CL surprises with new song release CL /Courtesy of YG EntertainmentCL, a member of K-pop girl band 2NE1, will release a solo track later this week, YG Entertainment said Wednesday.Titled “Hello Bitches,” the new song will be unveiled at 9 p.m. Saturday.YG posted a teaser image last week on its official blog saying “Who’s Next?” and “11.21 21:00.” Questions were raised then over which YG singer would make a comeback.CL’s new song release here is rather unexpected because she has been preparing for a solo debut in the United States with American talent manager Scooter Braun, who helped Psy make the big leap to the U.S. market.Nov 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
TVXQ, Super Junior singers enlist Choi Si-won, left, and Max ChangminSingers Max Changmin, from boy band duo TVXQ, and Choi Si-won, from Super Junior, begin mandatory military service Thursday.The stars will start their 21-month service as members of the National Police Agency.Choi made headlines on Wednesday when fashion magazine High Cut released some stylish photos.He recently finished MBC TV drama “She was Pretty,” in which he played a world-famous novelist who pretends to be a magazine journalist. He eventually falls in love with the show’s leading female character.Max Changmin debuted with TVXQ in 2003 and survived its transition from five members to two.Choi started in K-pop with Super Junior in 2005.Nov 18, 2015
EXID wants 'HOT PINK' to deliver final blow K-pop girl band EXID / YonhapIn a parallel universe, South Korean girl group EXID as we know it may not have been as lucky.The five-member act has had an unconventional break to K-pop success, with "Up & Down" belatedly topping the charts after a video of member Hani dancing to the song went viral on Facebook.In April, the group successfully carried that momentum with its second EP "AH YEAH," which could be heard at every corner this summer.But EXID wouldn't consider itself a true K-pop powerhouse unless "HOT PINK," its latest single out Wednesday, hits a home run, too."People around us have been telling us that the third single is the really important one," member Solji told Yonhap News Agency in an interview last week. "They said the third one determines your long-term success. So we're feeling even more pressure than before."Fortunately, "HOT PINK" was already topping five music charts as of 8 a.m. With a catchy refrain punctuating EXID's characteristically soulful melody, the track doesn't veer off too much from the group's previous two hits "Up & Down" and "AH YEAH."ThouNov 18, 2015
Singer Yoo Seung-jun files lawsuit over visa Singer Yoo Seoung-joon / Korea Times fileKorean born American singer Steve Yoo, better known as Yoo Seung-jun here, has filed a lawsuit after being denied a visa to enter the country.The singer prompted a controversy when he obtained American citizenship, for what was decried here, as an attempt to evade military conscription in 2002.Since then, Yoo has been banned from entering the country or regaining Korean nationality.Yoo submitted a petition against the consul general at the consulate general in Los Angeles to the Seoul Administration Court Oct. 21, demanding that a visa issuance rejection be lifted, said the court Wednesday.He reportedly demanded an F-4 visa, usually issued by the government to Koreans residing overseas.Nov 18, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
Fans fear for 'Infinity Challenge' (Left) Kim Tae-ho, fourth from left, with members of "Infinity Challenge" “Infinity Challenge” director Kim Tae-ho has dismissed fan concerns about the popular program following the departure of Jeong Hyung-don.Jeong has stopped all his TV work because of an anxiety order.Kim, who turned around the fortunes of the MBC program, which faced a possible axing in 2006, told a local paper the program would survive.He said people often mentioned “crisis” when referring to the show but he welcomed the comments because he used them as a source of content.The success of the show is based on the wit and skill of its six regular members.Beside Jeong’s departure, Noh Hong-chul and Gil left the show after police charged them with driving under the influence of alcohol. Gil left in April last year and Noh in November.Their absence was filled in May by funny idol singer Hwang Kwang-hee from boy band ZE:A. But Jeong’s departure has left fans wondering whether the program can continue. They also complained that Park Myung-soo is not as funny as he was. &ldNov 18, 2015
Oh Hyuk covers “Girl” for “Reply 1988” /Courtesy of CJ E&MBand Hyukoh’s leader Oh Hyuk will sing Lee Moon-se’s “Girl” for tvN cable drama series “Reply 1988.”Hyukoh’s management agency, Highground, has released a teaser video of the song on its official SNS, raising expectations for Oh Hyuk’s cover.In the video, an old cassette player is seen on a table in a quiet neighborhood, allowing people to reminisce while Lee’s song plays.The cassette player is soon flipped to show the words “2015 Oh Hyuk’s ‘Girl’” and his version plays.Oh’s track will be released at midnight on Nov. 21. Nov 18, 2015
'Overweight' Shin Mina scales heights in TV drama Shin Mina put on special body make-up to play a lawyer heavier than what she weighs in KBS TV drama "Oh My Venus." / Screen capture from YouTubeActress Shin Mina, also a fashion model, has seemingly defied her latter profession to play an overweight woman in the new KBS TV drama “Oh My Venus.” Shin, 32, stars as Kang Joo-eun, a lawyer who used to have an enviable face and physique when she was a student but became fat during 15 years of studying.Shin uses special body make-up for the part, which is said to be based on the traditional “plump” image of the Roman goddess Venus. The gimmick caught the interest of viewers on Monday, making the first episode a big hit.The drama starts with Kang being miserable after her boyfriend betrays their 15-year romance by seeing someone else. She then decides to lose weight with the help of popular health trainer John Kim (So Ji-sub).Nov 17, 2015
AOA gets hosting gig on SNL Korea AOA /Courtesy of FNC EntertainmentK-pop band AOA will host the Korean version of Saturday Night Life (SNL) next week, My Daily reported Tuesday.But band member Seolhyun’s appearance has not been decided due to her schedule, FNC Entertainment said.Seolhyun has been shooting a film, “A Murderer’s Guide to Memorization.” She also is one of the busiest band members, appearing in ads for a cell phone and serving as goodwill ambassador to promote travel to Korea.AOA made special guest appearances on the show last year.AOA debuted with eight members _ Choa, Jimin, Yuna, Youkyung, Chnami, Hyejeong, Seolhyun and Mina _ in 2012.The band rose to stardom with hit songs “Miniskirt” and “Like a Cat” in 2014.The show airs on Nov. 28.Nov 17, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Han Chae-young stars in Chinese drama Han Chae-young /Korea Times fileActress Han Chae-young, 35, will star in a Chinese TV drama that will air next year via Tencent TV.“The Rebirth of Celebrities Star” is based on a Chinese novel.Han plays a woman who becomes a world star after overcoming a shadowy past.Han debuted with popular drama “Autumn Fairy Tale” in 2000 and rose to stardom with romantic comedy-drama “Sassy Girl Chun-hyang” in 2005.The actress married a Korean-American businessman in 2007 and had a son in 2013. Nov 17, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Actor Lee Jung-jae in legal dispute over mother's debt Lee Jung-jae /Korea Times fileBy Bahk Eun-jiActor Lee Jung-jae and his mother are embroiled in a legal dispute over money she allegedly borrowed from a friend.Lee’s mother allegedly borrowed 193 million won ($165,000) from 1995 to early 2000 from her friend, whose name was withheld.The friend asked Lee’s mother to repay 249 million won, including interest, in August 2000, but his mother had left for Los Angeles.Lee repaid 60 million won soon after he received a call from the woman, and Lee’s mother gave a written promise to repay the rest.The woman sued Lee’s mother for fraud in April 2005, and Lee appeared at the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office and asked her to drop the case because he would repay the money on behalf of his mother.Lee’s mother sent 1 million won then, but Lee and his mother had allegedly neither repaid the rest of the money, nor contacted the woman after that.She requested the prosecution for a payment order against Lee in April, and the trial is in progress.Lee released a statement Tuesday, saying he and his mother had repaid aNov 17, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
