Suzy disappoints with pansori movie Suzy, top, and Ryu Seung-ryong from "The Sound of a Flower" / Courtesy of NaverThe Korean movie“The Sound of a Flower,” starring idol singer Suzy from missA, has disappointed critics.After its opening last Thursday, reviewers and bloggers fired volleys at the movie, criticizing its poor screenplay.The reviews said the movie, whose production began nearly a year ago, looked as if the scenes were dully patched together.The film also failed to maximize the dramatic impact expected from a romance between Jin Chae-sun (Suzy), Korea's first female pansori during the 19th century Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), and her teacher Shin Jae-hyo (Ryu Seung-ryong), reviewers said.Bloggers lampooned the movie as well, saying only Suzy’s fans would want to watch.Before the official opening, some reports described the film as “a movie made for and made by Suzy.”After the opening, viewers rated the movie a horrendous 1-2 out of 10.“Continuing from his last movie ‘The Piper’ (2015), Ryu has once again tasted a bitter ticket-sales bust with his recent movNov 30, 2015
'사임당, 더 허스토리' 촬영장 공개…'제2 한류 붐' 기대 한류스타 이영애, 송승헌 주연의 드라마 '사임당 더 허스토리'(사임당 the Herstory)' 촬영현장 공개 월드프로모션 행사가 30일 강릉에서 열린다. 드라마 사전 홍보와 '제2의 한류 붐' 확산을 위해 마련됐다. 강원도와 한국관광공사, 제작사인 그룹에이트, 엠퍼러엔터테인먼트코리아(EEK)가 공동으로 추진하며, 강릉시가 후원한다. 드라마 '대장금' 이후 12년 만에 안방극장에 복귀하는 이영애와 송승헌의 만남으로 뜨거운 관심을 받고 잇다. 이번 행사에는 일본, 중국, 대만, 싱가포르, 말레이시아, 이란 등 7개국 외국 취재진과 국내언론 매체 관계자 등 250여명이 참여한다. 극 중 중요한 배경을 이루는 강릉 오죽헌과 선교장의 촬영 현장을 공개하고 기자간담회를 여는 형식으로 진행될 예정이다. 이어 '강원 관광의 밤' 행사도 펼쳐진다. 미리 가보는 사임당 촬영지 등 강원관광 홍보와 함께 드라마 성공기원 붓글씨 퍼포먼스, 축하공연 등의 행사를 진행할 계획이다. 외국 언론매체를 대상으로 사임당 촬영지인 춘천, 강릉, 평창, 정선 등 팸투어도 해 관광자원을 홍보할 방침이다. 이주익 도 문화관광체육국장은 29일 "도가 '킬러콘텐츠'로 육성하는 영화·드라마 산업을 통해 한류의 원조인 강원관광을 널리 알릴 계기로 삼겠다"고 말했다. 한편 사임당, 더 허스토리는 조선시대 사임당 신씨의 삶을 재해석한 작품이다. 천재화가 사임당의 예술혼과 불멸의 사랑을 담은 100% 사전 제작 드라마다. 이영애는 한국 미술사를 전공한 대학강사와 신사임당 1인 2역을 맡았다. 우연히 발견한 사임당 일기와 의문의 미인도에 얽힌 비밀을 풀어나가는 과정을 과거와 현재를 오가며 다채로운 연기로 그려낼 예정이다. 송승헌은 사Nov 29, 2015
K-pop boy band EXO to release winter album EXO's winter album "Sing for You" / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop boy band EXO will release a seasonal special album in December, SM Entertainment said Friday.Titled “Sing For You,” the album will be released on Dec. 10. Fans can expect to see the 12-member group perform via the Naver broadcasting app the same day.Band members will also talk about what they have been doing lately.SM did not say where the performance would take place.But the agency said the album was to thank the band’s fans for their continued support, especially the band’s second EP “EXODUS,” and the repackaged version of it “Love Me Right.” Nov 29, 2015
Seol Hyun on a roll Seol Hyun / YonhapNothing seems to go wrong for Seol Hyun, of K-pop band AOA (Ace of Angels).At the Blue Dragon Awards _ Korea’s traditional movie awards ceremony _ on Friday, Hyun, 20, won the Popularity Award for her role in the film “1970 Gangnam Blues.” In the film, which opened in January, Hyun _ who is also the model for mobile carrier SK telecom _ plays the younger sister of hallyu heartthrob Lee Min-ho. Hyun has also appeared in such television dramas as “My Daughter Seoyoung.” Actor Yoo Ah-in (“The Throne”) won the Best Actor award and Lee Jung-hyun (“Alice in Earnestland”) won the Best Actress Award.Ace of Angels, which has enjoyed a big year with such hits as “Heart Attack,” performed at the awards ceremony.Nov 29, 2015
Brown Eyed Soul hit concert road after two years R&B band Brown Eyed Soul will hold a national tour next month, In Next Trend Company said Thursday.The tour will begin in Gwangju on Dec. 12 and the band will play in Daegu on Dec. 18. The tour continues in Ilsan, Busan and Incheon.Titled “Soul 4 Real,” the Seoul concert will be at Olympic Park on Feb. 13-14.Fans have been waiting a long time for the concerts, as the band’s last performance was “Thank Your Soul,” in 2013.The band will perform new songs from their fourth album, which will be released before the concert, the company said. Nov 26, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Force with SM after EXO's 'Star Wars' push Sehun, on top, and Baek Hyun from EXO's "Lightsaber" music video / Screen capture from YouTube SM Entertainment and Walt Disney could extend their business relationship after Korean boy band EXO released “Lightsaber” to promote “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”With the movie to hit Korean theaters on Dec. 17, the 12-member hallyu megastar band released the dance number as a single on Nov. 11, along with a music video -- “EXO/Star Wars Collaboration Project” -- and magazine photos under the movie’s theme. A media report Thursday said the band took on the promotion to back Walt Disney’s bid to make the movie appeal to a younger audience. The movie is the latest installment of the “Star Wars” franchise that began in 1977.Disney has had difficulty attracting younger people to the movie and reportedly welcomed EXO as an ideal promoter.The deal also gives SM an opportunity to spread its celebrities more extensively globally by becoming the only entertainment content developer in Korea to have a partnership with a HolNov 26, 2015
Bada returns with new album Bada /Screen capture from InstagramMusical actress Bada, 35, a member of first-generation K-pop girl band S.E.S, will release her first album in seven years next January.The album marks the long-awaited return to a singing career for Bada, as her last album was “Sea the Sea” in 2009.After S.E.S disbanded in 2002, Bada released four solo albums - from 2003 to 2009. Her acting career blossomed after she appeared in the musical “Peppermint” in 2003.There is speculation that two other S.E.S members - Eugene and Shoo - will feature on the album, after Bada and Shoo were reunited on the popular MBC variety show “Infinity Challenge” at the beginning of the year. Nov 26, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Psy dedicates songs to late rocker /Screen capture from Channel VSinger Psy, 37, who is ready to roll out his seventh album “7 Cider” next month, unveiled a track dedicated to the late rockstar Shin Hae-chul.The singer, who received global exposure for his record-breaking viral music video “Gangnam Style” nearly three years ago, launched a six-day show on online video channel V on Wednesday. During his first show, Psy introduced one of the new songs from the album. Titled “Dream,” he said he wrote and composed it while he was thinking of Shin.The track also features Junsu of K-pop band JYJ. Psy said he asked Junsu to collaborate with him after he watched the musical “Death Note,” in which Junsu appeared this year.Shin, one of the nation’s top rock icons, died on Oct. 17, 2014, 10 days after undergoing abdominal surgery at a hospital in southern Seoul.Nov 26, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'Reply 1988' star rejects underwear ad offer Lee Hyeri, left, from tvN series "Reply 1988" / Screen capture from YouTubeActress and singer Lee Hyeri from popular television drama “Reply 1988” has rejected a deal to be an underwear model, media reports said Wednesday.The reports highlighted footage of TV quiz show “1 vs. 100” on KBS last year, in which Lee from idol girl band Girl’s Day appeared as a guest to challenge 100 people.An underwear designer among the participants called Lee at the studio asking whether she wanted to model an underwear product. Lee reportedly rejected the offer, mentioning her “not-so-glamorous body line” as an excuse.The star’s ongoing TV hit is tantalizing fans who are eager to find out which of the male characters will eventually marry Seong Deok-seon (Lee), a high school student living in 1988 Seoul. On Wednesday, the show’s rising popularity pushed its three original sound tracks, including “Girl” by Hyukoh, to top spots on online music charts.Nov 25, 2015
TTS to return with Christmas album /Courtesy of SM EntertainmentGirls’ Generation subunit TTS (TaeTiSeo) will make a comeback early next month with a special Christmas album, SM Entertainment said Wednesday.TTS, which comprises Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun, will release its Christmas special album entitled “Dear Santa” on Dec. 4.They released their latest album, “Holler,” in September last year.TTS has swept first place in various online music charts with “Twinkle” and ”Holler”.TTS’s teaser image will be posted on its management agency’s official channels, including Facebook and Twitter, Wednesday.“SNSD demonstrated its popularity as a top girl group through their fifth album released this summer and leader Taeyeon’s solo album ‘I’ hit music sites this fall,” SM Entertainment said. “This Christmas album will conclude 2015 as the Year of Girls’ Generation.”Nov 25, 2015
