Actor Kim Hyun-joong's ex says she has his child Actor Kim Hyun-joong's ex-girlfriend said Monday she is "99.9 percent sure" her child is his, introducing a new twist to an ongoing legal battle between the two.The woman, identified only as a 31-year-old surnamed Choi, said via her attorney that a recent paternity test conducted at the Seoul National University College of Medicine confirmed that Kim is the biological father of her three-month-old child."Kim framed my client as a pathological liar and fraudster without any evidence," attorney Seon Jong-mun said in a statement. "He slaughtered her dignity by threatening her to 'take responsibility' in case the paternity test showed a negative result."The attorney called on Kim to "repent, apologize and show responsibility as the father of this child."The Kim-Choi saga started in August 2014 when Choi accused the actor, who is also a member of the boy band SS501, of abusing her and causing her to miscarry.Kim paid her 600 million won (US$508,000) in private to prevent her from embarrassing him publically but later realized that she may not have been pregnant after reviewing the rDec 21, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Ha Jung-woo, Jung Woo sign for ghost movie Ha Jung-woo (left), Jung Woo / Korea Times file Top actors Ha Jung-woo and Jung Woo have been cast in a new film, “Along With the Gods.”The film, based on Ju Ho-min’s web comic of the same title, is about Korean traditional ghosts in the world after death.After death, Kim Ja-hong, is brought to trial for 49 days with death angles (I cannot understand this). Koreans believe spirits stay in the world for 49 days before they depart.The Realize Pictures movie has a 15 billion won budget.Ha, 37, will play Kanglim, a messenger of death, but the role of Jung Woo,34, has not been disclosed.Cha Tae-hyun and Oh Dal-su have been considering starring roles in the film, but both have not decided. Dec 21, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'Reply 1988' sets ratings record A scene from "Reply 1988" / Korea Times fileCable channel drama “Reply 1988” has broken another record, averaging a 16 percent rating for its Saturday episode, Yonhap reported. Double-digit ratings for cable television dramas are still a rare achievement, although it is more common in TV dramas aired on networks.The retro-drama is about five families in Ssangmun-dong, Seoul, in 1988 when Korea hosted its first Summer Olympics and was on the cusp of entering its boom days. The drama airs Fridays and Saturdays on tvN and posted its highest rating of 17.4 percent for the 14th episode.With that feat, “Reply 1988” is becoming the most popular among the “Reply” editions - “Reply 1994” and “Reply 1997.” In the latest version, Sung Deok-sun (played by Girl’s Day’s Hye-ri) lives in Ssangmun-dong, where she and four male friends grow up before she marries one of them. Singling out the husband, whose identity is still under wraps, has been a central part of the “Reply” series. Dec 20, 2015
클라라,김현중부터 유승준,신은경까지…2015 연예계 스캔들 올해도 연예계는 바람 잘 날이 없었다. 스타들의 각종 스캔들과 의혹이 온라인을 뜨겁게 달구며 누리꾼의 입방아에 오르내렸다. 전 여자 친구의 임신, 이혼, 불륜 논란 등 사생활 문제를 비롯해 전 소속사와 분쟁, 만취난동, 원정 도박설 등 스캔들의 종류도 갖가지였다. 각종 사건은 진실 공방으로 치닫거나 진흙탕 싸움이 됐고, 이 과정에서 일부 스타들은 이미지에 치명타를 입고 활동을 중단하기도 했다. 온라인에서 '광클'(미치도록 빠르게 클릭)을 불러온 스타들의 힘겨웠던 한해를 돌아봤다. ◇ 김현중·서세원·강용석·바비킴 등…사생활 때문에 가수 겸 배우 김현중은 지난해부터 1년 넘게 계속된 전 여자 친구와 분쟁으로 이미지가 추락했다. 급기야 지난 2월에는 전 여자 친구의 임신 사실이 알려지며 낯뜨거운 폭로와 법적 공방이 계속됐다. 법원은 친자 확인을 위한 유전자 감정 수검 명령을 내렸고 지난 5월 입대한 김현중은 군 복무 중이던 이달 서울대학병원에서 전 여자 친구, 아이, 변호인과 참석해 친자 확인 검사를 받아야 했다. 지난해 5월 부인 서정희로부터 폭행 혐의로 피소된 방송인 서세원은 지난 5월 징역 6월에 집행유예 2년을 선고받았다. 지난해 쌍방이 이혼소송을 냈던 부부는 결국 8월 결혼 32년 만에 이혼에 합의했다. 방송인으로 활약한 강용석 변호사는 유명 블로거 '도도맘' 김미나 씨와 불륜설에 휩싸여 곤욕을 치렀다. 그는 불로거의 남편으로부터 고소를 당하는 등 논란에 휘말렸고 이 과정에서 두 사람이 해외에서 찍힌 사진 등이 공개돼 파장을 일으켰다. 결국 강 변호사는 지난 8월 모든 방송에서 하차했고 10월 김씨는 한 월간지를 통해 "불륜이 아니다"고 반박했다. 가수 바비킴은 지난 1월 미국행 비행기에서 만취해 난동을 부려 벌금형을 선고받았다. 항공사가 좌석 승급 당시 실수하는 Dec 20, 2015
Actors Won Bin, Lee Na-young become parents to son Actors Lee Na-young, left, and Won Bin / Yonhap Top actors Won Bin and Lee Na-young have recently welcomed the birth of their son, seven months after their small secret wedding held in eastern Gangwon Province, Yonhap reported Saturday.Lee recently gave birth to a son at a hospital in Seoul, and both mother and baby are doing fine.The couple tied the knot in May in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province.Dec 19, 2015
원빈, 이나영 부부, 결혼 7개월 만에 득남 지난 5월 강원도 정선에서 비밀리에 소박한 결혼식을 올린 톱스타 배우 원빈·이나영 부부가 최근 득남했다. 원빈과 이나영의 소속사 이든나인 오경하 이사는 "최근 이나영이 서울 모처 병원에서 아들을 출산했다"며 "산모와 아이 모두 건강하다"고 19일 밝혔다. 서울 서초구 방배동에 신접살림을 차린 두 배우는 결혼 생활을 시작한 지 두 달이 갓 지나 임신 소식을, 결혼한 지 7개월 만에 출산 소식을 전했다. (연합뉴스)Dec 19, 2015
Noh returns to TV amid criticism Noh Hong-chul, host of tvN’s new show “Dignity of My Room” speaks during a press conference at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunKorean entertainer Noh Hong-chul returns to tvN’s new TV show “Dignity of My Room” after a one year hiatus following a drunk-driving incident last year. However, the public still sees it as too early for Noh to return to television.Noh debuted in early 2004 with the cable TV show “Dr. No’s Pleasure Street” and walked the road to success by appearing on popular entertainment shows such as MBC’s “Come to Play” and “Infinite Challenge.” But it only took one incident to pull him down from fame when police arrested him for drunk driving. Noh withdrew from all his TV shows.Celebrities’ drunk-driving scandals have been reported from time to time and one the most infamous incidents involved Kim Sang-hyuk, a member of former boy band “Click-B,” in 2005. Kim said at the press conference at the time thatDec 18, 2015
Former SM stars rendezvous in China Jessica, left, and Kris from a Chinese TV variety program from Hunan TV / Courtesy of Naver blogJessica, a former member of K-pop band Girls’ Generation, and boy band EXO’s former member Kris have met for the first time at a public appearance in China.The two former SM Entertainment singers met Thursday for the shooting of a Chinese TV variety program from Hunan TV, a media report said.Photos showed the stars on stage being greeted by the crowd.The report said the program will air next month.In July, SM filed a damages suit against Kris for his alleged illegal appearance in Chinese films and advertisements. The singer, 24, ceased activities as an EXO member after he filed a lawsuit in Seoul to nullify his exclusive contract with SM in May last year.Jessica left Girls’ Generation in September last year after the company allegedly banned her from managing her fashion brand, BLANC.Dec 18, 2015
K-pop wannabes sing out loud Performance of "Pick Me" by 101 K-pop wannabes in "Produce 101" / Screen capture from YouTubeOver 100 young women are singing their hearts out to become members of a new K-pop girl band through audition program “Produce 101.”Mnet’s K-pop performance show, “M Countdown,” showed Thursday a video of 101 girls -- gathered from some 50 celebrity management companies in Korea -- performing EDM number “Pick Me.”Hallyu actor Jang Geun-seok introduced the girls, who performed dance moves with the song.Videos released on Friday showed the girls taking to the streets in a group and greeting passersby. Some introduced themselves separately in other videos, showing their skills.With the program scheduled for regular TV airing next month, “Produce 101” will select the 11 final band members from a vote by netizens.But some netizens have criticized the program.“For the girls, the program might be a good opportunity to promote themselves on TV before their debut as a singer,” one blogger said. “But the whole idea of the project sDec 18, 2015
Comedian sorry for hair-raising promo /Screen capture from Instagram Comedian Park Myung-su has apologized for promoting of his younger brother’s wig shop during MBC reality show “Infinite Challenge.” “I was stupid,” he said on his Instagram page. “The show staffers asked me to shoot the episode at the shop. They were looking for such places urgently, and I only thought I could help them.”In the episode aired on Dec. 12, Park visited the shop and tried several wigs.Some viewers questioned whether Park had tried to promote the wig shop because his photos are on the company’s website. Dec 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
