Jang Keun-suk returns to Korean fans Jang Keun-sukActor and singer Jang Keun-suk is resuming his show business career in Korea after leaving earlier this year following tax evasion allegations, of which he has been cleared.Media reports quoted a source as saying Jang, 28, has finished selecting an “aggressive” range of movies and TV series he wants to work on next year.Jang Keun-suk, far right, from tvN's "Three Meals a Day" / Courtesy of tvN Officials from the National Tax Service questioned Jang in September last year for allegedly underreporting income made in China, possibly evading tax of 10 billion won ($8.8 million). The scandal, despite an explanation from the star’s agency, Treej Company, forced him to drop out of tvN’s reality entertainment show “Three Meals a Day” in January.In China, Jang is holding the “2015 Live in Shanghai” concert later this month.Jang has been active in China and Japan this year, releasing a solo album, “Monochrome,” in Japan in February and launching a Japanese tour, “Jang Keun Suk the Crishow,” in March acrosOct 22, 2015
Singer gives 100 mil. won to sick children /Korea Times filePopular trot singer Jang Yoon-jeong donated 100 million won ($88,000) to Community Chest of Korea, Thursday.Jang, 35, who is married to KBS television news presenter Do Kyung-won, has a two-year-old son.“As a mother, I realized raising children healthy is not as easy as I thought,” Jang said. “I hope every child grows well and is happy.”Jang said she hopes the donation will help ill children.Jang debuted in 1999, but gained fame with her hit song “Eomeona! (Oh My Goodness!)” in 2005. Oct 22, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Awards Jun Ji-hyun's last show before baby Actress Jun Ji-hyun / YonhapTop actress Jun Ji-hyun, who is seven months pregnant, will conclude her promotional activities before the birth with a last public appearance at the 2015 Korean Pop Culture Awards. The ceremony will be held on Oct. 29 at the National Theater of Korea in Jangchung-dong, Seoul.Jun has been nominated for five awards. Rumors are that she may win the presidential award for her lead role in the Korean blockbuster movie “Assassination.” The awards, in their sixth year, commemorate the contribution of popular culture to society and recognize artists in the sector.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency host the awards.Oct 22, 2015
Jang Seo-hee gets hosting gig on SNL Korea /Courtesy of JangRuicy Entertainment Top hallyu actress Jang Seo-hee will host the Korean version of Saturday Night Live (SNL) next week, TV Report said Thursday.Jang, 43, will be the main host with regulars Shin Dong-yup, Yoo Sae-yoon and Ahn Young-mi.A tvN spokesman said Jang will parody her mega-hit drama “Temptation of Wife,” which aired in 2008.Jang debuted in 1981, in a children’s beauty pageant. Her star status in China has grown through dramas “Miss Mermaid” in 2002 and “Temptation of Wife.”The show airs on Oct.31.Oct 22, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Ha Jung-woo signs up for webtoon-based movie Ha Jung-wooImage from Naver webtoon "With God" Actor Ha Jung-woo has accepted a role -- rejected by Won Bin and Kim Woo-bin - in a movie based on fantasy webtoon “With God,” media reports said.Ha, 37, will play an angel of death in the movie, which is about a man who meets three angels of death after dying and is taken to an after-life court judged by the king of the netherworld.The movie, directed by Kim Yong-wha, is scheduled to start shooting next March.Ha has appeared in many Korean hit movies, including “The Berlin File” (2013), “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014) and “Assassination” (2015).Oct 22, 2015
Hip hop singer Tak to marry /Courtesy of YMC EntertainmentTak of hip-hop duo Baechigi will marry this month.Tak, 32, whose name is Lee Ki-chul, is marrying a woman who is 7 years his junior. The couple started dating a year ago, according to his management company, YMC Entertainment.Lee posted pre-wedding photos on his Instagram page.The wedding will be private, as his wife-to-be is not an entertainer, he said.Tae Jin-ah, a veteran trot singer in Korea, will officiate at the wedding.Baechigi debuted in 2005 and famous for its upbeat comedic songs. Oct 22, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Twice hopes to become Korea's top girl band Members of Twice pose during a debut showcase at Ax-Korea, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentJihyoDahyunBy Kim Jae-heunJYP Entertainment’s new girl band Twice revealed its ambition to become the country’s top girl group during its debut showcase at Ax-Korea in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Tuesday.“We want to become a girl group that many people acknowledge as exciting team,” said Jihyo, the leader of the group. “We want to become a respected group.”Twice released its debut album “The Story Begins” that day, which is comprised of six R&B and rock music songs, including their first single “Like Ooh-Ahh,” produced by popular songwriter Black Eyed Pilseung, who also produced Miss A’s recent single “Only You.” “Like Ooh-Aah” is a “color pop” music, which the production team says is a new genre that mixes hip-hop, R&B and rock music.JYP Entertainment has launched its first new girl band in five years with high anticipation that Twice will revive the craze when its popular girl Oct 21, 2015
'평범함'이 소중한 한국사회 '돌연변이'가 묻는다 / Courtesy of Naver22일 개봉하는 영화 “돌연변이”가 한국사회 속 위기의 각 연령층을 풍자한 연출로 주목을 받고 있다.영화는 주인공 박구(이광수)를 통해 젊은 세대들이 더 이상 설 곳 없는 한국사회를 신랄하게 풍자했다. 영화는 20대 청년뿐만 아니라 정규직이 점점 사라지고 계약직이 늘어가는 다급한 취업세계 속 30대, 먹고 살기 위해 이미지를 관리하는 인권 변호사와 불안감을 대변하는 박구의 아버지(장광) 등을 통해 40-50대까지 다양한 연령층을 대표하는 캐릭터들을 포진시키면서 이들은 이 시대의 불운한 ‘돌연변이’임을 강조한다.영화는 남들처럼 평범하게 사는 것이 꿈인 20대 청년 박구가 한 제약회사의 생체실험에 응한 뒤 약의 부작용으로 인해 생선인간이 된 후 벌어지는 스토리를 그렸다.‘돌연변이’는 제66회 칸국제영화제 단편경쟁부문에서 황금종려상을 수상한 작품 ‘세이프’의 각본을 쓴 권오광 감독의 장편 연출 데뷔작이다.Oct 21, 2015
'Mutant' satirizes desperate Koreans Scenes from "Mutant" / Courtesy of NaverPeople are waiting expectantly to see the Korean movie “Mutant” -- also known as “Collective Invention”-- because the movie satirizes desperate people in different age groups in modern Korea.The movie, which opens on Thursday, is about Park Goo (played by Lee Kwang-soo), a financially incompetent man in his 20s whose body turns into a fish after he takes uncertified medicine in a medical test in exchange of money. He receives plenty of publicity after his attention-hungry girlfriend tells the media. Korean young adults, desperate to find a job in modern Korea, which many now dub “hellish Joseon,” are represented.Park represents those in their 20s who face an employment crisis after leaving school.Reporter Sang-won (Lee Chun-hee) represents people in their 30s, many of whom nowadays are left with short-term contract jobs instead of regular, permanent employment.Park’s father and a lawyer who pretends to fight for human rights, represent people in their 40s and 50s, who are anxious to preserve tOct 21, 2015
Star chef denies tax evasion claims /Screen capture from tvNHigh profile chef Baek Jong-won, who is also CEO of multiple restaurant franchise The Born Korea, was investigated for two months from July for possible tax evasion, Yonhap reported Wednesday.The fourth bureau of the Seoul Regional Tax Office mostly carried out the special tax audit, according to the news agency.But a company spokesman said the investigation was nothing more than a regular tax audit, because the last audit was in 2011.Local news outlets reported that Baek, 49, faced investigations into possible tax evasion and raising slush funds.The Born Korea denied the allegations on Wednesday.Baek appears on several television programs. Oct 21, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
