Tzuyu not Taiwanese independence activist, JYP says Tzuyu / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentTzuyu of K-pop band TWICE doesn't necessarily endorse Taiwan's independence from mainland China, JYP Entertainment reiterated Friday after the 16-year-old waved the Taiwanese national flag in an online broadcast last month.The singer waved the flag of the Republic of China in an online-exclusive portion of “My Little Television,” an MBC variety show.The Republic of China is the government of Taiwan, but Beijing believes the island should be part of the People's Republic of China, which governs mainland China.“Tzuyu understands and respects the One-China policy,” JYP said. “Tzuyu has an inseparable relationship with Taiwan, which is where she’s from, but not all Taiwanese people are independence activists.”Tzuyu had never made political remarks on the issue, and rumors that she supports Taiwanese independence are not true, the agency also said, adding that JYP respects the One-China policy and doesn't accept anyone or any situation that harms the relationship between South Korea and China within the agency.Jan 15, 2016
'Kung Fu Panda' Jack Black to visit Korea Jack Black / AP-YonhapActor Jack Black, the voice for lead character “Po” in “Kung Fu Panda 3,” will visit Korea to promote the movie, which opens this month.Black, who also voiced the character in the two previous films, will arrive on Jan. 20. In the evening, he will take part in “Naver Movie Talk” in Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, to talk about the movie in front of an audience. The event will be broadcast live online.The following day, Black will take part in a press conference. OSEN confirmed Thursday that Black will also be a guest on the MBC TV variety show “Infinite Challenge.”“Kung Fu Panda 3” is about Po, a kung fu master, teaching the martial art to a village of pandas trying to fight off an evil ancient spirit called Kai, which is terrorizing China.A scene from "Kung Fu Panda 3" / Courtesy of DreamworksThe movie will open in Korea on Jan. 28.Jan 14, 2016
Lee Hyeri's lucky road to stardom Cast of tvN's "Reply 1988” on its poster As viewers wait sadly for the last episode of the nation’s hottest TV drama “Reply 1988” this Friday/ Saturday, reports suggest that Lee Hyeri got the role of high school heroine Seong Deok-seon because of the MBC’s military reality show “Real Men: Women’s Army Special.”“There is a rumor among TV broadcasters that Lee was hired for Seong’s role based on her performance in ‘Real Men’,” MSN Entertainment said. “Lee’s vitality and attractiveness seen on ‘Real Men’ led to her becoming the heroine. In other words, her appearance on the reality show was undoubtedly critical.”Lee, who debuted as a member of K-pop band Girl’s Day in 2010, got her big break in the first season of “Real Men” in January 2015.On the show, female celebrities are invited to experience the hardships of a military training camp.Lee in a scene from MBC"s "Real Men: Women's Army" in 2014“Lee is considered by those in show business as a star whJan 14, 2016
K-pop band Twice embroiled in controversy over Tzuyu's nationality Tzuyu / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment, Screen capture from LG Uplus video ad K-pop girl band Twice has caught flak in China after rumors that Taiwanese member Tzuyu was an activist supporting Taiwan’s independence.The rumors began when China-based singer Huang An referred on his SNS website to Tzuyu’s alleged political role, based on footage from her appearances on Korean TV variety shows. He pointed out that Tzuyu waved Taiwan’s national flag on MBC’s “My Little Television” in November as she introduced herself as Taiwanese. He also mentioned she identified herself as Taiwanese on MBC Every1’s “Weekly Idol.”Huang, a Taiwan-born, pro-China entertainer, is well-known for criticizing celebrities online, according to Xports News.Huang said Tzuyu’s behavior showed she supported Taiwan and demanded that the star to explain she was not a pro-Taiwan activist. He also criticized her plan to appear on Chinese TV programs celebrating the Chinese New Year in February. The band planned to appear on Beijing TV and Anhui TV.The Jan 14, 2016
Three SS501 members to return as SS301 /Courtesy of CI ENTHeo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, and Kim Hyung-joon -- members of former K-pop boy band SS501 -- will regroup as “SS301.”“The three members will work as “SS301”,” Heo Young-saeng and Kim Hyung-joon’s agency CI ENT announced on Jan. 14, along with a teaser image.Exact release dates have yet to be announced.The members cannot use the original name because their former agency DSP Media owns it. Also, SS501 was a five-member band that included Kim Hyun-joong and Park Jeong-min.After releasing their mini album “Destination,” in May 2010, SS501 went on hiatus after its contract with DSP Media ended.Jan 14, 2016
iKON hits the mark in Japan debut K-pop boy band iKON / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop boy band iKON has topped the Japanese Oricon chart with its debut album in Japan, Yonhap reports.The seven-member band’s album “WELCOME BACK” topped the Oricon daily album chart as of Wednesday, with 53,000 copies sold."WELCOME BACK" contains Japanese versions of hit songs such as "My Type," Rhythm Ta" and "Airplane."The band is also scheduled to hold fan meetings in Tokyo and Osaka next Friday and Saturday.Fans in Korea can see the band perform at Olympic Park In Seoul on Jan. 30-31. iKON will also begin a five-city tour of Japan next month. Jan 14, 2016
Hani tells of love for boyfriend Hani / Screen capture from InstagramHani, from K-pop band EXID, has revealed her love JYJ’s Kim Jun-su.“We became close after I went to see a musical in which he was playing” Hani said on MBC variety show “Radio Star” on Wednesday.She said Kim always made her feel strong.Earlier this month, Kim and Hani admitted they had been dating since last summer.Hani’s band, EXID, made its debut in 2012, and enjoyed wide popularity with a hit song “Up & Down” in 2014. It released “Hot Pink” last November.The band’s five members are Solji, LE, Hani, Hyerin and Junghwa. Jan 14, 2016
Critics pan 'childish' KBS drama "Moolim School" poster / Courtesy of KBSTV drama “Moorim School” is drawing mixed reaction from critics over its unrealistic plot and the cast’s performance.The first episode aired on KBS Monday. The series portrays a unique school where teachers instruct students about the virtues of honesty, faith, sacrifice and communication instead of the importance of academic knowledge. Some media reports have criticized the drama, saying the story is far-fetched and childish. It was dubbed “a children’s drama at night time,” according to the Yonhap news agency.Critics also denounced the performance of some of its overseas cast for their poor Korean language skills and acting. News Way said it was “an eyesore to look at.” Characters of "Moolim School" in a scene from its teaser videoBut the drama was top of the index that measures “being mentioned” by netizens, Yonhap reported. It quoted a big data analysis that showed the drama’s two episodes topped the index among other TV programs aired in the past 12 days, recordingJan 13, 2016
Singer Jota fires up judo spirit Jota in a scene from “Cool Kiz on the Block” on KBS K-pop boy band MADTOWN’s vocalist, Jota, has flexed his muscles on TV as a former “judoka.”KBS sports variety show “Cool Kiz on the Block” introduced the star last November as a member of the program’s celebrity judo team to compete against clubs across Korea in a competition for amateurs.It did not take long for the star, 21, to top the team with his skills. He won multiple matches against competitors who had years of experience and kept impressing the team’s two coaches, 2004 Athens Summer Olympics gold medalist Lee Won-hee and 2012 London Summer Olympics bronze medalist Cho Jun-ho.On Tuesday, Jota’s father visited Dongji High School in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, to watch his son’s game. The celebrity judo team was having a team match against selective judokas from the southeastern Gyeongsang Province. Jota is a graduate of the school, which is known for producing skillful judokas.Jota won his game and kneeled to bow to his father. Afterwards,Jan 13, 2016
Teen star reveals how she became a shaman Park Mi-ryeong / Courtesy of Naver Blog Former teen star Park Mi-ryeong has revealed how she became a shaman and that her singer husband left her.She made the comments on TV talk show “Pumpkin Seed” on TV Chosun Tuesday.Park, a teen star from the 1980s, told a celebrity panel she debuted as a magazine ad model when she was an elementary school student. She furthered her career by appearing in many ads, hosting a popular TV music show and starring in a movie.She married at 21. Media reports Wednesday said her husband was Kim Jong-jin, the vocalist from two-member rock band Spring Summer Autumn Winter.Park said she started to feel ill in her late 20s, suffering extreme lethargy, social phobia and auditory hallucinations. She claimed it was an incurable spiritual suffering that no hospital could explain.The suffering, according to shamanism experts, lasts until the person accepts their destiny to become a shaman by receiving a “gut” -- a ritual that purports to connect the ordinary and spiritual worlds.Park said she could see strangers’ futures anJan 13, 2016
