K-pop singer HyunA heads to China for fan meeting Caption: HyunA will meet fans in Shanghai next week. / Courtesy of Cube Entertainment.By Lee Jin-aHyunA, a former member of K-pop girl band 4minute, will visit Shanghai to meet fans next week.During the meeting on Aug 17, the singer will perform her five hit songs, including “Red” (2014), “Bubble Pop!” (2011) and “Change” (2009). She will also have time to talk with fans. HyunA’s agency said the meeting comes before her first solo Asian tour beginning on Sept 4 in Taipei.Early this month, HyunA released a new album, “A'wesome,” the first solo album since 4minute disbanded in July. According to Cube Entertainment, HyunA will continue her solo music career because of the popularity she has gained with several songs, including "Ice Cream” (2012). Aug 11, 2016
Block B's Zico and AOA's Seolhyun are dating AOA’s Seolhyun. Zico and Seolhyun “grew feelings for each other as they went through difficult times together,” said their agencies in a joint release. / YonhapBy Hong Dam-youngThe two hottest K-pop stars ― Zico and Seolhyun ― are dating. Their agencies confirmed the two stars’ romantic relations Wednesday afternoon shortly after an online news agency Dispatch reported the two have been dating secretly for months.“We would appreciate support from the public and fans of the two stars,” said their agencies in a joint release. Block B’s Zico / YonhapTheir agencies said Zico and Seolhyun were “growing feelings for each other as they went through difficult times together.” Allegations have it that the two stars became close when Zico supported her by the time she got ridiculed in May for her lack of history knowledge on a TV program.Aug 10, 2016
Korean language program to air on Chinese TV Zhou Yu Bo, CEO of the People’s Daily Online Korea, from left, Kim Kab-soo, deputy minister and director of the Korean Culture and Information Service, and Song Hyang-keun, president of Courtesy of Korean Culture and Information Service (KCIF), watch a promotional sample video of the “Travel Korean,” Wednesday, during a press conference held at the Foreign Press Service Center in central Seoul. / Courtesy of KCIFBy Yun Suh-youngA Korean language learning program produced by the Korean government and China’s People's Daily Online will be broadcast on national Chinese TV starting October.The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) and the King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF), which are affiliates of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), will produce a 50-episode Korean-language program called "Travel Korean" to be aired in China, the two organizations announced at a press conference, Wednesday.Five-minute-long episodes will educate Chinese viewers in frequently used Korean expressions they may encounter while traAug 10, 2016
Wachowskis film car chase for sci-fi drama in Bucheon city Korean actress Bae Doo-na has the leading role in Netflix’s TV drama “Sense 8.” /Courtesy of FlickrBy Choi Ha-youngFilming of American TV drama series “Sense8” will limit access near Sangdong Subway Station on line No.7 in Bucheon city, next to Seoul, from August 14 to 17. The sci-fi drama, directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, is starting its second season and will film a large-scale car chase near the station. Police will mobilize about 200 officers to guide passers-by and prevent accidents. “As the location is a commercially concentrated area, a large crowd is expected there to see the site,” a Bucheon city official said on Tuesday. Korean actress Bae Doo-na takes the leading role following her appearance in the first season that started airing in June 2015. Other stars, including Tuppence Middleton, Brian J. Smith and Daryl Hannah, also appear.The drama has been shooting in London, Mumbai, Berlin, Nairobi and Amsterdam. Netflix will release the show next year.Aug 10, 2016
'엔카 여왕' 계은숙, 마약·사기로 징역 확정 '엔카(演歌)의 여왕'으로 불리며 일본에서 큰 인기를 누렸던 가수 계은숙(55)씨가 필로폰 투약과 사기 혐의로 실형이 확정됐다.대법원 2부(주심 김창석 대법관)는 마약류 관리에 관한 법률 위반 및 사기 혐의로 기소된 계씨의 상고를 기각하고 원심의 징역 1년2개월과 추징금 80만원을 확정했다고 10일 밝혔다.계씨는 2012년 10월부터 지난해 6월까지 자신의 집과 호텔 등지에서 필로폰을 소지하거나 투약한 혐의로 구속기소됐다.그는 2014년 7월 자신이 소유한 서울 강남 다가구주택 세입자와 전세계약을 맺으며 선순위 보증금 액수를 속이고, 허위 서류로 포르쉐를 리스해 이를 담보로 대출을 받은 혐의도 있다.1심은 계씨가 2007년 일본에서 마약 소지 혐의로 처벌받았음에도 5년도 안 돼 다시 범행을 저질렀다며 징역 1년 6월을 선고했다. 2심은 그가 사기에 소극적으로 가담했고 피해도 일부 회복됐다며 징역 1년2월로 감형했다.계씨는 사기 혐의에 대해 상고했으나 대법원은 "원심의 증거를 살펴보면, 사기 혐의가 유죄로 인정된다고 판단한 것은 정당하다"고 말했다.허스키한 음색이 특징인 계씨는 1979년 '노래하며 춤추며'로 데뷔했으며 '기다리는 여심' 등으로 큰 인기를 끌었다. 1985년 '오사카의 모정'으로 일본 무대 진출에 성공하면서 현지에서도 엔카의 여왕으로 불리며 인기를 누렸다.(연합)Aug 10, 2016
Top court confirms 14-month jail term for singer over drug abuse, fraud The nation's top court upheld a 14-month jail term for a once popular South Korean singer on charges of drug abuse and fraud, court records showed Wednesday.The Supreme Court found Gye Eun-sook, 55, guilty of using meth multiple times between October 2012 and June 2015. She was also convicted of leasing a foreign car with forged documents and putting it up as collateral to get loans.The court ordered Gye to forfeit 800,000 won (US$720).The 55-year-old made her debut in 1979 and rose to stardom a year later. She also enjoyed popularity in Japan after entering its music scene in 1985. (Yonhap)Aug 10, 2016
Blackpink is just another pretty version of 2NE1 Members of YG Entertainment’s new idol girl group BLACKPINK attend a press conference at Moss Studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Monday. From left are Rose, Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunBlackpink, YG Entertainment’s new idol girl group, debuted Monday amid public attention as the agency ambitiously introduced its first all-female group since 2NE1 seven years ago. However, the group is facing criticism that the girl group is not any different from the previous successful 2NE1, other than they have the looks.An idol group debuting from one of the biggest entertainment companies in the country can hardly fail, especially if it is from YG. The agency’s founder Yang Hyun-suk also said during the girl band’s debut press conference at Moss Studio in Gangnam, Seoul that he prepared for Blackpink’s debut more painstakingly than he had with any of his previous idol groups. Yang said that he hopes for the idol group to fill in the vacancy of YG’s recently disbanded 2NE1 and take the title of YG’s representatiAug 9, 2016
Actor Park Hae-jin to pay for fan club's launch ceremony South Korean actor Park Hae-jin will cover the cost of his fan club's launching ceremony next month, his agency said Monday.The 33-year-old actor, who most recently played the enigmatic male protagonist Yoo Jung on the cable TV series "Cheese in the Trap," is set to launch his first official fan club at Yonsei University in Seoul on Sept. 25."Out of love for his fans, Park Hae-jin has decided to cover all expenses associated with the founding ceremony for CLUB Jin's from his own pocket," Mountain Movement said.The event has been titled, "We invite fans to Park Hae-jin's home," and is expected to draw more than 2,000 fans from 27 nations, including China, Turkey, Iran and Australia, it said. (Yonhap)Aug 8, 2016
Zombie film 'Train to Busan' nears 10 million viewers “Train to Busan” will hit 10 million viewers early this week. / Courtesy of Next Entertainment WorldBy Lee Jin-aKorean zombie film “Train to Busan” will reach 10 million viewers this week. The film has attracted 9.81 million moviegoers since its release on July 21, according to box office data.It will become the first Korean film to hit the milestone this year and 14th in Korea’s film history.According to the Korean Film Council, the movie reached 9,817,588 viewers as of Sunday morning and, at that pace, will hit 10 million viewers early this week.“Train to Busan,” released on July 21, had record opening sales -- 872,232 tickets -- at the Korean box office. On July 23, the movie scored the highest number of viewers in a day -- 1,280,950 -- beating Korean war film “Roaring Currents” (2014).Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, Korea’s first zombie blockbuster debuted in the Out of Competition category at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film also won the top prize at the 20th Fantasia International Festival on August 3.The movie, feaAug 7, 2016
BigBang celebrates 10th anniversary An installation view of “BigBang10 the Exhibition: A to Z” at S-FACTORY in Seongsu, Seoul / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunPopular K-pop idol group BigBang of YG Entertainment marks their 10th anniversary Aug. 19. The group will celebrate the occasion with a year-long project, including an exhibit opened Friday.During a press conference Thursday, the five members talked about the 10th anniversary projects and the next 10 years of their career, including a two-year hiatus for military service, which is mandatory for most Korean males.“When we debuted, it was the year of 10th anniversary for Shinhwa and I thought ‘How would it feel on the stage if we go that far? It would be a piece of cake,’” said Daesung during the press event at S-Factory in Seongsu, eastern Seoul, Thursday. “But it’s nowhere close to that and being on stage is still tense and burdensome. We are lucky to receive so much love in this fast-moving era.”Leader G-Dragon said, “The 10th anniversary means more to those who supported us and watched us gAug 5, 2016
