Rice wine join 'Banana Frenzy' By Lee Han-soo/ Courtesy of KooksoondangThe huge success of Orion’s banana-flavored Choco Pie, released last month, has prompted other food industries to follow the banana craze.While bakeries and healthy food makers have already introduced banana-related products, the rice wine industry is the latest to get on the tropical fruit bandwagon.Kooksoondang, a major Korean rice wine distributor, said Thursday it will start selling its new banana rice wine in 11 countries Friday. These include Korea, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.Banana puree has been added to the rice fermentation process to bring out the original texture and flavor of the fruit, the company said.There is speculation the move will spark another frenzy in fruit-flavored alcohol, like that created by Korean traditional drink soju last year. Apr 7, 2016
I.O.I's video 'crush'es fans I.O.I from "Crush" music video / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Ko Dong-hwanRookie K-pop girl band I.O.I ― comprising the 11 winners chosen from 101 entertainment agency trainees in TV audition show “Produce 101” ― have disappointed fans with their first music video.CJ Entertainment and Music released the video for “Crush” on YouTube, Monday. The video’s description said the song is “not the band’s official title but their final experimental song up for fans’ evaluation.”Experimental it was. The video, according to media reports, was poorly made in terms of visual content, leaving the impression its production was hasty.“Clad in their casual clothes, they were just loosely bouncing in flow with the music inside a small room that didn’t even have enough space for them to take a position in line,” online daily Star News said. “The video’s subpar quality has disappointed fans big-time.”A “Produce 101” staffer was quoted as saying Tuesday the video was “just a tribute videApr 6, 2016
Steelheart rocker pumps out action in Korea Miljenko Matijevic, left, cooks in “Fiery Youth” on SBS, Tuesday. / Courtesy of SBSBy Ko Dong-hwanAmerican rock band Steelheart’s vocalist, Miljenko Matijevic, never looked busier than in Korea this week: Fans listened to his new Korean song and saw him on a TV variety show and on the pitcher’s mound at a baseball stadium.At midnight Tuesday, the star, 52, released a Korean song tentatively titled “Because I Missed You to Death” on online music sites including Melon and Mnet. Steelheart guitarist Uros Raskovski and drummer Mike Humbert, plus Korean musicians, joined the session for the rock-orchestra number.Matijevic released his first Korean song “Because I Missed You to Death,” Wednesday.In late February, Matijevic appeared in singing competition show “King of Mask Singer” on MBC and sang Korean songs, surprising the audience.About the same time, the star released here the English single “My Love is Gone,” part of the original soundtrack for hot TV drama “Descendants of the Sun.” The song&Apr 6, 2016
Cable TV producer reveals secret of success Korean chefs prepare their dishes on the show “Global Chef Wars.” / Courtesy of JTBCJTBC’s chief producer LeeDong-hee / Courtesy of JTBCBy Kim Jae-heunLee Dong-hee, chief producer of cable TV JTBC, revealed that the secret behind the success of his hit shows is his effort to lead trends and make programs in his own style.“New trends are always around us,” said Lee during the press meeting at the JTBC building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Tuesday.“Cooking or eating shows are an example, and these days music reality shows are getting the spotlight,” he said. “We always seek ideas from ordinary things around us but the timing has to be right for the trend to become successful. We won’t create something totally new, but will use the concept or themes that have been around and turn them into JTBC’s style of television show.”Lee’s Production 3 team is currently in charge of the company’s top three television shows, “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” “Battle of Tongues,” and Apr 6, 2016
Jessica Jung graces cover of Ceci China Jessica Jung / Screen capture from Ceci WeiboBy Bahk Eun-ji Former Girls’ Generation member Jessica Jung features on the cover of this month’s Chinese edition of fashion magazine Ceci.Ceci China uploaded photos of Jung to its official Weibo account Tuesday.Jung, who called it quits with SM Entertainment last year, has been hosting KBS W’s “Beauty Bible.”Apr 6, 2016
Big-screen return for Big Bang's T.O.P T.O.P / Screen capture from InstagramBy Bahk Eun-ji Big Bang member T.O.P will star in the Chinese film “Out of Control” with leading actress Cheung Pak Chi.The K-pop singer will play an action hero who is in the Korean Interpol. He returns to the big screen after a two-year break. His last film was “Tazza: The Hidden Card.”T.O.P has been in Germany filming “Out of Control.” Apr 6, 2016
Minzy to leave 2NE1 A message celebrating Minzy’s birthday posted on YG Life on Jan. 18 / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunMinzy, a member of the popular girl group 2NE1, has left the band but it will continue without a replacement, YG Entertainment announced Tuesday.“YG Entertainment has met 2NE1 members individually in January for the renewal of their contracts prior to the May 5 expiration date and delivered the company’s willingness to keep 2NE1 going. However, we were not able to share the same thoughts with Minzy,” stated YG Entertainment on its official blog “YG LIFE.”Minzy joined the entertainment company 11 years ago and debuted as a member of 2NE1 in 2009, along with rapper CL and singers Park Bom and Dara. The group was an exceptional success, with its first two recordings winning “Song of the Year” awards at Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in 2009 and 2011. MAMA is one of Asia’s biggest music awards ceremonies presented by CJ E&M, Korea’s leading entertainment and media company.However, 2NE1 stopped its group Apr 5, 2016
Kai, Krystal spotted kissing at luxury hotel / Courtesy of InstagramBy Kim Da-heeAlleged photos of EXO’s Kai and f(x)’s Krystal kissing at a hotel’s swimming pool are going viral. The two celebrities said Friday they are in a relationship.The photos were reportedly taken and posted to an online community website by an unidentified person who came across the two at a hotel in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The alleged photos show the two kissing at the hotel’s swimming pool.The uploader says the couple stayed at the hotel for two nights, with Kai doing the check-in and check-out. During the stay, Krystal made several calls for room service, the person said.Many netizens were interested in the photos, while others criticized the uploader for violating the couple’s privacy. Apr 5, 2016
BigBang's T.O.P to debut in Chinese film market with action flick T.O.P of the popular K-pop boy band BigBang has been cast as the main role in a Chinese action film, his management agency said Tuesday.The singer will play a Korean Interpol officer in the film "Out of Control" also starring Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi, an award-winning Hong Kong actress, YG Entertainment said.This will be the Chinese-language debut film by the 29-year-old whose original name is Choi Seung-hyeon and mark his comeback to the big screen after two years since "Tazza: The Hidden Card" in 2014.It will be directed by Axel Sand of "Fast Track: No Limits" (2008) and "Final Contract: Death On Delivery" (2006).T.O.P has been in Germany since Thursday for the filming of "Out of Control." He will be absent from the band's tour of Japan starting April 22 due to the filming schedule. (Yonhap)Apr 5, 2016
'Descendants' stars Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo hit Hong Kong Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo / YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiSong Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, stars of hit TV drama “Descendants of the Sun,” have arrived in Hong Kong to promote the show.They will attend a press event Tuesday, a day before the drama premieres on Hong Kong’s Viu TV.It is the first promotional tour abroad since the drama began airing simultaneously in Korea and China last month. It is shown in China via an Internet video-on-demand site.The press event will be broadcast through Viu TV’s official Facebook page. Apr 5, 2016
