Yoo Ah-in graces cover of ELLE Men Hong Kong Yoo Ah-in / Screen capture from FacebookBy Bahk Eun-ji Top actor Yoo Ah-in features on the cover of next month’s Hong Kong edition of fashion magazine ELLE Men.ELLE Men Hong Kong uploaded photos of Yoo on its official Facebook page on Thursday.Yoo starred in the TV drama series “Six Flying Dragons,”which ended recently.The actor made a special appearance in the popular drama “Descendants of the Sun” this month.Apr 28, 2016
T-ARA plans fan meeting in Japan T-ARA / Courtesy of MBK EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-ji K-pop girl band T-ARA will hold its first fan meetings in Japan in three years, MBK Entertainment said Thursday.The band will meet more than 5,000 fans in Tokyo and Kobe on May 2 and 4.MBK said T-ARA members organized the meetings themselves.The band made its debut in 2009. Its six members _ Boram, Qri, Soyeon, Eunjung, Hyomin and Jiyeon _ have had several hits, including “Bo Peep Bo Peep,” “Roly-Poly” and “Lovey-Dovey.”Apr 28, 2016
'Welcome to Seoul' a warm greeting for tourists /Courtesy of TwitterBy Lee Han-sooThe Seoul Metropolitan Government, in cooperation with the Visit Korea Committee and Seoul Tourism Association, plans to give a spring welcome to foreigners from April 29 to May 8, according to Kukmin Ilbo on Thursday.The event coincides with China’s Labor Day and Japan’s golden week.There will be live performances and traditional cultural events in six special tourist zones in Seoul ― Myeong-dong, Sungnyemun, Dongdaemun, Itaewon, Hongdae University and Kwangjang market.The Seoul government will also hang banners to welcome tourists at the special locations. The banners will also be on display at tourist information centers across the city to inform tourists of multiple special events.These include making traditional lucky bags and fans, photo zones, Nanta performances, taekwondo demonstrations and magic shows.The city will hold “China Day” on May 1, “Japan day” on May 3 and “Thailand Day” on May 5, and hand out souvenirs to nationals on each day.City Tour buses will also offer a 40 percent discounApr 28, 2016
Jessica Jung tunes in for first solo album Jessica Jung / Courtesy of Jessica Jung's InstagramBy Kim Da-heeFormer member of K-pop girl band Girls’ Generation, Jessica Jung has released an Instagram image of herself taken from a music video shoot in Los Angeles.In the image, Jung, 27, is dressed in a black dress, and is shielding her eyes with her hands as if the sunshine is too bright.“Just completed the final edits [of the music video] today,” she writes “[The editing] took over a month because I wanted to make sure every detail was perfect.”The singer debuted with the band in 2007. Since quitting in September 2014, she has worked mostly in Chinese-speaking countries while focusing on her fashion brand BLANC.In Korea, she has been hosting “Beauty Bible 2016 S/S” on KBS Drama since April 2.She is set to release her first solo album next month.Apr 28, 2016
'Sugar Man' producer shares untold stories JTBC’s chief producer Yoon Hyun-joonBy Kim Jae-heunJTBC’s chief producer Yoon Hyun-joon shared behind-the-scenes stories of his recent music entertainment show “Two Yoo Project ― Sugar Man” during a press conference at the JTBC building in Digital Media City, western Seoul, Tuesday.The music entertainment show first started with two-episode pilots aired last August. Yoon was inspired by 2012 Swedish-British documentary featuring Sixto Rodriguez, an American musician who disappeared from the public eye in the United States but relived his glory in South Africa.JTBC’s entertainment show is presented by Yoo Jae-suk, You Hee-yeol, Kim Eana and Sandara Park, who are divided into two pairs to introduce each other’s “Sugar Man,” a singer who was once popular but has faded into obscurity. The teams also invite currently popular producers to remake Sugar Man’s old hit songs into new versions that will better appeal in today’s music industry. At the end of the show, the “Sugar Man” from each group fields their neApr 27, 2016
Song Hye-kyo sues jewelry company for using her image Actress Song Hye-kyo, star of the "Descendants of the Sun" / Courtesy of UAABy Lee Han-sooActress Song Hye-kyo has sued a domestic jewelry company for a portrait rights violation on March 29, according to UAA, Song’s entertainment agency, Wednesday.“The jewelry company that had contracts with the producers of ‘Descendants of the Sun’ distributed captured images and videos of Song without her consent,” said UAA. “We plan to donate the entire compensation from the case to young designers.”The case has been handed over to the Seoul Central District Court, with the actress seeking 300 million won ($261,000).Song’s contract with the jewelry company expired in January. Apr 27, 2016
Celebrity couple in tune for music video Tang Wei(right) and Kim Tae-yong / Courtesy of WeiboBy Ko Dong-hwanThe love of international celebrity couple Tang Wei and Kim Tae-yong enabled them to make a music video for an upcoming movie in less than a day.Korean movie director Kim, 47, led the production of the music video for his Chinese wife’s latest film, “Finding Mr. Right 2,” in Hong Kong. The video for the romance movie’s main theme music features Wei, 37, singing, according to SCS Entertainment, her Seoul-based agency.On Sunday, the couple attended a press conference in Beijing to introduce the music video./ Courtesy of Weibo“I like her voice and her song,” Kim said, according to Chosun Ilbo. “Although she is my wife and family, her presence behind a screen always makes my heart beat strongly.”Wei, now pregnant with Kim’s child, said, “He understands me and knows about me the best. We were given only a short time to make the video. Having my husband direct it under such time pressure was our best decision.”The music video will be released in Korea on FridApr 26, 2016
Lee Young-ae gives $50,000 to Ecuador Lee Young-ae / Korea TimesBy Bahk Eun-ji Actress Lee Young-ae donated $50,000 (57 million won) to help earthquake victims in Ecuador, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) said Tuesday.The donation will be used to supply water, food, shelter, protection and healthcare.The destructive earthquakes hit Ecuador on April 16. The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake rose to 650 Tuesday, according to Associated Press.Lee, 45, is filming a drama “Saimdang, the Herstory,” which will air this year.Apr 26, 2016
AOA tops Oricon Chart in Japan / Screen capture from InstagramBy Bahk Eun-ji SeolhyunK-pop girl band AOA’s new Japanese single, “Give Me the Love,” topped the daily Oricon Chart in Japan on Sunday.According to the country’s largest online music chart, the song sold 4,820 copies in just four days after its release on April 20.AOA’s member Seolhyun uploaded on her Instagram page an image of the chart, saying “We ranked first on Oricon Daily Chart! Thank you.”The song features popular Japanese musician T.M. Revolution.Apr 26, 2016
Lee Jang-woo and Geon-il start military service Lee Jang-woo/Courtesy of Made M Entertainment By Lee Jin-aTwo Korean celebrities began their mandatory military service on Tuesday.Actor Lee Jang-woo will join the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. Singer Geon-il will join the 3rd Division in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.Geon-il of Supernova/Courtesy of MaruThey will receive basic military training at a boot camp for five weeks from Tuesday and serve 21 months.Lee is popular for his roles in the TV dramas “I do, I do”(2012), “Rosy Lovers”(2014) and “Glory Jane”(2011).Gun-il is a member of popular K-pop boy band Supernova.Apr 26, 2016
