Anticipation grows for Lee Young-ae, Song Seung-heon drama Actors Song Seung-heon, left, and Lee Young-ae / YonhapHallyu star Song Seung-heon says he never dreamed he would co-star with top actress Lee Young-ae.“I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes” Song told a press conference at Seamark Hotel in Gangenung, Gangwon Province on Monday. The eastern province will feature in many scenes for the upcoming drama “Saimdang, the Herstory.”Lee will play Sin Saimdang (1504-1551), a painter from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) who is better known as the mother of Confucian scholar Lee Yul-gok (1536-1584). Lee will also play a double role as a modern woman, a college lecturer in art history.Song films a scene at Ojukheon, Gangneung, Gangwon Province. / YonhapThe drama has been much anticipated since she starred in “Jewel in the Palace” (2003).For her part, Lee said she wants to bring out Saimdang as a real figure, not one that is etched in the Korean 50,000 won note.“I chose this drama so we could tackle what it means to educate childrenNov 30, 2015
Indiscreet 'Real Men' draws fire MBC's “Real Men” accidentally showed resident registration number of Lee Yi-kyung, right, during the show. / Screen capture from YouTube TV entertainment show “Real Men” is in trouble after accidentally revealing the resident registration number of actor Lee Yi-kyung, jeopardizing the security of his personal information.In Sunday’s episode of the non-scripted MBC show -- in which celebrities are invited to experience military training -- Lee was diagnosed with an illness and applied to miss a training session.When the camera zoomed in on the form, it showed his resident registration number -- and the editors failed to cut it or hide it.Viewers have criticized the network for putting the star in danger of information theft.Sunday’s episode also drew fire for using a Japanese military march as background music, which viewers found uncomfortable.The producers have apologized to netizens and military officials involved in the show.In September, the program angered viewers when it showed female celebrities making fun of a male training officeNov 30, 2015
Ha Ji-won to attend HK lighting ceremony / Korea Times FilesActress Ha Ji-won will attend Swarovski’s Christmas lighting ceremony “Christmas in the Air” at Hong Kong International Airport on Dec. 1.“Ha Ji-won is the only Korean star who was invited to the event,” her management agency Haewadal Entertainment said Monday.The ceremony heralds the end of the year for many people at the airport.After the event, Ha will take part in a photo shoot for Cosmopolitan Hong Kong.Meanwhile, she is shooting a film with Taiwanese actor Bolin Chen for a Korea-China co-production film called “Deadly Love”. Nov 30, 2015
Rapper Zico's Twitter account hacked Zico from "Tough Cookie" music video / Screen capture from YouTube Rapper Zico, who is reportedly about to release a mini album, says his Twitter account has been hacked.The incident is the latest of what he claimed on Monday is a series of hacking incidents.The tracklist from Zico's upcoming mini album / Courtesy of InstagramSeven Seasons, the rapper’s management company, was quoted on Monday as saying the star, 23, is depressed about the repeated incidents.But other reports point out that the incidents, which appear to be unlucky for the member of boy band Block B, may actually mean the album will be a success -- based on a Korean adage that says a series of mishaps is always followed by a fortunate event.Nov 30, 2015
Suzy disappoints with pansori movie Suzy, top, and Ryu Seung-ryong from "The Sound of a Flower" / Courtesy of NaverThe Korean movie“The Sound of a Flower,” starring idol singer Suzy from missA, has disappointed critics.After its opening last Thursday, reviewers and bloggers fired volleys at the movie, criticizing its poor screenplay.The reviews said the movie, whose production began nearly a year ago, looked as if the scenes were dully patched together.The film also failed to maximize the dramatic impact expected from a romance between Jin Chae-sun (Suzy), Korea's first female pansori during the 19th century Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), and her teacher Shin Jae-hyo (Ryu Seung-ryong), reviewers said.Bloggers lampooned the movie as well, saying only Suzy’s fans would want to watch.Before the official opening, some reports described the film as “a movie made for and made by Suzy.”After the opening, viewers rated the movie a horrendous 1-2 out of 10.“Continuing from his last movie ‘The Piper’ (2015), Ryu has once again tasted a bitter ticket-sales bust with his recent movNov 30, 2015
'사임당, 더 허스토리' 촬영장 공개…'제2 한류 붐' 기대 한류스타 이영애, 송승헌 주연의 드라마 '사임당 더 허스토리'(사임당 the Herstory)' 촬영현장 공개 월드프로모션 행사가 30일 강릉에서 열린다. 드라마 사전 홍보와 '제2의 한류 붐' 확산을 위해 마련됐다. 강원도와 한국관광공사, 제작사인 그룹에이트, 엠퍼러엔터테인먼트코리아(EEK)가 공동으로 추진하며, 강릉시가 후원한다. 드라마 '대장금' 이후 12년 만에 안방극장에 복귀하는 이영애와 송승헌의 만남으로 뜨거운 관심을 받고 잇다. 이번 행사에는 일본, 중국, 대만, 싱가포르, 말레이시아, 이란 등 7개국 외국 취재진과 국내언론 매체 관계자 등 250여명이 참여한다. 극 중 중요한 배경을 이루는 강릉 오죽헌과 선교장의 촬영 현장을 공개하고 기자간담회를 여는 형식으로 진행될 예정이다. 이어 '강원 관광의 밤' 행사도 펼쳐진다. 미리 가보는 사임당 촬영지 등 강원관광 홍보와 함께 드라마 성공기원 붓글씨 퍼포먼스, 축하공연 등의 행사를 진행할 계획이다. 외국 언론매체를 대상으로 사임당 촬영지인 춘천, 강릉, 평창, 정선 등 팸투어도 해 관광자원을 홍보할 방침이다. 이주익 도 문화관광체육국장은 29일 "도가 '킬러콘텐츠'로 육성하는 영화·드라마 산업을 통해 한류의 원조인 강원관광을 널리 알릴 계기로 삼겠다"고 말했다. 한편 사임당, 더 허스토리는 조선시대 사임당 신씨의 삶을 재해석한 작품이다. 천재화가 사임당의 예술혼과 불멸의 사랑을 담은 100% 사전 제작 드라마다. 이영애는 한국 미술사를 전공한 대학강사와 신사임당 1인 2역을 맡았다. 우연히 발견한 사임당 일기와 의문의 미인도에 얽힌 비밀을 풀어나가는 과정을 과거와 현재를 오가며 다채로운 연기로 그려낼 예정이다. 송승헌은 사Nov 29, 2015
K-pop boy band EXO to release winter album EXO's winter album "Sing for You" / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop boy band EXO will release a seasonal special album in December, SM Entertainment said Friday.Titled “Sing For You,” the album will be released on Dec. 10. Fans can expect to see the 12-member group perform via the Naver broadcasting app the same day.Band members will also talk about what they have been doing lately.SM did not say where the performance would take place.But the agency said the album was to thank the band’s fans for their continued support, especially the band’s second EP “EXODUS,” and the repackaged version of it “Love Me Right.” Nov 29, 2015
Seol Hyun on a roll Seol Hyun / YonhapNothing seems to go wrong for Seol Hyun, of K-pop band AOA (Ace of Angels).At the Blue Dragon Awards _ Korea’s traditional movie awards ceremony _ on Friday, Hyun, 20, won the Popularity Award for her role in the film “1970 Gangnam Blues.” In the film, which opened in January, Hyun _ who is also the model for mobile carrier SK telecom _ plays the younger sister of hallyu heartthrob Lee Min-ho. Hyun has also appeared in such television dramas as “My Daughter Seoyoung.” Actor Yoo Ah-in (“The Throne”) won the Best Actor award and Lee Jung-hyun (“Alice in Earnestland”) won the Best Actress Award.Ace of Angels, which has enjoyed a big year with such hits as “Heart Attack,” performed at the awards ceremony.Nov 29, 2015
Brown Eyed Soul hit concert road after two years R&B band Brown Eyed Soul will hold a national tour next month, In Next Trend Company said Thursday.The tour will begin in Gwangju on Dec. 12 and the band will play in Daegu on Dec. 18. The tour continues in Ilsan, Busan and Incheon.Titled “Soul 4 Real,” the Seoul concert will be at Olympic Park on Feb. 13-14.Fans have been waiting a long time for the concerts, as the band’s last performance was “Thank Your Soul,” in 2013.The band will perform new songs from their fourth album, which will be released before the concert, the company said. Nov 26, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Force with SM after EXO's 'Star Wars' push Sehun, on top, and Baek Hyun from EXO's "Lightsaber" music video / Screen capture from YouTube SM Entertainment and Walt Disney could extend their business relationship after Korean boy band EXO released “Lightsaber” to promote “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”With the movie to hit Korean theaters on Dec. 17, the 12-member hallyu megastar band released the dance number as a single on Nov. 11, along with a music video -- “EXO/Star Wars Collaboration Project” -- and magazine photos under the movie’s theme. A media report Thursday said the band took on the promotion to back Walt Disney’s bid to make the movie appeal to a younger audience. The movie is the latest installment of the “Star Wars” franchise that began in 1977.Disney has had difficulty attracting younger people to the movie and reportedly welcomed EXO as an ideal promoter.The deal also gives SM an opportunity to spread its celebrities more extensively globally by becoming the only entertainment content developer in Korea to have a partnership with a HolNov 26, 2015
