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
Adult talk show 'Witch Hunt' draws curtain From left, Huh Ji-woong, Shin Dong-yup, Sung Si-kyung and Yoo Se-yoon from "Witch Hunt" / Screen capture from YouTubeKorea’s popular adult TV talk show ‘Witch Hunt’ finishes Friday.The JTBC program has been running for the past two years and five months.Four hosts - comedians Shin Dong-yup and Yoo Se-yoon, singer Sung Si-kyung and media critic Huh Ji-woong - discuss sexuality from a male point of view.According to a media report, the program “fired up every Friday night even hotter.”A video released by the program’s producers online Wednesday showed the hosts leaving heart-felt messages with only one episode remaining to air.Dec 17, 2015
I looked like a monster after surgery: Jessi Jessi / Courtesy of InstagramKorean-American female hip-hop artist Jessi said she looked like “a monster” after plastic surgery.“I did my eyelids and nose,” the star, 27, revealed on TV talk show “Radio Star”, Wednesday.“After the surgery, my face broke my heart. I instantly asked the surgeon to get rid of the stitches. After about a year, the swelling naturally settled down. Some asked me whether I had another surgery to tone down the swelling.”The show’s hosts revealed pictures of her before the surgery and she admitted they showed she was prettier then. Jessi admitted on "Radio Star" she looked better before her plastic surgery (inbox). / Screen capture from YouTubeBut this year has been a red carpet one for Jessi. Her TV exposure on rap survival show “Unpretty Rapstar: Season 1” on Mnet from January to March ignited her fame. Although she did not win, she certainly won the public’s heart.Jessi’s TV exposure continued on military experience reality show “Real Men: Women’s Army Special&rdDec 17, 2015
올해를 빛낸 가수 1위 빅뱅…2위는 아이유 올해 '뱅뱅뱅', '루저'(Loser) 등 히트곡을 연이어 선보인 가수 빅뱅이 올해를 빛낸 가수로 꼽혔다. 빅뱅은 17일 여론조사기관 한국갤럽이 연말을 맞아 공개한 '올해를 빛낸 가수' 설문에서 응답자 15.5%의 선택을 받으며 1위에 올랐다. 빅뱅은 올해 5월부터 8월까지 매월 1일 두 곡의 신곡을 선보이는 '메이드'(MADE) 프로젝트 아래 '뱅뱅뱅', '루저', '맨정신', '배배' 등을 발표하며 연이어 음원차트 1위를 석권했다. 이들은 음원 내려받기·스트리밍 실적을 반영하는 시상식 '멜론 뮤직 어워드'(MMA)에서 아티스트상 등 5관왕을 휩쓸었으며 홍콩에서 열린 '엠넷 아시안 뮤직 어워즈'(MAMA)에서는 '올해의 노래상'과 '올해의 가수상' 등 4개 상을 받았다. 빅뱅은 지난 2007~2009년에 3년 연속 '올해를 빛낸 가수' 2위로 뽑혔고 2011년에도 2위에 선정됐으나 1위를 차지한 것은 올해가 처음이다. 빅뱅의 '뱅뱅뱅'은 7.2%의 선택으로 '올해의 가요'로도 선정됐다. 오승근의 '내 나이가 어때서'(4.6%), 임창정의 '또 다시 사랑'(4.3%), 아이유의 '마음'(3.9%), 이엑스아이디(EXID)의 '위아래'(3.6%)가 뒤를 이었다. 가수 아이유는 15.4%의 지지를 받으며 빅뱅과 근소한 차이로 2위에 올랐다. 아이유는 올해 초 MBC TV '무한도전 - 2015 영동고속도로 가요제'에서 개그맨 박명수와 '레옹'을 선보였고 뒤이어 발표한 새 미니앨범 '챗셔'(CHAT-SHIRE)로 주목받았다. 3위는 그룹 소녀시대(11.9%)에 돌아갔다. 지난해 멤버 제시카가 탈퇴하는 곡절을 겪었으나, 8인으로 체제를 정비하고서 5집 정규 앨범 '라이언 하트'(Lion Heart)를 발표했다. 대표곡 '라이언 하트'와 '파티'(PARTY) 등으로 음원 차트 상위권을 점령하며 저력을 과시했으며 최근엔 서울 올림픽공원 체조경기장에서 4번째 단독 콘서트를 열었다. Dec 17, 2015
Top actors to light up action film “Master” /Korea Times fileTop actors Lee Byung-hun, Kang Dong-won and Kim Woo-bin have both been cast in the new crime action film “Master.”“Master,” about the largest fraudsters in history and the criminal investigation team out to catch them, will be directed by Jo Ui-seok, known for “Cold Eyes” in 2013 and “The World of Silence” in 2006.Lee will play President Jin, the leader of the fraudsters, and Kang will play Kim Jae-myung, the head of the criminal investigation unit. Kim will play “Brain” who is faithful to President Jin.Filming of “Master” will begin in the first half of next year. Dec 17, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Seven art toys emblematizing idol groups placed in Cheongdam-dong /Screen capture from TwitterThe Gangnam district office has set up new “GangnamDols,” which emblematize top hallyu stars on the streets of Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam district in Seoul.The GangnamDols, a combination of the words “Gangnam”and “idols,” have been placed on the K-Star Road in Apgujeong-dong and Shinsa-dong districts, where Korea’s top entertainment management agencies such as S.M. Entertainment and JYP Entertainment are located, as part of efforts to attract foreign tourists.The art toys, which were set up in Feb, were about 10 groups, including 2PM, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation and EXO.The new three-meter-high GangnamDols symbolize seven idol groups, including B1A4, AOA, KARA, BLOCK-B and VIXX, beckoning foreign tourists in Cheongdam-dong, another area in Gangnam.The Gangnam district office announced yesterday it will hold a ceremony in front of the Galleria Department Store to celebrate the setting up new art toys.Gangnam Mayor Shin Yeon-hee and the groups related with the toys will participate in the ceremony.“We hoDec 17, 2015
