Yoon Jin-seo to appear in historical drama Yoon Jin-seo / Courtesy of FNC EntertainmentActress Yoon Jin-seo, 32, will join the new TV drama “Daebak (Jackpot)” with actor Jang Keun-suk.The historical drama is about a gambler in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). Yoon will play Choi Sukbin, spouse of King Sukjong and mother of King Yeongjo.Jang will play the gambler Daegil, who was abandoned by Sukbin at birth, and he competes with his half-brother King Yeongjo.Yoon debuted in the 2001 short film “Perfect Day.” She rose to stardom after being featured in the 2003 global blockbuster “Old Boy.”Veteran actor Choi Min-soo will also appear in the drama, playing King Sukjong.The drama will air in March.Feb 3, 2016
'Entourage Korea' names its cast HBO's "Entourage" posterThe Korean version of hit American TV series “Entourage” has revealed its cast.“Entourage Korea” features Seo Kang-jun (from tvN drama “Cheese in the Trap”), Cho Jin-woong (from 2015 blockbuster movie “Assassination”), Yim Si-wan (from tvN hit TV drama “Misaeng”) and Lee Kwang-soo (from variety show “Running Man” on SBS) as the four main characters. They have started filming the drama that will air in June on tvN.HBO’s “Entourage” premiered in 2004 and ended in 2011 after eight seasons. The series portrayed the acting career of Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) ― a popular movie star ― and his childhood friends from Queens in New York City as they strive to thrive in Hollywood.Seo Kang-jun, from left, Cho Jin-woong, Yim Si-wan and Lee Kwang-sooThe series, featuring Hollywood stars and athletes as special guests and in cameo roles, took a real-life look at the Hollywood lifestyle and show-business industry. Another recurring theme was the importaFeb 2, 2016
Fans cash in with celebrity products Fans who sell goods related to celebrities and earn big money are attracting attention.Known as a “homepage master,” or “hom-ma” in Korean, the fans take pictures of their favorite star and use them to make goods such as calendars, photo albums, T-shirts, cheering props, character dolls and even underwear. They put the goods on their homepage or SNS sites for sale.According to the Hankook Ilbo, a young woman bought a high-quality camera and computer software with her first paycheck to become a homepage master of a celebrity. She advertised online a placard designed with a K-pop boy band member’s photo that she took. She received about 100 orders, making 500,000 won ($414).Boy bands Block B and EXO and girl band Girls’ Generation each have tens of Twitter followers or bloggers who are dedicated to taking photos and videos of their favorite stars and posting them online.Girl band f(x)’s Choi Jin-ri, whose stage name is Sulli, is known for a particular homma who had been following her, taking photos and posting onlineBut some homma are targets oFeb 2, 2016
'Alien' TV character becomes 'novelist' in China Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun), left, and Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) from "My Love from the Star" on SBSTV character Do Min-joon from Korean drama “My Love from the Star” (2014) has been turned from an alien into a novelist for Chinese audiences.Yonhap reports that Chinese TV broadcasters strictly prohibit dramas portraying ghosts or aliens.Anhui Television (AHTV), which aired the romantic comedy-drama’s first episode on Jan. 29, edited the ending of the show that ran on SBS from 2013 to 2014.The original portrayed alien Do (Kim Soo-hyun) leaving Earth but then returning to live happily with his girlfriend, Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun).The Chinese broadcaster revised the plot so Do is a novelist who comes up with the story and gives the book to Cheon as a gift.“My Love from the Star” was a sensation in China when it was shown on Chinese video websites around the same time it aired in Korea. The drama recorded 4 billion hits. But despite its online buzz, it could not be shown on Chinese TV because of the strict rules.AHTV shortened the drama’s episFeb 2, 2016
'Misaeng' season 2 to focus on SME life Season two of the popular web cartoon "Misaeng" will explore the complexity of life at a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the country, its author said Tuesday.The first season of "Misaeng," named after the Korean "baduk" term that literally means "incomplete life," has sold 2 million copies of the paper version and has inspired an equally successful TV series on the cable network tvN. Baduk is the Korean word for the board game Go. The drama "Misaeng" was the most watched cable TV series of all time at the time of its airing in 2014, with a viewership high of 8.25 percent. "Misaeng" centers on a baduk prodigy, Jang Geu-rae, who fails to become a pro baduk player after years of training.Through family connections, he lands a temporary contract with a large trading company, a miracle since he has no college education or "spec," a Korean slang for fancy credentials, to speak of. The webtoon portrays his struggles to become part of corporate Korean society with such perceived handicaps.In season two, Jang fails to become a full-time employee at One International and moves Feb 2, 2016
아델, 트럼프 겨냥 '선거유세 때 내 음악 멋대로 틀지마' Adele / Screen capture from Instagram영국의 세계적 팝스타 아델(27)이 미국 공화당 대선의 유력주자인 도널드 트럼프 등에게 유세 때 자신의 음악을 사용하지 말 것을 요구했다고 AFP통신 등이 1일(현지시간) 보도했다. 아델 측 대변인은 성명에서 "아델은 정치 활동 과정에서 자신의 음악이 사용되는 것을 허락하지 않았다"고 밝혔다. 아델 측이 트럼프의 이름을 직접 언급한 것은 아니었지만, 트럼프가 유세 과정에서 아델 음악을 즐겨 사용한다는 점에서 트럼프를 겨냥한 것으로 보인다. 로이터통신은 "트럼프가 아이오와 유세에서 아델의 2011년 히트곡 '롤링 인 더 딥'(Rolling in the Deep)을 사용하고 마이크 허커비(공화당 후보·전 아칸소 주지사)가 지난주 유튜브에 신곡 '헬로'(Hello)를 패러디한 영상을 공개한 후 아델 측의 성명이 나왔다"고 전했다. 트럼프는 지난해 11월 미국 뉴욕에서 열린 아델의 콘서트에 참석할 만큼 아델의 확실한 팬이라고 AFP통신은 설명했다. 트럼프가 음악 사용으로 역풍을 맞은 것은 이번이 처음은 아니다. 트럼프는 경선 초기인 지난해 6월 캐나다 출신 록스타 닐 영의 '록킹 인 더 프리 월드'(Rockin'in The Free World) 노래를 선거 유세 때 틀었다가 망신을 샀다. 당시 영의 매니지먼트 회사는 "트럼프가 이 노래를 선거 유세 때 사용하도록 승인한 적이 없다"면서 "게다가 영은 사회주의자를 자처한 버니 샌더스(무소속·버몬트) 민주당 대선 경선 후보를 지지한다"고 밝혔다. 전설적 미국 록밴드 R.E.M도 1987년 히트곡인 '잇츠 디 엔드 오브 더 월드'(It's the End of the World as We Know It(And I Feel Fine))를 트럼프가 허가도 없이 사용하자 분노하기도 했다. 물론 트럼프가 모든 가수로부터 미움을 받는 Feb 2, 2016
SHINee launch 4th Japan tour SHINee / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop band SHINee are playing their fourth Japanese tour.Titled “SHINee World 2016 DxDxD,” the band will perform for about 350,000 fans in nine cities, including Tokyo and Osaka, until May.They performed at Fukuoka from Jan. 30 to 31.SM Entertainment said SHINee have met more than a million fans in Japan since 2012 through the tours.The band sang hits including “Your Number,” “3, 2, 1” and “Lucifer” during the Fukuoka concert.SHINee have had a presence in Japan since 2011 with their first Japanese album, “The First.” Their fourth full Japanese album, “DxDxD,” topped the Oricon weekly chart last month.Feb 2, 2016
Kim Jun-su readies for Japan tour Kim Jun-su / Screen captured from TwitterJYJ member Kim Jun-su will stage his fifth annual tour of Japan in March.Kim’s ballad and musical concert has become an annual event for Japanese fans since the first in 2012.The concert’s popularity has grown since last year after Kim gave an excellent performance as “L” in the musical remake of the Japanese comic book “Death Note.”“As more Japanese people come to Korea to watch Kim’s musicals and concerts, the need for Kim’s performance in Japan is growing,” a concert official said.Kim is in a relationship with Hani from K-pop band EXID. He also runs a hotel on Jeju Island called “Toscana.”Kim’s concerts will be in Nagoya and Tokyo.Feb 2, 2016
Park Si-hoo, Yoon Eun-hye meet on big screen "After Love" / Courtesy of LIAN EntertainmentActor Park Si-hoo, 38, who recently returned to the small screen following a three-year hiatus over a sex scandal, has announced plans to return to the big screen.Park abandoned his career in the Korean entertainment industry and kept a low profile after being accused of raping an actress in 2013. But the actor has been starring in a new drama “Neighborhood Hero” on cable channel OCN, playing a former secret agent who tries to get to the bottom of the death of his friend, but ends up helping a neighbor secretly. The first episode of the drama aired Jan. 23.He will appear in the Korean-Chinese collaboration film, “After Love,” premiering in March. The film was supposed to be released at the end of last year at the same time in Korea, China and Japan, but it was delayed for unknown reasons.Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye appears in the film opposite Park. Yoon has also kept a low profile in Korea after being embroiled in allegations of copying the work of a Korean designer for a Chinese TV show last September.The new filmFeb 2, 2016
Song Hye-kyo to promote Esprit in Asia Actress Song Hye-kyo / Korea Times fileTop Korean actress Song Hye-kyo will promote the apparel brand Esprit in Asia, Yonhap reports.Song has already posed for promotional shots in Seoul with top photographer Cho Seon-hee.The 34-year-old’s photos will be released on TV, in magazines and online units throughout Asia this month.Esprit said that they chose Song who is widely recognized as an actress and a fashionista in Asia and around the world.To the delight of her fans, Song returns to the small screen on Feb. 2 in “Descendants of the Sun” with top male actor Song Joong-ki. Feb 2, 2016
