Chippendales upset Korean fans with 'racist' photo A SNS photo of the Chippendales crew posted on Wednesday shows three members in the back row having half-closed eyes in a bid to mimic Asians. / Courtesy of online communityBy Ko Dong-hwanErotic male dance troupe the Chippendales has copped flak over an allegedly racist photograph taken after their first show in Seoul on Wednesday.Jeffrey Garrovillo, one of the nine dancers visiting Seoul this week, posted on SNS a photo of the crew after the show at Olympic Park in eastern Seoul.At a glance, the photo shows the dancers smiling with “V” hand signs. But a closer look reveals three of the group in the back row had half-closed eyes. This is a gesture often used by Westerners as a fun way to mimic Asians. But it is regarded as racially offensive.Garrovillo said along with the photo, “Being local.”After the photo went public, it was spread online by upset netizens. They left comments that read: “Some of the performers may not know the racism embedded in the gesture but still this is an evident racial insult;” “There are African Americans among theAug 5, 2016
Lee Joon-gi's agency denies THAAD revenge rumors, star receives Chinese visa South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi's agency on Friday denied snowballing rumors and reports that the celebrity was shut out of China because of the escalating political tension between the two countries.Lee, who has a large following in China, is scheduled to visit four Chinese cities from Sunday to Wednesday on a promotional tour for his latest film "Never Said Goodbye," set to open there later this month.But media reports recently emerged that the country denied his visa, possibly as part of retaliation against the South Korean television and film industries for the recent South Korea-U.S. decision to place a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on Korean soil."This is not true," an official from Namoo Actors, the management agency for the 34-year-old actor, told Yonhap News Agency. "Lee was properly issued the Chinese visa and will be off to China as planned." In the Chinese film, Lee plays a South Korean man who stands by his lover against all odds. Filmed in Shanghai and Sicily, Italy, the romance has drawn spotlight in South Korea and China. (Yonhap)Aug 5, 2016
Woman arrested for allegedly making false rape accusation against JYJ's Park Police on Friday arrested a woman who first 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 Court issued a warrant to formally arrest the woman in her 20s, whose identity was withheld, citing the possibility of the suspect destroying evidence or fleeing. Her cousin was also arrested for alleged involvement in the process.Park, a member of the famous K-pop boy band JYJ, has been embroiled in 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 early that month.The first woman 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 allegations.After a month-long investigation, police said they could not find evidence of coercion involved in the sexual encounters. Still, they said Park isAug 5, 2016
"또 연예인?"… 음주운전 되풀이하는 스타들 "공인인 만큼 법적 처벌 외에 복귀 금지 등 제재 가해야" 음주 운전으로 인한 대형 참사가 끊이지 않으면서 음주운전에 대한 경각심이 높아지고 있다.음주운전을 '살인행위'로 보고 처벌을 강화해야 한다는 사회적 요구가 높아지고 있는 반면 연예인들의 음주운전은 끊이지 않는다.올해도 아이돌그룹 슈퍼주니어 강인, 래퍼 버벌진트, 가수 이정, 아이돌그룹 초신성 성모 등이 술을 마시고 운전대를 잡아 잇따라 물의를 빚었고, 개그맨 이창명씨도 음주 운전 여부를 놓고 사회적으로 큰 논란이 됐다.◇ 연예인들 계속 음주운전 물의슈퍼주니어 강인은 7년 전 음주 사고를 냈다가 또다시 만취 상태에서 사고를 내 재판을 받게 됐다.그는 지난 5월 24일 오전 2시께 술을 마시고 벤츠 승용차를 몰다가 서울 강남구 신사동 한 편의점 앞 가로등을 받고 그대로 현장을 떠났다.강인은 11시간 지나 경찰서에 출석해 조사를 받았고, 음주 운전한 사실을 인정했다.경찰은 위드마크 공식을 적용, 사고 당시 혈중알코올농도가 면허 취소 수준인 0.157%였던 것으로 결론냈다.그는 앞서 2009년 10월 음주 운전을 하며 운전자 등 3명이 탄 택시를 들이받고 도주한 뺑소니 전력이 있다. 음주운전 '재범'으로 비난이 쏟아졌다.래퍼 버벌진트는 지난 6월 16일 밤 면허 정지수준인 혈중알코올농도 0.067% 상태에서 벤틀리 차량을 몰다가 음주 단속에 걸렸다.물의를 빚은 지 한 달 만에 당시 음주 운전을 한 경위와 반성을 담은 신곡을 발표해 논란의 대상이 되기도 했다.가수 이정은 지난 4월 제주에서 음주 단속에 적발된 사실이 뒤늦게 알려졌고, 지난 3월엔 초신성의 성모가 음주상태서 사고를 냈다.개그맨 이창명의 음주 운전 여부를 두고서는 경찰과 이씨 사이에 진실공방이 벌어졌다.경찰은 그가 지난 4월 20일 밤 11시 20분께 자신의 포르셰 승용차를 몰고 서울 영등포구 여의도성모병원 삼거리 교차로를 지나다 교통신호기를 들이받자 차량을 두고 달아났다며 음주운전 등의 혐의로 검찰에 송치했다.경찰은 '소주 2병을 마셨다'고 기록된 이씨의 병원 진료 기록부, 간호사의 진술 등을 토대로 음주 운전을 했다고 보고 있다.그러나 이씨는 사고 21시간만에 경찰에 출석해 "너무 아파 병원에 간 것이지 현장에Aug 5, 2016
유인나,'사드 보복' 희생양 되나? '상애천사천년2' 마무리 촬영 앞두고 드라마에서 하차할 듯 한국의 고고도 미사일방어체계(사드·THAAD) 배치 결정으로 한류 콘텐츠에 대한 중국의 보복 가능성이 제기되는 가운데 배우 유인나가 결국 중국 드라마에서 하차할 것으로 보인다.4일 연예계에 따르면 현재 중국에서 후난위성TV의 28부작 드라마 '상애천사천년 2 : 달빛 아래의 교환'(相愛穿梭千年)을 촬영 중인 유인나가 마무리 촬영을 코앞에 두고 드라마에서 하차 조치될 가능성이 높아졌다.현재 유인나의 촬영은 중단된 상태이며, 제작진은 중국 당국의 입장을 지켜보며 향후 대책을 마련 중인 것으로 알려졌다.유인나의 소속사 YG엔터테인먼트도 "유인나는 여전히 중국에 머물고 있다"면서도 "소문으로 돌고 있는 내용에 대해서는 제작사와 협의 중에 있다"고 밝혔다. 앞서 중국의 한류 보복 사례로 유인나가 드라마에서 하차했다는 이야기가 돌았고, 제작사가 그를 대신해 중국인 여배우를 급히 캐스팅해 재촬영하고 있다는 소문도 돌았다.이런 루머에 대해 불과 이틀 전 소속사는 "사실이 아니다"고 부인했지만 상황이 급변한 것이다.소속사는 "우리로서는 아직 공식적으로 연락을 받은 게 없지만 분위기가 심상치 않게 돌아가고 있는 게 사실"이라고 인정했다.이어 "제작사와 협의 중이라는 말씀밖에 현재는 드릴 수가 없다"고 덧붙였다.유인나는 tvN '인현왕후의 남자'(2012)에서 호흡을 맞췄던 김병수 PD와 함께 중국에서 '상애천사천년 2 : 달빛 아래의 교환'을 촬영해왔다.이 드라마는 '인현왕후의 남자'의 중국 리메이크작으로, tvN을 보유한 CJ E&M 인력이 중국에서 제작 컨설팅을 하고 있다.CJ E&M은 "우리는 공동 제작사는 아니고 컨설팅만 담당하고 있다"고 선을 그은 뒤 "우리는 중국 촬영현장에 어떤 변화가 있다는 얘기를 아직 듣지 못했다"고 밝혔다.이어 "유인나 측이 협의하고 있다는 제작사는 중국 제작사를 뜻하는 것 같다"고 덧붙였다.(연합)Aug 5, 2016
TV show makes comedian, singer a couple Kang Su-ji and Kim Guk-jin / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo Comedian Kim Guk-jin and singer Kang Su-ji have become a real couple ― and considering marriage ― through SBS TV’s reality show “Burning Youth,” which they have starred in since March 2015.Online outlet The Fact broke news of their relationship on Thursday morning and the couple’s agencies confirmed it. Kim, 51, is a veteran comedian who was a household name in the 1990s. Kang, 49, was a popular singer in the 1990s. Their first marriages failed.Netizens are thrilled and say Kang and Kim should get marriedAug 4, 2016
K-pop band AOA reaches No. 4 on Oricon Chart Korean girl group AOA landed at No. 4 on Japan’s Oricon Chart and other local music charts as of Wednesday. /Courtesy of FNC EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aK-pop girl band AOA hit No. 4 on the Oricon Chart with its new Japanese single released Wednesday.“AOA ranked in fourth place on the daily Oricon Chart in Japan with its new song ‘Good Luck,’ as of Wednesday,” its agency, FNC Entertainment, said. “The band also topped the K-pop chart of Recochoku, Japan’s largest music website, and ranked No. 3 on Tower Records’ world chart on the same day.”The eight-member group debuted in 2012 with the mini-album “Angels’ Story.” It gained popularity through several hit songs, including “Miniskirt” (2015), “Short Hair” (2015) and “Like a Cat” (2015). Aug 4, 2016
Actors' fan meeting in China canceled amid political rumors A fan meeting in China for two top South Korean actors has been canceled, an official said Thursday, fanning concerns of a growing political row between the countries.Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, the lead actor and actress in the KBS drama "Uncontrollably Fond," were scheduled to hold a fan meeting in China on Saturday but the event's organizers canceled it for "reasons out of their control," an official at the series' production company Samhwa Networks said."We were told by Youku on Wednesday that it's been postponed," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity."Uncontrollably Fond" has been shown simultaneously in South Korea and on the Chinese video site Youku."The fan meeting was planned in advance so there were no issues with the planning," the official added, saying it has been difficult to determine the exact reason.Speculation has grown that the Chinese government may use economic and other means to retaliate for South Korea's recent decision to place an advanced U.S. missile defense system on its soil.Some reports have claimed that Beijing will limit the activitiAug 4, 2016
Reality and webcomic world collide in 'W' A poster for MBC drama “W,” starring Han Hyo-joo, left, and Lee Jong-suk / Courtesy of MBCBy Park Jin-hai Webcomics succeeded in invading the small screen as MBC romance thriller “W,” starring Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo, became the talk of the town. The new drama, which premiered July 20, has put the brakes on the lead held by the KBS romance drama “Uncontrollably Fond,” overtaking the show starring Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy in viewer ratings among dramas in the Wednesday-Thursday prime time slot last week.“W” caught the eyes of drama fans who wanted something different, while its much-hyped rival “Uncontrollably Fond” is crippled with a plot rehashing all kinds of K-drama cliches and tropes ― including secrets of birth, incurable diseases and misfortunes surrounding families of the lead characters ― despite its star-studded cast.“W” goes back and forth between the real world and another dimension, the world of the webcomic, also known in Korea as webtoon. There are many dramas based on webcoAug 3, 2016
Actor Lee Jin-wook: 'Truth wins over lies' Lee Jin-wookBy Ko Dong-hwanActor Lee Jin-wook, who has been embroiled in rape allegations, thanked his fans Wednesday after a 20-day police investigation cleared him.“The investigation has proven that truth wins over lies,” said C&CO ENS, Lee’s agency.“It has deeply embittered us to see the lies being disguised as truths and reported by media outlets. But we restrained ourselves from responding to such lies and waited for the investigation results to uncover the truth.”Seoul Suseo police, who investigated the allegations, sent the case to prosecutors on Tuesday, with Lee cleared of the charge.The move came after the police investigation revealed that a woman, 33, who sued Lee on July 14 for allegedly raping her at her apartment, had falsely accused the actor. Police found during questioning, with the help of a lie detector, that her testimony was false and she admitted it. Her legal representatives resigned on July 23 when this became clear.On Monday, police asked the Seoul Central District Court for an arrest warrant for the woman on a charge oAug 3, 2016
