AOA tops music charts amid controversy Girl band AOA performs new song “10 Seconds” in their latest mini-album “Good Luck” during a showcase at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Monday. / YonhapAOA’s Seolhyun sheds tears during a press conferenceat at YES24 Live Hall, Monday, making remarks on a recent controversy over her lackingof historcial knowledge. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop girl group AOA has returned with their fourth mini-album “Good Luck” amid a controversy over remarks made by two of its members, Seolhyun and Jimin, in which they revealed a poor grasp of historical knowledge.On the fourth episode of cable channel OnStyle’s variety show “Channel AOA” aired on May 3, the two took part in a quiz mission to identify public figures. The two correctly named several figures from history until they stopped at a picture of Ahn Jung-geun, the independence fighter who fought against Japan's bid to occupy the Korean peninsula and is one of Korea’s most widely known historic figures.Seolhyun, who had been appointed honorary ambassador of Korea by May 17, 2016
Moviegoers fired up for 'Operation Chromite' release “Operation Chromite” / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Bahk Eun-ji Moviegoers have been keenly awaiting the summer release of new film “Operation Chromite,” starring top actors Lee Jung-jae, Lee Beom-soo and Liam Neeson.The movie depicts the amphibious invasion and battle that resulted in a decisive victory for the United Nations Command and turned the tide in the 1950-53 Korean War.Neeson plays General Douglas MacArthur, who commanded U.N. troops during the war. Lee Jung-jae is Jang Hak-soo, a South Korean navy lieutenant who helps MacArthur.U.N. and South Korean forces captured Incheon on Sep. 15, 1950. The battle of Incheon saved South Korea from defeat and played a decisive role in pushing back the North.Agency CJ E&M unveiled a teaser poster of the film, which premieres in July, on Tuesday.May 17, 2016
Comedian Kim Gura's son releases hip-hop single By Bahk Eun-ji MC. GreeRapper MC. Gree, son of popular comedian Kim Gura, will release his first single, “Nineteen,” on Wednesday.MC. Gree, 17, whose name is Kim Dong-hyun, debuted on rapper San E’s album released last year.Kim has expressed his thoughts and feelings about being a teenager through “Nineteen,” said Brand New Music, his agency.Popular hip-hop producer Prime Boi joined Kim in producing the single.The new track will hit the airwaves midnight Wednesday. May 17, 2016
Song Joong-ki to appear in Lee Kwang-soo's web drama Lee Kwang-soo, Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-ji Actor Song Joong-ki will make a special appearance in web drama “Sound of Heart,” starring his best friend Lee Kwang-soo.Lee appeared in the first episode of drama “Descendants of the Sun” in February, to support Song.The two actors met when starring in popular reality program “Running Man” in 2010.The web drama, based on a popular web cartoon of the same name, will air this fall on KBS 2TV.Lee debuted as a fashion model in 2007. He began his acting career with a starring role in soap opera “High Kick Through the Roof” in 2008.May 17, 2016
Writer Bernard Werber to appear on news program Bernard Werber/YonhapBy Lee Jin-aFrench writer Bernard Werber talks with TV anchorman Sohn Suk-hee on his JTBC news show “Newsroom” on Monday.JTBC has not yet confirmed a date to air the interview, according to media reports.The French science fiction writer is best known in Korea for his books, “The Empire of Ants” (1991),“The Tree of Possibilities” (2002) and “The Mystery of Gods” (2007).He arrived in Korea on Thursday to promote his new book, “Third Humanity,” and to meet his fans.Newsroom is JTBC’s main news program on which Sohn has interviewed many national and foreign celebrities including K-pop stars G-dragon, Psy and Australian actor Hugh Jackman.May 16, 2016
Rain, Kim Tae-hee visit Jeju with families /YonhapBy Lee Jin-aSinger Rain and his girlfriend, actress Kim Tae-hee, flew to Jeju Island with their families on Sunday for a three-day visit.Rain Company, Rain’s agency, confirmed the visit on Monday, according to Yonhap news agency. However, the couple still has no plan to marry.“Rain recently finished shooting a drama so he went to Jeju for a rest and to play golf with his father and one of Kim’s family members,” the agency said.“Even though the couple are dating, they have no plan to marry because of their tough schedules.” The couple started dating in 2012 and admitted their relationship in January 2013. May 16, 2016
Slave victim thanks star who said no to Japan Song Hye-kyoBy Bahk Eun-ji Yang Geum-deok / YonhapActress Song Hye-kyo received a thank-you letter from Yang Geum-deok, a victim of forced labor during Japan’s occupation in World War II, for the actress’ rejection of a modeling offer from Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors, her agency UAA said Monday.Song’s agency said she rejected the offer last month because the Mitsubishi Group is involved in a lawsuit over the alleged use of Korean forced labor.In the letter, Yang said, “I felt like I could fly when I heard about your decision that even the president of the country hasn’t been able to do."“Receiving compensation is clearly not the main thing. We want sincere an apology from Japanese Minister Shinzo Abe and Mitsubishi Group.”Yang was forced to work in Mitsubishi Group’s aviation manufacturing plant in 1944, when she was 12 years old. She did not get paid anything for her labor for 18 months.Yang sued the Japanese government and the group in 1999, but lost.Yang's letter to Song / Yonhap May 16, 2016
Former forced laborer thanks TV star Song Hye-kyoBy Park Jin-haiSong Hye-kyo, the star of the megahit drama “Descendants of the Sun,” received a thank-you letter from a former forced laborer, according to her agency, Monday.The letter, released by a civic group for victims of forced labor under Japan’s occupation of Korea (1910-45), thanked the actress for her “great work that even the country’s president couldn’t have done.” It was penned by Yang Geum-deok, an 88-year-old woman who had been deceived and forced to work at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aircraft manufacturing plant at Nagoya at age 14,Song recently rejected a modeling offer from Mitsubishi Motors, as Mitsubishi Group is involved in a lawsuit over allegedly forcing Korean laborers to work for it during the occupation.“Hearing the news, I shed tears. I was so happy as if a big nail wedged deep in my heart has finally been pulled out,” said Yang. “I thank you for your courageous act and I feel that I could even fly if only I had wings.”Yang, who had been deceived by the Japanese head of her May 16, 2016
유로비전 스타 임다미 '의지가 중요…노래로 변화 이끌 것' 임다미 / AP-Yonhap올해 유로비전 송 콘테스트의 스타인 한국계 임다미(27)가 마음먹기에 따라 무엇이든 할 수 있다는 점을 알리는 동시에 노래로 세상을 바꾸는 데 앞장서고 싶다는 뜻을 밝혔다. 호주대표로 출전해 아깝게 1위를 놓친 임다미는 스웨덴 스톡홀름 대회 다음날인 15일(현지시간) 호주 미디어그룹인 뉴스코프와 한 인터뷰에서 이번 대회를 통해 인지도를 잘 활용하고 싶다며 이같이 말했다. 임다미는 "나는 단지 한 명의 평범한 사람으로 한국에서 온 이민자 출신"이라며 "하지만 나의 음악과 이번에 얻은 영향력을 바탕으로 변화를 끌어내는 역할을 하고 싶다"고 말했다. 또 TV를 시청한 모든 이에게 좋은 자극이 됐길 희망한다고 덧붙였다. 임다미는 바로 다음 일정으로는 우간다로 옮겨가 국제 어린이 자선단체 '컴패션'(Compassion)을 통해 자신이 후원하는 어린이를 만날 것이라며 2주일 일정이 될 것이라고 밝혔다. 임다미는 컴패션의 홍보대사를 맡고 있다. 임다미는 앞서 자신이 우승할 경우 무대에 설 기회를 이용, 빈곤에 처한 어린이들을 돕는 데 쓸 것이라는 뜻을 전한 바 있다. 심사위원단 투표에서 압도적으로 앞선 만큼 진정한 우승자라는 일부의 평가에도 임다미는 우승을 놓친 데 대해 서운하지 않다고 말했다. 1위를 차지한 우크라이나의 자말라가 충분히 우승할 자격을 갖췄다는 것이다. 임다미는 자말라가 부른 노래가 "솔직히 가장 멋진 곡이며, 놀라운 퍼포먼스를 보여줬다고 생각한다"며 "그녀는 분명히 우승할 자격이 있으며 내가 자격이 있었더라면 그녀에게 표를 던졌을 것"이라고 밝혔다. 이 밖에 임다미는 2억 명으로 추정되는 시청자 앞에서 강한 인상을 준 만큼 유럽 투어 등 세계 무대로 활동 폭을 넓힐 수도 있지만, 자신에게 아낌없는 지원을 해준 호주 팬들을 위해 호주에 우선을 두고 활동할 것이라고 말했다. (연합뉴스) May 16, 2016
Real-life couple star in screen romance “The Third Way of Love” / Courtesy of Miro VisionBy Bahk Eun-ji Moviegoers have been keenly waiting for the release of a film featuring top actor Song Seung-heon and his girlfriend, Chinese actress Liu Yifei. Showbox unveiled stills from “The Third Way of Love” on Monday. The stills show Song and Liu kissing passionately.The movie is about a man and woman who fall in love after meeting several times by chance.Song and Liu revealed their romantic relationship last August.The film will have its premiere on May 19.May 16, 2016
