 2, 2016
Rapper Psy founds new label under YG Entertainment South Korean rapper Psy has established his own music label, his management agency said Friday."Psy founded PSYG, an independent label under YG. He has already finished the relevant documentation work in June," YG Entertainment said.The rapper-producer, who became a global sensation with "Gangnam Style" in 2012, had previously said he was planning to set up his own label.There are already two independent labels under the YG management firm -- HIGHGRND (High Ground) led by Tablo and The Black Label led by Teddy, Kush and ZionT. The labels are designed to allow more unfettered attempts by individual artists to explore their unique music world and create synergy between artists and the company. (Yonhap)Sep 2, 2016
Conan O'Brien reunited with pet Korean octopus 'Samuel' By Lee Han-sooConan O’Brien, the U.S. comedian who visited Korea in April, has been reunited with his pet octopus “Samuel.”O’Brien bought the octopus at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in Seoul as a pet. But he had to give up Samuel before he left the country due to regulations and left him at Coex Aquarium in Seoul.Conan O’Brien was reunited with his pet octopus “Samuel” after five months, with the help of the Korea Tourism Organization. / Courtesy of Twitter O’Brien was reunited with Samuel with the help of the Korea Tourism Organization.Samuel now lives a luxury life in a Los Angeles aquarium, in a 13 million won ($12,000) tank with a 1.7 million won temperature controller.O’Brien visited Korea from April 14 to 21. He appeared in K-pop singer Park Jin-young’s “Fire” music video and visited Kukkiwon (world taekwondo headquarters) and the Demilitarized Zone.Sep 2, 2016
Groupie's car injures GOT7's Jackson GOT7's Jackson By Ko Dong-hwanK-pop band GOT7 member Jackson was injured in a crash involving a groupie’s car in China on Thursday.JYP Entertainment, the band’s agency, said the fan was following the band’s car to a Chinese airport early Thursday when the accident happened. Jackson then caught a flight to Japan and had hospital treatment for a minor injury when he arrived. “Chasing an artist in a vehicle threatens not only the artist but also other passengers in the car,” the agency said. It encouraged fans not to endanger themselves and stars in this way.GOT7 is in Japan for Sunday’s “2016 JYP Nation Concert Mix & Match,” where other stars from the company will take the stage.Jo In-sung, left, and ZicoIt is not the first time Korean celebrities have encountered overzealous groupies going to extreme levels to show their love. In August 2015, hip-hop artist Zico warned fans online to stop scaring him by visiting his home. The next month, police arrested a Chinese woman inside actor Jo In-sung’s home.Some groupieSep 2, 2016
NU'EST returns with new album 'CANVAS' Pledis Entertainment’s boy band NU’EST performs “Love Paint” at YES24 LiveHall in Gwangjin-gu, easternSeoul, Monday. From left, Ren, Aron, Minhyun, Baekho and JR perform. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunPledis Entertainment’s boy band NU’EST released their new mini-album “Canvas” on Monday.The band’s fifth EP contains five tracks including lead single “Love Paint” and “Daybreak,” “R.L.T.L,” “Thank You” and “Look.”“The new album has been made on the concept of 24 hours in a day,” said member Baekho during a press conference at YES24 LiveHall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul. “The album represents our strong music style as we all participated in producing the tunes and writing lyrics.”His bandmate JR said the songs are arranged in a timely order so he suggests people listen to the songs in order throughout the day.The first track “Daybreak” is soul R&B music of medium tempo mixed with a jazz groove. The music gives both sad and hopeful feelAug 30, 2016
Horan of K-pop band Clazziquai Project divorces Horan of Clazziquai Project has divorced. / Courtesy of Horan's TwitterBy Lee Jin-aHoran of K-pop band Clazziquai Project has divorced, her agency said Tuesday.She completed the legal procedure for the split in July, without legal dispute between the two, according to Fluxus Music.Horan, 37, tied the knot with a salaried worker in March 2013.“They still support and wish the best of luck to each other after the divorce,” the agency said.Horan debuted in 2004 as a vocalist of K-pop electronic music band Clazziquai Project. She is the host of radio show “Horan’s Power FM” on SBS.Aug 30, 2016
CCF to discuss power of communication Pierre Sang BoyerKang Sue-jinBeyhan MurphyPaul BassettBy Kim Jae-heunThe Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), led by Choi Jung-wha, will hold its 7th Culture Communication Forum to discuss the sources of power in communicating culture at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Yongsan, Seoul, on Sept. 6.CICI invites 20 cultural representatives from different countries to share similarities between Korean culture and theirs as well as to discuss impressive Korean traditions that the foreigners have experienced.Participating international culture leaders include CEO and the Director of Australian Centre for the Moving Image Katrina Sedgwick, 2003 World Barista Championship winner Paul Bassett, French chef Pierre Sang Boyer, Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi and Korean ballerina Kang Sue-jin.During their three-day stay in Korea, the cultural leaders will visit Changdukgung Palace in Jongno, central Seoul, and experience Korean traditional houses while wearing Korean traditional clothes “hanbok.” The international group will also visit Hyundai Card Factory to witness the design lab therAug 29, 2016
Crayon Pop, CD9 team up for Latino K-pop “Get Dumb” is a collaboration between Mexican boy band CD9 and K-pop girl band Crayon Pop./ Courtesy of CD9's FacebookBy Yeo Ye-rimK-pop girl group Crayon Pop has broken cultural barriers, collaborating with Mexico’s popular boy band CD9.CD9 released“Get Dumb”featuring Crayon Pop on Aug. 24.The song comes in two versions, one in English and the other a mixture of Spanish and Korean.At “Kids’ Choice Award Mexico 2016”on Aug. 20, CD9 surprised fans by introducing Crayon Pop on the backstage screen while performing.The English version hit No. 2 on the iTunes music chart in Mexico.The music video for each version has gained more than 300,000 views in four days.Crayon Pop debuted in 2012 with “Saturday Night” and gained further popularity with “Bar Bar Bar” in 2013.The group is set to release an album sometime this year.CD9, active since 2013, has numerous hits including “Deja Vu” and “I Feel Alive.”The group has more than 3million followers on Facebook.Aug 29, 2016
K-pop boy band 2PM announces long-awaited comeback 2PM will return next month with different music style. / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Yeo Ye-rimK-pop boy band 2PM will return next month with its sixth album that is distinct from previous albums in music style.The album will hit the market in mid-September, according to the band’s agency JYP Entertainment.The agency noted that the album would feature “very different”songs from previous albums, but did not elaborate. The band’s fifth album “No. 5” was released in June 2015. But an insider said the new album would be “soft and gentle, not wild and energetic as it was previously.”2PM debuted in 2008 with the album “10 out of 10” and instantly shot to stardom. It has since expanded its fan base beyond Korea, sweeping major Asian music charts with “Heartbeat” (2009), “I’ll be back” (2011) and “Comeback When You Hear This Song” (2013), among others. Aug 29, 2016
Alleged false rape accuser against K-pop star Park Yu-chun indicted Prosecutors on Monday said they have indicted a 24-year-old woman who filed a sexual assault complaint against singer-actor Park Yu-chun, who was mired in a series of similar allegations, on charges of false accusation and attempted blackmail.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said the defendant, identified only by her surname Lee, is suspected of asking Park for money after having sex with him, threatening to go public with false claims that Park raped her.Lee's 32-year-old boyfriend and a 33-year-old local crime gang member were also indicted for allegedly taking part in the blackmail.Park, a member of the famous K-pop boy band JYJ, was embroiled in a scandal as four different women, all working at local bars, lodged complaints against him in June, claiming he raped them. One of the cases dates back to 2014, while the latest allegedly occurred in early June.Lee, the first woman who filed the case, dropped the charges, but Park made a counterclaim, saying she falsely accused him of sexual assault. He also filed charges against the second woman for making similar allegatiAug 29, 2016
