Funnyman blasts Japan's history cover-up Ha-Ha cries in MBC's "Infinity Challenge" as he hears about Koreans forced into slavery at Hashima Island during Japanese colonial rule (1910~1945). / Screen capture from MBC“It seems like Japan informs people only about their beautiful past, disregarding the rest of their history.” TV personality Ha-Ha’s comment on Saturday has become popular among Koreans who lived under Japanese colonial rule (1910~1945).A regular member of MBC’s entertainment show “Infinity Challenge,” Ha-Ha was saddened when he visited Hashima Island, one of the seven Meiji-era industrial sites where Koreans were forced into slave labor. The island made headlines in August when Japanese actress Kiko Mizuhara -- a former girlfriend of Korean singer G-Dragon -- posted SNS photos of herself and co-stars of Japanese movie “Attack on Titan.” She angered Koreans who considered she ignored what happened on the island.With hallyu activist Seo Kyeong-duk, Ha-Ha visited Japan as part of the show to comfort Korean descendants in Japan by dSep 13, 2015
Asian pop stars to gather at Busan music fest /YonhapPop stars from all over Asia will gather in Busan for a music festival next month, organizers said Friday. The 2015 Asia Song Festival will feature EXO, B1A1, GOT7 and Red Velvet, among other prominent K-pop artists, the Korea Music Content Industry Association said, adding that bands from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines will also be there. The festival will take place at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium from 7 p.m. on Oct. 11. Lee Teuk of the South Korean boy band Super Junior and Hani of girl group EXID will be the hosts. "We'll make this event not just relevant to South Korean pop culture but all of Asia," an organizer said. Tickets will be available in two time windows -- 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. next Thursday and 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 21 -- on Hana Free Ticket (http://ticket.hanatour.com) and Ticketlink (http://www.ticketlink.co.kr). (Yonhap)Sep 12, 2015
Actors announce marriage split Im Kang-sung, left, and Lee Seul-bi Actors Im Kang-sung and Lee Seul-bi have decided to divorce.But they have not yet made it official, Im’s management company, Dorgel Entertainment, was quoted as saying Friday. Lee is four-weeks pregnant.Im, 34, had known Lee, 30, for seven years as a friend and started dating. They married in 2011.Im, who debuted in 2002 as a singer, appeared in ongoing TV series “Yong-pal” on SBS.Lee debuted as a model for women’s magazine Ceci and worked her way up as a VJ at cable networks and as an actress.Sep 11, 2015
Veteran singer Lim Chang-jung delays album release /Courtesy of NH MediaVeteran singer Lim Chang-jung, 41, has delayed the release of his new mini album by a week.Management company NH Media said Friday Lim had decided to redo the mixing work for the album.He revealed the new title song, “Dream That You,” on Monday. It topped music charts without much promotion, and the singer wanted to make the album perfect, a NH Media spokesman said.Lim composed the title song “Love Again” with popular composer Wild Hog. Sep 11, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'Unpretty Rapstar' a catfight of idols, underdogs Cast of “Unpretty Rapstar: Season 2” / Courtesy of MnetTV rap competition show “Unpretty Rapstar: Season 2” is looking to instigate an emotional “catfight” between idol singers and underground rappers.The Mnet show’s first episode airs Friday night and media reports say it will be a battle between the groups, with one at the center of public attention and the other in the shadows.From left, Gilme, Yubin and Hyolyn The program features idol singers from girl bands, including Yubin from Wonder Girls, Hyolyn from Sistar and Yezi from Fiestar. The underground rappers include Heize, Kasper and Ash-B.Tension between the two groups seems inevitable because the program’s first season, which ended in March, showed Jimin from girl band AOA, the only idol singer in the show, being targeted by the rest of the cast.Sep 11, 2015
Korean office show wins world drama award A scene from tvN's "Misaeng" / Courtesy of tvNTV series "Misaeng" a Korean office drama depicting an inept former baduk player’s breakthrough as a company man, has achieved global recognition.The tvN series -- also known as “Incomplete Life” -- won the Mini-Series category at the 10th Seoul International Drama Awards 2015 at Sangam Digital Media City Thursday.Program director Kim Won-suk said it was an honor to win the award against renowned foreign productions. He thanked the program’s staff who had helped transform a comic book into a TV series.“Misaeng” was critically acclaimed for its realistic depiction of Korean company life. It aired from October to December 2014.Sep 11, 2015
MBLAQ singer in glass attack Yang Seung-ho /Screen capture from Twitter A member of Korean boy band MBLAQ, Yang Seung-ho, has apologized over an alleged assault involving a former staffer of his management company, J.Tune Camp.The former employee, identified only as “A,” has been booked without detention. “A” allegedly hit Yang’s head with a glass while the two were drinking at 3:10 a.m. Friday in a Seoul bar.Yang reported the attack, but the singer said he did not want “A” to be punished, police said.A J.Tune Camp spokesman said Yang and “A” had an argument over a misunderstanding, which they resolved after police questioning.“A” left the management company two years ago.Sep 11, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
IU to greet fans in Hong Kong IU / Korea Times fileSouth Korean singer IU will hold a fan meeting in Hong Kong, her official Facebook fan page showed Friday.The event will take place at Landmark North, a large office and shopping complex in the heart of the city, at 3 p.m. Saturday, the page showed.Her agency was not immediately reached for comment.IU amassed fans from all over Asia for her role in KBS 2TV's "The Producers," an office drama set at the entertainment department of a fictional KBS, in which she plays a stoic singer. Actor Kim Soo-hyun co-stars as a rookie producer who changed jobs for a woman. The show concluded its one-month run in June.IU is scheduled to hold a concert and a fan meeting in Shanghai, China, on Nov. 11. (Yonhap)Sep 11, 2015
Boy band Supernova soars to the top /Courtesy of Maroo Entertainment Korean boy band Supernova’s 7th Japanese album 7IRO has topped the Oricon Chart, Japan’s most respected album chart.The group topped the Oricon Daily Chart on Wednesday.According to Japan’s largest music site Oricon Style, 21,909 copies of the album were sold during the within 24 hours of its release. Sep 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'Ballad Emperor' to release first album in nine years /Courtesy of Dorothy CompanySinging icon Shin Seung-hun will release his 11th album, his management company Dorothy Company said Thursday.It has been nine years Shin released his 10th regular album in 2006.The new album is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut in 1990 with the legendary hit song “Your Smile in My Memory.”Since then, Shin has enjoyed immense popularity, earning the title “The Emperor of Ballads.”In 1991, his second album “Invisible Love” topped the MBC music chart for 11 weeks and topped the SBS music chart for 14 weeks, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.The 11th album will contain various music genres, Dorothy Company said.Sep 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
