iKON to go the distance for Christmas Rookie K-pop band iKON / Courtesy of SoompiSuper rookie K-pop band iKON, which made its debut this year, will release its first full album on Dec. 24, Yonhap reports.YG Entertainment, the band’s agency, revealed a teaser poster on Saturday.The seven-member boy band topped the charts with its single “My Type.”Hit singles “Rhythm ta”followed in October and “Apology” in November.The band also took home best new talent honors at all the nation’s music award ceremonies this year.Dec 13, 2015
Popular chef returns to 'My Little Television' /Screen captures from MBCChef and entrepreneur Baek Jong-won made a return appearance Saturday in “My Little Television,” a show aired on the network MBC, five months after he stepped down.In the episode, Baek was featured among four other hosts including comedian Kim Gura, popular webcomic artist EMalyun, mixed martial artist Kim Dong-hyun and stylist Han Hye-yeon.In the unscripted show, Baek shows viewers how to make meals easily so they can learn how to cook with minimal difficulties. The show is broadcast via the Internet. After it is shown, viewers can ask the hosts questions in a chat room.Netizens welcomed Baek’s return and the chef also said that he had missed them.Baek stepped down from the show when reports surfaced that his father was questioned by the police for allegedly sexually harassing a female golf caddie. The senior Baek denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted by Daejeon District Court in October.Dec 13, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Rain drenches crowd with music and love Rain performs in his "THE SQUALL Rain in Seoul" concert held Saturday at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul. / YonhapBy Kim Da-heeActor and Singer Rain held his first concerts, “THE SQUALL Rain in Seoul,” in four years at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium on Dec. 12.The concerts, over three days from Dec. 11-13, marked the beginning of his world tour “THE SQUALL,” which will take Rain, real name is Jung Ji-hoon, to Australia and the U.S., as well as China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.Rain, 33, who debuted with the album “Bad Guy” in 2002, opened with “It’s Raining,” which was greeted with roars from the audience.“It's been so long. I've been dying to meet all of you,” he said after singing two more songs “I’m Coming,” and “Hip Song.”“It’s my second world tour concert in Seoul. It’s been eight years and four years since my last world tour concert and Seoul concert, respectively.”He then continued with ballDec 13, 2015
Cooking out, interior design in Poster for JTBC’s new show “Old house, New House” / Courtesy of JTBCBy Kwon Ji-younEntertainers are finally moving out of the kitchen, but viewers are not yet welcoming the change.With “cook TV” now losing luster, JTBC has its crew set on turning interior design into the latest wrinkle in entertainment. The broadcaster’s “Old House, New House,” which premiered Thursday, brings a celebrity’s home to the studio, where experts and self-proclaimed connoisseurs provide ideas and advice for a home makeover.The emcees, Jeon Hyun-moo and Kim Gu-ra, lead a star panel that includes TV personality Hong Seok-cheon, designer Hwang Jae-keun, comedian Jung Jun-ha and singer Jung Joon-young, among others. Each panelist teams up with an interior design expert in a competition of sorts.“We have been doing a lot of thinking about what will come after the enthusiasm for cook TV subsides, and we’re pretty sure it’ll be interior design,” producer Sung Chi-kyung told reporters, Wednesday. “Interior design has seen very littDec 11, 2015
Yoon Eun-hye apologizes over design fuss Singer and actress Yoon Eun-hye has apologized for allegedly copying fashion designs for a Chinese TV fashion show.Yoon appeared at Lotte Department Store in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu in Seoul on Friday morning in a promotion for fashion brand Samantha Thavasa, along with Australian model Miranda Kerr.Yoon, the brand’s model for Korea, was appearing in public for the first time since the controversy erupted.She was posing for the media when she suddenly made the apology.“I apologize for the concerns over the controversy,” she reportedly said. “I will not disappoint the public anymore and will do my best.”The controversy broke out in August when Yoon introduced her fashion designs on “The Goddesses’ New Outfit.” Her balloon-shaped dress with an illustration that appeared similar to a dress from the 2015 fall/winter line of Dolce and Gabbana and a black dress similar to a design from BCBG MAXAZRIA became the center of criticism for alleged plagiarism.In October, Yoon’s management company, J Army Entertainment, said she would not joDec 11, 2015
Detained K-pop girl band returns to Korea Oh My GirlGirl band Oh My Girl returned to Korea Friday morning after they were refused entry to the United States because of customs issues with their costumes and props, media reports said.The eight-member band left for Los Angeles on Wednesday to shoot photos for their coming album. They also planned to participate in “Unforgettable 2015,” an international gathering for celebrities and music producers in Asia, to promote the album.Customs officers at Los Angeles International Airport held the band for 15 hours after they cleared immigration.WM Entertainment, which manages the band, then decided to send the girls back to Korea.A company insider was quoted in reports as saying the company and a U.S. lawyer are investigating the incident.Dec 11, 2015
Former idol singer strips for adult movies Viki, former member of girl band Dal Shabet, from “A Pharisee"Former idol girl band Dal Shabet member Viki is causing controversy for nude scenes in adult movies.Media reports said she appeared naked in a bedroom scene in her first movie, “A Pharisee” (2014). The movie, according to reports, is the first in Korea to feature an idol star nude in a bedroom scene.Viki’s other erotic film, “Kind Sister-in-Law,” opened in theaters in September.Viki from poster of movie “Kind Sister-in-Law”Viki left the band in 2012 and briefly took a job as a weather-woman on JTBC News. She debuted as an actress in 2011.Dal Shabet made headlines Thursday when Jiyul and Kaeun left after their contracts expired.Happy Face Entertainment, which manages the band, was quoted as saying the band will return with four members next month.Dec 11, 2015
박신혜, 웨이보 팔로워 1천만 돌파…韓여배우 최초 배우 박신혜 / Korea Times file배우 박신혜의 중국 웨이보 계정 팔로워 수가 1천만명을 돌파했다. 10일 박신혜의 소속사 솔트엔터테인먼트에 따르면 박신혜의 웨이보 팔로워는 9일을 기점으로 1천만명을 넘어섰으며 이는 한국 여자배우로서는 최초다. '천국의 계단'으로 데뷔한 박신혜는 '미남이시네요' '상속자들' '피노키오' 등 출연작마다 중국에서 큰 인기를 얻었다. 소속사 관계자는 "박신혜가 가진 특유의 생명력과 매 작품 안에서 최선을 다하는 모습, 팬 분들과 진심으로 소통하는 다정다감한 모습을 바다 건너에서도 사랑해주시는 것 같다"며 "앞으로도 한국의 여배우로서 더 좋은 모습 보여드릴 수 있도록 노력할 것"이라고 감사를 전했다. 박신혜는 조정석·도경수와 함께 영화 '형'을 촬영 중이다. (연합뉴스)Dec 10, 2015
Star couple to appear on“Superman Returns” /Korea Times fileStar couple Eugene and Ki Tae-young will appear on a KBS reality TV show with their baby daughter.The family will appear on “Superman Returns, a program about celebrity fathers spending time with their young children.Mixed martial arts fighter Choo Sung-hoon, comedian Lee Hwi-jae, football player Lee Dong-gook and actor Song Il-gook have appeared on the program. Eugene, a former member of first generation idol band S.E.S, married actor Ki in 2011. Their daughter Ro-hee was born in April. Dec 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Kim Yong-jun dating actress Park Hye-won SG WANNABE's Kim Yong-jun / YonhapSG WANNABE’s Kim Yong-jun is dating actress Park Hye-won, Yonhap reports.The news of Kim’s romance comes in the wake of news that his former girlfriend Hwang Jeong-eum also has a new love.SG Wannabe’s Kim Young-jun is dating actress Park Hye-won, Yonhap reports.The news of Kim’s romance comes in the wake of news that his former girlfriend Hwang Jeong-eum also has a new love. Park Hye-won / Yonhap“Kim and Park are dating,” said CJ E&M, Kim’s agency. “Because Park is no longer active in the industry, we are not aware of future plans,” the agency said.Park, 28, a Konkuk University graduate, has starred in such dramas as “Bad Woman, Good Woman” (2007), “Time of Dog and Wolf,” (2007) and “On the Way Home” (2009). But since then, she has remained largely out of the limelight.Meanwhile, Kim, 31, and his former girlfriend Hwang split after nine years, it was reported in May.The news that Hwang was dating golfer-turned-businessman Lee Young-don broke this week. Dec 10, 2015
