KARA likely to be disbanded KARA / Courtesy of DSP EntertainmentK-pop band KARA will be disbanded next month, industry sources and media reports said Monday.Three of its members _ Park Gyu-ri, Han Seung-yeon and Goo Hara _ have been looking for new agencies since late 2015, because they will not renew their contracts, which will end at the start of February, with DSP Media.The trio's exit leaves only Heo Young-ji, who joined in 2014. It remains unclear whether DSP Media will launch a new group and keep the name KARA, but Feb. 2 will be the end of the four-member act.Goo is expected to move to an agency that has a strong overseas presence, such as Keyeast, SM or JYP Entertainment. Han and Park are also rumored to be looking for companies that can help their acting careers, sources say.KAKA debuted in 2007 and had multiple hits including “Mister” and “Lupin.” But the band had break-up issues when original members Kang Ji-young and Nicole Jung left in 2014. Kang stared an acting career in Japan and Jung will release a second solo album in March.The band has been more active in Japan since 2Jan 11, 2016
Actor Jang speaks out about plans Actor Jang Keun-suk / YonhapTop hallyu actor Jang Keun-suk wants to be recognized as an actor in Korea again.“You may be a hallyu star, but without a domestic base, it can feel empty,” Jang, 29, he told Yonhap news agency on Sunday. “I will really work hard in Korea this year.”Jang is expected to return to the small screen early this year in his first television drama and first Korean work in three years.The former child actor was largely missing from the Korean entertainment scene in 2015 over tax evasion allegations.Despite explanations from his agency, Jang was forced to drop out of tvN's reality entertainment show “Three Meals a Day” earlier 2015.Jang said he had been shocked and pained by people’s response to the allegations, but added that he had worked hard and legitimately for his earnings.In the Yonhap interview, Jang said his family was once poor, with his father driving a taxi and his mother washing dishes in a restaurant.These days, Jang, who is highly also popular in Japan and China, is more established financially.He said that wJan 10, 2016
Girls' Generation to star on Chinese show Girls’ Generation / Courtesy of SM Entertainment K-pop band Girls’ Generation will feature on a special Chinese TV show “2016 Jiangsu TV Spring Festival,” SM Entertainment said Sunday.The show, which will air in China on Feb. 8, is staged annually to celebrate Chinese New Year’s Day, one of the country’s biggest holidays.Chinese actors Li Ming, Kwok Fushing and Sha Baoliang will also appear.Girls’ Generation will perform several hits, including “Gee” and “Lion Heart.” Jan 10, 2016
장근석 "양화대교는 내 얘기…가난했고 미친듯이 살았다" /연합뉴스 "올해는 국내에서 정말 가열차게 활동할 겁니다. 한류스타도 국내의 기반이 없으면 공허하죠. 배우로서 다시 국내에서 인정받고 싶어요." 장근석이 돌아온다. 우리나이로 올해 서른이 된 그는 상반기 중 드라마를 통해 시청자에게 인사할 예정이다. 그의 드라마 출연은 2013년 '예쁜 남자' 이후 3년 만이다. 아울러 국내 활동 역시 3년 만에 재개하게 된다. 애초 그는 지난해 1월 tvN '삼시세끼 어촌편'을 통해 자연인 장근석의 매력을 보여줄 기대에 부풀어 있었다. 하지만 촬영까지 다 해놓고 방송을 코앞에 둔 시점에서 터진 '탈세논란'으로 그는 2015년 국내 활동을 접어야했다. 할 말은 많아보였지만 입을 닫은 채 자신을 향해 쏟아진 손가락질과 비난을 견뎌낸 그는 서른을 앞두고 혹독하게 통과의례를 거친 듯 했다. 2016년을 맞아 새롭게 각오를 다진, 30대로 접어든 장근석을 최근 만났다. 너무 가난했고 그래서 돈을 벌기 위해 달려야했던 꽃미남 소년은 한류스타가 됐지만, 이후 방황도 했고 이런저런 뭇매도 맞았다. 그리고 이제 다시 출발선에 섰다. --지난 1년 어떻게 지냈나. 다음은 장근석과의 일문일답. ▲학교 열심히 다녔다. 한양대 대학원 연극영화학과 석·박사 통합과정에 재학 중이고 이제 2학기 남았다. 쉬지 않고 올해까지 해서 마치려고 한다. 학교를 다닐 수 있어서 정말 좋았다. 단편영화 4편을 찍었고 동료 학생들과 많이 어울렸다. 또 일본 등 해외에서도 부지런히 활동했다. --지난해 1월 탈세논란이 있었다. ▲기사가 터졌을 때 일본에 있었다. 믿지 않겠지만 나는 전혀 모르는 일이었다. 그리고 정확히 하고 싶은데 탈세를 했다는 게 아니라 '논란'이었다. 사람들의 반응에 너무 당황했고 속상했다. 순식간에 나는 '탈세범'이 되더라. 3주 동안 휴대전화도 끄고 나를 아는 Jan 10, 2016
'Reply 1988' sets another ratings record /Screen captures from tvNPopular TV drama “Reply 1988” on cable channel has set another record.The Friday/Saturday drama, which airs on tvN, registered a national rating average of 17.2 percent, and 17.8 percent for the 18th episode on Jan. 9, according to Nielsen Korea and reports.The retro-drama attracts viewers mostly in their 40s (20.6 percent). People in their 30s posted 15.7 percent, and people in their 20s posted 12.8 percent.The drama is about five families in Ssangmun-dong, northern Seoul, in 1988 when Korea hosted its first Summer Olympics and was on the cusp of a boom.The main plot is about finding a husband for Sung Deok-sun (Girl’s Day’s Hye-ri) out of two male characters _ Choi Taek (Park Bo-gum) and Kim Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol). Jan 10, 2016
BigBang's Seungri drops fraud complaint against colleague Seungri /Courtesy of YG Entertainment Seungri of the K-pop boy band BigBang has dropped a complaint he filed with the prosecution in which he accused a colleague of swindling him out of thousands of dollars, his management agency said Friday.Last month, Seungri told prosecutors that a female singer asked him to invest in her real estate business in 2014. He put down more than 2 billion won ($1.7 million) for the business which never took off, he said.The 25-year-old reconciled with the singer, identified only by her surname Shin, on Thursday, YG Entertainment said.“We had planned to deal with the situation together, but we heard he’d dropped the complaint,” the agency said, adding that it does not know any further details. “We only know that the complaint has been withdrawn. We don’t know any more about it since it’s his personal affair.”Shin debuted in 2003 and has two albums under her name. At the time she asked Seungri to invest in her business, she was running a talent management agency, which has since shut down.Meanwhile, BigJan 9, 2016
'Devil's Runway' seems more like entertainment show Model Soo Joo, left, and Han Hye-jin pose at the press conference of OnStyle’s new fashion survival show “Devil’s Runway” at Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of OnStyleBy Kim Jae-heun “Devil’s Runway,” cable channel OnStyle’s new fashion survival show, aims to become the next “Korea’s Next Top Model” series, but it looks like the show needs more development, judging by the 17 preview videos released online.The show’s preview clips, so far, have only reached 65 subscribers and have only gotten 85 “likes,” on Naver, the country’s no. 1 portal.The strong electronic beat at the start of the preview videos gives the impression that the episodes will depict scenes of fierce competition, but soon, it gives way to nothing more than a lame talent show for fashion models. They sing, they dance and they stage comedy acts, but nothing is related to fashion. The performances seem contrived and awkward.The four judges of “Devil’s Runway” lack experience.Jan 8, 2016
Hit TV show uses former president's home The house of Korea’s 10th president, Choi Kyu-hah, was used as a setting of tvN's "Reply 1988." Fans of tvN’s popular drama “Reply 1988” may be surprised to know that the house of Korea’s 10th president, Choi Kyu-hah (1919-2006), was used as part of the show’s setting.The Western-style, three-story house in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, in western Seoul, appeared as the home of one of the main characters, “Dong-ryong,” in the 10th and 15th episodes that aired in December, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.The house, which has some 500 of the president’s possessions, became a public gallery in 2013. Entry is free and visitors can see the house’s living room, guest room, reading room and kitchen, as well as a 50-year-old fan and a sofa made 30 years ago.Picture of Choi in the house / YonhapYonhap news agency said the house “looks like one of those ordinary mansions popular for middle-class families in the 1970-80s and reflects the president’s humble lifestyle.”Choi lived in the house from Jan 8, 2016
Weibo Night honors JYP, Nichkhun Park Jin-young, left, and Nichkhun as they attended "2015 Weibo Night" held Thursday at Beijing's Shangri-La Hotel. / Screen capture from YouTube Chinese award show “2015 Weibo Night” honored K-pop producer Park Jin-young and singer Nichkhun from boy band 2PM, Thursday.The annual show, which recognizes celebrities most talked about on China’s biggest social network site, Sina Weibo, was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing. It awarded Park, CEO of JYP Entertainment, “The Most Influential Producer of the Year” and the American-born Thai star “Male God of the Year.” Nichkhun gives an award speech. / Screen capture from YouTube “I would like to say thank you to my fans all around the world for supporting and loving me,” Nichkhun said in his award speech.“I hope I always make you guys proud. Happy new year.”The show recognized K-pop boy band BEAST, the only K-pop band invited to the event, as Asia’s most popular band in 2015.The show also awarded Lee Kwang-soo, Gary and Song Ji-hyo, sJan 8, 2016
Rain showcases K-pop hit with Lang Lang Jung Ji-hoon (stage name Rain) from "La Song" music video K-pop star and actor Jung Ji-hoon, whose stage name is Rain, will appear with Chinese pianist Lang Lang at a music festival in China.“Lang Lang & Friends Spring Music Festival” will be held Friday at Liaoning Stadium in Shenyang. Jung, 33, will perform his hit number “Ways to Avoid the Sun” from his second studio album, released in 2003, to Lang’s accompaniment.Lang will also collaborate with Chinese celebrities, including Alan Tam and Hua Chenyu.Lang Lang / Korea Times fileLang, 33, has performed with orchestras in Europe, the U.S. and China, as well as at various open-air venues including Central Park in New York and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.Jung debuted as a member of boy band Fanclub in 1998 and went solo in 2002. He has expanded his career to TV and film acting in and outside Korea. His work includes Hollywood movies “Speed Racer” (2008) and “Ninja Assassin” (2009) and Chinese film “For Love or Money” (2014).Jan 7, 2016
