Actors write new look with 'comma hairdo' Yoo Seung-ho, from left, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol and Kang Dong-wonThe “comma hairdo” is punctuating the look of many A-list male actors.Yoo Seung-ho from SBS TV drama “Remember,” Ryu Jun-yeol and Park Bo-gum from tvN drama “Reply 1988” and Kang Dong-won from supernatural mystery thriller movie “The Priests” (2015) have accentuated the style through their poster and magazine photo shoots, SNS photos and at a press conference. The style, resembling a comma, is created by dividing hair into two in the ratio of one-to-nine or two-to-eight, then stressing a downward wave on the larger section using a roll brush and a hair dryer.The style emphasizes machismo and is at home with a suit or casual fashion, according to media reports.Feb 3, 2016
4Minute returns with 'Hate' produced by Skrillex 4MinuteBy Kim Jae-heunIdol girl band 4Minute have released a new track, “Hate,” produced by popular American electronic music producer and DJ Skrillex. The new song features much stronger charismatic tone which is a big change from the group’s original girl-crush concept.“We met Skrillex when he visited Seoul,” main vocalist Heo Ga-yoon said during a press meeting at club Octagon in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. “We thought that it would be fun to do a collaboration with him because we all enjoy his music.“We worked many hours online when Skrillex went back to the United States. Hate is not the only song that Skrillex produced for us, but we choose the song as the first release because it was addictive,” added Heo.Rapper Jeon Ji-yoon suggested that the viewers watch the group’s performance at the same time while listening to the song.“We played our track to our parents first before releasing it to the public, and they thought the music was too difficult. But when they watched our dancing in the music video, they liked it much moreFeb 3, 2016
Musical 'Frankenstein' sells over 10 billion won in 10 weeks Homegrown theater musical "Frankenstein" has earned more than 10 billion won (US$8.2 million) in sales in a 10-week period since it returned to the stage last November, Chungmu Art Hall said Wednesday.The sales record is the largest among South Korean-produced musicals during a single season. One of few original Korean productions, "Frankenstein," is a musical adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel of the same name. According to Chungmu, the musical's sales surpassed 10 billion won on its latest showing Tuesday since it's revival on Nov. 16 last year. It will be staged until March 20.Chungmu also said the number of attendees has already surpassed 100,000 at the end of last year. The musical also attracted an accumulated audience of 80,000 for two months from 89 stages, showing a 95 percent seat occupancy rate.Reportedly costing some 4 billion won to produce, with nearly 118 million won allocated for stage props, the musical garnered over 1 billion won in net profit over two months, sources said."Frankenstein" took Seoul by storm when it premiered two years ago. It won nine awardsFeb 3, 2016
Taeyeon sweeps charts on inaugural week of S.M. project Taeyeon, a Girls' Generation member, topped local music charts with her new single on Wednesday, getting her agency's ambitious year-long project off to a strong start."Rain," the title track of the namesake album, was No. 1 on eight charts, including MelOn, Genie and Naver Music, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, nine hours since it hit digital retailers.The other song "Secret" was second on Genie, Naver Music, ollehmusic, Mnet and Bugs.Taeyeon is the first artist to drop new songs under S.M. Entertainment's "STATION" project, which will release new singles on a specific day of the week for all of 2016.Starting Feb. 19, the singles will come out every Friday, S.M. said. (Yonhap)Feb 3, 2016
YG Entertainment invests in world's largest EDM festival YG Entertainment, one of South Korea's top three management agencies, said Wednesday it will invest in the world's largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival coming up in Seoul later this year.YG said it will jointly invest in and produce Ultra Music Festival (UMF) Korea 2016 with UC Korea, which owns the license to host the festival in Asia.The event from June 10-12 will invite more than 100 artists from all over the world, the agency added.Skrillex, David Guetta, Tiesto and Snoop Dogg were on the line-up in 2012, the first time the festival was held in South Korea.UMF started in Miami, Florida, in 1999, and is currently held in 11 cities, including Ibiza, Spain, Sao Paolo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Yonhap)Feb 3, 2016
CJ E&M to host KCON in UAE CJ E&M, the entertainment arm of South Korean conglomerate CJ, said Wednesday it will host KCON in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month, its first time in the Middle East.The world's largest Korean culture convention will be held on March 25 at Du Arena, the largest outdoor venue in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi."Considering it's our first time in the Middle East, an emerging market, we'll try to take into account the area's heritage, culture and industries at the upcoming KCON," CJ E&M said.The company says it's striving to become one of the world's top 10 cultural corporations by 2020. KCON, now in its fifth year, is considered one avenue to achieve that.After Abu Dhabi, the next stop for KCON will be Japan, CJ E&M said, adding it will run from April 9-10 at Makuhari Messe, Japan's largest convention center. (Yonhap)Feb 3, 2016
Veteran actor Park Shin-yang to show no mercy in 'Actor School' Veteran actor Park Shin-yang said Wednesday he'll "show no mercy" to his six students in the upcoming reality show "Actor School."Park played the lead role in the popular 2004 drama "Lovers in Paris" and has twice been named Best Actor of the Year by terrestrial network SBS."When I first heard about it, I thought it would be fun," Park told reporters at a news conference in Seoul. "But upon considering it further, I realized how cruel it can be -- because acting takes time."None of his scathing criticism on the show is scripted."I never tried to be ruthless. Learning acting is actually a brutal process," he said.Park will be coaching six "rookies," including Lee Won-jong, a professional actor with 24 years' experience but no Best Actor of the Year title. Lee said the fact that Park is two years his junior didn't bother him."Being a good actor and being a good acting teacher are different. Not a lot of people can be both, but I think Park is one of them. Age doesn't matter," he said.There are two other actors in the cohort, Shim Hui-seop and Park Doo-sik, neither of whom have mainstreFeb 3, 2016
Stars take swipe at cyberbullies Shin Se-kyungActress Shin Se-kyung and singer Lyn are fighting back against cyberbullies, swearing they will not tolerate them under any circumstances.Shin’s agency, Namoo Actors, said Tuesday, it had reported cyberbullies to Gangnam police for defaming the star and spreading false information about her, Seoul Shinmun said.“We were deeply enraged to find that the bullies hid behind anonymity and continued posting comments that slandered and embarrassed Shin on groundless reasons,” the agency said.Namoo said it had sued bullies responsible for the most vicious online comments about Shin.Lyn, left, and ISU Lyn said on her blog, Monday, she and her husband have been suing cyberbullies since last fall and the process is “quietly on its way.”Lyn, who married vocalist ISU from rock band M.C. the Max two years ago, said she partially admits what the bullies have said, including ISU’s alleged involvement with a teenager in 2009.“But I felt I needed legal protection from the bullies who slandered not only my parents but also my future child,Feb 3, 2016
Ahn in line for role in Bong Joon-ho's new film Ahn Seo-hyun / Korea Times fileChild actress Ahn Seo-hyun, 12, is being considered for a leading role in star director Bong Joon-ho’s new film, “Okja,” reports said Wednesday.“Okja” is an adventure about a friendship between an animal, Okja, and a girl. Netflix and Plan B Entertainment are producing the film.British actress Tilda Swinton, known in Korea for her role in Bong’s “Snowpiercer,” and American actor Jake Gyllenhaal have been cast in the film.Ahn said she is awaiting the result of her audition, which she had seven months ago, and her appearance has not yet been decided. Ahn auditioned for the girl.Entertainment news outlet OSEN cited a film production source as saying Ahn is a strong candidate for the role.The film premieres next year. Feb 3, 2016
Man arrested for allegedly stalking actress Yang Geum-seok / Korea Times fileA man has been arrested for allegedly stalking actress Yang Geum-seok, 55, for a month.According to Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, Wednesday, the man, identified as Choi, 62, sent 74 text messages and 10 voice messages to the actress last August, saying “God has named you as an angel who helps me,” “There is a god up there,” “I love you,” and “Please pick up my phone call.” Police said Choi is not a member of Yang’s fan club and has a history of mental illness.Choi was sentenced to six month’s jail, suspended for two years, in 2012 for stalking Yang for about a year, but he kept sending her text messages, police said. Feb 3, 2016
