Man punished for blackmailing singer Song Dae-kwanA man who blackmailed trot singer Song Dae-kwan has received a suspended sentence.Seoul Central District Court on Friday handed the man, surname Hong, 75, six months’ jail, suspended for a year, according to Newsis.The court was told Hong threatened Song from 2009 until last February, urging him to repay money owed to his former wife by Song’s wife. Hong threatened to tell people Hong had swindled him through a real estate investment fraud. Hong took 27 million won ($22,000) from Song during the period, the court was told.The court said Hong used Song’s celebrity status to get money from him, although the star was not involved in the real estate investment. In 2009, Hong’s former wife invested with Song’s wife, who said she was selling lots in a resort she was going to build on land in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. Hong’s former wife handed Song’s wife 100 billion won ($83,000). The resort business was later canceled.The court was told that Hong kept visiting Song’s home, threatening to defame him unless he reJan 22, 2016
Crayon Pop concert sells out in Japan K-pop girl band Crayon Pop are hot property in Japan.The five-member band, popular for eye-catching choreography and eccentric costumes, have sold out tickets for their Tokyo concert on January 31.The concert is the first leg of their Japanese tour, “Crayon Pop 1st Japan Tour 2016,” following the release of their first Japanese studio album, “Crayon Pop,” on Wednesday. The album ranked 11th on the Oricon chart the day it was released.The tour will visit Japanese cities including Nagoya and Kobe. Xport News said concerts in those cities were nearly sold out.The band debuted in Japan last July with single “Rarirure” and released their second Japanese single, “Dancing All Night,” in November. The single albums all sold out.The band debuted in Korea in 2012 and will reportedly return to the K-pop market in the first half of this year.Jan 22, 2016
Hip-hop artist gets suspended jail term for drug abuse A local court on Friday overturned the acquittal of a 32-year-old hip-hop artist accused of using and selling drugs.The appeals department of the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Kwon Ki-bum, better known by his stage name Bumkey, to eight months in prison with a two year suspension.Bumkey was indicted in December 2014 on charges of selling 6 grams of meth and 10 MDMA pills, better known as "ecstasy," to two of his acquaintances from August 2012 to September 2013. He was also accused of taking ecstasy twice during the period.A lower court found Bumkey not guilty due to a lack of evidence, but the appeals department said the evidence provided by the prosecutors was enough to prove his conviction."Kwon repeated the crime though he once received a suspended prison term for taking ecstasy," the court said. "(We) took into consideration that the amount was not significant."Bumkey could not be immediately reached for comment. (Yonhap)Jan 22, 2016
Parks voices hope Korean culture will spread around world President Park Geun-hye expressed hope on Friday that South Korea's culture will be born again as a cultural asset shared by mankind.She also said South Korea is seeking to help plant new seeds of hope in areas affected by conflict and poverty through K-pop and other aspects of Korean culture."At a time when borders are eroding, when our world is increasingly becoming a shared community, I look forward to humanity being brought together and connecting through culture," Park said in a video message at a "Korea Night" function hosted for foreign business leaders at the World Economic Forum under way in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. "I hope is to see Korea's culture go through the kind of renewal that would make it more accessible across the world." South Korean pop culture has gained wide popularity in China, Southeast Asian countries and other parts of the world in recent years. In 2014, Park attended the forum, known as the "Davos Forum." (Yonhap)Jan 22, 2016
Ryu Jun-yeol to join blockbuster movie cast Ryu Jun-yeol / Courtesy of C-Jes EntertainmentRising star Ryu Jun-yeol, 29, has been cast in new film “The King” with top actor Zo In-sung.Ryu has risen to stardom with his role in TV drama “Reply 1988” on tvN.“The King” is about a man who becomes a prosecutor to seek after power. Top actor Jung Woo-sung will also appear.Ryu made his debut in a short film “Economic Love” in 2013. He also appeared in the popular TV drama “The Producers” last year. Jan 21, 2016
'Unknown' Korean singers prove tops in China Hwang Chi-yeol, above, and Jeong Soon-wonSingers Hwang Chi-yeol and Jeong Soon-won are making hallyu history in China, where they have risen to stardom after being unknown there.The singers found fame on the Chinese TV talent contest “I Am a Singer” on Hunan TV.Hwang, who appeared on the program on Jan. 15 as the only foreigner, came second out of eight competitors. Jeong, whose stage name is The One, appeared in February 2015 representing Korea, and was ranked third.Hwang and Jeong made their debuts in China without achieving megastar status in Korea. Neither was globally recognized like BigBang or Girls’ Generation nor hallyu megastar actors like Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun from “My Love from the Star.”“Popular Korean stars from variety shows, TV dramas or movies imported into China are top of the list in China, but those with no such local popularity have to start from rock bottom,” said a Korean music label company CEO, according to Yonhap news agency.“Hwang and Jeong, who broke into the Chinese showbiz industry with their appJan 21, 2016
K-drama scene angers Chinese A scene from Tuesday's episode of "Moolim School" on KBS, where Yoon Shi-woo (played by Lee Hyun-woo), left, and Whang Chi-ang (played by Lee Hong-bin) burn Chinese yuan notes / Courtesy of KBS A scene in a Korean TV drama in which two people burn Chinese yuan notes has angered Chinese viewers.In Tuesday’s fourth episode of “Moolim School” on KBS, Lee Hyun-woo and Lee Hong-bin, who portray students, burned the bills to cause a fire on a mountain at night. The notes come from the pocket of Wang Chi-ang(Hong-bin), a wealthy Chinese businessman’s son forced to attend the school.Chinese media outlets reported Wednesday that netizens are furious about the scene.An KBS insider said the drama “had no intentions to defame China or Chinese culture” and that the scene would be deleted from any TV repeat and from video-on-demand,” according to Newsis.The series is about a unique school called “Moolim School,” where teachers instruct students from different countries the virtues of honesty, faith, sacrifice and communication rather Jan 21, 2016
'The Throne' rated best film of 2015 Korean period drama, “The Throne,” has been chosen as best film of 2015 at the seventh “Film of the Year.”The historical film won Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress awards.Directed by Lee Joon-ik, the film tells the tragic story of King Yeongjo during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), who locked his son, crown prince Sado, in a rice chest and starved him to death.Veteran actor Song Gang-ho plays King Yeongjo and rising star Yoo Ah-in plays prince Sado.Members of the Korean film Reporters Association choose the awards. Jan 21, 2016
Lee Jong-suk wax figure to go on show in Hong Kong Actor Lee Jong-suk / Korea Times fileKorean actor Lee Jong-suk’s wax figure will join those of three fellow Korean actors at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong.The figure will be unveiled on Friday, Yonhap reports.Figures of Bae Yong-joon, Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun can be seen at Madame Tussauds.Lee, 25, who was active in small and the large screens last year, debuted in 2005 as a model. He began acting career in a short film “Sympathy” in 2009. He then starred in such hit dramas as “I Can Year Your Voice” (2013), “Dr. Stranger” (2014) and “Pinocchio”(2014-2015). Jan 21, 2016
Singer/actor Lee Seung-gi to enlist Singer/actor Lee Seung-gi / Korea Times fileSinger/actor Lee Seung-gi, 28, will enlist on Feb. 1 _ and to mark the occasion he has just released a single, “I’m Joining the Military.Lee said he had been preparing to enlist, but had been unsure of the date. He said he was delivering the news through the song to those he could not speak to in person.“I would like to thank the overwhelming love the fans have given me, and I promise to return as a full-fledged ‘real man,’” Lee said.Lee debuted as a singer in 2004, but has also been busy as an actor in various TV dramas, films and entertainment shows such as“One Night, Two Days.”Jan 21, 2016
