Baby on way for Tang Wei Tang Wei, Kim Tae-yong / YonhapTop Chinese actress Tang Wei, who married Korean film director Kim Tae-yong, is pregnant, Chinese reports said Friday.A production company of Tang’s recent film, “Finding Mr. Right 2,” posted an image online of a monkey, saying “Tang and Kim have been waiting for a little monkey.” The monkey represents this year in the Chinese zodiac.The two started dating after working together in the 2010 Korean film “Late Autumn” and tied the knot in 2014. Feb 26, 2016
Romance blooms for Namgung Min, Jin A-reum Jin A-reum, Namgun Min / Courtesy of 935 EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-jiPopular actor Namgun Min is dating rising fashion model Jin A-reum.They have been dating for seven months, their management agencies said Friday.Media reports said the two met in August through the film “Light My Fire,” an action-thriller directed by Nam, in which Jin played the heroine.“They are maintaining a good relationship,” the two agencies said.The actor, 37, debuted in SBS TV drama “Daebak Family” in 2002. He recently wrapped up popular SBS drama “Remember.”Jin, 26, debuted in 2008 and has made a big impression in the domestic fashion world. She started her acting career several years ago, starring in several films, including “Trouble Shooter (2010)” and “How to Use Guys with Secret Tips (2013).”Feb 26, 2016
Big success dawns for “Descendants of the Sun” “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBSBy Bahn Eun-jiViewer ratings for KBS TV’s newly launched “Descendants of the Sun” have reached 15 percent in just two episodes, raising speculation the romance-drama starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo will be a nationwide hit. “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBS The average rating of the second episode, aired on Thursday, was 15.5 percent, up 1.2 percentage points from the first episode on Wednesday, according to Nielsen Korea. “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBS“Descendants of the Sun" is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Song Joong-ki is the leader of a special warfare command unit while Song Hye-kyo plays a doctor from Doctors Without Borders. Both are sent to the disaster and disease-stricken country with U.N. peacekeeping troops. “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBSIn the second episode, the two meet again on the way to Uruk, eight months after they had a date, but decided not to have a relatFeb 26, 2016
'The Walking Dead' producers to shoot Korean drama Producers of the American zombie drama "The Walking Dead" will film a new series in Korea for worldwide distribution, their distributor said Friday."Five Year" is written by "The Walking Dead" executive producer and Skybound Entertainment founder Robert Kirkman, according to online TV site Viki.In the show that Kirkman says inspired his epic cult series, a meteor approaches Earth, foreboding an apocalypse in five years. It tells the story of a Korean family set in that period.Producers will start filming in the latter half of this year and are searching for a Korean production company to partner with, Viki said. Viki will be another co-producer of the show."This has been a story I have wanted to tell for quite some time, but David (Alpert) and I wanted to make sure it found a proper home where it could grow and breathe creatively," Kirkman said in a release.Alpert, who co-founded Skybound, says he and Kirkman have been long-time fans of Korean dramas."We've really just been in love with the content that's coming out of Korea," Alpert told entertainment news outlet IGN in an interviewFeb 26, 2016
Cooking show gives viewers a taste of something special Korean chefs cook against Hong Kong chefs in JTBC's “Cook Representative” / Courtesy of JTBCTV variety cooking shows were flying high less than two years ago, but popularity gradually declined amid criticism about lack of creativity.But when JTBC rolled out its international cooking variety show "Cook Representative” last Wednesday, the network proved creative food shows still have the potential to boost ratings.What makes the weekly show unique is that it is the first such show that inspires viewers with simmering patriotism.In the show, four star chef-entertainers ― Choi Hyun-seok, Sam Kim, Lee Won-il and Lee Yeon-bok ― travel abroad to challenge foreign chefs in a cooking contest.The last two episodes drew plenty of positive feedback from viewers, who cheered for the Korean chefs visiting Hong Kong to challenge top chefs there. Each day the Koreans challenged different teams of chefs, with the Korean team losing all the “cook-offs.”But the loss did not matter to viewers, who welcomed the show’s fresh approach. With the four chefs fiercely fFeb 25, 2016
China's Cao Lu makes her mark on Korean TV Cao Lu, second from left, on MBC's "My Little Television" / Courtesy of MBCChinese K-pop singer Cao Lu is emerging as a leading TV talent.The beauty from girl band Fiestar, despite her lack of Korean, has proven talkative, even if she phrases things in unusual ways. This has made her stand out among other female celebrities.Her big break came when she joined MBC’s top variety talk show “Radio Star”as a guest in December and made her passion for Korean a subject of attention. Invitations to other TV variety shows followed, including the fourth season of MBC’s military experience reality show “Real Men: Women’s Army Special,” which began last Sunday.On Thursday, she joined MBC’s virtual marriage reality show “We Got Married” with comedian Jo Se-ho. The Chinese star’s gig could attract viewers in China, where the show’s Chinese version is gaining popularity.In 2004, Cao Lu, 28, made her solo debut when she won a CCTV Chinese singing contest.She debuted with Fiestar in 2012, but only became a focus of attention in thFeb 25, 2016
Jessica Jung may host beauty show Jessica Jung/ Courtesy of Jessica Jung's InstagramJessica Jung, a former member of K-pop band Girl’s Generation, is set to host a TV beauty program, a report says.A local news outlet reported Wednesday that Jung, 26, was considering hosting KBS W’s “Beauty Bible.”On the program, hosts and guests share their beauty tips. The fourth season ended in December and the new season is expected to air in May.KBS W’s representative said Wednesday that although Jung was on the list for the host position, nothing had been decided.“We are still in the negotiation stage,” the representative said.Meanwhile, Jung has worked mostly in Chinese-speaking countries while focusing on her fashion brand BLANC. She left Girl’s Generation and SM Entertainment in October 2014.She is reportedly preparing a new album. Feb 25, 2016
Ryu Jun-yeol to file complaint over Ilbe posts Actor Ryu Jun-yeol /Korea Times file By Kwon Ji-younRyu Jun-yeol’s agency plans to file a police complaint against an Internet user who allegedly tried to use the actor’s personal information to join the ultra-conservative online community Ilbe.C-JeS Entertainment said Thursday that Ryu received an e-mail Wednesday night that suggested an unknown user had tried to sign up for an Ilbe account using the actor’s personal information. He immediately told his agency.According to C-JeS, Ryu will also request that the cyber investigative team track down the first Internet user to upload posts that contained false information about Ryu’s alleged “Ilbe” activities. A user on Wednesday accused Ryu of having used “Ilbe” language in a social media post that he uploaded six months ago.Ryu denied the allegations, emphasizing that he was not a member of “Ilbe” and that he had not used the controversial language in an “Ilbe” context.Ryu will also file complaints against people who have continued to post malicious commeFeb 25, 2016
“Descendants of the Sun” sets fast pace for viewers Scenes from "Descendants of the Sun" /Courtesy of KBS By Kwon Ji-youn“Descendants of the Sun,” starring Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki, is turning viewers’ heads with a conventional yet fast-paced narrative. Its first episode registered a national rating average of 14.3 percent, Wednesday.“Descendants of the Sun” is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Song Joong-ki features as the leader of a special warfare command unit and Song Hye-kyo plays a doctor from Doctors Without Borders. Both are sent to the disaster- and disease-stricken country with UN peacekeeping troops. In the first episode, saw the two crossed paths at the hospital where Song Hye-kyo works. The two take an instant liking to each other.“Descendants of the Sun” airs on KBS at 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Poster for "Descendants of the Sun" /Korea Times file Feb 25, 2016
New law to unchain public design industry Signposts in a park represent a standardized and unified design. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentUnprecedented 'design law' to foster more, better designBy Yun Suh-young How many times have we wondered why the city's design was so disharmonious and why some facilities couldn't be improved in a more creative and citizen-friendly manner?An interesting and unprecedented law, legislated on Feb. 3, is expected to foster creative social development across the country, providing tangible solutions to our questions. Legislation no. 13956, dubbed the "Public Design Promotion Act," aims to enhance the cultural enjoyment rights of citizens and upgrade the quality and identity of national and regional facilities.Upon embracing the new law, which will be enforced starting Aug. 4, experts from all areas of the design industry gathered last week at a forum hosted by the Korean Society of Public Design to discuss ways to successfully engage in public design activities within the new law's boundaries.An example of crime-prevention design with yellow signs portraying a home under tightFeb 24, 2016
