Rapper's prison album runs hot and cold E-SENS from "Back In Time" music video / Courtesy of Naver blogCover of “The Anecdote” by E-SENSPublic reaction to the album “The Anecdote” by rapper E-SENS, who is in jail, has been mixed.The album was released on Aug. 27, 10 months after he was jailed in November 2014 for smoking marijuana.Hip-hop artists and critics have praised quality of the album, which sold 16,000 copies in a week, a high number for a hip-hop artist.The album’s title song also performed well on online music charts.But other people have criticized the rapper, saying it simply does not make sense that a criminal serving a prison term can release a music album.Some also said he would encourage musicians to think that using the drug would help their music.E-SENS’s management company Beasts and Natives was quoted as saying it decided to release the album because management believed the public would provide the most honest feedback in this way.Sep 4, 2015
Chorus singer on way to stardom Cheon Dan-bi from “Super Star K: Season 7” on Mnet / Screen capture from MnetTV talent quest “Super Star K: Season 7” is on the way to making a star of a former back-up chorus singer.On Thursday all four judges voted for Cheon Dan-bi, 30, to go through to the next round.“I started singing in a chorus when I was 19,” Cheon said during the program. “I used to doubt that I could be as good as all the singers I have worked with. That’s why I have never released my own recordings.”The judges, all singers, knew who Cheon was when she appeared on stage.“There is probably no singer in Korea who hasn’t worked with her,” said Baek Z-young.Sep 4, 2015
Wrong singer accused of military evasion Two singers, both named Kim Woo-joo, were embroiled in a mistake by TV entertainment news program “One Night of TV Entertainment” on SBS. Singer on the left was wrongly reported by the program to have been charged with military service evasion, when one on the right actually did. / Courtesy of Naver blogA TV entertainment news program has apologized after wrongly accusing the wrong singer of evading mandatory military service.SBS’s “One Night of TV Entertainment” on Wednesday accused Kim Woo-joo from management company Space Sound, and showed his photo.Footage from “One Night of TV Entertainment” showing the wrong photo of the singer.But the program released an official apology on its webpage the next day, stating that the wrong photo was shown.The picture should have been that of a singer with the same name, managed by Old Time Entertainment.The singer received a one-year jail term on Aug. 27 when the Supreme Court confirmed a lower court’s decision.The singer has been postponing his enlistment since 2004. One of his excuses Sep 4, 2015
Pop star Jung Yong-wha has fun with the naked truth /Screen captures from InstagramJung Yong-wha, a member of Korean pop rock band CNBLUE, has shown his sense of humor by posting fan-manipulated photo of himself.Early on Thursday, Jung posted a photo of himself and CNBLUE members on his Instagram page.In the photo, Jung is naked from the waist up, and his fans have responded enthusiastically, with some using Photoshop to put a jumper on him.Jung then posted a photo of himself in a jumper, and commented, “It’s so warm.” Sep 3, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
H.O.T. may reunite /Korea Times fileFirst-generation boy band H.O.T. is considering reuniting 14 years after it disbanded.The former five members _ Moon Hee-joon, Tony An, Lee Jae-won, Jang Woo-hyuk and Kang Ta _ led the trend of K-Pop and hallyu in the 1990s.The band is likely to give a concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its debut, news reports said Thursday.The members had often discussed reuniting, but no decision has been made yet, the reports said.The five belong to different management companies and have been building individual careers as producers, musical actors and entertainers.H.O.T had several hits _ “Warrior’s Descendant,” “Candy,” “Happiness” and “We Are the Future.” Sep 3, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
JYP boy band DAY6 to make debut New boy band DAY6 from JYP Entertainment / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBoy band DAY6 will make its debut on Sept. 7, JYP Entertainment said Thursday.The agency has also posted on YouTube teaser images for the music video of the debut song “Congratulations.”Actor Choi Woo-sik, who is also with JYP Entertainment, makes a guest appearance.DAY6 comprises Dowun, Wonpil, Junhyeok, Jae, main vocalist Seongjin and Young K. They compose their own lyrics and songs.“The Day” will be released through local music at midnight on Sept. 7. Sep 3, 2015
Military visit sparks romance rumor U-ie / Korea Times fileDo we have another top K-pop couple in the making?Media reports say singer/actress U-ie from girl band After School was with the family of singer U-Know Yunho of TVXQ when his family visited the military training center in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 27.U-Know Yunho as he completed his basic military training / Courtesy of Naver blogYunho had completed his basic military training and was to leave for his barracks.His family and U-ie were there to greet him and say farewell.The media reports said U-ie might have been there because the two were in a romantic relationship. When a military recruit leaves a training facility, his family and loved ones usually visit the facility.U-ie claimed she was there only as the singer’s friend, according to the reports.Sep 3, 2015
After 11-year break, actress still shines Lee Young-ae from script-reading rehearsal for “Saimdang, the Herstory” / Courtesy of Group 8Actress Lee Young-ae proved she still has the edge at a script-reading rehearsal for a TV series, her first in 11 years.Lee, 44, rehearsed for SBS’s historical series, “Saimdang, the Herstory,” scheduled to air next year.The series depicts historical figure Sin Saimdang (1504~1551), a painter from the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) who is better known as the mother of Confucian scholar Lee Yul-gok (1536~1584).Lee Young-ae, left, from MBC's “Jewel in the Palace” / Courtesy of Naver blogIn the rehearsal at SBS broadcasting company in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 4, Lee surprised and impressed co-stars, writers and producers with her persuasive and intelligent reading of the script, according to media reports.The series previously made headlines when it was sold to six Asian nations even before it was made, thanks to Lee and her co-star Song Seung-heon, a hallyu actor who is popular in China.Since debuting in a TV commercial in 1990, LeSep 3, 2015
Moon Geun-young, Yook Sung-jae to star in mystery drama Actress Moon Geun-young will star in the TV drama “The Village: Achiara’s Secret” with Yook Sung-jae, from K-pop boy band BTOB.Achiara is a Korean word meaning a “small pond.” Moon, 29,will play Kim So-yoon, a new English teacher, appointed to the village. Yook, 21, will play a policeman, Park Woo-jae.When So-yoon arrives in Achiara, a small and peaceful crime-free village, she finds a buried body on her first day at school. So-yoon and Woo-jae try to find the truth about the body and the village.“So-yoon and Woo-jae are strong characters able to lead the story _ we believe the two stars will do wonders in their roles,” an SBS spokesman said.The drama will air on SBS in October. Sep 2, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Four SM artists to enlist soon Choi Siwon of Super Junior will enlist on Nov. 19. / Korea Times fileEnlistment dates for four SM artists this year have been confirmed, entertainment reports said Wednesday.They are Super Junior’s Choi Siwon, 28, Eunhyuk, 29, and Donghae, 29, and TVXQ’s Changmin, 27.Eunhyuk and Donghae of Super Junior _ who also double as the“D&E” duo _ will enlist in October. Eunhyuk will enlist on Oct. 13 and Donghae on Oct. 15.Donghae, left, and Eunhyuk will enlist next month.They are expected to enlist quietly, as other stars have done.Choi Siwon of Super Junior and Changmin of TVXQ will enlist on Nov.19. The two will serve as conscripted police officers.Changmin, left, of TVXQ will enlist in November.Other SM artists doing compulsory military service include Super Junior members Shindong and Sungmin and also Yunho of TVXQ. Sep 2, 2015
