Rhyu Si-min gets the laughs Rhyu Si-min from JTBC's "Non-Summit" / Courtesy of JTBC Former politician Rhyu Si-min made his first appearance on a variety show ― and outshone the other funnymen.Rhyu was a guest on JTBC’s “Non-Summit” on Monday. On the show, where foreigners from 11 countries discuss social issues, Rhyu joined a discussion about how to write a cover letter as a job-seeker. He gave advice to the participants, who had produced their own cover letters.A member of the National Assembly from 2003 until 2008 and minister of health and welfare from 2006 until 2007, Rhyu said he would never serve another term as a politician.Rhyu was a former chairman of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party / Korea Times file“I think my current occupation as a writer suits me,” he said.Online daily OSEN said “Rhyu might have been seen inapproachable because of his image as a politician, but his appearance on the show has subverted the image.Rhyu is a regular guest on JTBC’s talk show “Surgeon” and has written about 60 books. He also hosts a podJan 26, 2016
'The Greatest Love' tops China TV ratings Scenes from "The Greatest Love" on Hunan TV / Courtesy of Blue Flame, Hunan TVKim Young-hee / Korea Times fileTV program director Kim Young-hee’s first Chinese TV show “The Greatest Love” topped the ratings on Saturday.The variety show’s first episode posted a 1.59 percent rating on Hunan TV, according to Yonhap news agency, which cited China’s TV rating monitoring agency CSM.“Korean TV shows whose formats were exported to China and became blockbuster hits, namely, ‘I Am a Singer,’ ‘Dad, Where Are We Going?’ and ‘Running Man,’ all recorded a 1.4 to 1.5 percent rating with their first episodes and more than 2 percent with the following episodes,” Kim said.“I will do my best to get the same result with my show.”Kim emphasizes “filial piety” in the reality show. Under this central theme, six Chinese celebrities ― Huang Xiaoming, Joe Chen, Zheng Shuang, Du Chun, Bao Beier and Gary Chaw ― each visited their home towns and spent five nights with their parents.Kim’s debut in ChinJan 26, 2016
G-Dragon covers Winner's new song G-Dragon / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop band Winner’s new song, “Sentimental,” which G-Dragon of BigBang has presented in a pre-release version, will be released on Wednesday, YG Entertainment said Tuesday.Nam Tae-hyun produced the song.G-Dragon participated in the band’s album in a bid to support Winner.Singers and bands such as Akdong Musician and Katy Kim joined the cover song project with G-Dragon.Winner will release a mini album with two title songs, “Baby Baby” and “Sentimental,” on Feb. 1. Jan 26, 2016
Global 'hallyu' fans swell to 35 million in 86 countries The number of global fans for the Korean culture "hallyu" have exceeded 35 million in 86 countries, a government-affiliated foundation said Tuesday.As Korean wave becomes global, the number of enthusiastic fans for Korean culture and food last year increased 63 percent to be 35.59 million over the previous year's number of 21.82 million, according to global hallyu data 2015 published by the Korea Foundation (KF). The growing popularity of hallyu, which had initially started in Asian countries, has been now making rapid inroads into other parts of the globe in recent years. Also, the number of hallyu fan clubs rose to 1,493 last year in 86 countries, a 21 percent up from the previous year's 1,229.KF, the subsidiary of the foreign ministry said the data was published through a survey of the K-pop situations around the world, helped by the foreign ministry and Korean diplomatic missions abroad.The hallyu boom last year focused on the K-pop music and Korean cuisines in some countries, but specifically, the K-pop craze has expanded to Korean Web dramas and the Korean style of hiphop, callJan 26, 2016
Mamamoo to release album in February Mamamoo / Courtesy of Rainbow World K-pop girl band Mamamoo will release a single on Jan. 29, ahead of a full-fledged album in late February, Yonhap reports.It will be the band’s first album since its second mini-album “Um Oh Ah Yeh” last July, according to its agency Rainbow World Tuesday.The four-member group debuted in June 2014 with“Hello,” and then began to climb the charts with“Um Oh Ah Yeh.”Jan 26, 2016
Kangta to appear on Chinese show Kangta / courtesy of SM EntertainmentKangta, a member of first-generation boy band H.O.T., will appear on “2016 CCTV New Year’s Gala (Chunwan)” next month.The show has a largest audience for any entertainment show in China.Kangta, whose name is Ahn Chil-hyun, will sing the title song of CCTV’s entertainment program “Ding Ge Long Dong Qiang” with top model Lynn Hung.The show will air in China on Feb. 7. Jan 26, 2016
Kim Dong-wook joins Keyeast Kim Dong-wook / Screen captured from TwitterKorean Actor Kim Dong-wook has signed with Keyeast“Kim is genuine, exquisite, and a manly actor and we will cooperate and support Kim in every way we can,” Keyeast Entertainment said Tuesday. Top hallyu star Bae Yong-joon heads the agency.Kim who debuted in 2004 “A crimson mark,” has been active on the drama, movie, and musical scenes with notable shows including “The 1st shop of Coffee Prince,””Take off,” and “The Brothers were brave.”Kim has recently finished his lead role in the TV show “Riders: Catch Tomorrow,” where he plays an elite who quits his big firm to start a rickshaw venture business with his friends.Kim is in the process of selecting his next projectJan 26, 2016
French comics fest to showcase Korean webtoons South Korean web cartoons, which have inspired many hit soap operas and movies here, will be featured at the world's third-largest comics festival, the South Korean Culture Ministry said Tuesday.Under the exhibit "Webtoon Playground," South Korean webtoons will be displayed on the streets of Angouleme, France, which is host of the Angouleme International Comics Festival, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.The exhibition is the fourth of its kind in the southwestern French city and coincides with the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France.The purpose is to aid South Korean webtoons' entry into the European market, the ministry said.South Korean web comic artists Uksoo and Lee Jong-beom have been invited to demonstrate web comics drawing, with artwork tying webtoon and media art in together also to be showcased.The 43rd Angouleme International Comics Festival runs from Thursday to Sunday.(Yonhap) Jan 26, 2016
Super Junior's Ryeowook to drop first solo album Ryeowook of the boy band Super Junior is set to release his first solo album in 11 years."The Little Prince" is a ballad collection inspired by the French novel of the same name. Ryeowook is the second Super Junior member to fly solo after Kyuhun, who released his first solo album in 2014."Had Kyuhun not done so well, I would have been more overwhelmed," the main vocalist of the 12-member act told reporters in Seoul on Monday. "Kyuhun told me he really likes my music, so I hope that's a good sign."The title track "The Little Prince" starts with no accompaniment and slowly boils to a climax. The lyrics are a dialogue between a man and the narrator in the namesake novel."People You May Know" describes the feelings of a person who encounters his ex in a list of friends suggested by a social networking service.Ryeowook also helped write the lyrics of "POOM," which is dedicated to his mother."I am so different from how I was when I was little. I know I'm still a child to my mother, but I'm sorry I'm not as affectionate as I used to be," he said. "I tried to express that in the lyrics.""ThJan 26, 2016
Boys in the Kitchen named K-Rookies 2015 champs Boys in the Kitchen, winner of the 2015 K-Rookies program / Courtesy of KOCCABy Jon DunbarGarage rockers Boys in the Kitchen emerged victorious as six bands wrapped up the 2015 K-Rookies program with a battle of the bands, Saturday.The program by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) concluded its fourth run with the final concert, held at AX-Korea in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul on Jan. 23. Each year since 2012, the government-backed program has incubated six talented Korean bands every year before squaring them off in a final competition."Korean music is mainly known for K-pop stars," said Kim Jung-seok, a member of KOCCA's music team, "but we know there are many less-well-known competent musicians in Korea.”The six bands in the 2015 program were Boys in the Kitchen, all-girl jazz/funk act A-FUZZ, female-fronted blues rockers Billy Carter, rock duo Dead Buttons, brass hip-hop band NP Union and pop-rockers the Stray.The top three bands played for cash prizes, with the top winner receiving 5 million won, followed by 3 million won for the runner-up and 2 million won for third Jan 25, 2016
