One-man agency forecast for Rain /Screen capture from Instagram Singer Rain, 33, is likely to set up a one-man entertainment agency after the termination of his two-year-contract with Cube Entertainment, Daily Sports reported Thursday.The entertainment news outlet cited sources close to the singer, whose name is Jung Ji-hoon, as saying he will establish his own management company with an old friend who is well connected to the entertainment industry.Jung posted a statement image on his Instagram page a week ago saying he had successfully concluded the contract issue after lengthy discussions with Cube President Hong Seung-sung.The singer also said he will soon announce his plans. Sep 17, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Viewers slam SBS for showing Roh photo Fake poster of movie "Assassination" posted on popular ultra-conservative online community Ilbe Storehouse, which shows the late former President Roh Moo-hyu in red circle instead of the actor in white circle.TV network SBS has prompted an outcry from viewers after its entertainment news program showed a photo of late former president Roh Moo-hyun instead of an actor.Popular showbiz program “One Night of TV Entertainment” on Wednesday reported about the producers of hit Korean film,“Assassination”, released in July, being sued by a novelist for plagiarism. Author Choi Jong-lim filed a case on Aug. 10 citing the movie’s director Choi Dong-hoon as well as its production company and the distributor for plagiarizing his novel “Korean Memories” published earlier in August. Choi is demanding compensation of 10 billion won ($8.5 million).In the report, the program showed a photo of the movie’s poster which was fake. It included the face of former President Roh instead of one of the six main characters.The poster was originally posted on tSep 17, 2015
Big K-beauty expo opens Tourists shopping for cosmetics at the Lotte Department Store in downtown Seoul in this September 2013 file photo. / Korea Times fileA large-scale K-beauty exposition opened Thursday at KINTEX, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.Some 400 Korean cosmetics, hair, nail, body care, fitness and fashion companies are attending the annual beauty expo that will be held through Sunday. About 130 companies from 30 countries, including the Hong Kong cosmetics retail franchise SASA, also will take also takeare taking part.The expo is jointly hosted by the Gyeonggi provincial government and supported by KINTEX and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.For more information, visit www.k-beautyexpo.co.kr.Sep 17, 2015
장동민 '방송 중단만 자숙이라고 생각하지 않아' 장동민 말로 살고 죽는 게 연예계라지만 올해 개그맨 장동민은 '세치 혀' 때문에 나락으로 떨어질 뻔했다.장동민은 지난 4월 과거 유세윤·유상무와 함께 진행한 팟캐스트 방송에서 '여자는 멍청해서 남자한테 안된다'는 등의 여성 비하 발언과 삼풍백화점 붕괴사고 생존자를 모욕하는 발언으로 논란을 불러오면서 당시 출연 중이던 MBC TV '무한도전'과 KBS 라디오 프로그램에서 하차했다.그러나 그는 당연한 수순으로 여겨졌던 자숙 대신 tvN '더 지니어스: 그랜드 파이널' (이하 '더 지니어스' 시즌4) 출연을 택했다.그를 비난하는 이들과 '갓동민'을 응원하는 이들의 '온라인 전쟁'이 벌어지는 가운데 장동민은 각 시즌 뛰어난 활약을 한 출연자들이 모인 '왕중왕전'격인 '더 지니어스' 시즌4의 왕좌를 차지했다.16일 서울 마포구에서 만난 장동민은 "청문회 시작할까요"라고 말문을 열었다."출연 전에 정말 많은 생각을 했고 지금도 이런 이야기를 해야 하나 말아야 하나 고민이 많다"며 한참을 망설이던 그는 한 번 입을 떼자 거침없이 말을 이어갔다."많은 분이 '자숙'을 이야기하시는데 자숙이라는 게 뭘까요? 자숙한다는 연예인 치고 집에 앉아서 반성만 하는 사람 있을까요? 다 외국 나가서 여행하고 쉬고 그러지 않나요? 잘못을 하고 스스로 '내가 사람들 앞에 서기는 부적절한 것 같다'고 생각하면 쉴 수도 있겠죠. 하지만 누가 '이만큼 쉬어야 한다, 이만큼 쉬었으니 이제 방송에 나와도 된다'하고 정해주는 건 아니잖아요."그는 "공식 석상에서 사과하고 잘못했다는 마음을 계속 표현하는 것, 그리고 이전과 달라진 새로운 모습을 보여 드리는 게 자숙이다"라며 "방송을 그만두는 것은 제 입장에서 자숙도, 사죄도 아니라고 판단했다"고 말했다.고작 5개월 전 여성 비하 발언에 이어진 삼풍백화점 붕괴 사고 생존자 모욕 발언으로 물의를 빚었지만 뻔뻔하리만큼 당당한 그의 모습에서 어떤 죄책감이나 위축된 모습은 찾아볼 수 없었다.장동민은 "학교에서 선생님한테 뭘 잘못했을 때 잘못했으니 선생님 눈앞에서 사라지려고 집에 가는 게 자숙인가. 선생님 앞에서 손을 들고 서 있던지, 그 앞에서 반성문을 쓰는 게 맞는 것 같다"고 확고한 태도를 밝혔다.그는 사과의 방법Sep 17, 2015
Earthquake shatters Seoul in new TV series Scenes from JTBC's “D-Day” / Courtesy of JTBCA cable network will air new drama about Seoul being shattered by earthquake and people dealing with the disaster.The drama titled“D-Day” held a press conference at Imperial Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. The first episode will air this Friday.The staffs have completed 80 percent of the 15 billion won ($12.7 million)-worth series’ entire production process and are now working on episodes 13 and 14, media reports said. Production in advance before airing the first episode is considered one of the requirements to slate a “well-made” TV series.The story revolves around a team of doctors in a Seoul hospital who face the disaster and attempt to do what they can do to save people and their loved ones.“What if a 6.5 level-earthquake actually occurs in Jung-gu, a mid-town in Seoul?” the series’ webpage asks. “Estimated numbers of those dead or hurt by the disaster would reach approximately 115,000, and 91 percent of buildings in the city except high Sep 16, 2015
Rapper T.O.P's web drama airs in November A joint Korean-Japanese production drama "Secret Message"s actors and actresses / Screen capture from TwitterNew web drama “Secret Message,” starring Korean rapper T.O.P, of BigBang, and Japanese actress Ueno Juri, will air in November. It is a joint Korean-Japanese production.“T.O.P and Ueno Juri’s new drama, titled ‘Secret Message,’ will air on LINE TV and Naver TV Cast in early November,” Korean production company CJ E&M said on Wednesday.The online drama features T.O.P, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, as Korean guy Woo Hyun and Ueno Juri as Japanese woman Haruka, who overcome the pain of their first love to find a new one.Korean actress Yoo In-na plays Haruka’s roommate, Amy, a dating expert, and Korean actor Lee Jae-yun plays Lee Jae-soo, Amy’s performance team member, who is willing to lay down his life for love.Only the latter half of filming remains as the drama was jointly filmed from May to July by CJ E&M, Japanese entertainment company Amuse, Inc. and Global Messenger LINE.Sep 16, 2015
Choo Ja-hyun dating Chinese actor/singer Actress Choo Ja-hyun, left, and Chinese actor Yu Xiaoguang / Courtesy of WeiboKorean actress Choo Ja-hyun, now more famous in China, has disclosed she is dating Chinese actor/singer Yu Xiaoguang. Choo, 36, revealed her romantic relationship on Wednesday through Chinese social media site Weibo. Choo said she thought seriously about making public the relationship but decided to go ahead because Yu makes her “start the day smiling and go to sleep with a smile on my face.”She also thanked Chinese fans for allowing her to achieve career success and love in China.Choo, who debuted in 2007 in China in martial hero story “The Big Flag Hero,” has seen her star grow in China, where she reportedly earns about 50 million won to 100 million won an episode.Yu, 34, is a native of Dandong who was a Chinese national swimmer.The two appear in a Chinese drama now airing.They are the second celebrity Korean-Chinese couple to go public this year, following recent news that Korean actor Song Seung-heon and Chinese actress Liu Yifei are dating.Sep 16, 2015
Alley-oop: Shaq bounces back at Korean school Shaquille O'Neal visits Seoincheon High School in Incheon for JTBC program "I'm Going to School." / Courtesy of JTBCRetired American basketball star Shaquille O'Neal appeared on JTBC’s “I’m Going to School” on Tuesday.The former NBA player was greeted by boys and girls at Seoincheon High School in Incheon, where he gave fist-pumps in response to the boys.In a class, he spoke about how he started in basketball.“I was determined to become the best big man ever,” O’Neal said as he talked about his past before going professional. “If you are determined to be the best, anything is possible.”With mixed martial artist Choo Sung-hoon and singer KangNam, from boy band M.I.B, who joined the program, O’Neal wrote an English listening test and played basketball with students.The 2.16-meter athlete debuted in the NBA in 1992 when Orlando Magic drafted him. He played for six teams in his 19-year career and won the NBA four times, with Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002) and Miami Heat (2006). He is now an analyst on U.S. TV program &Sep 16, 2015
More heartbreak for Girls' Generation Taeyeon, Baekhyun /Korea Times fileMembers of Girls’ Generation are experiencing a heartbreaking time with relationships.Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, 26, officially admitted breaking up with Baekhyun, 23, of boy band EXO, on Tuesday. It appears they were too busy with their demanding schedules to keep up the romance.Taeyeon is the third band member to split with their boyfriends.Idol singer Nickhun, 28, of 2PM, and Tiffany, 27, from the girl band, called it a day in May. They had been a couple since announcing their romance in April last year.Tiffany, Nickhun /Screen Captures from SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment Another Girls’ Generation, member Yoona, 25, and singer/actor Lee Seung-gi, 28, also confirmed last month they were no longer dating. They were reportedly too busy with their schedules to continue the relationship.Yoona, Lee Seung-gi /Korea Times fileThe relationship ended because clashing work schedules in Korea and overseas meant they hardly had time to see each other. Sep 16, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Moon Chae-won, Lee Jin-uk star in new TV drama Lee Jin-uk and Moon Chae-won will star in new television drama “Goodbye Mr. Black” on the SBS network.The drama is about a naval officer who is betrayed by a close friend.Lee will play Cha Ji-won (Black), the naval officer, and Moon will play “Swan,” who is in a contract marriage with Black.French novel “The Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexandre Dumas, has inspired the drama. It will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sep 15, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
