Hallyu seeks breakthrough in Japan Choi Ji-woo, left, and Bae Yong-joon in a scene from “Winter Sonata.”/ Korea Times By Kwon Mee-yooThis year marks the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) as well as the 50th anniversary of normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic ties. Despite room for congratulation, relations between the two neighboring countries have been chillier than ever and "hallyu," or the Korean wave, in Japan also has not been as big as it once was.Cultural relations between Korea and Japan were almost unilateral until the 1990s as Korea mostly received Japanese culture from music and film to animation and fashion.However, the atmosphere was reversed in the early 2000s. The 2002 Korean drama "Winter Sonata," starring heartthrob Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, was immensely popular in Japan when it aired on Japanese network NHK in 2003, when the term hallyu was coined.K-pop music also became popular. Korean singers, including TVXQ and BoA, were featured at one of Japan's biggest annual music shows, "Kohaku Uta Gassen," from 2001 to 2009 and tickets foAug 14, 2015
Rapper reveals phone number during music fest Singers HaHa (left) and Zion. T perform at annual music show "Infinite Challenge" in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Thursday. / YonhapSinger Zion. T disclosed his mobile phone number during the annual music show “Infinite Challenge” in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Thursday.Zion. T, whose real name is Kim Hae-sol, paired with singer HaHa to perform “$ponsor.” During the performance, Kim revealed the phone number.HaHa said Kim would pick up calls from the audience for a week.According to social media postings, Kim took calls from Thursday night to Friday morning, but the phone was turned off in the afternoon.Meanwhile, one netizen who claimed his number is similar to Zion. T, said he had been inundated with calls for the rapper.The man posted a message on his Instagram page saying: “Do I have to change my phone number just because of the TV show?”“Infinite Challenge” has aired on MBC since 2006. The music festival portion will be shown on Aug.22. Zion. T / Courtesy of Ameba CultureAug 14, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Singer Tony An back in show business Tony AnSinger Tony An, 37, caught gambling illegally two years ago, has resumed his entertainment career.The former H.O.T member has taken part in the filming of MBC's “Super Idol” as a special judge. The show, a joint venture between Korea and China, selects candidates for pop bands that will mainly debut on the Chinese stage.An was sentenced to six months’ jail, with a one-year suspended term, in November 2013 for illegal gambling with fellow celebrities Andy of Shinwha, Boom, and comedian Lee Soo-geun.Aug 14, 2015
TV star No gets special pardon No Hong-chul / Korea Times fileTV personality No Hong-chul, who was busted for drunk driving last year and has kept a low profile since, has been granted a special pardon, reports said Friday.The government Thursday granted special pardons to 14 businessmen and more than 6,500 others before the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day. People who had broken traffic law between Dec. 23, 2013, and July 12 this year received pardons.No was booked without detention last year for drunken driving in Seoul. His blood-alcohol level was 0.105 percent, which entailed a one-year license suspension.No was one of the six hosts of popular reality show “Infinite Challenge” that MBC has aired since 2006. Aug 14, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
T-ARA to star in new web drama T-ARA / Courtesy of MBK Entertainment K-pop idol girl band T-ARA will star in six-part web drama “Sweet Temptation,” slated to air on SBS MTV and Naver in October. It also will be shown in China.The six members of T-ARA -- Bo-ram, Q-RI, So-yeon, Eun-jung, Hyo-min and Ji-yeon -- will play leading roles. Various K-pop songs will feature as will Chinese actors.“We are making every effort to promote K-pop globally and have great expectations for ‘Sweet Temptation,’” said Kim Sang-baik, a director at SBS MTV.The drama is made for Chinese fans and its theatrical cut will be released in Hong Kong later.In the first episode, “My girlfriend in fantasy,” So-yeon appears with actor Lee Joong-moon. In the second episode, “It’s raining when you fall in love,” Hyo-min stars with Hyun-woo. “Black Holiday,” the third episode, stars Q-RI with actor Jang Su-won. “Only for you,” the fourth episode, stars Eun-jung with actor Kim Jae-wook. In the fifth, “Love Recipe,” Bo-ram and actor Kim Si-whoo apAug 14, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
'Infinite Challenge' music fest held in PyeongChang Kwang Hee, center, performs with G-Dragon and Taeyang of Big Bang at 'Infinite Challenge' music festival held in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Thursday./ YonhapThe six members of the popular entertainment program “Infinite Challenge,” teaming up with their musician partners Thursday, recorded the annual music show in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province.At the music festival staged at the Alpensia Resort in PyeongChang, the six teams performed in front of some 40,000 spectators. The interesting aspect of this festival is that the producers had asked people to stay home and enjoy the festival when the show airs on Saturday on MBC, but die-hard fans of the show were not to be deterred.Yoo Jae-suk, right, performs with singer Park Jin-young at the 'Infinite Challenge' music festival held in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Thursday. / YonhapMember Yoo Jae-suk paired with Park Jin-young, singer and head of JYP Entertainment, to perform “I’m So Sexy.” New member Kwang Hee teamed up with G-Dragon and Taeyang of Big Bang; Park Myung-soo with singer IU; HaHa with Zion. Aug 14, 2015
Liam Neeson and Shaquille O'Neal coming to Korea Irish actor Liam Neeson has signed to star in the Korean movie “Battle of Incheon.”Neeeson will play General Douglas MacArthur.Initially Korean producers were going to make the film in the U.S, where Neeson lives.But Neeson wanted make the film in Korea.On a different note, basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal is also coming to Korea to star in “Off to School.”Aug 13, 2015
Hallyu couple call it a day Yoona of Girls' GenerationHot hallyu couple Girls’ Generation’s Yoona and singer/actor Lee Seung-gi are no longer dating, reports say.Lee, 28, and Yoona, 25, who were together for 19 months, reportedly were too busy with their demanding schedules to keep up the romance.Lee’s agency Hook Entertainment and Yoona’s agency SM Entertainment both said that the two parted on amicable terms.Lee Seung-giThe two confirmed they were dating on New Year’s Day in 2014.In addition to her Girls’ Generation activities, Yoona has been filming a Chinese drama this year.Lee was working on the film “Love Forecast,”and recently signed to join a new entertainment program for a cable channel.Aug 13, 2015
Rain's Chinese drama gains popularity Singer/Actor RainRain’s Chinese television drama “Diamond Lover” has recorded 3.3 billion clicks to date, Cube Entertainment said Thursday.A Chinese ranking agency, VLinkage, showed that “Diamond Lover,” which started airing in China on July 22, topped eight online streaming sites.The drama is a 68-part series, for which 42 episodes have been produced.Rain stars as a CEO of the world’s top diamond company, a perfectionist at work who is sweet when it comes to love. Rain also sings the title song for the drama, for which he wrote the music and lyrics.Meanwhile, Rain’s girlfriend Kim Tae-hee is starring in a Korean drama airing Wednesdays and Thursdays on SBS titled “Yong-pal.”Aug 13, 2015
Song Seung-heon 'proposes' to Liu Yifei / Screen capture from Liu Yifei WeiboActor Song Seung-heon, 39, and Liu Yifei appeared together publicly for the first time since admitting they are dating.They appeared on Chinese variety show “Slowly Improving” on Hunan TV on Wednesday to promote the new movie, “The Third Love,” which they starred in together.During the show, Song told Liu that “I am not a selfish person, but you make me want you.”Previously, Song’s management company announced their relationship, saying “They just began the relationship and are getting to know each other.”The next day Liu wrote on her Weibo, “I have a lot to say, but I will simply say ♥♥ for now.” Aug 13, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
