f(x) concert a huge success f(x) / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentViolet glow sticks lit up the Olympic Hall, Seoul Olympic Park Sunday, as Korean girl group f(x) performed its first solo concert “DIMENSION 4 ― Docking Station.” The four-member group made its debut in 2009.Originally the band had five members ― Victoria, Amber, Krystal, Luna and Sulli, but Sulli left last year.Fans from many countries attended Sunday’s concert. Sara Lin Chang, 20, from China spent all her allowance to attend the concert."I have waited so long for a solo concert, I'm just happy that SM Entertainment finally made it happen," she said.The band presented 34 songs including its hits “La chA TA,” “NU ABO,” “Pinocchio (Danger)”and “4 Walls.”“We had a lot of songs that we wanted show to our fans,” said F(x) leader Victoria before the concert.“We practiced real hard despite our busy personal schedule. We all worked as a team to make this the best solo concert for our fans.”The four members said that after performing in Japan this Feb 1, 2016
Crayon Pop end Japan tour Crayon Pop / Courtesy of Chrome EntertainmentK-pop band Crayon Pop has successfully wrapped up its first Japanese tour.The girl group played in three cities _ Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe _ from Jan. 29 to 31.More than 1,800 fans from China, Japan and Korea came to the concert, and the band sang its hits including “Bar Bar Bar,” “OK” and “Saturday Night.”Crayon Pop has had a presence in Japan since last July with its first Japanese album “Dancing All Night.” Its regular album “Crayon Pop,” released on Jan. 20, was 11th on Japan’s Oricon Chart on that day.The band will release a new album in the first half of this year. Feb 1, 2016
위너, 새앨범 8개 차트 '올킬'…11개국 아이튠스 1위 그룹 위너의 미니앨범 '엑시트:이'(EXIT:E)가 국내 음원차트를 '올킬' 했다. 1일 공개된 앨범의 더블 타이틀곡 '베이비 베이비'(BABY BABY)와 '센치해'는 이날 오전 각각 6개 차트(멜론, 올레뮤직, 네이버뮤직, 지니, 벅스, 소리바다)와 2개 차트(엠넷닷컴, 몽키3뮤직) 1위에 올랐다. 수록곡 5곡 중 나머지 곡도 6개 음원차트 '톱10'에 진입했으며, 그중 선공개곡 '사랑가시'는 엠넷닷컴 9위에 오르는 등 역주행해 앨범이 전반적으로 인기를 얻었다. 또 이 앨범은 홍콩, 인도네시아, 마카오, 말레이시아, 필리핀, 싱가포르 등 11개국의 아이튠스 앨범차트 1위를 차지했고 미국 아이튠스에서도 17위를 기록했다. 1년 6개월 만에 컴백한 위너는 양현석 대표 프로듀서가 직접 기획한 릴레이 커버 프로젝트 프로모션으로 관심을 모았다. 지드래곤, 태양, 에픽하이, 이하이, 악동뮤지션 등 YG 소속 가수들을 비롯해 자이언티, 딘 등의 뮤지션들이 '베이비 베이비'와 '센치해'가 발매되기 전 커버 영상을 선보였다. (연합뉴스)Feb 1, 2016
Signal of success "Signal" poster / Courtesy of tvNThe tvN TV drama "Signal" is already proving a big hit after the "Reply 1988" syndrome phased out with its last episode two weeks ago.Starting with a 6 percent rating for its first episode on Jan. 22, "Signal," which screens every Friday and Saturday, has been gaining an additional 1 percent with each following episode on average.The fantasy drama portrays detective from the present and a policeman from 1989 communicating via walkie-talkie to solve a long-time unsolved case. TV viewers are fascinated with the intriguing plot, which on Saturday showed the policeman in the past failing to stop his girlfriend being murdered.There had been doubts about whether the show would fare as well as "Reply 1988." Jan 31, 2016
'Revenant' bores many Koreans Scenes from "Revenant" / AP-YonhapIncreasing numbers of Korean theater-goers are saying online that the Hollywood movie “Revenant” is a disappointment because its vapid storyline lacks action.Comments include, “Don’t be fooled by the movie’s preview because that’s all the action there is,” “It’s hard to say the movie was enjoyable . . . the three hours certainly felt like they would never end” and “I cried out to my boyfriend that the Discovery channel movie ruined our Friday night.”Online daily OhmyStar said the movie, despite its great screenplay, “was too simple” for Korean viewers.“Koreans tend to like movies with an extremely dramatic plot or elements of a drastic conflict,” the report said. “TV dramas like MBC’s ‘My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol,’ SBS’s ‘Remember’ and movies such as ‘The Chaser’ (2008), ‘New World’ (2012) and ‘Veteran’ (2015) are good examples. The movie is well made but it failed to click with genJan 31, 2016
Jack Black wows fans on TV and in theaters Jack Black from "Infinite Challange" on MBC / Courtesy of MBCHollywood actor Jack Black from 3D animation film “Kung Fu Panda 3” won plenty of Korean fans at the weekend with his appearance on “Infinite Challenge” and with the film topping the box office.Black, 47, was a guest in the popular MBC show on Saturday.He was right at home with the show’s six funnymen ― and he was not afraid to bury his dignity as a Hollywood celebrity, stuffing marshmallows in his mouth, wearing a tight stocking over his head, throwing himself to the floor as he headed a water-filled football, and singing along with K-pop songs in poor Korean.Media reports praised the show, saying “it couldn’t be funnier” and that Black “was funnier than the show’s members.” The episode topped TV ratings with 15.6 percent.“It’s ‘Infinite Challenge’ and I accepted the challenge,” Black said before appearing on the show. “I’m very scared because it’s the biggest challenge. There’s no number larger than infiJan 31, 2016
Hani joins Baek's popular cooking show Promotional poster for “The Three Kings of Baek Jong-won” Courtesy of SBSBy Kim Jae-heunIdol singer Hani of girl band EXID will join the popular cooking show “The Three Kings of Baek Jong-won” as a host, as the series begins its new season Saturday.The show has been hosted by three men ― restaurateur Baek Jong-won and comedians Lee Hwee-jae and Kim Jun-hyun, who are in their mid-30s to 50s. Hani, who is in her mid-20s, promises to reflect the opinions of the younger generation and women as the show invites chefs to compete in the studio.“I don’t think there is a better job than this,” Hani said during the press meeting at SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul, Thursday. “I am thankful that I get to taste food made by top chefs on this show. I will express the view on behalf of the young generation and women.”The singer is a well-known gourmand who has appeared in several television cooking series, including JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.”Producer Ahn Jae-chul agreed that the show needed a person Jan 29, 2016
Girls' Generation member 'Tiffany' denies romance rumor "Tiffany" of South Korean girl group "Girls' Generation" denied Friday romance rumor with rapper "GRAY," her agency said.S.M. Entertainment said the two are merely close colleagues, not a pair of lovers, during a telephone conversation with Yonhap News Agency.Earlier in the day, media sources reported the two have been dating for three months since they first met last year to discuss releasing Tiffany's solo album.Last month, Tiffany issued a Christmas album "Dear Santa" as a member of Girls' Generation-TTS which refers to the subset of Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun from the nine-member group Girls' Generation. GRAY, whose real name is Lee Sung-hwa, debuted in 2012 in his single album "Crucial Star." (Yonhap)Jan 29, 2016
Jang Keun-suk back in epic drama Jang Keun-suk / Courtesy of Tri-J CompanyActor Jang Keun-suk will return to the small screen after a one-year break following accusations of tax evasion.Last year, reports accused him of underreporting income earned in China. The actor denied the reports, claiming there was an accounting error at his management company. Jang dropped out of “Three Meals a Day” on tvN and had kept a low profile since.Jang will return in new SBS TV drama “Daebak (Jackpot),” which will air in March.The historical drama is about a gambler in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).Jang plays Dae-gil, a gambler who competes with King Yeongjo. Jan 29, 2016
Tiffany denies romance with rapper Tiffany, GRAY / Screen captures from InstagramTiffany, a member of K-pop band Girls’ Generation, has not been romantically involved with rapper GRAY, SM Entertainment reported Friday.The rumor about their romance sparked on Thursday after Daily Sports posted speculation about the romance.The entertainment news outlet cited a source close to the two singers saying they have been dating for three months.SM said they are just close friends, but not dating. Tiffany and GRAY first met when she had a meeting with a producer of AOMG, the rapper’s management company, to talk about her solo album.GRAY debuted in 2012 with a single album “Kkambbak,” and released his new song “Just Do IT” last year. Jan 29, 2016
