Japan embraces Lee Seung-hwan after first concert Lee Seung-hwan, third from right, in his Tokyo concert at Zepp DiverCity, Friday / Courtesy of FacebookBy Ko Dong-hwan Singer Lee Seung-hwan held his first concert in Japan concert on Friday, earning high praise from the local press and the Japanese music industry.Philippe Mesmer, a correspondent for French daily newspaper Le Monde and weekly news magazine L’Express covering Japan and Korea, was cited as saying Lee “delivered the best Korean music.”Mesmer added, that “Japanese experts agreed unanimously that his concert was a top-notch gig that perfectly represented Korea’s mass culture.”/ Courtesy of FacebookOne executive at Yamano Music, a popular instrument dealer, said Lee was “charismatic yet cute,” a style popular in Japan. Associates from Tokyo FM and TV broadcaster TBS said Lee’s “emotional and powerful vocals mixed with exciting lighting and laser shows brought the audience into one crazy party.”The concert at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo lasted two hours and attracted more than 1,000 people, including joMar 7, 2016
Hollywood stars delight fans in Seoul Chloe Moretz from "SNL Korea 7" on tvN, Saturday / Courtesy of tvNBy Ko Dong-hwan Recent visits by Hollywood stars Chloe Moretz and Hugh Jackman to Seoul last week have excited fans online, offline and on TV.American actress Moretz, who visited Thursday, appeared as a guest on late-night live TV sketch comedy show “SNL Korea 7” on tvN Saturday. She also appeared on Sunday on the network’s variety show “Problematic Men,” on which invited guests known for being smart are challenged to solve brain-teasing problems.Multiplayer online shooter game “Sudden Attack” recently hired Moretz as its model. Her Seoul schedule reportedly includes promoting the game, according to reports.Hugh Jackman in a press conference in Seoul, Monday, with his pet dog "Allegra" (inbox) / Courtesy of Twitter, AP-YonhapAustralian actor Jackman visited Korea on Monday, to mark the release of the star’s latest movie “Eddie the Eagle.” The movie is a British-American biographical sports drama about Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, the first British skiMar 7, 2016
Park Hae-jin receives hot reception from fans Tens of thousands of fans have registered for a fan meeting with South Korean actor Park Hae-jin.According to the YTree Company, which represents his agency, a whopping 40,000 fans applied last Thursday for a seat at the fan meeting that marks the 10th anniversary of Park's debut. Given only 4,000 attendees will be chosen by lottery, the competition rate has already passed 10 to 1. And the rate is set to go up since the registration continues until 6 p.m. this Thursday. The meeting, slated to be held at the SK Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park at 5 p.m. on April 23, is complimentary for all attendees. Among the various events, the star's agency will choose three best parody videos themed "Park 10" and award the winners the opportunity to work for the star.Park rose to stardom in the wider China region after "My Love from the Star" on SBS became a huge sensation in Asia in 2014. He is scheduled to attend a promotional event this Thursday for his other drama "Cheese in the Trap" from South Korean cable channel tvN, which will premiere in China in May via the country's biggest Mar 7, 2016
'Descendants of the Sun' heroine flaunts flawless beauty / Screen capture from InstagramTop actress Song Hye-kyo, who stars in “Descendants of the Sun,” has posted a photo of her colleague actors on social media.The photo shows actors Lee Seung-joon, Seo Jung-yeon, Onew of K-pop band SHINee and Song.The actors play a team of doctors from Doctors Without Borders, a non-profit international medical humanitarian organization.The drama, which stars Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, got off to a flying start, rating 24.1 percent for its fourth episode on March 3, according to Nielsen Korea and reports.Mar 7, 2016
Big Bang glows in last world tour concert in Seoul South Korean boy band BigBang awed some 13,000 fans in its final Seoul encore concert on Sunday, dropping the curtain on its "MADE" world tour that kicked off a year ago.The five-member K-pop group held three days of concerts over the weekend, drawing about 39,000 fans to the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul's Olympic Park. This year marks BigBang's 10th anniversary, adding to the scale and fervor of the stage. Overall, about 1.5 million concertgoers surged to see G-Dragon, Seungri, T.O.P, Taeyang and Daesung in the world tour that kicked off in April 2015 and spanned over 66 concerts in 32 cities in 13 countries around the world. Throughout every measure of every song, the five-member K-pop band was greeted with "ddaechang," or sing-alongs, by the whole crowd. A throng of luminous sticks glowed in yellow, a color dedicated to the band."Fans' ddaechang makes us at home and comfortable," said Daesung, the youngest member of the band, during the concert. G-Dragon, too, drove female fans into a wild burst of ecstatic screams, saying "During the (world) tour season, I've almost forMar 7, 2016
'Descendants of the Sun' rewrites K-drama history Scenes from the Korean drama “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBSBy Park Jin-haiKBS’ latest romance drama "Descendants of the Sun" is writing a new history both here and in China.The 16-episode drama starring stars Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo is poised to become the next hallyu (Korean wave) success after a nearly two-year void since the hugely popular SBS drama “My Love from the Star.”The fourth episode, aired Thursday, posted a 24.1 percent viewer rating, with watchers predicting that it could easily surpass the record of “My Love from the Star” which closed its last episode with a record viewer rating of 28.1 percent.In China, “Descendants of the Sun” has reached 120 million views on Chinese online video platform IQiyi as of Thursday. Chinese online media outlet Sina, describing the drama’s growing popularity in China, said that "Descendants of the Sun" has become the most-mentioned Korean drama on social media, comparing it with "My Love from the Star," which starred Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun.Local indusMar 6, 2016
Song Joong-ki makes surprise visit to K-pop concert Song Joong-ki, Kim Jong-kook, Lee Kwang-soo / Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-ji Popular actor Song Joong-ki, who stars in the KBS TV drama “Descendents of the Sun,” made an unexpected appearance on the concert stage for K-pop duo Turbo in Seoul, Saturday.Song’s agency said the actor went to the concert at the Olympic Park, despite a grueling schedule, because of his friendship with Turbo member Kim Jong-kook.Turbo / Courtesy of The Turbo CompanySong briefly took the stage with actor Lee Kwang-soo, and then left the venue.Turbo is a first generation K-pop group, making its debut in 1995. The duo was reunited last year after several years of independent activities. Mar 6, 2016
'Descendants of the Sun' music sweeps charts “Descendants of the Sun” / Screen captures from KBS By Bahk Eun-ji Music from the KBS TV drama series “Descendants of the Sun” is sweeping domestic music charts, reflecting the show’s popularity.As of Sunday, “This Love,” tops eight online music charts, including Melon, Naver Music, Genie and Mnet, among others. Another track “Always” ranks second, while "Everytime” is also doing well. “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBS The drama, which stars top actor Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, got off to a flying start, drawing a record audience after only three episodes. The show is aired in China simultaneously."Descendants of the Sun" is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Song Joong-ki plays the leader of a special warfare command unit while Song Hye-kyo plays a doctor from Doctors Without Borders. Mar 6, 2016
Will Big Bang split up? Big Bang / Courtesy of YG Entertainment By Park Si-sooWill popular K-pop boy band Big Bang split up? Its five members are expected to join the military one after another in the foreseeable future to fulfill their mandatory military duty.In this context, a question arises: Will their enlistment lead to the group’s disbandment?The Washington Post recently interviewed the band members in Tokyo while they were on the world tour, during which Tokyo bureau chief Anna Fifield threw tricky questions regarding their enlistment and the band’s future.Big Bang / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentUnder the title “They’re the biggest band in Asia, but Big Bang’s days may be numbered,” the U.S. daily reported that Big Bang members would remain united for a while, but its lifespan would certainly end, saying “the clock is ticking for Big Bang.”“If we’re going to talk about that, we’ll feel sad,” band leader G-Dragon was quoted as saying. “We are Korean, so we have to go (into the military) someday, but I don’t know whMar 6, 2016
Girl's Day member hospitalized with meningitis Hyeri / Korea Time fileHyeri, a member of the girl group Girl's Day, has been hospitalized with meningitis, her management agency said Sunday.The heroine of the tvN drama "Reply 1988" was transported to a university hospital in northern Seoul after reporting symptoms of fever and headache around 9 a.m. Sunday, DreamT Entertainment said.A doctor there has diagnosed her with meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. Hyeri will remain hospitalized for the next few days, the agency said.Hyeri has reportedly suffered from cold symptoms since a concert featuring her and other "Reply 1988" cast members in Seoul on Saturday.The agency said a photo shoot and a commercial shoot scheduled for Sunday and Monday, respectively, have been canceled, and that other appointments may require re-scheduling for the time being. (Yonhap)Mar 6, 2016
