'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
Actress Han Ye-seul _ from hippie to bohemian Actress Han Ye-seul / Courtesy of Keyeast EntertainmentActress Han Ye-seul features hippie and bohemian looks in the latest shoot for Cosmopolitan.She appears on the cover of the 15th anniversary edition of the magazine, along with actress Jung Ryeo-won. Han, a Korean-American, was also interviewed and talked about her friendship with Jung.Actress Jung Ryeo-won, left, and Han Ye-seulHan this year was one of the top 11 hottest Korean women picked by Playboy earlier this year. Social consumer website Ranker listed the 11 Korean celebrities based on 1,300 online votes in April.Han is dating Teddy, a producer with YG Entertainment.Aug 19, 2015
Actress donates cash to DMZ mine blast victims Actress Lee Young-aeTop hallyu actress Lee Young-ae has donated money to the two soldiers injured in a land mine blast earlier this month.She gave 50 million won to staff sergeants Kim Jung-won, 23, and Ha Jae-hun, 21,who were wounded in the Aug. 4 blast in the Demilitarized Zone.Lee’s family has a military background. Her father was honorably discharged after being injured in the Korean War (1950-1953) and her father-in-law was forced out of the Army after refusing to cooperate in the May 16 coup.Lee also plans to hold a concert for military personnel this fall. She has made many donations to help people domestically and internationally.Lee is scheduled to star in new SBS drama “Saimdang, the Herstory,” which will air at the beginning of next year. Filming started on Aug. 10. Aug 18, 2015
Superstar K returns with 7th season The members of the judging panel for Superstar K Season 7 pose at a press conference at CJ E&M Center in Sangam-dong, Tuesday. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heun“Superstar K,” the biggest Korean television talent show, launched its seventh season on cable network Mnet, Tuesday.The annual audition program’s popularity peaked in season two with its highest viewing rate of 18.1 percent after its premiere in 2009. But the “Superstar K” series failed to ride on that success when its season five episodes were harshly criticized by viewers for keeping the same format and featuring poor performances.This season, “Superstar K” has returned with several changes. Producer Ma Doo-sik took over the throne as main producer after seven years’ experience as an entertainment show producer.The timeslot has also moved from Friday at 11 p.m. to Thursday at that time. Star singer Sung Si-kyung, who has joined the judging panel, said: “Thursday is a good day to enjoy the show as it is in the middle of the week going into the latter half that mAug 18, 2015
Singer Jessica mourns Bangkok explosion / Courtesy of InstagramJessica Jung, a former member of idol girl band Girls’ Generation, has expressed grief over the Bangkok bombing that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 140.In a posting she wrote: “Thinking of Bangkok tonight … Take heart and know that we are all behind you.”The explosion happened about 7 p.m. Monday in an upscale area filled with tourists, office workers and shoppers. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, described the explosion as the country’s worst attack.Jessica Jung /Courtesy of InstagramThe singer, 26, ended her contract with SM Entertainment on Aug. 8. She debuted with SM in 2007. Jung quit after the company allegedly banned her from managing her fashion brand, BLANC.Aug 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Drunken actor booked over chauffeur incident Jung Woon-taek, wearing black clothes and allegedly drunk, threatens chauffeurs in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. / Screen capture from YouTube Jung Woon-taek from "My Boss My Hero" (2001)Actor Jung Woon-taek harassed chauffeurs on Seoul streets, video footage released Tuesday shows.According to the footage one chauffeur recorded about 4 a.m. on Aug. 1, an allegedly drunk Jung approached a group of chauffeurs at a major intersection in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. The actor allegedly threatened them with violence, including one known by the surname Ryu, 46. Jung grabbed Ryu’s clothes and attempted to get him out of a minivan sent by Ryu’s company.The man who recorded the video is heard saying “We should report this to police” and swearing at Jung.Ryu reported the incident, along with the footage, to Gangnam police the same day, stating he suffered a shin injury that needed two-week’s treatment. Jung has been booked without arrest.A representative from Jung’s management company, PS Entertainment, reportedly visited Ryu and offered him compensation of aAug 18, 2015
Idol singer fires up new TV show Dasom, left, playing Oh In-young in "The Eccentric Daughter-in-Law" on KBS2 / Screen capture from YouTubeNew TV series “The Eccentric Daughter-in-Law” grabbed viewers’ attention Monday with its creative storytelling and an idol singer’s impressive acting as the leading character.The comedy series from KBS2 used sound effects and video graphics to spice up specific scenes. Dasom from four-member idol girl band “Sistar” played the leading character, Oh In-young. Media reports praised her performance as a rowdy, tacky idol star desperate to recapture fame.The series is about a singer whose management company orders her to join a reality TV show where she must pretend to be a daughter-in-law in front of her virtual mother-in-law Yang Chun-ja (played by veteran actress Ko Doo-sim).The first episode depicted Oh reluctant to join the show and struggling to put up with Yang. It remains to be seen whether the eccentric daughter-in-law will find a way to get along with Yang and her family in following episodes. Aug 18, 2015
Trouble-plagued Kang quits TV show 'Gosohan 19' Kang Yong-seokControversy over an alleged affair has had a devastating effect on the TV career of former lawmaker Kang Yong-seok.Cable channel tvN said Tuesday Kang will be resigning from his main program, “Kang Yong-suk’s Gosohan 19.”The future of the show is not yet determined, but Wednesday’s show has been cancelled.The husband of a power blogger is suing Kang for allegedly having an affair with his wife.The channel said the resignation was due to the lawsuit and viewer sentiment.On Aug. 4, Kang resigned from his “Wednesday Delicacies” program.Kang was embroiled in another scandal in 2010 after making sexist remarks to female collegians who wanted to become TV announcers.Aug 18, 2015
Taiwanese fans go wild over actress Park Shin-hye / Courtesy of Instagram Actress Park Shin-hye has received a rousing welcome from Taiwanese fans.Park’s management company, Salt Entertainment, said Tuesday she attended a fan meeting in Taiwan Sunday.During the meeting, the actress, 26, sang six songs, including “Dream a Dream,” “Love like Snow” and “Memories over Love.”Park found global fame in 2009 with “You are Beautiful,” a drama she starred in with actor Jang Geun-suk and singer Lee Hong-gi. “Pinocchio,” a drama she starred in with Lee Jong-suk, which first aired last year, has been shown recently in Taiwan.Park watched a video of key scenes from the drama during the meeting and Taiwanese fans applauded loudly when her character Choi In-ha appeared.“You enable me to push through difficult times because you're there for me, not behind me but right next to me,” she told fans. “I hope we can stay this way forever.”Park has been meeting Asian fans under the title “Dream of Angel” for three years.She is enjoying immense poAug 18, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Bae Yong-joon sues 'online trolls' Hallyu actor Bae Yong-joon has finally drawn his sword.Bae’s management Keyeast Entertainment disclosed Tuesday that Bae, 43, has sued about 30 “keyboard warriors” who have constantly been spreading rumors about the top celebrity couple.Rumors included false information about his recent marriage with actor Park Soo-jin, 31.Keyeast Entertainment further on commented that there will be no settlement and they will continuously sue if they find more. Bae earning his worldwide fame with his famous drama “Winter Sonata” (2002) married Park last month. Park was a former member of the K-pop girl band “Sugar” and now acts and emcees on entertainment programs.Aug 18, 2015
