Actor Ahn Yong-jun to tie knot with singer Venny Venny, left, and Ahn Yong-jun / Courtesy of TwitterActor Ahn Yong-jun is marrying singer Venny (real name Bae So-min).The couple have been dating for the past four years and said they will marry on Sept. 19 at the Ramada Seoul Hotel.Ahn, 27, debuted in 2006 with a TV series on EBS and has appeared in movies and TV series since.Venny, 37, debuted in 2005 as a member of Sang Sang Band. She teaches at Sejong University.Venny recently worked with Ahn in producing “Peanuts Song” for his debut as a singer in June.Aug 26, 2015
Star of '70s TV detective series dies Kim Sang-soon / Korea Times fileActor Kim Sang-soon, well known for his role in the popular TV series from 1970s “Chief Detective,” died Tuesday aged 78.Kim, who was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer several months ago, died at home where his family cared for him.Kim’s memorable performances include Detective Kim in “Chief Detective” (1971-1989) and cold-blooded breadwinner Hwang Nol-bu in “Love on a Jujube Tree” (1990-2007).Kim Sang-soon, second from left, from “Chief Detective” Kim had given up smoking and drinking to keep himself healthy but could not overcome the illness.His funeral house has been set up at Seoul Asan Hospital, where many actors have visited to mourn, media reports said.His coffin will be borne out Thursday.Aug 26, 2015
Park Shin-hye stars on cover of SELF Actress Park Shin-hye on the cover of September issue of SELF / Courtesy of SoompiActress Park Shin-hye graces the cover of Chinese magazine SELF’s September issue.Top actresses including Zhang Ziyi and Sophie Marceau have appeared on SELF’s front page.In the pictorial, Park wears smoky eye makeup as she features winter looks.Park’s star status in China is growing, fueled by the popularity of dramas such as “Pinocchio” and “The Heir.” In “Pinocchio,” she starred with another hallyu actor, Lee Jong-suk. In “The Heir,” she played opposite Lee Min-ho.Park’s latest film, “Beauty Inside,” is now showing. She will meet fans in Chengdu, China, on Sept. 12. Park has 9 million followers on Weibo. Aug 26, 2015
'모두의 경영' 女비서 신체비율이..'성차별 논란' 최근 공개된 모바일 스마트폰 게임 “모두의 경영”이 여성 캐릭터에 대한 성차별적인 묘사로 비난세례를 치르고 있다.지하철 역사 등에서 대대적인 광고를 통해 소개된 문제의 게임은 세 명의 여성 비서를 소개하면서 게이머들이 창업자가 되어 사업가의 수완을 단련하는 새로운 경험을 해보도록 홍보하였다.문제는 여성 비서들이 게임 속에서 게이머에게 소개되거나 말할 때이다.남성 비서들의 프로필에는 “냉철하고 차분한 성격” 등이 나오는 반면, 여성 비서들의 프로필에는 신체사이즈가 나오는 것이다.또한 남성 비서들이 승진을 할 때면 “감사합니다 열심히 하겠습니다”라고 하는 반면, 여성 비서들은 “감사합니다 사랑해요 사장님”이라고 대답한다.논란이 일자 게임 업체인 이펀컴퍼니 측은 이달 말까지 내용을 수정하겠다고 밝힌 것으로 알려졌다.디지털뉴스부@Aug 25, 2015
Beast's Yang Yo-seop in duet with soprano Sumi Jo Yang Yo-seop of Beast / YonhapYang Yo-seop of Beast will become the first idol K-pop band singer to participate in an album with legendary soprano Sumi Jo.According to Cube Entertainment, Tuesday, Yang will remake Jo Duck-bai's hit song "When you come into my heart" and sing it with Jo.It will be a special bonus track on the album.In 2013, Yang sang a duet with Jo at park concert "La Fantasia."The album, to be released Thursday, provides a preview of songs to be performed at Jo's concert next month.Aug 25, 2015
TV show's noodle punishment draws fire / Screen capture from YouTubeA TV entertainment program has copped flak after airing scenes of guests being showered in noodles as a punishment.KBS2’s “Emergency Escape No.1” on Monday challenged guests to take a quiz and used the controversial punishment whenever they got questions wrong.Several visitors to the program’s webpage criticized the punishment, saying the program was uncomfortable to watch because it “played with precious foods.”The program’s producers have apologized. They said the noodles were made of clay and they should have told viewers with a caption during the program.Aug 25, 2015
'Gangnam Style' Psy back with new album Singer and rapper Psy will return to the music scene with a new album next month, working again with songwriter Yoo Gun-hyung, who was responsible for the world mega-hit “Gangnam Style” and the follow-up single “Gentleman.”Psy was planning to issue the album in August, but delayed it.Psy, 37, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, has been producing albums and singles since “Gangnam Style” in 2012. Meanwhile, the song’s music video recorded 2.4 billion views on YouTube as of Monday to set another record. Aug 25, 2015
SHINee's Jonghyun heads concert series SHINee's JonghyunSHINee’s Jonghyun will open the new SM Entertainment concert series, the agency said Tuesday.The leader and main vocalist of the boy band will perform Oct.2-4, and Oct.8-11 at the SMTOWN Theater in SMTOWN’s Coex Artium in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.His performance will be part of concert series “THE AGIT,” where SM Entertainment-affiliated artists will perform.Jonghyun in January released a solo album, “Base,” topping various charts. A band will back him for the concert. Ticket sales for his concert, “The Story by Jonghyun,” will open on Sept. 1 at YES24 (http://ticket.yes24.com)Aug 25, 2015
Hot images reveal actress' glamour Kim Sa-rang from InStyle magazine / Courtesy of TwitterActress Kim Sa-rang, who recently finished TV series “My Love Eundong,” has revealed her glamorous side in new magazine photographs.Monthly women’s magazine InStyle interviewed Kim, 38, and shot photos for the September issue, in which the actress wore revealing, elegant black and white dresses. The image was a contrast for the former Miss Korea beauty pageant winner compared with her role in the JTBC drama.The magazine asked Kim how she keeps herself healthy and looking sexy. She said she only eats healthy meals, sleeps eight hours or more a day and tries not to get stressed.Aug 25, 2015
Comedian reigns in hot noodle challenge Jung Jun-ha, left, and Guillaume Patry from "Abnormal Summit" / Screen capture from Naver tvcastTwo TV personalities have slurped hot noodle bowls as they locked horns to become the “king of eating.”Comedian Jung Jun-ha and former professional e-sport player Guillaume Patry, from Canada, raced to finish the black bean sauce noodles -- “jjajangmyeon” in Korean -- first in JTBC talk show “Abnormal Summit” Monday.The challenge began after Jung bragged he once ate a 2.5 kilogram dumpling in Japan in an hour.“Fifty people have succeeded in the challenge in the past 16 years and I am the only Korean who has done that,” Jung said.The program’s three MCs then proposed an impromptu jjajangmyeon race between the two stars.Jung, 44, won, finishing the bowl in 50 seconds. The veteran comedian again confirmed his nickname, “king of eating.”Aug 25, 2015
