Psy to appear on news program /Korea Times filePsy will talk with announcer Sohn Suk-hee on the JTBC’s “Newsroom”on Thursday night.The star will talk about his preparation for the seventh album, and his life as a singer since he made his debut in 2001.Several stars _ such as actor Kang Dong-won, singers G-Dragon and Lee Seung-hwan _ have been invited to appear on the program.Psy made a huge comeback with “Chiljip Psy-da,” at the start of the month.His two new songs _ “Napal Baji” and “Daddy”_ topped the nation’s domestic music charts as soon as the music hit the airwaves.“Daddy” ranked 97th on Billboard’s “Hot 100” singles chart on Wednesday.The “Daddy” music video had also racked up more than 40 million views on YouTube as of Thursday.Psy will perform solo concerts from Dec. 24 at Olympic Park in Seoul. Dec 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Jung Woo-sung, Kim Ha-neul meet on big screen /Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentA new film featuring top actors _ Jung Woo-sung and Kim Ha-neul _ has been heavily anticipated by moviegoers for this winter.CJ Entertainment unveiled still photos of the new film “Don’t Forget Me” on Thursday.The film is about a man, Sukwon, played by Jung, who lost 10 years of his memory, and a mysterious woman, Jinyoung, played by Kim, whom Sukwon thinks might know him.In the still photos, Jung and Kim show an enormous range of feeling from the moment of falling in love to anxiety when Jung recovers his memory.The film premiers on Jan. 7. Dec 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Yim Si-wan returns with new film Yim Si-wan /Korea Times fileActor Yim Si-wan, from idol group ZE:A, is returning to the big screen with a new film, “Thinking of Elder Brother.”The film’s preview video has had 1.5 million hits in just a day.Lee Han, who is famous for “Punch” (2011), directed the movie, which is expected to open in theaters next month.The film is about a military man who loses everything during war. Motivated by a children’s choir, the film depicts a miracle for devastated people during conflict.Yim plays leading character Han Sang-yeol, a soldier.Although Yim debuted as an idol singer, he rose to stardom in the hit television series “Misaeng (Incomplete Life),” in 2013. Yim’s filmography also includes the “The Attorney” (2013). Dec 9, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Kim Jae-joong's virtual concert in Tokyo next year Jaejoong /Courtesy of C-JeS Entertainment A virtual concert of Kim Jae-joong, a member of K-pop band JYJ, will be held in Japan next year, C-JeS Entertainment said Wednesday.Kim has been in military service since March. He will be discharged in December next year.Under the title “2016 Kim Jae-joong’s Second Album Hologram Real Live in Japan,” the virtual concert will be performed on Feb. 9 to 10 in Tokyo, C-JeS said.Kim worked on his second album before he enlisted. Kim said he wants to give a special present to his fans via the concert.A virtual concert is a performance in which the avatars of singers are projected onto the stage as 3D images. Dec 9, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Psy's new single hits Billboard chart Psy showcases his latest single "Daddy" at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong, Dec. 2. / YonhapK-pop star Psy has made it onto Billboard’s main chart with his latest single, "Daddy."The track, released Dec. 1, ranked 97th on Billboard's "Hot 100" singles chart, Wednesday.This is Psy's fourth track to make it, after "Gangnam Style," "Gentleman" and "Hangover," and makes Psy the first singer in Asia to feature four songs on the chart.“Gangnam Style” was No. 2 on the "Hot 100" for seven consecutive weeks in 2012. “Gentleman” went to No. 5 and “Hangover” reached 26th.Dec 9, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
Girls' Generation's Tiffany 'going solo' Tiffany / Courtesy of Instagram, Screen capture from YouTubeTiffany from Girls’ Generation may be going solo, media reports said Wednesday.They said the star plans to release a solo album in January or February, after working on it for “a long time.”SM Entertainment, the band’s management company, denied the reports, saying the issue is undecided.Tiffany is a member of the band’s subunit TTS that released a special Christmas album, “Dear Santa,” on Friday.Taeyeon, another member of TTS, released her first solo album, “I,” in October, the first from a member of Girls’ Generation.The album received a lot of global attention and the music video of its title was the most-watched K-pop video on YouTube in October.Dec 9, 2015
Retro singing show honors late singers Lyn, left, and Kang Kyun-sung from “To You Project: In Search of Sugar Man” on JTBC, Tuesday / Coutesy of JTBCMusic TV show “To You Project: In Search of Sugar Man” has made headlines for highlighting late singers Seo Ji-won and Park Yong-ha.The JTBC show invites songwriters and singers to rewrite K-pop hits from the 1980s to the early 2000s and sing them in front of a studio audience. Tuesday’s episode had soloist Lyn sing the reinterpreted version of Seo’s “Gather My Tears” (1996). Kang Kyun-sung and Jeon Woo-sung from four-member ballad band Noel sang Park’s “Like the First Day” (2010).Tears flowed from the celebrity guests and audience as they recalled the stars, while there also was laughter bursting from conversations between the guests and music producers who recreated the songs.Seo killed himself in 1996, aged 20, allegedly due to depression caused by his management company’s demands on him.The late singers Seo Ji-won, left, and Park Yong-ha / Korea Times fileDec 9, 2015
Members of Dal Shabet call it quits Ka-eun / Screen capture from InstagramTwo members of K-pop band Dal Shabet _ Ka-eun and Jiyul _ have decided to leave the band, Sports Chosun reported Wednesday.The entertainment news outlet cited industry sources as saying the two singers will branch out from their careers in music. Ka-eun will study fashion, in which she has taken an interest, and Jiyul will embark on an acting career.Jiyul /Screen capture from InstagramDal Shabet started in 2011 with six members _ Serri, Ah-young, Woo-hee, Subin, Jiyul and Ka-eun. The group’s new album “Hard 2 Love” was 16th on the Oricon Chart in Japan in November.Dec 9, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
IU adds two extra Seoul concerts Singer IU / Korea Times fileSinger-songwriter IU will hold two more concerts - on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 - at the Seoul Sports Complex, Yonhap reported.The singer, 22, has been performing in Seoul, Busan and Gwangju to sold-out crowds. Her agency, LOEN Tree, said she has added the dates to “return the fan support.” Tickets for the concerts will be available on Interpark on Dec.10.The singer, who recently made headlines for her romance with rocker Jang Ki-ha, has been engulfed in controversy over her new song, “Zeze.” A local company that published the popular Brazilian children’s book “My Sweet Orange Tree” criticized her for lyrics in the song. IU apologized for “hurting people’s feelings,” but has continued performing the song. Dec 8, 2015
'Mama Mia!' Seohyun takes on musical role /Courtesy of Mama Mia!Seohyun from K-pop band Girls’ Generation will play Sophie in the musical “Mama Mia!” alongside veteran theater actors Choi Jung-won, Jeon Soo-kyung and Nam Kyeong-ju.Seohyun won the role in a competition involving 350 singers.The jukebox musical is based on the songs of famous Swedish pop group ABBA, which topped charts worldwide from 1975 to 1982.Since “Mama Mia!” was first performed in the United Kingdom in 1999, it has been staged in 440 cities of 49 countries.Singer Lee Hyun-woo plays Harry Bright, the ex-lover of Sophie’s mother, Donna Sheridan. Dec 8, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
