Actress Kim Hye-jung dies in traffic accident /YonhapActress Kim Hye-jung has died after a taxi hit her.Kim, 74, was walking on the crossroad near her house in Seocho, Gangnam District, at 4:20 a.m., on her way to an early morning church service, when the accident happened. Police said she died on the way to hospital.Kim starred in more than 200 films after debuting in 1958 with “The Spring.” She retired in 1969 after marrying Choi Won-suk, a former president of Dong AH Group. The couple ended the marriage five years later. Nov 19, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Lee Chun-soo chases TV role Lee Chun-soo/ YonhapRetired footballer Lee Chun-soo, 34, wants to build a career as a TV personality, Star News reported Thursday.Lee retired from football last month after 13 years. He played as a forward for the national team in the 2002 World Cup, the 2005 Summer Olympics and the 2006 World Cup.After the 2002 World Cup, he moved to Real Sociedad of Spain, becoming the first Korean to play in the Spanish league. Lee transferred to Al-Nassr in 2009 after joining Suwon Samsung and the Chunnam Dragons.Lee returned to the K-league in 2013.Lee told Star News he wants to begin his “second life.”“I always wanted to be a broadcaster,” Lee said. “I’ve received many offers to host or be a guest on TV programs.”Lee said his role model is Kang Ho-dong, a popular TV host and comedian, who is a former Korean traditional wrestler.Many athletes have switched to the entertainment industry. Former basketball player Seo Jang-hoon recently began appearing in reality shows, and former baseball player Yang Joon-hyuck has starred in a TV series with North Korean Nov 19, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Actor's devotion to mom warms viewer's hearts Park Sang-min, left, from "General’s Son III" (1992) / Screen capture from YouTubeActor Park Sang-min from the “General’s Son” movie trilogy (1990-1992) made headlines Wednesday after a TV documentary showed his devotion to his disabled mother.EBS program “Real Theater” followed Park and his stroke-affected mother’s trip to Japan over two episodes, starting last week.Park, who divorced in 2010 and battled his former wife over alimony until 2014, showed his heartwarming side as he cared for his mother. This was in contrast to his usual tough-guy image, reminiscent of his most popular role as Kim Du-han from the movie, which is based on a true story. In it, he plays the leader of a gang hustling the yakuza during the Japanese Colonial period.Park said one of the reasons for the divorce was that he did not like his wife’s attitude to his mother, who had the stroke five years ago.Tuesday’s episode changed viewers’ opinions of Park from last week’s show, in which he caused controversy by demonstrating how he slapped his forNov 18, 2015
Roy Kim returns with third album Roy Kim /Courtesy of CJ E&MSinger Roy Kim will make a comeback with his third album on Dec. 4, CJ E&M said Wednesday.The singer uploaded a teaser image on his social media pages, saying his new songs will be “full of the sensibility of winter.”Kim debuted in 2013 with hit song “Spring Spring Spring,” after competing in survival audition program “Superstar K” in Korea.He also participated in three soundtracks for popular TV series: “Reply 1994,” “Pinocchio” and “Twenty Again.” Nov 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
CL surprises with new song release CL /Courtesy of YG EntertainmentCL, a member of K-pop girl band 2NE1, will release a solo track later this week, YG Entertainment said Wednesday.Titled “Hello Bitches,” the new song will be unveiled at 9 p.m. Saturday.YG posted a teaser image last week on its official blog saying “Who’s Next?” and “11.21 21:00.” Questions were raised then over which YG singer would make a comeback.CL’s new song release here is rather unexpected because she has been preparing for a solo debut in the United States with American talent manager Scooter Braun, who helped Psy make the big leap to the U.S. market.Nov 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
TVXQ, Super Junior singers enlist Choi Si-won, left, and Max ChangminSingers Max Changmin, from boy band duo TVXQ, and Choi Si-won, from Super Junior, begin mandatory military service Thursday.The stars will start their 21-month service as members of the National Police Agency.Choi made headlines on Wednesday when fashion magazine High Cut released some stylish photos.He recently finished MBC TV drama “She was Pretty,” in which he played a world-famous novelist who pretends to be a magazine journalist. He eventually falls in love with the show’s leading female character.Max Changmin debuted with TVXQ in 2003 and survived its transition from five members to two.Choi started in K-pop with Super Junior in 2005.Nov 18, 2015
EXID wants 'HOT PINK' to deliver final blow K-pop girl band EXID / YonhapIn a parallel universe, South Korean girl group EXID as we know it may not have been as lucky.The five-member act has had an unconventional break to K-pop success, with "Up & Down" belatedly topping the charts after a video of member Hani dancing to the song went viral on Facebook.In April, the group successfully carried that momentum with its second EP "AH YEAH," which could be heard at every corner this summer.But EXID wouldn't consider itself a true K-pop powerhouse unless "HOT PINK," its latest single out Wednesday, hits a home run, too."People around us have been telling us that the third single is the really important one," member Solji told Yonhap News Agency in an interview last week. "They said the third one determines your long-term success. So we're feeling even more pressure than before."Fortunately, "HOT PINK" was already topping five music charts as of 8 a.m. With a catchy refrain punctuating EXID's characteristically soulful melody, the track doesn't veer off too much from the group's previous two hits "Up & Down" and "AH YEAH."ThouNov 18, 2015
Singer Yoo Seung-jun files lawsuit over visa Singer Yoo Seoung-joon / Korea Times fileKorean born American singer Steve Yoo, better known as Yoo Seung-jun here, has filed a lawsuit after being denied a visa to enter the country.The singer prompted a controversy when he obtained American citizenship, for what was decried here, as an attempt to evade military conscription in 2002.Since then, Yoo has been banned from entering the country or regaining Korean nationality.Yoo submitted a petition against the consul general at the consulate general in Los Angeles to the Seoul Administration Court Oct. 21, demanding that a visa issuance rejection be lifted, said the court Wednesday.He reportedly demanded an F-4 visa, usually issued by the government to Koreans residing overseas.Nov 18, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
Fans fear for 'Infinity Challenge' (Left) Kim Tae-ho, fourth from left, with members of "Infinity Challenge" “Infinity Challenge” director Kim Tae-ho has dismissed fan concerns about the popular program following the departure of Jeong Hyung-don.Jeong has stopped all his TV work because of an anxiety order.Kim, who turned around the fortunes of the MBC program, which faced a possible axing in 2006, told a local paper the program would survive.He said people often mentioned “crisis” when referring to the show but he welcomed the comments because he used them as a source of content.The success of the show is based on the wit and skill of its six regular members.Beside Jeong’s departure, Noh Hong-chul and Gil left the show after police charged them with driving under the influence of alcohol. Gil left in April last year and Noh in November.Their absence was filled in May by funny idol singer Hwang Kwang-hee from boy band ZE:A. But Jeong’s departure has left fans wondering whether the program can continue. They also complained that Park Myung-soo is not as funny as he was. &ldNov 18, 2015
Oh Hyuk covers “Girl” for “Reply 1988” /Courtesy of CJ E&MBand Hyukoh’s leader Oh Hyuk will sing Lee Moon-se’s “Girl” for tvN cable drama series “Reply 1988.”Hyukoh’s management agency, Highground, has released a teaser video of the song on its official SNS, raising expectations for Oh Hyuk’s cover.In the video, an old cassette player is seen on a table in a quiet neighborhood, allowing people to reminisce while Lee’s song plays.The cassette player is soon flipped to show the words “2015 Oh Hyuk’s ‘Girl’” and his version plays.Oh’s track will be released at midnight on Nov. 21. Nov 18, 2015
