What's next for 'Reply 1988' stars? Lee Hyeri from "Reply 1988"With TV drama “Reply 1988” achieving huge popularity nationwide, its stars are pondering their next steps after the show’s end.The cable television drama achieved record ratings of 19.6 percent for its last episode on Jan. 16.Crew and actors are celebrating the production’s success with a group vacation in Phuket, Thailand, from Tuesday until Saturday, according to Yonhap news agency.Lee Hyeri, the female lead who played high school girl “Seong Deok-seon,” has a busy schedule this month.She filmed K-pop TV show “SBS Inkigayo” on Sunday, standing in as host. On Tuesday, she is scheduled to participate in a fan meeting in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, before leaving for Phuket.From Phuket, she heads to Hong Kong on Friday for the “Listen to Your Eyes” concert with her K-pop girl band Girl’s Day on Saturday and Sunday.She returns to Korea on Sunday for media interviews from Monday to Wednesday, and to film commercials from Wednesday. Since her role in the drama, she has filmed 13 ads and raked in about 6Jan 19, 2016
Veteran comedians launch gag tour of US From left, Kim Won-hyo, Kim Jae-wook, Park Seong-ho, Jeong Beom-gyun and Lee Jong-hoon in a poster for their comedy show in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, in January / Courtesy of Naver blogFive veteran Korean comedians will tour the U.S. and other countries to tickle the funny bones of ethnic Koreans.The team -- Park Seong-ho, Kim Jae-wook, Kim Won-hyo, Lee Jong-hoon and Jeong Beom-gyun -- will begin the tour next month. Starting in New York City, the show moves to Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Dallas. In June, they fly to Sydney and Melbourne, followed by Auckland.The team’s target audience is ethnic Koreans.The five have years of experience through TV comedy programs like “Gag Concert” on KBS and “People Looking For Laughter” on SBS, as well as on stage.The team had its first performance last September at a small theater in Hongdae, Seoul. The event sold out.“I want people come to our shows with an intention of just having fun with us rather than to test us, thinking ‘Try me’,” Jeong told OSEJan 19, 2016
Child actors who became 'irreplaceable' Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from "Revenant" (top) and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993)Hollywood western thriller movie “Revenant” grabbed No.1 spot in box office last weekend and embossed its lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who won the Best Performance in Drama category in the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, with impressive performance.A media report suggested Monday that his charisma as an actor has been chiseled since his early career as a teenage actor, debuting with sci-fi horror movie “Critters 3” (1991) at age of 17. The American star, now 41, was praised for his supporting role in drama movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993) where he portrayed a kid with developmental disability.In Korea, several actors and actresses who are now boasting irreplaceable presence in motion pictures and TV have also been active in the field of acting since they were a teenager or a pre-teen.Yoo Ah-in in a scene from "Boys of Tomorrow" (2006)Actor Yoo Ah-in, who spent the hottest year of his career in 2015 starring in movies “Veteran,” “TJan 18, 2016
Gang Dong-won signs with YG Entertainment Gang Dong-won / Courtesy of YG Entertainment Actor Gang Dong-won has signed with YG Entertainment, the company said Monday.YG uploaded Gang’s photo on its Twitter page, saying, “Welcome to YG & Happy Birthday Gang Dong-won.”Rumors have around since last week that the actor, 34, could be joining YG, because his contract with United Artist Agency (UAA) ended last November.Because he is one of Korea’s top actors, there has been a lot of interest in which company would sign him.YG has a strong overseas presence, especially in Asia. YG said it would set up an exclusive team to support Gang. Jan 18, 2016
Multicultural group to lodge complaint over idol's apology A private multicultural organization said Monday it will file a complaint later this week with the national human rights watchdog against an entertainment agency chief who reportedly forced a 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop singer to apologize for waving the island's flag.The Center for Multicultural Korea (CMCK) in Seoul denounced Park Jin-young, chief of JYP Entertainment, for allegedly forcing the young girl to make the apology, which it calls a "serious racial discrimination and human rights infringement."K-pop singer Chou Tzu-yu, a member of the South Korean girl group TWICE managed by JYP, waved Taiwan's national flag on a South Korean entertainment TV program in November. This incident has been thrown into a political row between Taiwan and mainland China.The center said in a statement that a "16-year-old girl waving the national flag of her own country is very natural, but Park Jin-young forced her to make an apology under pressure from Chinese netizens.""We will ask the National Human Rights Commission of Korea to investigate whether the apology was forced or not," it said, addiJan 18, 2016
'Reply 1988' star draws big fan turnout Park Bo-gum in his fan meeting held Saturday at KBS Arena in Seoul / Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentAbout 3,500 peoples attended the first fan meeting of actor Park Bo-gum from hit TV drama “Reply 1988”at KBS Arena in Seoul on Saturday.Park, who portrayed professional go player Taek, turned out to be the surprise choice of husband for female lead Seong Deok-sun in the popular drama about families living in Ssangmun-dong in 1988.Comedian Lee Seung-yoon, left, hosted the meeting.“I always used to ride subways and not once did people notice me,” said Park, 22, who debuted in 2011 in the movie “Blind.”“Your hearts mean enough. Instead, be kind to your parents and invest in yourselves.”He encouraged his fans to save money with a good savings plan.Go Kyung-pyo, left, joined the meeting as a surprise guest. Co-star Go Kyung-pyo was a surprise guest and praised Park, referring to him as an “ideal husband type.”“He can be a little clumsy sometimes but he is definitely professional when he works,” Go said. “HeJan 18, 2016
Goo Hara joins Keyeast /Screen captured from TwitterKorean idol singer Goo Hara has signed with KeyeastThe signing comes shortly after she disbanded her former nine-year veteran girl group KARA after her contract with DSP Entertainment and those of Han Seungyeon and Park Gyuri expired last Wednesday.“Goo is not only a charming singer but also has great potential to become an outstanding MC or actress,” Keyeast entertainment said Monday. Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon heads the agency. The five-member KARA became a major idol group with hits such as “Pretty Girl,” “Honey,” ”Mister,” and ”Lupin.” Its fame also spread to Japan where the group was awarded the Japan Golden Disk. Jan 18, 2016
Cyber attacks brings down JYP Entertainment website Tzuyu / Screen capture from YouTubeJYP Entertainment’s website has been inaccessible since Saturday following a cyber attack.The company said Monday that incoming traffic from unspecified information provider (IP) addresses had overwhelmed its server.JYP said it was technically impossible to know where who attacked the site and from where, but it appears to be related to the controversy involving its multinational K-pop band TWICE’s Tzuyu.The band has been embroiled in a controversy after Tzuyu waving a Taiwanese flag during a web broadcast of MBC TV’s “My Little Television” in November. The footage was only shown in the online portion and did not air during the official broadcast.But the singer’s actions are at the center of cross-strait tensions as Taiwanese voters selected a Beijing-wary leader as president while China believes Taiwan should be part of the People’s Republic of China.JYP immediately apologized and Tzuyu also uploaded a videotaped apology via the band’s YouTube channel on Friday, saying, “There’s only Jan 18, 2016
Mansour's family member proposes to Korean singer, rumors say AndaSheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-NahyanA family member of billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan from the United Arab Emirates has proposed to Korean singer Anda, rumors say.The rumor, which surfaced online on Jan. 8, said an unidentified family member of Sheikh Mansour, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, has expressed his interest in the singer by sending luxurious gifts, and has now proposed, he rumors say.He met her three months ago when he visited Hong Kong on vacation, according to reports.The Internet post containing the rumor has had more than 200,000 hits and “Anda Mansour” has become a popular search word.Anda’s associate told Seoul Shimmun he had “never heard about the singer being proposed to by the family of Mansour, and denied it.Emperor Entertainment Korea manages Anda. The company is an arm of Hong Kong’s Emperor Entertainment Group, which Albert Yeung founded in 1986.MBN News said Yeung was a friend of Mansour.Debuting in 2012, Anda released her fourth single “Taxi” this montJan 17, 2016
Weekend blossoms with star weddings Lee Sang-hoon from "Gag Concert" on KBSThis weekend has blossomed with star couples marching down the aisle.Singer Lee Seok-hun from ballad trio SG Wannabe married a ballerina in Seoul on Sunday. The couple had been dating for four years.”While I was serving mandatory military service, my girlfriend took care of my mother until she passed away,” Lee said on his online fan site before the wedding.His wife, Choi Sun-ah, won second place in the 2008 Miss Korea pageant, according to Herald Pop.Comedian Lee Sang-hoon married a chiropractor in Seoul on Sunday, after a long-distance romance for more than a year.On left, Lee Seok-hun and Choi Sun-ah; Jung Woo, left, and Kim Yu-mi / Courtesy of Instagram“I think the key to my marriage was me trying not to lose contact with her although she lived far away from me,”Lee said.Lee rose to stardom based on the TV comedy show “Gag Concert” from 2011 until now.A day before, actors Jung Woo and Kim Yu-mi tied the knot at a private wedding at a church in Seoul.According to a photo released by Jung&rsquJan 17, 2016
