Unregistered agencies involved in TV audition show Participants of TV girl band audition show "Produce 101" on Mnet are performing during an all-star basketball match in January. / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Ko Dong-hwan Controversy has risen after it was revealed that some entertainment agencies involved with TV girl band audition show “Produce 101” are not registered with the government as required.The agencies, whose trainees are participating in the Mnet’s open audition program, have not registered their business with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, according to media reports.Agencies that do not register are subject to up to two years’ jail or a fine of up to 10 million won ($8200).Mnet said it had checked the registration status of the participating agencies and advised those that had not registered to do so by Mar. 15, according to reports.“We conducted the checks as requested by the Korea Creative Content Agency and will make sure all the agencies are registered,” said an insider with the cable network.A total of 101 trainees from 46 agencies ― a record among KoreMar 10, 2016
Singer Lee Hi tops iTunes charts in 8 Asian regions South Korean diva Lee Hi, the heroine of SBS' talent audition show "K-Pop Star: Season 1," topped the iTunes charts in eight Asian regions with her first new song after a three-year hiatus, her South Korean talent agency said. The 20-year-old singer snatched the No. 1 spot on Wednesday afternoon on the iTunes charts for Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, for the new song "Breathe," YG Entertainment said. "Breathe" is the title track of her latest mid-length album "Seoulite" which dropped at midnight. The song ranked 53rd on the U.S. iTunes chart.With music and lyrics by Jonghyun of K-pop boy band Super Junior, "Breathe" is a melodious ballad with a comforting message for those suffering from the exhaustion of everyday life.The song also topped eight major music charts at home, including MelON, Genie Music, Olleh Music, Mnet, Naver Music, Bugs Music, Monkey3 and Soribada the same day.Lee Hi will return to the stage on Mnet music show "M Countdown" on Thursday at 6 p.m.Mar 10, 2016
Song Joong-ki makes splendid comeback Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-ji, Park Si-sooShortly after his debut in 2008, actor Song Joong-ki shot to stardom with his pretty face and romantic mid-tone voice. But there was one critical career element missing: good acting.For that reason, he soon faced difficulty in expanding his fan base beyond young women. But Song joined the military in August 2013 and went missing from TV for nearly two years.Some might have assumed he would never return to the screen. But they were wrong. He has returned, with equally good looks but much-improved acting skills, influenced by his bitter-sweet experiences in the barracks. And his fully matured acting is considered one of the key drivers of the huge success of “Descendants of the Sun.”Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment The KBS TV drama series, also featuring top actress Song Hye-kyo, got off to a flying start last month, creating a sensation in Korea and China.“I still have a long way to go,” Song said during a pre-release media briefing for the drama in Seoul on Mar 9, 2016
K-pop stars hit stages in US, UK, France Members of K-pop girl group Mamamoo attend a press conference in central Seoul Tuesday, along with other Korean entertainers participating in overseas music festivals. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiThirteen headlining names in K-pop and rock music, including Zion.T and Mamamoo, will excite global music fans at K-Pop Night Out events this year at three major international music events held in the U.S, France, and the U.K.Starting with the K-Pop Night Out event at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, on March 16, the second day of the music festival, the musicians will then perform at the Great Escape (TGE) festival in the U.K. in May and France’s MIDEM in June, the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) said on Tuesday.Announcing the full lineups, the government-sponsored agency that has been actively supporting K-pop’s expansion to overseas markets since 2013 said this year’s event is more rounded out with the inclusion of the TGE.“We have been providing a springboard for those talented musicians to reach overseas music markets. It is needless to say that greaMar 8, 2016
Supernova band member booked for drunk-driving Yoon Sung-mo / Courtesy of Maroo EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-jiYoon Sung-mo, a member of K-pop band Supernova, has been booked without detention for drunk-driving and causing an accident.According to Songpa District Police Station, Yoon, 30, drove over the center line and made an illegal U-turn at 1:20 a.m. Monday in Samjeon-dong in Songpa-gu, Seoul.He did not obey a police order to stop and hit a pole 1.3 km after racing off.Police kept chasing him but hit his car when it suddenly stopped, they said.Yoon was tested at the scene and gave a blood-alcohol reading of 0.092 percent.Maroo Entertainment, Yoon’s management company, said the singer regretted his actions.The six-member boy band - Jung Yun-hak, Kim Sung-je, Kim Kwang-su, Song Ji-hyuk, Park Geon-il and Yoon - debuted in 2007.The group topped the Oricon Chart, Japan’s most-respected album chart, last year, selling more than 20,000 copies of its new album released last September.Mar 8, 2016
Miss Korea pageant a path to stardom Kim Sung-ryung, ‘Jin (winner)’ in 1988 / Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Miss Korea beauty pageant is often a gateway to becoming a top actress.Once they become a titleholder, the winners can achieve great fame.Here are six Miss Korea contestants who became actresses.Go Hyun-jung, ‘Sun (first runner-up)’ in 1989 / Korea Times file Oh Hyun-kyung, ‘Jin’ in 1989 / Korea Times file Kim Sa-rang, ‘Jin’ in 2000 / Korea Times file Son Tae-young, ‘Mi (finalist)’ in 2000 / Korea Times file Lee Ha-nui, ‘Jin’ in 2006 / Korea Times fileMar 8, 2016
Song Joong-ki helps children with cancer Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Korea Foundation for Children with LeukemiaBy Bahk Eun-ji Actor Song Joong-ki, a male lead in popular drama “Descendants of the Sun,” has been helping children with cancer, the Korea Foundation for Children with Leukemia said Tuesday.Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Korea Foundation for Children with LeukemiaIt said Song has donated tens of millions of won since 2011 via its official blog. It did not disclose the exact amount because the actor did not want to make it public.More than 10 patients have had surgery thanks to his donation, the foundation said.Song Joong-ki / Korea Times fileIn “Descendants of the Sun,” Song plays the leader of a special warfare command unit in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Mar 8, 2016
Kim Won-joon to wed with prosecutor Kim Won-joon / Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiSinger Kim Won-joon will marry next month, it was reported Tuesday.Kim, 43, is dating a prosecutor from the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors’ Office who is 14 years younger.The two met on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend, reports said.The singer has been preparing privately for the wedding.Kim made his debut as a solo singer in 1992. He rose to stardom with the big hit “In the Dead of the Night” from his first album that year. He began his acting career in 1994. Mar 8, 2016
Songs from 'Descendants of the Sun' soundtrack rule music charts South Korean television series "Descendants of the Sun" swept the top spots in major music charts here, thanks to the drama's immense success, data showed on Tuesday. As of 11 a.m., three songs from the soundtrack of the military melodrama landed high in multiple music charts. "This Love," a ballad sung by K-pop duo Davichi, topped MelON, Genie Music, Naver Music, Bugs Music, Monkey3 and Soribada. "Everytime" a pop duet song by Chen of K-pop boy band EXO and Punch, topped the weekly music chart and download chart of Gaon. "Always," a melodious ballad by female rapper Yoon Mi-rae, also ranked No. 1 on the weekly soundtrack and mobile music charts of the same music rater. In addition to the big-name artists, the songs apparently emerged triumphant on the back of the undaunted popularity of "Descendants of the Sun," starring actor Song Joong-ki and actress Song Hye-kyo. In the show, Song plays Yoo Si-jin, an army lieutenant in the war-torn country of Uruk, who falls in love with outspoken doctor Kang Mo-yeon. In the fourth and latest episode, aired on March 4, the show hit 23.7 perMar 8, 2016
Rising child star gets first adult role Kim Sae-ronBy Ko Dong-hwan Rising child star Kim Sae-ron will appear in her first adult role in a JTBC TV drama tentatively titled “Witch Bogam.”In the historical fantasy fiction story, Kim, 15, portrays a girl named Seo-ri, a princess-turned-witch who unwillingly harms people with her magical powers, which she is trying to get rid of.Male lead Yoon Shi-yoon will portray royal physician Heo Jun (1539-1615) from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897), who compiled the oriental medicine guidebook “Dongui Bogam.”The drama will portray a fictional romance between Heo and Seo-ri.The network plans to air the drama during the first half of this year.Kim Sae-ron from movie “The Man from Nowhere” (2010)Kim is one of the few acting talents considered better than many adult actors. She became famous at age 10 in the action thriller movie “The Man from Nowhere” (2010). In the movie, she played a girl who escapes being murdered by an organized crime group, with the help of a former black operation soldier (Won Bin).Last year she won the Best New ActresMar 7, 2016
