Korean indie band dominates music charts Korean indie band Standing EGG topped domestic music charts with its latest song, “Summer Night You and I.” / Courtesy of Standing EGG’s InstagramBy Lee Jin-aKorean indie band Standing EGG has swept domestic music charts with “Summer Night You and I,” released Wednesday.The song topped Korea’s seven real-time music charts, including MelOn, Mnet.com, Olleh Music and Genie Music, as of 8 a.m.The indie band’s latest release ranked first after beating songs by K-pop idols such as “Why So Lonely” by Wonder Girls, “How’s this?” by HyunA and “Navillera” by GFriend that have dominated domestic charts.“I don’t want to wake up if this is a dream,” Standing EGG said on its Facebook page. “Thank you for listening to our songs and supporting us for such a long time. We will keep trying to make better music for you.”The three-member band debuted in 2010 with the mini-album “Standing EGG.” The group won the indie band competition category in the Melon Music Awards in 2014 anAug 3, 2016
K-pop band ASTRO launches Asian showcase in Bangkok K-pop boy band ASTRO will hold its first showcase in Asia in October. /Courtesy of Fantagio MusicBy Lee Jin-aK-pop boy band ASTRO will hold its first showcase in Asia, its agency said Wednesday.According to Fantagio Music, ASTRO will present “ASTRO the 1st Season Showcase in Bangkok 2016” on Oct 29 at the city’s Muang Thai Gmm Live House.The group, which debuted in February, will perform its 11 songs, including title tracks “Hide & Seek” and “Breathless,” and hold a fan meeting. Unlike other rookie bands, ASTRO has a large international fan base. Before its official debut, the six-member group rose to fame starring in MBC Music’s reality program “Ok! Ready” and MBC Everyone’s web drama “To Be Continued.” Its first and second albums ranked sixth on Billboard’s World Albums Chart in March and July, respectively.The band also participated in the 2016 KCON in Los Angeles last month -- one of the largest overseas Korean music and culture festivals -- with K-pop stars SHINee, BlockAug 3, 2016
K-pop singer Sandara Park gets gig as judge on Filipino show Sandara Park will star as a judge on Filipino audition program “Pinoy Boyband Superstar.” / Courtesy of YG Entertainment By Lee Jin-aSandara Park of K-pop girl band 2NE1 will be a judge on a Filipino TV audition show, her agency said Monday.According to YG Entertainment, the singer, 31, will star in ABS-CBN’s audition program “Pinoy Boyband Superstar,” set to air in September.Along with Park, local celebrities including comedian Vice Ganda and singer Yeng Constantino have joined the show.“The Philippines is where I grew up, where I envisioned myself as a musician,” Park said. “It is such a special opportunity to come back to the place that showed me love, even though I’m not a Filipino national.”In 2004, Park emerged as a star in the Philippines after she was a runner-up in ABS-CBN’s audition program “Star Circle Quest.” Despite her success and fame in the Philippines, she left the country to try her luck in Korea after an offer from YG Entertainment, one of the biggest Korean entertainment agencAug 2, 2016
K-pop band B.A.P to return with new single Cover of B.A.P’s latest album "PUT'EM UP" / Courtesy of TS EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aK-pop boy band B.A.P will make a comeback with a new mini-album, “PUT’EM UP,” on August 8, its agency said.TS Entertainment revealed Monday the album’s cover image through its official SNS channel. It shows six members in front of what appears to be a 24-hour bar.“‘That’s My Jam,’ the lead track of the new album, is an electronic dance music number with lyrics about summer parties,” the agency said. “Rapper Bang Yong-guk of B.A.P and foreign producers collaborated to compose the number.” The agency also said B.A.P will hold the final concerts of its world tour, “B.A.P Live on Earth 2016 World Tour,” which began in April in San Francisco, on Saturday and Sunday at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in eastern Seoul. The group will perform the song at the concert before its official release.B.A.P debuted with “Warrior” in 2012. The band gained popularity through songs “Crash (2012),&rdquAug 2, 2016
이진욱 성폭행 고소녀 '무고' 혐의 영장 기각 法 "구속 사유·필요성 인정 어려워" 배우 이진욱(35)씨를 성폭행 혐의로 고소한 30대 여성에 대한 무고혐의 구속영장이 기각됐다.서울 수서경찰서는 이씨를 무고한 혐의(무고)로 이씨를 고소한 여성 A씨에 대해 신청한 구속영장이 법원에서 기각됐다고 2일 밝혔다.A씨에 대한 구속 전 피의자 심문은 전날 오후 4시30분께 서울중앙지법에서 한정석 영장전담 판사의 심리로 열렸지만 영장은 기각됐다.한 판사는 구속영장 기각 이유로 "현재까지 수집된 증거자료에 의한 범죄 혐의의 소명 정도 등에 비추어 볼 때 현 단계에서 구속 사유와 필요성을 인정하기 어렵다"라고 설명했다.경찰은 A씨가 이씨에게 성폭행당했다는 당초 진술을 뒤집고 무고 혐의를 시인했지만, 4차례 조사 동안 수차례 진술을 번복해 지난달 28일 사전 구속영장을 신청했다.성폭행 피소로 배우인 이씨가 유·무형적 피해를 크게 봤다는 점과 무고죄 형량(10년 이하의 징역 또는 1천500만원 이하의 벌금)이 중하다는 점도 고려됐다.A씨는 지난달 14일 이씨를 성폭행 혐의로 고소한 뒤 같은달 15·22·23·26일 4차례 경찰에 출석했고, 26일 4차 조사 때 무고 혐의를 시인했다.경찰이 지난달 21일 두 사람에 대해 실시한 거짓말탐지기 조사결과 이씨는 '판독불가', A씨는 '거짓' 반응이 나온 바 있다.그동안 이씨는 지인과 지난달 12일 저녁 식사를 한 뒤 이씨가 자신의 집에 찾아와 성폭행했다고 주장해왔다.A씨는 성폭행 증거로 당시 입었던 속옷을 제출하고, 성관계 당시 입은 상처라며 신체 사진을 공개하기도 했다. 속옷에서는 이씨의 DNA가 검출됐다.이씨는 합의하에 이뤄진 성관계였다면서 성폭행 혐의를 강력 부인해왔으며, 피소 이틀 뒤인 16일 A씨를 무고 혐의로 맞고소하고 이튿날 경찰에 출석해 조사를 받았다.(연합) Aug 2, 2016
"중국, 한류 보복"…연예계, '사드 괴담'에 긴장 "루머 대부분 거짓…하지만 흉흉한 소문 계속 확산" 중국이 한국의 고고도 미사일방어체계(사드·THAAD) 배치 결정과 관련해 한류 콘텐츠에 보복할 것이라는 괴담이 퍼지고 있어 연예계가 바짝 긴장하고 있다.2일 연예계에 따르면 최근 중국에 진출한 연예인들의 실명을 거론하며 한류 스타들의 출연분이 삭제됐다거나 인기 가수들의 콘서트가 취소됐다는 등 '사드 보복 사례' 루머가 이어지고 있다.그러나 확인 결과 이 같은 루머 대부분이 거짓이거나 실체 없는 소문에 불과한 것으로 드러났다.하지만 중국 국가신문출판광전총국(광전총국)이 국제적 요인을 이유로 한국 연예인들의 중국 내 활동을 규제할 것이라는 보도가 지난 1일 현지에서 흘러나오기도 해 연예계는 긴장 속에서 중국의 움직임을 주시하고 있다.◇ 콘서트나 촬영 취소 루머 모두 거짓7월 마지막 주부터 연예계에는 김희철, 유인나, 엑소, 빅뱅, 헨리 등이 사드의 불똥을 맞았다는 루머가 돌기 시작했다.이들이 출연한 드라마의 녹화분이 편집됐다거나 촬영이 취소됐고, 예능 프로그램의 방송이 미뤄졌다는 내용이 구체적으로 퍼지고 있다.이번 달 중국에서 열기로 한 콘서트가 취소됐고, 추진 중이던 출연 계약이 일방적으로 취소됐다는 소문까지 돈다.그러나 확인 결과 이는 전부 사실이 아닌 것으로 밝혀졌다.김희철, 엑소 등의 소속사 SM엔터테인먼트는 "중국에 진출한 소속 연예인들의 활동에 변동이 전혀 없다"며 "모두 사실이 아닌 루머"라고 확인했다.특히 엑소는 애초 8월 중국 공연 스케줄이 없었고, 9월 태국을 시작으로 해외 투어에 나선다.유인나, 빅뱅 등의 소속사 YG엔터테인먼트도 "중국에서 촬영을 잘 진행하고 있고 분위기도 이상한 게 없다"고 밝혔다.빅뱅도 향후 마카오랑 대만 공연은 있지만 중국 본토 공연은 잡혀있지 않다.◇ "중국 정부 공문은 내려오지 않았지만 소문은 흉흉"연예계 관계자들은 사드 배치 발표 이후 광전총국으로부터 중국 방송가 등에 공식적으로 지시가 하달된 것은 아직 없지만, 한류 콘텐츠에 대한 규제 가능성을 배제할 수는 없다고 말한다.광전총국에서 비공식적으로 각 방송사 담당자들에게 당분간 한국 콘텐츠의 방영이나 신규 제작을 승인하지 말라는 지시를 내렸고, 사드 발표 이Aug 2, 2016
HyunA returns solo, dominates music charts K-pop singer HyunA released her fifth solo mini-album “A’wesome” Monday. / Courtesy of Cube EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop diva HyunA returned with her fifth solo mini-album “A’wesome,” Monday, making an appearance in a little over a month after 4Minute disbanded in June. She easily proved that she did not need the group members to support her in sweeping all the local online music charts.“I performed in 4Minute for seven years and, now, it is time for us to pursue our own goals,” said HyunA during a press meeting at the Cube Entertainment headquarters in Seongsu, Seoul, last Friday. “4Minute received such a big love from fans all over the world and I will try my best not to disappoint them.”The album consists of six songs, including the title track “How’s This?” The new song instantly topped seven Korean online music charts including Mnet, Bugs and Naver Music as soon as it was released at midnight Monday.The singer-songwriter Seo Jae-woo, who previously wrote the singer’s hit solo “Red,&rdqAug 2, 2016
K-pop singer HyunA sweeps domestic charts Singer HyunA has made a chart-topping comeback with her new song “How’s this?”/Courtesy of Cube EntertainmentBy Lee Jin-aHyunA, the former member of K-pop girl band 4minute, has swept local music charts with her song “How’s this?” released on Monday.The song has topped Korea’s seven real-time music charts, including Mnet.com, Genie Music and Olleh Music, as of 7 a.m. on Monday.“How’s This,” the lead track of her album “A’wesome,” was the first song released by HyunA after her group disbanded last month. According to her agency, 4minute was disbanded because four of the five members, except for HyunA, did not renew their contracts with Cube Entertainment.The singer, 24, decided to continue her music career as a solo artist as she already gained popularity with several solo songs, “Bubble Pop! (2011), “Ice Cream (2012)” and “Red (2014).” Aug 1, 2016
S. Korean agency mulls suing U.S. songwriter for allegedly selling HyunA's song before release The South Korean talent agency that manages K-pop diva HyunA has said it is considering taking legal action against a U.S. songwriter for allegedly selling the singer's then-unreleased song."The international fans who watched the 15-second teaser movie of HyunA's new song 'Do It!' tipped us that they had already seen the full version in the U.S.," the Cube Entertainment said in a press release on Sunday. "Do It!" is one of the songs listed on the idol singer's fifth EP "A'wesome," released on Monday at 12 a.m."After inquiries, we were informed that the song was published in the U.S. on April 10 last year, as part of an album 'Make It Pop Vol. 1.'" The song was broadcast on "Make It Pop," a K-pop-inspired TV show by U.S. media outlet Nickelodean.According to the Seoul-based star agency, the controversial song was written in a song camp that it hosted in March and April in 2014. At the event were South Korean songwriters Seo Jae-woo and Big Sancho and U.S. songwriter Brian Lee. The Korean songwriters, employed by Cube Entertainment, were not credited as the co-makers of the piece."The Aug 1, 2016
'K-pop gets closer to US mainstream' Fans cheer during a K-pop concert held as part of the KCON convention at the Staples Center in downtown LA, Sunday. / Courtesy of CJBy Park Si-sooLOS ANGELES ― A crowd of youngsters in their teens or 20s flocked to the Staples Center, an iconic sports arena with more than 20,000 seats Saturday evening (local time).Screams of joy and excitement were heard from a distance, reflecting the heated atmosphere. Given the location, passersby without information about what was happening might have mistaken it for a special up-close event featuring famous American sports stars such as Kobe Bryant. Up close, however, things defied expectations.Many screamed while watching photos or video clips of K-pop stars saved on their smartphones. Many others had their eyes glued to Korean TV dramas playing on tablet PC screens, talking with friends about their favorite actors or episodes, and giggling at the comical scenes.These were snapshots of the 2016 KCON convention in Los Angeles, one of the largest overseas Korean music and culture festivals.Fans gather for a K-pop concert held as part of the Aug 1, 2016
