Korean actor scores role of Bruce Lee in Chinese show Kim Beom from tvN's “Hide your Identity” and the late Bruce Lee (inbox)Actor Kim Beom will play the late Bruce Lee (1940-1973), the legendary martial artist, in a new Chinese TV show, media reports said Thursday.Kim, 26, will feature as the Hong Kong-American martial artist and action film star in the Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation show tentatively titled “Yip Man and Bruce Lee.” Kim, who leaves for China this month for the show, is the only Korean in the cast, the reports said.Kim featured in Chinese movies “Lovers and Movies,” above, and “The Beloved” this year. / Courtesy of NaverThis will be Kim’s debut in a Chinese TV series, but he has featured in two Chinese movies, “Lovers and Movies” and “The Beloved,” a hit this year.Kim began his career in 2006, in a Korean TV series. His latest work in Korea was TV series “Hide your Identity” on tvN in June, in which he played a violent detective. Oct 8, 2015
Revealed: The day two singers fell in love /Screen captures from YouTubeSinger IU confirmed her relationship with indie rock singer Chang Kiha, Thursday.IU wrote on her fan community: “I fell in love the very first time when I meet him on a radio show.”IU appeared on Chang’s radio program, “Chang Kiha’s Great Radio,” on SBS Power FM in 2013. The show also was broadcast live via the Internet, and the video has made headlines again. Oct 8, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Feisty TV women spark 'girl crush' fad From top, Jeon Mi-ra and Jesse from MBC's "Real Men: Women's Army Special" and Honey from girl band EXIDFeisty women on TV are fueling a new “girl crush” fad, as more female viewers become fascinated with them.Former tennis player Jeon Mi-ra, who is appearing in MBC’s military experience reality show “Real Men: Women’s Army Special,” has become a role model for female viewers who are impressed by her outstanding leadership and care for comrades.Rapper Jesse, also appearing in the show, is drawing more female fans after showing her tenacity by not giving up on the harsh military training. On Sept. 15, she released hip-hop number “Ssenunni,” meaning “a female with a feisty nature” in Korean. The rapper’s increasing popularity also has raised the ratings of TV rap competition show “Unpretty Rapstar: Season 2” on Mnet.More female fans have flocked to girl band Mamamoo, whose music video for “Girl Crush” portrayed the members’ boyish characters. And girl band MelodyDay and singer Honey frOct 8, 2015
IU reveals romance with rocker Chang Kiha /Korea Times fileSinger IU and Chang Kiha, from indie rock band Kiha & the Faces, are dating.IU posted a statement online saying she has been dating Chang for two years.“I was thinking about how I could tell my relationship to my fans in a good way, but Dispatch caught the ball before it bounces,” IU said.The entertainment news outlet published photos of the singers in the parking lots of their apartments in Yongsan and Mapo, Thursday.It also citied sources close to the singers as saying the pair got close through music, although IU is 11 years younger than Chang.Kiha & the Faces debuted with popular song “Cheap Coffee” in 2008.IU plans to release a self-produced album this fall.Oct 8, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'The Throne' chosen as opening film for Hawaii fest South Korea's period drama, "The Throne," has been chosen as the opening film for an upcoming international film festival in Hawaii, its distributor said Thursday.The historical film directed by Lee Joon-ik will be screening on Nov. 12, the opening day of the 35th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) slated to run through Nov. 22, on the island of Oahu, according to Showbox."The Throne" depicts King Yeongjo during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), who locked his only son and crown prince Sado in a rice chest and starved him to death, deeming the heir in his 20s unfit to rule.Starring veteran actor Song Kang-ho and rising star Yoo Ah-in, the historical work has drawn a constant stream of moviegoers, attracting more than 5.7 million at home as of Wednesday since its premiere in mid-September.A handful of other South Korean films, including "Assassination," "Veteran" and "Madonna" will also be shown, with the festival to present a total of 181 films from 41 countries, according to the HIFF website. (Yonhap)Oct 8, 2015
Gong Hyo-jin graces cover of Grazia China /Courtesy of Grazia China WeiboActress Gong Hyo-jin, 35, graces the cover of this month’s Chinese edition of fashion magazine Grazia.Gong’s management company Soop said the photo was shot in Seoul last month. The actress’ star status in China is growing, fueled by the popularity of dramas such as “Producers,” “It’s Okay, That’s Love” and “Master’s Sun.”Gong is currently shooting a new film, “Missing,” with actress Um Ji-won.Gong debuted in the film “Memento Mori” in 1999 and she recently starred in “Producer,” a television drama also featuring the top hallyu actor Kim Soo-hyun.Oct 8, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Football star from family reality show divorces Song Jong-guk, right, and Park Ib-seonFormer national football player and TV reality show star Song Jong-guk has divorced, shocking viewers who have known him as a family man with two children, media reports said Wednesday.Song, 36, who appeared in MBC’s family reality show “Dad, Where Are We Going?” with his wife, actress Park Ib-seon, 36, in 2014, had been married for nine years. The couple agreed to the divorce after the Chuseok holiday season late last month and filed the suit with a court. They agreed that Park have their daughter and son.Song Jong-guk with his daughter and sonThe couple reportedly has been living separately for a couple of months.This is Song’s second divorce. His first marriage in 2003 ended after two years.Oct 7, 2015
EXO's Lay, f(x)'s Krystal star in Chinese film /Courtesy of SM Entertainment Two K-pop singers are ready to mesmerize Chinese cinema fans.Lay, of boy band EXO, and Krystal, of girl band f(x), will star in a Chinese movie titled “Biyeon.” The film is scheduled for release next year in China.Seong Si-heup, who is known for “The Plan Man,” will direct the film.SM Entertainment said Lay will be able to be close to his Chinese fans as he is from the mainland.“The film’s success is highly expected by investors, as the two stars, Lay and Krystal, have high profiles in the country,” an SM spokesman said.The film is about a man and a woman who achieve career success and love through dancing.SM said 40 percent of the movie will be filmed in Korea.Oct 7, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
JYP launches new girl band 'Twice' Poster for JYP Entertainment's new girl band "Twice" / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentJYP Entertainment will debut a new girl band on Oct. 20.Named “Twice,” the girl band will have nine members, including Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo and Sana. The members were participants in the survival audition program “Sixteen” that JYP Entertainment co-ran with mNet.The band will be the talent agency’s first girl band in five years, since the debut of the popular missA.“’Twice’ will feature the healthy and distinctive charms of its members, who have been working hard,” JYP said. Oct 7, 2015
Lee Dong-wook holds birthday party with Japanese fans Actor Lee Dong-wook, 34, had an early birthday celebration with his fans in Japan, King Kong Entertainment said Wednesday.At the “Happy Upcoming Birthday” event held in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 2, the actor met fans and had heart-to-heart conversations with them, Lee’s management company said.The actor’s birthday is Nov.6.Lee, known for popular K-drama “Hotel King,” recently starred in the new tvN drama “Bubble Gum” with actress Jung Ryeo-won. Oct 7, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
