Yoon Eun-hye drops out of Chinese TV show /Courtesy of J Army Entertainment Actress Yoon Eun-hye will not join the next season of Chinese TV program “The Goddesses’ New Outfit,” her management company, J Army Entertainment, said Thursday.Yoon has been embroiled in allegations she copied the work of a Korean designer for the second season of the program.The company said she will keep a low profile for a while and does not have plans to work in China or Korea.The actress has canceled a meet-the-audience event as a director at the Busan International Film Festival, which begins Thursday. Yoon’s short film, “Red Eye,” was invited to the festival.The actress also faced other allegations of plagiarism over a balloon-shaped dress with an illustration that was allegedly similar to a dress from the 2015 F/W line of Dolce and Gabbana, and a black dress similar to a design from BCBG MAXAZRIA.Despite criticism from fans in Korea, Yoon and J Army have kept silent over the allegations.Oct 1, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Daesung's fan escort live show a big hit Daesung, right, and his fan from “Safe Returning Home Service” on smartphone app V / Courtesy of Naver blogSinger Daesung’s live internet show, “Safe Returning Home Service,” is a hit with netizens.They have praised the star’s talent in hosting the show in which he escorted a female fan to her home at night.The program was broadcast at midnight Wednesday on smartphone app V.Daesung, 26, from boy band BigBang, met university student Kim So-yeon, 21, as she got off a bus in her neighborhood near Hyochang Park subway station in Seoul. She had asked for the singer to walk her home.Daesung, far right, with the rest of BigBang members. / Korea Times fileDaesung and Kim talked and parodied some of the band’s music videos as they walked alleys that were mostly dark and silent to her apartment.The pair stopped at a 24-hour convenience store and bought snacks and ice-creams, treats for his fan and her family. He also carried her on his back as he climbed the stairs to her home.Media reports praised the singer’s 55-minute show, saying hOct 1, 2015
Actor's tourism ad draws a crowd on YouTube / Screen capture from YouTubeTop hallyu actor Lee Min-ho’s television commercial for Korean tourism has surpassed 20 million views on YouTube, Lee’s agency, Star House Entertainment, said Wednesday.The commercial for the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) features Lee at popular sightseeing spots. As of Wednesday, it had 22.7 million YouTube views.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KTO produced “Korea, Let Your Story Begin.” It was released on YouTube on July 29.“The video marked the 7 million-view count three weeks after its release,” Star House Entertainment said. “It has reached the highest hits among the Korea Tourism Organization’s television commercials for Korea tourism within a short time.”Meanwhile, Lee has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games. He also began shooting an action-adventure film, “Bounty Hunters,” early this month.Oct 1, 2015
BTOB returns with mini-album K-pop boy band BTOB / Courtesy of TwitterSeven-member boy band BTOB will be back with a new mini-album this month, Cube Entertainment said Thursday.The album, the band’s seventh, will consist of soft ballads. Titled “I mean,” it will be released on Oct. 13.The band in June released a full-length album, “It’s OK,” which pushed them to the top of the music charts.“BTOB” stands for “born to beat.” The band debuted in 2012. Oct 1, 2015
Viewers find 'She Was Pretty' attractive /Screen captures from MBC Actress Hwang Jung-eum’s “She Was Pretty” has posted a viewer rating of more than 10 percent.The Wednesday/Thursday drama that airs on the MBC network registered a national average of 10.7 percent, and 11.9 percent in the capital area, for the fifth episode on Sept. 30, according to Nielsen Korea and reports.The rating of rival drama “Yong-pal,” starring Jo Won and Kim Tae-hee and airing on SBS, has dropped below 20 percent.For “She Was Pretty,” Choi Si-won, a member of idol group Super Junior, and actor Park Seo-joon join Hwang.The show centers on a woman (Hwang) who has lost her looks and meets her first lover (Park) again who has become more handsome. Oct 1, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Yoo Ah-in, Shin Se-kyung reunite as lovers in 'Six Flying Dragons' Actor Yoo Ah-in poses at a news conference Wednesday for his upcoming TV drama "Six Flying Dragons" to air on SBS. Yoo is flying high this year with two blockbuster successes with "Veteran" and more recently "The Throne." The film "The Throne" will be Korea's submission for next year's Academy Award's Best Foreign Language Film category. /YonhapActor Yoo Ah-in and actress Shin Se-kyung said Wednesday they are excited to play a couple in the upcoming SBS historical drama "Six Flying Dragons," three years after they were on-screen lovers in the drama "Fashion King."The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) epic follows three historical figures who helped found the dynasty and three fictional characters invented by writers Kim Young-hyun, who wrote the 2003 hit drama "Daejanggeum," and Park Sang-yeon, author of the 2000 mystery thriller "Joint Security Area.""I'm a huge fan of Sekyung," said Yoo, who is best known for his recent blockbuster successes "Veteran" and "The Throne," at a news conference in Seoul. "She doesn't hold anything back even though she's had to wear some unsightly makeup. Oct 1, 2015
Brown Eyed Girls back together with APOP K-pop girl band Brown Eyed Girls is expected to release a new album this month. / Courtesy of APOP EntertainmentJea, Narsha and Miryo have all signed with APOP Entertainment, joining Gain who was already signed with the company. With the contract, the Brown Eyed Girls are back as one group, the agency said Thursday.APOP Entertainment is music label within Mystic Entertainment and is headed by producer Cho Yeong-cheol. Cho is responsible for the Brown Eyed Girls’ hit numbers such as “L.O.V. E,” “Abracadabra” and “Six Sense.” The band is expected to release a new album this month.The Brown Eyed Girls debuted in 2006, and each member has been active in dramas and films, as well as in music. Oct 1, 2015
Former idol singer pulls plug on TV career Lee Hyo-ri / Courtesy of Naver blogSinger Lee Hyo-ri is taking a break for up to two years from the Korean celebrity world, halting TV appearances and cutting her online activity.A media report Thursday quoted a show business insider as saying the star, 36, will take a rest and help with stray dogs. Lee said in May she will close her Twitter account and personal blog.The former idol star from girl band Fin K.L. is married to guitarist Lee Sang-soon and last appeared on TV in November, on SBS talk show “Magic Eye.”Fin K.L., with Lee second from left Lee debuted with Fin K.L. in 1998 and had been steadily developing her career as a singer and TV personality. The band released their last album, “Forever Fin K.L.,” in 2005.Lee moved to Jeju Island with her husband after their marriage for a quieter life but reportedly complained that tourists interfered with her privacy by visiting her house. Oct 1, 2015
Taeyeon's first solo album ready to roll /Courtesy of SM Entertainment Taeyeon, a member of Girls’ Generation, will release her first solo album next month, SM Entertainment said Wednesday.Titled “I,” the album will hit online music sites at midnight on Oct. 7.Taeyeon has sung on the soundtracks of popular TV series and collaborated with veteran musicians including Lim Jae-beom./Courtesy of SM Entertainment She also has performed as a member of the group’s subunit Taetiseo - Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun.SM has unveiled teaser photos for the album on the official website and the company’s Facebook page. Sep 30, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Hardcore Chinese fan trespasses on Zo In-sung's house /Courtesy of IOK Company An eager Chinese female fan of top actor Zo In-sung, 35, trespassed on his house, Yonhap reported Wednesday.The fan, 30, identified only as “A,” got into the actor’s house in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday after seeing the actor return home. She reportedly banged on his door, and when the door opened, she went in. The actor’s family repeatedly asked her to leave but she would not, the report said.Zo’s agency, IOK Company, said police are questioning the fan.The woman is said to be a hardcore fan who has several times visited the coffee shop owned by Zo’s younger brother, IOK said.The actor was unharmed, it said.Zo debuted in 1998 and has starred in hit dramas and films including SBS dramas “What Happened in Bali” (2004), “That Winter, the Wind Blows” (2013) and “It’s Okay, That’s Love.” His films include “A Dirty Carnival” (2006) and “Frozen Flower” (2008).” Sep 30, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
