Wedding bells for actress Kim Jung-eun Kim Jung-eun / Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-ji Actress Kim Jung-eun will marry later this month in the United States, her management agency said Wednesday.It said she will tie the knot with a Korean-American businessman on March 28 and hold another ceremony in Korea afterward. The second ceremony will be open to family and close friends, the agency said.The actress, 40, debuted in popular TV drama “Star in My Hear” in 1997. She shot to stardom with mega-hit SBS TV drama “Lovers in Paris” in 2004. Mar 2, 2016
Big Bang's 'Bae Bae' awarded Song of the Year at KMA “Heavy metal!” shout members of thrash band Method as they accept the 2016 Korean Music Award (KMA) for Best Heaviness Album. / YonhapBy Jon Dunbar Just hours after the Academy Awards finished praising Hollywood's filmmaking royalty, Korea's music industry came together in Guro Art Valley for the 13th Korean Music Awards (KMAs) on Monday.This year, Big Bang, Deepflow, E Sens and Hyukoh stood out as the top winners based on award count, but Feb. 29 also had its share of quieter, dignified victories.K-pop superstars Big Bang won two more awards for their song “Bae Bae” for Best Pop Song and Song of the Year. Their awards were accepted by YG Entertainment director Park Hyeon-pyo as they were touring overseas.But rappers Deepflow and E Sens, both who won two awards each, were clear crowd favorites based on applause whenever their names were announced. The towering Deepflow, nominated for five awards, slouched down on stage in order to speak into the mic for his acceptance speech for Artist of the Year.Indie band Hyukoh also netted awards for Best Modern Rock Mar 1, 2016
K2 of '90s returns to limelight Promotional photo for K2’s upcoming concert “The Showcase” / Courtesy of the artistBy Park Jin-haiSinger Kim Sung-myun, also known as K2, who has captivated 1990s audiences with his four octave running vocal range and emotional tone, has signaled a return to the limelight, breaking over a decade-long hiatus.Kim appeared on JTBC’s “Sugar Man” last week, singing his popular song “To Her Lover” and audiences welcomed the return of the legendary singer.Before the return, Kim said he was all on edge. “After a long time away from performing, back standing in front of an audience was very nerve wracking but at the same time I was very excited, he said during an interview with The Korea Times.“For all those years, I had to fight against myself over the worry that I might have no further chance to perform on stage.” The former member of the group Pinocchio and later performing as K2, Kim produced numerous hits including the well-known “Between Love and Friendship,” “Sadly Beautiful” and “Love Mar 1, 2016
Preview image dawns for “Descendants of the Sun” A preview image of the third episode of “Descendants of the Sun” /Courtesy of KBS By Kwon Ji-younA preview image of the third episode of “Descendants of the Sun” was revealed Tuesday.In it, Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), leader of a special warfare command unit, has his arm raised in a salute, while Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a doctor, is holding her hand over her heart.The two, in episode three that airs at 10 p.m. Wednesday, are reunited in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk, where Yoo’s unit is stationed. Kang has been sent there with Doctors Without Borders.In the previous episode, Yoo and Kang had decided to call off their developing relationship due to a difference in values. Yoo, a soldier, must kill to maintain peace in the world, while Kang works night and day to save lives.The story in the third episode is set eight months into the future, when the two meet again in the disaster and disease-hit country. Mar 1, 2016
TV couples capture viewers' hearts, minds Park Shin-yang, left, and Kang So-ra from “Lawyer Cho Deul-ho from Neighborhood” / Courtesy of Naver blogBy Ko Dong-hwanProduction photos from coming KBS TV drama “Lawyer Cho Deul-ho from Neighborhood” (tentatively titled) were released Tuesday. And fans were excited to see the two lead actors ― Park Shin-yang and Kang So-ra ― in the legal drama scheduled to air on Mar 28.The photos showed Park in worn clothes, sporting a disheveled hairdo and stubble, talking to Kang outside a court as part of scenes. Media reports said the two showed a chemistry that appealed to fans and has raised expectations for the drama.While the pair may have booked this year’s best couple award in TV dramas, there have been other stars who have impressed TV viewers as couples.Last year, singer and actor Yook Sung-jae and singer Joy from girl group Red Velvet won the best couple award at the MBC Entertainment Awards in December after appearing in TV virtual marriage variety show “We Got Married.”(From left) Ji Jin-hee, Kim Hyun-joo, Joy and YMar 1, 2016
DiCaprio's Oscar speech goes viral Actor Leonardo DiCaprio /AP-Yonhap By Kwon Ji-younVideos of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar acceptance speech are going viral online -- not because it was particularly moving or controversial, but because of his powerful message on climate change.After receiving the Best Actor Academy Award for “The Revenant” on Monday, DiCaprio took a minute to thank his family, the film crew and his team. He then spoke about a cause close to his heart -- the environment.The actor, 41, has received acclaim from environmental groups for his activism.“Making ‘The Revenant’ was about man’s relationship to the natural world,” he said. “Climate change is real, (and) it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”Here is a transcript of his acceptance speech:“Thank you all so very much. Thank you to the Academy, thank you to all of you in this room. I have to congratulate the other incredible nominees this year for their unbelievable pMar 1, 2016
Chloe Moretz to promote 'Sudden Attack' in Seoul Actress Chloe Moretz /Courtesy of Universal Pictures International Korea By Kwon Ji-younU.S. actress Chloe Moretz will visit Seoul this week to promote online shooting game “Sudden Attack.”She will arrive Thursday and leave Monday after promotional events for the free-to-play multiplayer shooter game developed in Korea.The actress, 19, is the first Hollywood star to model for the game.Moretz also will make a brief appearance on an entertainment show during her stay.Her film “The 5th Wave” has been playing nationwide since Feb. 25.Poster for "The 5th Wave" /Courtesy of Universal Pictures International Korea Mar 1, 2016
GFriend bags 15th No. 1 title GFriend By Ko Dong-hwan Girl band GFriend bagged its 15th No.1 title on a TV music-ranking show ― the second-most No.1 titles that a K-pop girl band has won.GFriend performed its hit number “Rough” on SBS’s “The Music Trend” Sunday and won the No.1 trophy. Starting from MTV’s “The Show” on Feb 2, the band has won 15 titles across TV music shows on terrestrial broadcasters ― MBC, KBS, SBS ― and cable networks, including SBS MTV and Mnet.Only Apink has won more titles ― it took its titles to 17 with “LUV” last May.Behind GFriend is globally popular Girls’ Generation which has won 14 titles with “Gee” (2009) and “Lion Heart” (2015).GFriend has set other records this year as well. “Rough” stayed on top of K-pop music site Melon for more than 18 days, the longest time a girl band has held top spot. The fan site has attracted more than 35,000 members in 17 months since it was set up. This is the shortest time for a girl band’s fan site to attract so many members.Yoon Bo-miBFeb 29, 2016
'Mukbang' for cats offers food for thought / Screen capture from Popcon TVBy Bahk Eun-ji“Mukbang,” also known as “eating broadcast” is no longer a new trend in Korea.Mukbang is a combination of the words “muk-da,” meaning “eat” in Korean, and “bang-song,” meaning “broadcast.”A broadcaster nicknamed “Thief Cat” has streamed non-stop 24-hour pictures of stray cats being fed. The pictures were on Popcon TV, a real-time video streaming website. / Screen capture from Popcon TVAbout 1,000 people gathered to watch the cats eating healthy treats.The broadcaster prepared the food, which included including various types of raw fish such as flatfish and rockfish.Feb 29, 2016
Unlikely models for beauty products Comedian Kim Sook /Courtesy of Etude House By Kwon Ji-younSome unfamiliar faces have made their way into cosmetics commercials.Lee Gook-ju, a plus-sized comedian, recently signed a modeling contract with ElishaCoy, a make-up and skincare product company. Lee, on an entertainment show, unveiled before-and-after make-up shots that had viewers wondering what brands she uses.Lee described ElishaCoy’s decision to sign her as a “huge risk,” but sales have increased, according to the company.Actress La Mi-ran /Korea Times file La Mi-ran, who played Ryu Jun-yeol’s mother on tvN’s “Reply 1988,” is the face of Estee Lauder’s “little brown bottle.” Estee Lauder had been looking to sign a middle-aged woman, who would inspire others her age to try the night repair essence.“When they first called, I thought they had the wrong number,” La said.Comedian Kim Sook recently signed a modeling contract with Etude House, an Amore Pacific cosmetics brand.Other models for the popular cosmetics brand have included actresses Go Feb 29, 2016
