Lee Hi returns with “Breath” written by Jonghyun of SHINee Lee Hi / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunSinger Lee Hi of YG Entertainment made her return after a three-year break from music with her new EP “SEOULITE,” which includes the single “Breath” written by Jonghyun of boy band SHINee.“I did not know the song was written by Jonghyun at first,” said Lee during a press conference at a cafe in Seogyo-dong, western Seoul, Monday. “Tablo said he had the perfect song for me when I told him that I wanted a song that comforts people. When I was recording the song, Tablo told me Jonghyun wrote it and I was very surprised.”Lee added that Jonghyun did not participate in directing her recording, only commenting on the samples that Tablo sent him. Tablo, the leader of YG Entertainment’s hip-hop group Epik High, took charge of producing Lee’s EP with his partner DJ Tukutz.She said Tablo has been in constant contact with her, asking her about her thoughts and feelings in producing the recording, which created a unique style for the five-song album. Lee said she wanted to show a dMar 15, 2016
'Descendants of Sun' biggest attraction at Hong Kong expo Visitors gather at the Korean pavilion of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) inthe Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-heunBy Kim Jae-heunHONG KONG ― “Descendants of the Sun,” a megahit drama currently being aired on KBS, is attracting big buyers at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which runs until Thursday.“The drama series has aired its 6th episode in both Korea and China now and its broadcast rights in Japan and China have been sold already, but many buyers are still very interested in the show,” said a KBS official at the booth in the national pavilion organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), who added that visitors have been taking pictures next to an ad for the drama and asking if they can buy posters.“Apparently, Song Joong-ki’s role is key for the popularity of the drama series, who already became known abroad with his previous KBS melodrama The Innocent Man. But, Descendants ofMar 15, 2016
K-pop diva Kahi to marry millionaire Kahi / Screen capture from InstagramBy Bahk Eun-ji Kahi, a former member of K-pop girl band After School, will marry Yang Joon-moo, CEO of fashion bag brand Incase Korea, Bonboo Entertainment said Tuesday.Kahi, 36, and Yang, 39, had been friends before they started dating. The two became closer through extreme sports, such as snowboarding and windsurfing.The couple will tie the knot at a private wedding in Hawaii on March 26.Kahi made her debut as a dancer in 2000. She is better known as the leader of After School, which debuted in 2009.Kahi has been a judge on Mnet’s girl group survival show “Produce 101.” Kahi / Screen capture from InstagramMar 15, 2016
'Descendants of the Sun' a real threat to Chinese couples “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBSBy Bahk Eun-ji The huge popularity of the drama, “Descendants of the Sun,” is putting Chinese couples at risk of breakup, reports said Tuesday.The Ministry of Public Security in China used its Weibo page to warn viewers of the potential dangers that could be triggered.With the warning, it told about an incident in which a man who went wild at a photo studio, forcing the photographer to take a picture of him just like Song Joong-ki. The photographer reported him to the police, and the ministry said there was a possible legal risk of watching Korean dramas. “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentThe man had quarreled with his wife often over the drama and actor Song Joong-ki.The drama, starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, is a smash-hit in China, clocking up 120 million views on Chinese online video platform IQiyi as of March 3.The number is expected to top 600 million views as more episodes go to air. Mar 15, 2016
Song Joong-ki a smash-hit in China Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-ji Korean actor Song Joong-ki is the most searched entertainer on Chinese websites, according to Chinese data marketing company VLinkage, Tuesday.Song, who plays a leading role in KBS TV’s drama series “Descendants of the Sun,” has ranked top since Saturday, said the company, citing data from China’s major websites.The drama has been a sensation in China, which could be largely attributable to Song’s presence, according to critics and drama experts. The Wednesday/Thursday drama series airs simultaneously in Korea and China.With six out of 16 episodes having gone to air, the episodes have been played more than 256 million times on China’s video on-demand websites.To express his appreciation, Song will soon host a fan meeting in China. Mar 15, 2016
Actress Im Soo-jung hits back - with love Actress Im Soo-jung posted a photo of herself without make-up on her Instagram page, March 11. / Screen capture from InstagramBy Bahk Eun-ji Actress Im Soo-jung has been a baby-face symbol with her big-eyes and small, round face.The baby-face is a trend in Korea, referring to someone who looks younger than his or her age.On Friday, Im, 36, posted a photo of herself without make-up, saying, “I was a little tired today, but will light up with this tasty food.”After the photo was posted, some netizens left rude remarks about her face, so she posted another photo on Sunday.In the posting, she said, “I wish I would always be pretty and shiny without any help, but this is the way I am.” Read Im’s passionate post below:“I usually don’t put on make-up in my daily life, but when I have to become an actress, I get a lot of help from experts such as hair stylists and make-up artists. I wish I would always be pretty and shiny without any help, but this is the way I am. My best friend is a mother of two children and it might be the naturalMar 14, 2016
Actors under fire over hotel incidents Scenes from “Youth over Flowers: Africa” on tvN / Courtesy of tvNBy Ko Dong-hwan(From left) Ryu Jun-yeol, Ahn Jae-hong, Go Kyung-pyo and Park Bo-gumTV viewers have criticized four actors from the TV variety show “Youth over Flowers: Africa” for taking off their underwear in a hotel swimming pool in Nambia.The actors are Ahn Jae-hong, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo and Ryu Jun-yeol ― who starred in tvN’s hit drama “Reply 1988” which aired from last November until January.The incident was shown on the weekly program’s episode on Friday.In the episode a week before, the four stars were also criticized after they ate breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant while still in their dressing gowns. They changed after a hotel employee advised them to do so. On Sunday, the program’s producers made a public apology, saying they “only wanted to show viewers how the four youthful actors in their 20s are freely enjoying their trip in a down-to-earth manner.”The producers also apologized for “making viMar 14, 2016
Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo a real couple? Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo wear similar bracelets in different scenes in "Descendants of the Sun." / Screen captures from KBSBy Bahk Eun-ji Are actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-hyo, who have been starring in “Descendants of the Sun,” a couple?Some netizens have raised the possibility because the two have worn very similar bracelets in different scenes.In the second episode, Song Hye-kyo wears a thin black thin bracelet, and Song Joong-ki wears a similar bracelet in the sixth episode.Rumors about their dating in New York also surfaced online at the start of this month.After the rumors spread, some netizens posted comments on numerous social media, claiming Song Hye-kyo’s bracelet is actually not a bracelet, but a hair band.The KBS TV drama series has been enjoying explosive popularity, creating a sensation in Korea, Japan and China.Song Joong-ki plays Yoo Si-jin, an army lieutenant in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Song falls in love with doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo). Mar 14, 2016
K-pop diva Park Jung-ah to wed golfer Park Jung-ah / Korea Times By Bahk Eun-ji Singer-turned-actress Park Jung-ah will marry golfer Jun Sang-woo in May, Jellyfish Entertainment said Monday.Park, 35, has been dating Jun, 33, for 17 months.The two met on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend, the agency said.The couple will tie the knot at a private wedding on May 15.Park made her debut as main vocalist with K-pop band Jewelry in 2001. She began her acting career in a supporting role in the film “Madeleine” in 2003.She recently completed filming the popular tvN drama “Oh My Ghostess.”Mar 14, 2016
Comedian Park Na-rae becomes Song Joong-ki Park Na-rae, Song Joong-ki / Screen capture from InstagramBy Bahk Eun-ji Rising female comedian Park Na-rae dressed up like actor Song Joong-ki, a male lead in the popular drama “Descendants of the Sun.”Park uploaded a photo of herself putting on make-up like Song, saying she would imitate the actor for a skit on tvN’s“Comedy Big League.”“I love Yoo Si-jin (Song) in ‘Descendants of the Sun,’ so I decided to become him,” she said. “But I can’t be more charming than him.”In the photo, Park wears a wig and a military uniform.Park made her debut as a KBS comedian in 2006.The skit will be shown at 7:40 p.m. on Sunday. Mar 14, 2016
