Actress Han Ga-in to be mother Han Ga-in, Yeon Jung-hoon /Korea Times fileActress Han Ga-in, 33, who is married to actor Yeon Jung-hoon, 37, is expecting their first child, reports said Monday.After being married for 10 years, they are eager to become parents. Han’s pregnancy will be extremely pleasing news, especially since she suffered a miscarriage last year.Han has been staying at home and focusing on prenatal care, and is six months into her pregnancy, said her management company, BH Entertainment.Han debuted in 2002 when she appeared in a popular TV drama, “Sunshine Hunting. She met her husband Yeon when they both starred in a TV drama “Yellow Handkerchief” in 2004. Han married the actor in 2005. Nov 23, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Teamwork holds Girls' Generation well this year Girls' Generation at the press conference held Sunday at Gymnastics Gymnasium in Olympic Park, Seoul. From left, Yuri, Taeyeon, Hyoyeon, Sunny, Seohyun, Yoona, Tiffany and Sooyoung / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Ko Dong-hwanWith only a few hours remaining until the start of the second day of their fourth concert in Korea, idol girl band Girls’ Generation said at a press conference held Sunday that their teamwork has been particularly outstanding this year."Throughout our eight-year career in K-pop, I think this year marked the best regarding how well our teamwork kept us together," Hyoyeon said, recalling the band’s major tasks this year, including performing the single “Party” released this July, their fifth album “Lion Heart” this August, and appearing in reality TV program “Channel Sosi” on cable network OnStyle airing from July to September.“They are all fond memories that now make us smile.”“We have always tried to refresh our image with each concert in the past,” said Tiffany, who was the liveliest of theNov 22, 2015
CL tunes up with 'bitchy' single Scenes from CL's "Hello Bitches" music video / Screen capture from YouTubeRapper CL from Korean hip-hop girl band 2NE1, who has been working on her U.S. debut album for the past year, has released a solo tune, “Hello Bitches,” and an accompanying video.Teddy from YG Entertainment, which manages CL, and Jean Baptiste composed the song, and Danny Chung, Teddy, Baptiste and CL co-wrote the lyrics.Popular choreographer Parris Goebel co-ordinated the video, which features CL and female dancers.The song comes months before the release of the star’s much-anticipated U.S. debut album.CL, 24, has been working with foreign musicians such as American electronic music producers and DJs Skrillex and Diplo, and talent manager Scooter Braun.CL debuted with 2NE1 in 2009.Nov 22, 2015
비 "결혼은 인륜지대사…결정되면 직접 밝힐 것" 최근 배우 김태희(35)와 잇단 결혼설에 오른 가수 비(33)가 "결혼이 결정된다면 직접 말씀드리겠다"고 밝혔다. 비는 21일 자신의 인스타그램에 "결혼은 인륜지대사다. 그만큼 당사자에게는 큰 일"이라며 "그런 중대하고 큰 일이 결정된다면 제가 직접 말씀드리는 것이 저의 오랜 팬들과 여러분들에 대한 예의라고 생각한다"고 밝혔다. 비는 이어 "지금까지 여러 차례 결혼에 관련한 기사들이 나와 많은 분께 혼란을 드리는 것 같아 제 입으로 말씀드리는 게 맞는 것 같아 글을 올린다"며 "앞으로 저의 입으로 얘기하지 않는 이상 믿지 말아달라"고 잘라 말했다. 2011년 한 광고에 함께 출연하며 친분을 쌓은 비와 김태희는 2012년 가을부터 교제를 시작했고, 2013년 1월 1일 열애 사실이 공개된 뒤로 연인 사이를 이어오고 있다. 올해 몇 차례 두 사람의 결혼설이 흘러나왔으며 최근 증권가 정보지에도 둘의 결혼이 임박했다는 설이 제기됐으나 양측은 매번 부인했다. 이어 지난 20일 한 여성 월간지가 또 한 번 두 사람이 12월24일 국내 모처에서 조용히 결혼식을 치를 예정이라고 보도했고, 두 사람의 소속사는 즉각 부인했다. (연합뉴스) Nov 21, 2015
Psy to return to stage at MAMA Executive Vice President of Mnet Shin Hyung-kwan, center, speaks during a press conference at the CJ E&M building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of CJ E&MA poster advertizing the release of Psy’s new album / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop star Psy will hold his first performance after a break of three-and-a-half years at Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) at Asia World Expo (AWE) in Hong Kong, Dec. 2, a day after his new album is released.Industry insiders had already predicted that the singer would perform at MAMA, hosted by CJ E&M, after Psy’s agency YG Entertainment announced Dec. 1 as Psy’s official return date. However, CJ E&M neither confirmed nor denied the rumor until Wednesday.“All the musicians are subject to our casting for the show,” said Shin Hyung-kwan, executive vice president of Mnet, during a press conference Wednesday. “Everyone wants to see Psy at MAMA. But it is not the right time to tell. We will update you as soon as all the information is confirmed.”However, the rumoNov 20, 2015
iKON to perform first solo concert iKON / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop band iKON will stage its first solo concert next year, YG Entertainment said Friday.The concert, titled “Again,” will be held on Jan. 30-31 at the Olympic Gymnasium in southern Seoul.The band debuted in September with hit songs “My Type” and “Rhythm Ta.” It will release an album next month including two new songs, “Anthem” and “Apology,” which swept K-pop music charts when they were released on Nov. 16. Nov 20, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Kevin Oh wins Super Star K7 Kevin Oh / Courtesy of MnetKevin Oh has won the final of Mnet’s “Super Star K7.”Oh competed against Chun Danbi, the first female finalist, who is a former chorus singer.Oh sang “Blue Dream” in the first round and “Becomes Dream,” composed by veteran singer Shin Seung-hun, in the second.The program aired Thursday and the winner was decided on votes from the judges and viewers.Chun gained more votes from the judges, but Oh won because of online and text voting.Oh will receive 500 million won ($433,000), a Jaguar XE, an opportunity to perform at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and, most importantly, a record deal with a major label. Nov 20, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Rain, actress Kim Tae-hee deny wedding rumors K-pop star Rain, 33, and his actress girlfriend Kim Tae-hee, 35, denied Friday they will wed in December.The stars’ agencies said a women’s magazine’s report the two will marry on Dec. 24 was wrong.“How can there be a marriage that we don’t know about?” Rain’s agency, Rain Company, said. Rain has a concert scheduled for Shanghai on Dec. 25, the agency said. Rain is touring Asia and will perform in Seoul on Dec. 11-13.Kim’s agency also denied the rumor. The actress recently finished TV drama “Yongpal.”The couple have been dating since January last year and have repeatedly had to deny rumors of wedding bells this year.Nov 20, 2015
Heart attack kills actor Lim Hong-sik Lim Hong-sik /YonhapStage actor Lim Hong-sik has died after a heart attack.Lim, 62, had difficulty breathing after coming off stage at 10:19 p.m. Thursday.He was in “The Orphan of Zhao” at the National Theater Company of Korea. Police said he died at a hospital.Lim staged plays “Chimerica” and “Three Sisters.” He also starred in films “A Reason to Live” and “Crossing.”Nov 20, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Suzy sees former self in 'The Sound of a Flower' singer Singer actress Suzy / YonhapThe moment she picked up the script for "The Sound of a Flower," Suzy knew she had to be in the movie.A member of the girl group miss A, the 21-year-old had been asked to play Jin Chae-seon, an aspiring Korean opera singer in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) when women were banned from the stage.Suzy said reading the script had made her teary-eyed because she was able to relate with so much of the frustration and doubt Jin experiences."My parents didn't approve of my singing and dancing. So sometimes I hid the fact that I was going out to practice," she said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. "There were many times when I felt I wasn't good enough. I remember crying helplessly at the dance studio because I wanted to quit. I was so frustrated and sad."Luckily for Suzy, wanting to become a singer isn't a crime, as it was for Jin, a real historic figure who became Joseon's first female "pansori" singer in 1867.In the Lee Jong-pil feature, Suzy dresses as a man and adopts a Jeolla dialect, playing a very different role from that in "ArchitecturNov 20, 2015
