TV to feature idols, hidden cameras over Seollal Former footballer Ahn Jung-hwan will experience what it’s like to be 80 years old at MBC’s “JournalFrom the Future” on Feb. 8. / Courtesy of MBCBy Kwon Ji-youn The nation’s three major broadcasters have prepared pilots that will cater to the tastes of all members of the family as they gather for the Lunar New Year holidays.Idols, cooks and hidden cameras will return without fail, and music shows will attempt to follow in the footsteps of “King of Mask Singer,” which premiered around this time last year and secured a permanent prime time slot on MBC not long after.The “Idol Star Athletics Championships” will tough out controversies surrounding competitors’ injuries as the broadcasters try their hand at innovation with shows that bring entertainment and social media together.Here are some keywords for this year’s Lunar New Year long weekend entertainment guide: SBS’s “The Boss Is Watching,” airing on Feb. 6, will feature idol singers and CEOs of their agencies. Idols ToniFeb 5, 2016
EXID's 'Up & Down' tops Taiwan's largest K-pop char South Korean girl group EXID's "Up & Down" has belatedly risen to the top of Taiwan's largest K-pop singles chart."Up & Down," first released in South Korea in August 2014, was No. 1 on KKBOX as of Wednesday, the chart showed. "Ah Yeah," which is by the same group and came out in April 2015, was No. 6.The five-member act held its first Taiwanese showcase in July, drawing more than 1,200 fans from across the island.Meanwhile, three songs by the South Korean boy band BigBang made the top 10 of the same chart. "Bang Bang Bang" came in second, with "Loser" at No. 3 and "Let Us Not Love" at No. 5.Fourth place went to "Reset" by South Korean rapper Tiger JK, which was the theme song for the high school drama "Who Are You: School 2015." (Yonhap)Feb 5, 2016
Hyoyeon's shabby make-up kit betrays girl band image Hyoyeon from "Get It Beauty" on OnStyle and her pink blusher case that easily falls apart Who could have imagined that a stained, worn-out make-up kit belonged to a member of globally famous K-pop girl band Girls’ Generation?Hyoyeon, 26, appeared on the TV beauty and health talk show “Get It Beauty” on OnStyle, Wednesday, and showed how she keeps herself beautiful.The star took out her make-up kit, which, to the consternation of MC Lee Honey, was far from close to being luxurious as people expected. The pink, zippered container was ragged and dirty.“This is the kit that I always carry around,” Hyoyeon said. “It’s not clean and I am kind of embarrassed.”A surprised Lee commented, “It’s not a real kit if it’s not well worn. This shows how attached she is to this pouch.”Hyoyeon’s pink blusher case was also in a poor condition and falling apart. A male guest on the show said he “never imagined” a Girls’ Generation member would carry such an archaic cosmetic item.” HyFeb 4, 2016
Choi Ji-woo denies romance with ex co-star Choi Ji-woo and Lee Seo-jin from “Grandpas over Flowers” on tvNActress Choi Ji-woo has denied that she is dating actor Lee Seo-jin, with whom she worked on a TV variety show.Choi, 40, and Lee, 45, worked on tvN’s “Grandpas over Flowers” in 2015. The travel reality show featured four actors in their seventies ― Lee Soon-jae, Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung and Baek Il-seob ― as they go on an overseas backpacking tour with Lee and Choi.“Like for Likes” posterChoi told the online daily TV Report that people encouraged her to go out with Lee after they had appeared on the program. But she asked rhetorically, “Does co-stars mean a dating partner after all?Choi recently starred in the romantic comedy “Like for Likes,” a movie about people finding unexpected romance with someone they meet online.Feb 4, 2016
Actress Ra Mi-ran looking great at 40 Ra Mi-ran from "Reply 1988" on tvNThroughout her acting career of more than 10 years, Ra Mi-ran has never looked prettier than in her latest magazine photos in HIGH CUT.Describing her photos as“a true face of Ra Mi-ran that we have never seen,” the magazine’s photos feature the actress, 40, in a white off-the-shoulder dress, a black sleeveless jumpsuit, a leopard trench coat, as well as such accessories as bangles, necklaces and vivid make-up heightened by luscious lipsticks.The leopard trench coat is similar to the one she wore in tvN’s hit drama “Reply 1988,” which ended late last month after becoming a rare nationwide sensation. Ra portrayed a mother of two whose poor family becomes rich after her son wins a lottery.Ra’s debut in the magazine may largely be due to her role in the drama. She stood out in her supporting role, while high school girl Seong Deok-seon (Lee Hyeri) and her four male high school friends dominated the 20-part series./ Courtesy of HIGH CUTRa has been “the queen of supporting actresses” in movies and on thFeb 4, 2016
'스타워즈'가 日 사무라이 세계 속으로..'탄성' 스타워즈 캐릭터들이 사무라이들이 난무하는 일본 봉건시대 속으로 들어갔다면?이 같은 의문에 놀라울 정도로 생생한 답변을 해준 한국의 만화작가가 뒤늦게 외신에서 주목을 받았다.작가 김정기는 작년 10월 미국 워싱턴 D.C.에 있는 아트 위노(Art Whino) 갤러리에서 일본 봉건시대의 한 전투장면에 스타워즈 캐릭터들을 삽입한 픽션장르의 일러스트레이션을 그렸다. 놀라운 점은 세시간 동안에 걸쳐 완성된 그의 작품은 모두 그의 머릿속에서 나온 것이다.그림 속에서는 영화 “스타워즈 에피소드” I에서 VI까지 등장하는 다양한 캐릭터들이 사무라이 갑옷복장을 하고 일본도를 든 체 전투에 열중하고 있다.경기도 고양시 출신인 김정기는 작년 말레이시아 펜앙에서 열린 그의 개인전시회에서 8미터 길이의 “죠지 타운(George Town)” 휘시아이 일러스트레이션으로 세계 기네스 신기록에 등재되었다.디지털뉴스부@Feb 4, 2016
Hallyu festival heads for Middle East K-pop girl band 4minute perform songs from its latest album "Act.7" on Feb. 1 in Seoul. The band with other top K-pop stars have taken part in KCON. / Yonhap CJ E&M, the entertainment unit of the Korean conglomerate CJ, said Wednesday that it will host the Korea cultural convention, or KCON, in the United Arab Emirates in March, Yonhap reports.This is the first time that KCON will take place in the Middle East.The convention will be held on March 25 at Du Arena, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.The Middle East remains a relatively unsown market for Korean cultural content.KCON, oOne of CJ E&M’s representative conventions, the KCON enters its fifth edition this year.Following Abu Dhabi, the next KCON will be held April 9-10 at Makuhari, Messe, which is Japan’s largest convention center.Feb 4, 2016
Comedian's husband jailed for sexual harassment Lee Kyung-sil / YonhapSeoul Southern District Court on Thursday found comedian Lee Kyung-sil’s husband guilty of sexually harassing the wife of a friend.Lee’s husband, identified as Choi, 59, was sentenced to 10 month’s jail and ordered to spend 40 hours at a class for sexual offenders.Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison term.The victim reported Choi on Aug. 19, last year, a day after the two and seven others had been drinking together. The woman told police that Choi sexually harassed her while giving her a ride home at around 2 a.m.The court said Choi could not avoid tough punishment because he appeared to be in control of his actions, even though he had been drinking alcohol until midnight.The victim had tried to commit suicide after the incident, the court said. Feb 4, 2016
BigBang's 'MADE SERIES' tops Japanese music charts South Korean boy band BigBang has cruised to the top of Japan's Oricon chart with its new album "MADE SERIES," its agency said Thursday.The band sold 80,262 copies of the album on Wednesday, the day of its release, and has comfortably sat atop Oricon's Daily Albums and the Japanese iTunes Albums charts since, YG Entertainment said."MADE SERIES" is the group's first Japanese album in over 3 1/2 years, with its last album "ALIVE-MONSTER EDITION-" having come out in June 2012.The album contains eight songs that were included in the original "MADE SERIES" in South Korea, along with the Japanese-language versions of "Loser," "Bang Bang Bang" and "If You."The DVD and Blu-ray that came out with the album features music videos, including the Japanese versions of "Loser" and "Bang Bang Bang." BigBang's live performance at the Japanese music festival a-nation in August is also included.The five-member act can next be seen in Fukuoka on Saturday and Sunday as the group continues its Japan Dome Tour. It will hit Tokyo Dome on Feb. 23-24 and return to South Korea for concerts from March 4-6. (YonFeb 4, 2016
Stars get acting lessons in new TV show Park Shin-yang, center on the bottom row, with his seven celebrity students in TV variety show "Actor's School" on tvN. / Courtesy of tvNSeven stars will go through “tear-jerking, fun-packed training” to brush up their acting skills in new TV variety show “Actor’s School” on tvN.Actor Park Shin-yang, who the program’s homepage describes as “a luxurious actor with 27 years of acting experience,” is the charismatic instructor.The trainees who applied for the fictional school include seasoned actor Lee Won-jong, actor-wannabe singers Jang Soo-won and K-pop boy band WINNER member Nam Tae-hyun, and comedy screenwriter Yoo Byeong-jae.“I found the show’s idea intriguing,” Park said at a press conference before the show’s first airing on Thursday, according to Chosun Ilbo.“Yet, it was also a harsh idea, to push those trainees into developing their skills in a short time. But I will go as far as I can with them and see if I can make a miracle.”Jang, who coined the term “robot acting” with his rigidFeb 3, 2016
