Wonder Girls make it big on Billboard charts A scene from Wonder Girls' "I Feel You" / Screen capture from YouTubeIdol girl band Wonder Girls have secured a spot in Billboard’s world charts top 10 for two consecutive weeks.The four-member band from JYP Entertainment was at No. 7 this week in the World Albums category on the American pop magazine’s website with its latest album, “Reboot,” released earlier this month.The band hit No.2 spot last week. The category selects the world’s best albums released outside the U.S. based on sales.The band’s previous album was “Wonder Party,” released in June 2012.The band debuted in 2007. When two original members -- Sun-ye and So-hee -- left, the band welcomed new member Hye-rim.Aug 21, 2015
Rebellious ex-baseballer in tears over past Gil Min-sae from “Super Star K: Season 7” / Screen capture from YouTubeA former professional baseballer was brought to tears during a surprise visit to a popular TV singing competition show Thursday.Gil Min-sae, 23, who played for Nexen Heroes in the Korean Baseball League in 2012, appeared in the first episode of “Super Star K: Season 7” on Mnet.He said during his baseball career he often expressed his discontent by posting online messages criticizing the team. He even posted a photo of his reddened buttocks after his coach beat him.He was expelled from the team in 2013 for his provocative online activities.Gil cried in front of the program’s four star judges, regretting his past.Media reports have questioned whether the program will attract a large audience like past seasons.Aug 21, 2015
Sistar on top in summer K-pop tussle SistarIt seems four-member girl band Sistar is the winner in the summer K-pop battle.Sistar and other girl groups, such as Wonder Girls, AOA, Girl’s Day, Girls’ Generation and Apink, have released new songs in the past two months.Sistar’s single “Shake it” was in the “top 5” for six weeks, according to Yonhap's review of the performance of major girl groups on MelOn's weekly chart from June 1 through Aug. 16.More specifically, the band topped the charts three times, was once at No. 2 and twice at No. 4. “Heart Attack” by AOA took No. 3 twice.But some girl groups are having trouble, with Girl’s Day in a controversial dispute over attitude and Girls’ Generation’s “Party” failing to gain traction.Apink’s new song, “Remember,” also failed to gain attention and only achieved fifth place twice.Wonder Girls’ new song, “I Feel You,” hit No. 1 in the week of Aug. 3, but the group was criticized for concentrating more on dancing than playing their instruments. Girls' GenAug 20, 2015
New York street food lands in Korea An image of Combination Platter at "Jil'Hal Bros" / Korea TimesFinally, the wait is over as New York City’s famous street food lands in Korea. Chicken and rice might be unfamiliar in Korea, but it has been loved in New York City since the 1990s.Chicken and rice is to New Yorkers as “tteokbokki” or spicy rice-cake and “sundae” or blood sausage is to Koreans. Now you do not have to board a plane and travel 13 hours to try this exquisite meal. A vendor, “Jil’Hal Bros,” has opened in Cheongdam-dong selling the same chicken and rice you can eat in New York.The menu includes chicken, gyro, combo (a combination of chicken and gyro) platters, and chicken and gyro wraps. Coke, Sprite and beer are among refreshments available.The people at “Jil’Hal Bros” have managed to recreate the famous “white sauce,” which is the special ingredient in chicken and rice.Recent trending on Facebook showed that Ok Taecyeon, the famous idol rapper from group “2PM,” has visited the store several times. The storeAug 20, 2015
Girl band T-ARA signs with Chinese magnate A scene from T-ARA's "So Crazy" music video / Screen capture from YouTubeChinese magnate Wang Sicong, son of Dalian Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin, has signed idol girl band T-ARA for his new entertainment company.Media reports Thursday said Wang Sicong will hold a press conference soon to announce the launch of “Banana Plan” and explain his plans for the company.Wang Sicong / Courtesy of TwitterWang is particularly interested in Korean celebrities and more K-pop singers are likely to sign with his company, the reports said.T-ARA released its latest song, “So Crazy,” early this month. Aug 20, 2015
Song fan feels heat of 'jealous' stare Liu Yifei, far right, stares at Song Seung-heon and his fan. / Courtesy of WeiboLiu Yifei, the Chinese actress who is dating Korean actor Song Seung-heon, has drawn media attention over a “jealousy” stare at one of Song’s fans.Two online photos show the couple and a female fan on stage in a Chinese TV show. The couple was promoting their latest movie, “The Third Love.” / Courtesy of Naver blogIn the photos, the young fan hugs Song from behind as part of a surprise, reports said. But one photo shows that Liu is not happy with the attention given to Song, which the reports attributed to jealousy.Song and Liu announced their romance earlier this month. Aug 20, 2015
Actor Choi Min-soo embroiled in violence scandal Choi Min-soo from “A Look at Myself” / Screen capture from YouTubeActor Choi Min-soo, who is appearing in the entertainment program “A Look at Myself” on KBS, reportedly hit a producer while filming an episode.The producers of the show released a statement Wednesday night apologizing for “causing trouble with an unexpected incident during the program’s shooting.”Choi met with the producers and discussed ways to resolve the issue smoothly, the statement added.Choi reportedly punched an outsourced production company’s producer in the face, media reports said. The victim was treated at a hospital, the reports added.Aug 20, 2015
Girls' Generation new song, jaw-dropping dance Girls' Generation / Captured on YouTubeThe recent return of Korea major girl group Girls’ Generation has been a pleasure to watch for many. However, “Lion Heart,” the group’s song released Tuesday, has created a huge controversy among its fans.The video accompanying the retro-style song surprised fans because the members of the group do a “jjeokbeol dance,” otherwise known as a “legs wide spread dance.”While some fans have posted comments suggesting the video is “beautiful” and “awesome,” some are saying the dance makes them uncomfortable and is kind of a downer.Despite the controversy, the song is hitting it big on major music charts. Fans are eagerly anticipating the group’s next release, “You Think,” which is due out on Aug. 19. Aug 19, 2015
New TV show turns back music clock Singing stars from Korea’s trendy pop world of the 1990s feature in a new TV show.“To You Project: In Search of Sugar Man” on JTBC has hired the nation’s top MC, Yoo Jae-seok, and star composer Yoo Hee-yeol as hosts.The show will not only rediscover past star singers but will have guest celebrities competing against each with different renditions of the stars’ hit songs. The first episode airs Wednesday.The retro sentiment is rising in Korea. When TV show “Infinity Challenge” held a music show featuring several singers from the 1990s and early 2000s in December the reaction was huge. It was followed by concerts dedicated to stars from that period.Aug 19, 2015
'Maze Runner' stars visit Korea Lee Ki-hong / Screen capture from YouTubeKorean actor Lee Ki-hong, from American movie trilogy "Maze Runner," will visit Korea.Lee, 28, will arrive on Sep. 1 with co-star Thomas Brodie-Sangster to promote the series’ second installment, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” scheduled for theater release in September. The stars will stay for two nights.Lee posted online a video to his fans. In Korean, the actor thanked them and said he is excited about the visit.Based on the science fiction adventure series of novels "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner, the movies are about young runners escaping a mysterious life-threatening architectural trap called "Maze," only to meet harsher obstacles in a desolate landscape.Aug 19, 2015
