Psy readies for December comeback Singer Psy will make his comeback with a new studio album on Dec. 1, two years and eight months after his sixth album introduced the YouTube smash hit dance number “Gangnam Style.”YG Entertainment, the star’s management company, recently promoted the news with a poster that included Psy’s caricature.Psy (Park Jae-sang, 37) released his latest single, “Hangover,” in June last year and the music video featured American hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg.Fans feared that the popularity of “Gangnam Style” might have weighed heavily on Psy, forcing him to try to maintain his image as an “international singer.” Some said he should stop building global popularity and start concentrating on persuading Korean fans.In December, Psy appeared to have taken the fans’ advice, because he said at a concert he will “return to the mindset when he first debuted.”Korean fans are wondering whether he will stick with this promise with the new album.Nov 8, 2015
YG artists on song in Melon Music Awards BigBangYG Entertainment artists dominated the 2015 Melon Music Awards on Saturday, winning the most categories.The biggest winner at the annual event, held at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in eastern Seoul, was boy band BigBang. The band, which debuted in 2006, won Artist of the Year and was selected among the Top 10 Artists of the Year. “Bang Bang Bang” won Song of the Year and the Netizen Popularity Award.iKonYG boy band iKon, often referred to as the progeny of BigBang, won the Best New Artist Award along with girl band G-Friend.YG’s star composer, Teddy Park, won Best Songwriter.An online poll to select the Top 10 artists was held from Oct. 8 to 22 and another for awarding categories from Oct. 23 to Nov. 6.The Melon Music Awards are among the big four in Korea, with Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards and Seoul Music Awards.Nov 8, 2015
Student captures hearts with "Hello" cover / Screen capture from YoutubeA YouTube clip of a Korean high school student’s cover of Adele's recently released song "Hello" is creating a stir online.The Seoul Music High School student garnered over 4 million views as of Sunday.The video was shared on U.S. social media Reddit when it was uploaded to YouTube, Thursday.Mashable picked up the video Friday, posting it with the title "High school student absolutely kills a simple cover of Adele's 'Hello.'" It received 32,300 “shares”.Nov 8, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
걸그룹 레이샤, 대학 축제서 19금 퍼포먼스 '야동'이야? 신인 걸그룹 레이샤의 파격적인 퍼포먼스가 담긴 영상이 논란이 되고 있다. 최근 동영상 전문 채널 유튜브에 ‘레이샤 충격 안무’라는 제목으로 영상이 올라왔다. 이 영상은 레이샤가 지난 달 15일 모 대학 축제에서 헐벗은 듯한 무대의상과 남자 댄서와 19금 안무를 선보인 것을 녹화한 영상이다.영상 속에서 레이샤는 짧은 탱크탑과 팬티에 가까운 하의를 입고 가슴을 쓸어 모으거나 엉덩이를 노골적으로 흔들며 성적 어필을 하고 있다. 그녀들은 또한 남자댄서와 밀착하여 몸을 앞뒤로 흔드는 등의 19금 무대를 이어갔다. 아무리 퍼포먼스라고 하지만 대학생을 대상으로 한 축제무대에서 도를 넘은 수위 높은 안무와 의상을 선보인 레이샤가 대중의 비난을 피하기는 어려워 보인다.Nov 6, 2015
Super Junior gets exclusive new label Super Junior has a new exclusive label "Lable SJ" within SM Entertainment. / YonhapK-pop band Super Junior will be managed under a new, exclusive label, SM Entertainment said Friday.The agency said it has established “Lable SJ” to support and manage the group. Individual, unit-based and group activities as a whole will come under the new banner.Meanwhile, the top boy band celebrates its 10th anniversary Friday. During the 10 years, the band has achieved notable records including 120 concerts across 27 cities, racking up more than 1.8 million attendees. The band’s 2011 song “Mr. Simple” has had 100 million YouTube views.Nov 6, 2015
Gong Hyo-jin wins beauty award in China /Courtesy of Soop EntertainmentActress Gong Hyo-jin, 35, has won the “Asia Beauty Icon” award at the 2015 Cosmo Beauty Awards in Shanghai.Gong’s management company, Soop, said Friday the award is the most influential beauty and fashion award in China, and Gong attended the ceremony as a representative of Korean actors.Angelababy, Michelle Chen, Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior and Lay of EXO also attended.Gong debuted in the film "Memento Mori" in 1999 and recently starred in "Producer," a television drama featuring top hallyu actor Kim Soo-hyun.Nov 6, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Comedian admits to husband's sexual harassment /Korea Times fileComedian Lee Kyung-sil said her husband did sexually harass a woman as alleged, but added he was drunk at the time.Lee’s husband, surnamed Choi, 58, conceded the allegation was true at his first trial on Thursday, various media outlets reported. However, he said he could not control his mind and body because he had been drinking prior to the incident.The alleged victim reported the harassment to the police on Aug. 19, a day after the two and seven others drank together. The woman, the wife of Choi’s friend, told police he sexually harassed her while he was giving her a ride home after the gathering.The woman alleged Choi’s apology was an admittance of the crime.Nov 6, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
EXID to release digital single mid-Nov. K-pop girl band EXID will release a digital single mid-Nov. / Korea Times fileEXID, the K-pop girl band known for the surprise hit single "Up & Down," will release a digital single in the middle of this month.The band’s agency, Yedang Entertainment, has been releasing images of the band - Solji, LE, Hani, Hyelin and Junghwa - working on the single.“The members are working hard,” said the agency, according to Yonhap News reports. “They will start shooting a music video Thursday and Friday.” “Up & Down” gained huge popularity last winter, which EXID followed up with a single titled “Ah Yeah.” Nov 5, 2015
K-pop's Seohyun stars in Chinese film /Courtesy of SM EntertainmentSeohyun, the youngest member of K-pop band Girls’ Generation, will make her big-screen debut in China, Xsports News reported Thursday.The entertainment news outlet cited film industry sources as saying the singer will appear in Chinese film “So I Married an Anti-Fan.”Boy band member Chanyeol of EXO will star opposite Seohyun.The film is based on a novel by Jiwan. The story is about a top star who falls in love with a reporter.Seohyun has been showcasing her acting ability in musicals such as “Moon Embracing the Sun,” and “Gone With the Wind.”Nov 5, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Actress keeps soon-to-be husband secret Cha Ji-yeon from her "Where Are You" music video / Screen capture from YouTube Musical actress Cha Ji-yeon is getting married this month, but is keeping ceremony details confidential, including the wedding’s date, place and even who her husband will be.Media reports quoted R&D Works, her management company, as saying the wedding will be sometime this month and Cha, 33, is busy preparing for it.The company said only family and close friends will be invited.Cha has been appearing in musicals since 2011, including “Monte Cristo,” “AIDA,” “Carmen” and “Mozart.” She also appeared as a supporting actress in Korean movie “The Treacherous” (2014). Nov 5, 2015
