Fraternal twins in Miss Korea finals /Courtesy of Yonhap News AgencyBy Lee Han-sooKim Min-jung and Kim Na-kyung are the first fraternal twins to make the finals of a Miss Korea pageant.The twins, 21, decided to enter the contest last winter and each entered a separate local competition, in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.Na-kyung was second in the Miss North Gyeongsang Province event on April 7, while Min-jung won the Daegu competition on May 22.The twins attend Keimyung University. They graduated the same elementary, middle and high schools.Although the twins are fraternal, they have similar looks, height and even personalities. They say they also have similar tastes in fashion and men, and recognize each other as their best friend.The twins will join Miss Korea training next month and compete in the main event on July 8.Even though there will only be one winner, the twins consider the experience more of a sisterhood memory than a competition. May 24, 2016
DiCaprio auctions stay at his California house for $336,000 /Courtesy of TwitterBy Lee Jin-aOscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio auctioned a stay at his house in Palm Springs, California, for $336,000 at the amfAR’s 23rd annual Cinema Against AIDS gala last week, according to the New York Daily News.The winner will stay at his house for 163 hours, from 3 p.m. next Jan 16.DiCaprio said a maximum of 12 people can stay in the house but they will not see the actor. They also have to follow “house rules,” which have not yet been revealed. The actor’s lavish home is 7,000 square feet and has six bedrooms. It was bought for $5.2 million in 2014.A second stay was also auctioned and the winning bid was over $100,000. May 24, 2016
Singer Crush wins “Space-out” competition /Courtesy of TwitterBy Lee Jin-aSinger Crush won the “Space-out” competition at Ichon Hangang Park on Sunday.Between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., the R&B singer did not talk, sleep, eat or move around.With staff checking the heart rates of the 70 participants every 15 minutes, Crush had the most stable rate.“I did not know I was going to win,” the singer said. “I was just spacing out without thinking of anything. It was a great time to rest my mind and body.” Crush made his debut with a single “Red Dress” in 2012 and released two albums, “Crush on You” (2014) and “Interlude (2016).”He gained popularity through his collaborations with K-pop stars such as Taeyeon of girl band Girls’ Generation, Zico of boy band Block B and Zion. T. May 23, 2016
Gov't remove Seolhyun's photos from website SeolhyunBy Kim Jae-heun The Visit Korea Committee has deleted photos of its honorary ambassador Seolhyun from the official website’s main page and its social networking services on Sunday. The K-pop idol has recently been embroiled in controversy for her poor grasp of Korean history.Seolhyun, a member of girl group AOA, rose to stardom as an “advertisement queen” ― appearing in almost every commercial, including for the government body.The Visit Korea Committee appointed Seolhyun and actor Lee Min-ho to represent and promote the country as a tourist destination until 2018.On the fourth episode of cable channel OnStyle’s variety show “Channel AOA” aired on May 3, Seolhyun could not identify Ahn Jung-geun, one of the country’s best-known freedom fighters who assassinated Hirobumi Ito, the Japanese resident-general of Korea in 1909. It sparked a national controversy over her ignorance of Korean history.An official from the agency revealed that it has no plans yet to replace the honorary ambassador and deleting her photos from the onlinMay 23, 2016
Jang proves he's serious actor in 'Jackpot' Jang Keun-suk, left, and Yeo Jin-goo, co-star of “Jackpot” show their thumbs-up at a press conference, on May 20. / YonhapJang Keun-suk in a sene from “Jackpot” / Courtesy of SBSBy Park Jin-haiJang Keun-suk, a 28-year-old actor nicknamed the “Prince of Asia,” has hardly been known for acting. Although his career stretches nearly 20 years, the pretty boy with flowing locks had rather earned his fame for his outstanding fashion styling instead of acting.With his recent SBS drama series “Jackpot,” also known as “The Royal Gambler,” the singer-actor seems to change all that. He seems determined to show that he knows how to act.As just seven episodes remain ahead in the 24-episode drama series, Jang has faced many challenges that none of his colleagues would like to do.Acting as Baek Dae-gil, an abandoned son born to King Sukjong (1674-1720) and a maid, Jang in ragged clothes has been buried in the mud, stabbed, fell off a cliff and chomped on a live snake out of hunger.Although the drama didn’t perform as well as expeMay 23, 2016
Park Hae-jin to meet fans in Beijing Park Hae-jin / Courtesy of Mountain MovementBy Kim Da-hee Actor Park Hae-jin will have his first fan meeting in China on Saturday, his agency Mountain Movement said Monday.The heartthrob, 33, who enjoyed huge popularity for his recent role in the TV drama “Cheese in the Trap” on tvN, will meet fans at the University of Science and Technology Beijing gymnasium.“The advance sale of tickets for the fan meeting started Thursday, creating excitement for his fans in China,” the agency said.Park, who rose to stardom in China by SBS’s mega-hit drama “My Love from the Star” (2013-14), became the first Korean to be featured on a Chinese postage stamp.May 23, 2016
Former 'Wonder Girls' on album to promote unification /Courtesy of TwitterBy Lee Han-sooSun-ye, a former member of K-pop girl band Wonder Girls, will take part in an album promoting unification of North and South Korea.Produced by One Korea, a cultural enterprise promoting unification, the album will be named “United Korea 4 the World,” and will be released on June 1.This is the first time Sun-ye will have participated in an album as a singer since 2012 July, when the band’s digital single “Like Money” was released.Sun-ye readily agreed to be part of the unification album, because it was for a good cause, according to media reports.She married Canadian-Korean Christian missionary worker James Park in January 2013.The album will contain 15 songs. Artists participating include Jeon In-kwon, Park Wan-kyu, Insooni, Ivy, Tim, Jung Dong-ha, Ahn Chi-whan, Park Sun-ju, Yang Dong-geun, Lee Ji-hoon, Ha Duk-gyu and rock band Boohwal. May 22, 2016
Actor shoots like professional Yoo Seung-ho(inbox) and a paper target shot and signed by him / Courtesy of InstagramBy Ko Dong-hwanYoo while serving his military service / Courtesy of Naver blogActor Yoo Seung-ho has shown outstanding shooting skills on Jeju Island.The online manager of Jeju Shooting Range has posted on its official Instagram site on May 18 a photo of a paper target with eight bullet holes in the center.At the bottom of the target is Yoo’s signature. Details show the date as May 18 and that Yoo fired from 10 meters for a score of 117 out of 120.“He is a great actor, handsome, gentle, and his shooting skill is top of the top,” the manager said.“I could tell by the way he held his gun that he was superior to the other shooters.” Yoo, 22, was an officer at a training facility in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, during his mandatory military service from March 2013 to December 2014.Visitors to the SNS attributed his shooting skills to his military training.Yoo debuted as a child actor in 2000 and rose to stardom two years later in the movie “The Way Home.&rdquoMay 22, 2016
CICI explores ways to attract tourists to Korea Lubosh Barta, general manager of Four Seasons Seoul, left, shares his opinion on attracting Chinese tourists while Darren Morrish, general manager of Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas, listens. / Courtesy of CICIBy Yun Suh-youngThe Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) explored ways to attract tourists to the country during its annual 5.4 Club meeting Tuesday.The 5.4 Club was established in 2013 by CICI President Choi Jung-wha and her husband Didier Beltoise to share Korean culture through the five senses using four methods ― eating, seeing, enjoying and talking.With more Chinese tourists coming to Korea, the question was posed at the meeting about "what would be the next event to interest the Chinese in enjoying Korean culture," following two previous events that catered to the Chinese ― the "chimac" (chicken and beer) and "samgyetang" food events held for a large group of Chinese travelers to Seoul.But club members suggested that Korea develops its own uniqueness to attract global tourists as a whole, in which the Chinese will be just a part. They expressed concernMay 20, 2016
Severe injuries exempt actor Lee Min-ho from active duty /Courtesy of TwitterBy Lee Han-sooPopular Korean actor Lee Min-ho has been excused from mandatory conscription because of severe injuries he suffered in a 2006 fatal car accident. Instead, the star, 30, will fulfill the national defense duty all able-bodied men in the country have to do with community service.The Military Manpower Administration that handles conscription made a rare public explanation of its decision. The 2006 accident happened in August when Lee and his close actor friend Jung Il-woo went on vacation to Gangwon Province.The trip was shortened when a car drove over the center line and collided with Lee and Jung’s car. Their car was crushed and the two suffered injuries that required hospital treatment for seven months. The driver of the other car was killed.Lee’s injuries included a broken thigh and ankle and a tear in a knee cartilage. His treatment included the insertion of a 46-centimeter metal pin in his thigh, which has left one leg shorter than the other.Lee shot to stardom after having the leading role in “Boys Over Flowers,” a hiMay 20, 2016
