Moon Chae-won re-signs with MSteam Entertainment Moon Chae-won / YonhapActress Moon Chae-won has renewed her contract with MSteam Entertainment.“Moon has extended her contract based on mutual trust,” the management company announced today.A number of popular actresses including Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-jung have also worked with the company. Kim Min-sook, the president of MSteam, is renowned for her outstanding ability to find actresses in the film industry.Moon is promoting her new film, “Mood of the Day,” which premiers on Jan. 14. Dec 31, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
PSY named biggest star of 2015 A scene from Psy’s title tune “Daddy” music video. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop idol PSY was named the biggest star of the year by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI). He will be presented with its highest honor, the Stepping Stone Award, at the CICI Korea 2016 awards ceremony next month.The ceremony, organized by Prof. Choi Jung-hwa, recognizes people promoting Korea in any field, including politics, economy and entertainment.Last year, Korea’s leading cosmetics firm, AmorePacific, led by CEO Suh Kyung-bae, received the top prize for its successful innovations in the beauty product industry.“We award PSY for his contributions in promoting the excellence of Korean culture abroad, which has developed over the years and created a dynamic and diverse culture,” CICI said.PSY won the same prize in 2013 for his mega-hit “Gangnam Style” that sparked the popularity of Korean music the world over.The singer released his seventh album, “Chiljib PSY-Da,” on Dec. 1 with two hit singles, “Napal BajiDec 30, 2015
Trainer draws fire for 'ruining' Grand Award speech Ray Yang, left, and Kim Gu-ra from the "2015 MBC Entertainment Awards" / Screen capture from YouTube Health trainer Ray Yang is under fire after she irritated TV viewers by posing behind comedian and show host Kim Gu-ra while he gave a speech after winning the Grand Award at the MBC Entertainment Awards Tuesday night.Yang, 28, whose Korean name is Yang Min-hwa, held a placard behind Kim to congratulate him. But while Kim gave the speech, she was still behind him.A media report said her behavior ruined the landmark moment for Kim, who received his first Grand Award after debuting in show business in 1993.Yang apologized to Kim and he forgave her, according to media reports. She said she had no idea she would be seen with Kim.Yang said she was elated when Kim won the award and wanted to congratulate him, but admitted her gesture appeared inappropriate.Dec 30, 2015
Kim Gu-ra tops MBC show awards Kim Gu-ra from MBC's "Radio Star" / Courtesy of MBCAfter a hard year of domestic problems and health concerns, comedian and show host Kim Gu-ra has cemented his position as a leading TV entertainer, clinching the Grand Award at the MBC Entertainment Awards Tuesday night.He beat strong candidates including Yoo Jae-suk of “Infinity Challenge.” “It wasn’t my efforts that made this possible,” Kim, 45, whose real name is Kim Hyun-dong, said in his award speech. “It was because of all of you who contributed to me winning this award. Variety shows wouldn’t have existed without TV viewers. And I wish they will keep having an interest in my MBC talk show program 'Radio Star,' which is like my heart.”Kim also spoke of his past “wrongdoings.” Although he did not specify, he is known for making controversial remarks.Kim Gu-ra won the Grand Award at the "2015 MBC Entertainment Awards" on Tuesday. / Courtesy of MBCAnd he mentioned “those who disagree with his style on TV,” admitting he is aware some dislike his &ldquDec 30, 2015
Gary teams with Gaeko for new song Gary of LeessangGary of hip-hop duo Leessang will release a digital single, “Another Day,” on Thursday, the year’s last day.Gary, 37, wrote the song after watching the Korean drama “Misaeng,” which was highly popular for its portrayal of the daily battles of salaried workers.In the song, Gary has Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko, 34, featuring. The two had talked in previous interviews about wanting to collaborate. Gary will do the rap while Gaeko, who is a rapper, will be singing.Actress Song Ji-hyo, Gary’s colleague from the entertainment variety show “Running Man,” will star in the music video for “Another Day.” The music video will be released Jan. 4. Dec 30, 2015
No rest for star actor Hwang Hwang Jeong-min, left, from "A Violent Prosecutor" / Courtesy of NaverActor Hwang Jeong-min, who has been awarded for two mega-blockbusters, “Ode to My Father” and “Veteran,” and is starring in “The Himalayas,” now in theaters, seems tireless, with another movie scheduled to hit screens early next year.“A Violent Prosecutor,” starring Hwang, 45, is a crime movie that opens in February.The movie features Hwang as a talented prosecutor who is wrongfully accused of murder and jailed for years. He meets a con artist in jail (Kang Dong-won), who he tries to take advantage of outside prison to seek revenge.“This is going to be something that’s loaded with fun and people can easily enjoy,” Hwang was quoted by a media report as saying: “I wanted to deliver audiences an image of a person with an unbreakable vocational spirit who is down at rock bottom.”A musical, “The Orchestra Pit,” starring Hwang and Oh Man-seok, is attracting large audiences. The musical presents an array of crazy incidents that happeDec 29, 2015
Movie critic names his Asian beauties Yura, left, and Tzu Yu / Courtesy of Facebook, Screen capture from YouTubeWhile British movie critic TC Candler on Sunday picked former K-pop idol star Nana as the most beautiful face of 2015, other stars from Korea and China were on his list.Taiwanese singer Tzu Yu from idol girl band Twice was No.13.Chinese stars following her included actress Zhu Zhu (No. 26), singer Ju Jingyi from idol band SNH48 (No.53), actress Liu Yifei (No.77) and actress and singer Liu Yan (No.89).Nana from TC Candler's "The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2015" video / Courtesy of tccandler.comKoreans following Nana included singer Yura from girl band Girl’s Day (No.17), singer Taeyeon from girl band Girls’ Generation (No.24), actress Go Ara (No.36), singer Hyeri from Girl’s Day (No.40) and singer Suzy from girl band missA (No.45). Also named were singer Jei from girl band Fiestar (No.48), former member of Girls’ Generation Jessica Jung (No.57), actress Song Hye-kyo (No.67), singer Seulgi from girl band Red Velvet (No. 71) and singer Song Ji-eun from girl band SECRET (No. 99).ADec 29, 2015
All the buzz is about EXID's Honey Honey of the K-pop girl band EXID / Korea Times fileWhile Seolhyun of AOA reigned in 2015, Honey of K-pop girl band EXID is expected to earn high popularity next year, a survey says.In Genie and mobile screen lock service Cash Slide’s survey of 1,026 customers, aged from their teens to their 30s, Honey was voted the No.1 star born in the Year of the Monkey expected to rise higher next year, which is the Year of the Monkey.Honey, 23, received votes from 46.2 percent of respondents.A second girl band member born in the Year of the Monkey and tipped to rise to stardom next year was Soyou of Sistar, with votes from 21.6 percent of respondents. Moonbyul of Mamamoo followed. Dec 29, 2015
Big Bang, EXO head year's music charts Big Bang tops digital charts this year. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBig Bang and EXO topped digital and album charts this year, respectively. No K-pop girl bands were in the top 10.According to the final result counted from January to Dec. 25, Big Bang’s “Bang Bang Bang,” “Loser” and “Bae Bae” ranked first, second and fourth on Gaon’s digital charts that tracked downloads. Big Bang accounted for 10 percent of the top 100 downloads, including G-Dragon and Taeyang’s “Good Boy” and “Let’s Not Fall In Love” in the top 100.Girl group Miss A was 11th, followed by another girl group, Sistar, 12th in digital sales.EXO records the highest number of album sales this year. / Korea Times fileMeanwhile, in album sales, EXO’s second EP, “EXODUS (Korean version),” the repackaged version of the second EP "Love Me Right (Korean version)” and “EXODUS (Chinese version)" ranked first, second and third, respectively.Boy band Bangtan Boys (BTS) was fourth. Girls’ Generation Dec 29, 2015
EXID 하니, 내년 '대박'날 원숭이띠 걸그룹 멤버 1위 걸그룹 이엑스아이디(EXID)의 하니 / 코리아타임스걸그룹 이엑스아이디(EXID)의 하니(23)가 내년 솔로로 큰 인기를 얻을 것으로 기대되는 원숭이띠 걸그룹 멤버 1위에 뽑혔다. 음원서비스 지니와 모바일 잠금화면 서비스 캐시슬라이드는 지난 17일 캐시슬라이드 10~30대 고객 1천26명을 대상으로 '2016년 원숭이띠 해 솔로 데뷔하면 대박 인기를 얻을 것으로 기대되는 원숭이띠 걸그룹 멤버'를 모바일 설문 조사한 결과 하니가 1위(46.2%)에 선정됐다고 29일 밝혔다. 2위는 씨스타의 소유(21.6%), 3위는 마마무의 문별(17.0%)이 뒤를 이었다. 하니는 남성 응답자가 52%, 여성 응답자가 48%로 고르게 기대감을 나타냈으며 소유와 문별은 여성 응답자 비율이 각각 62.6%, 68.9%로 높았다. 여성 응답자 중 30대는 소유, 10대는 문별이 큰 인기를 얻을 것으로 예상했다. 응답자들은 이들이 두각을 나타낼 것으로 기대하는 분야로 하니는 예능 프로그램(58.6%), 소유와 문별은 신곡 출시(각각 63.5%, 48.8%)를 꼽았다. 올해 하니는 이엑스아이디 활동뿐 아니라 다양한 예능 프로그램에서 활약했으며 빅스의 보컬 켄과 듀엣곡 '빈틈'을 선보였다. 소유도 씨스타로 성공적인 활동을 펼친 데 이어 십센치의 권정열과 듀엣곡 '어깨'를 발표해 사랑받았다. 문별은 마마무의 히트곡 '음오아예'로 인기를 얻었다. (연합뉴스) Dec 29, 2015
