Emperor to invest in 'Saimdang, the Herstory' Top actress Lee Young-ae’s fame is undiminished. Recently, Hong Kong Emperor Group announced it plans to make a 10 billion won ($8.5 million) investment in Lee’s new SBS drama “Saimdang, the Herstory.”The Emperor group is best known for producing and distributing movies for famous Chinese actors including Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Andy Lau.Emperor Group recently opened its Korean branch “Emperor Entertainment Korea” with an investment of 110 billion won ($1 billion). This subsidiary company will be handling the investment in Lee’s new drama. Lee is well-known in Asia for her 2003 drama “Jewel in the Palace.”The new SBS drama “Saimdang, the Herstory” is a reinterpretation of the life of Shin Saimdang. Lee plays a double role as a Korean art history professor as well as Shin Saimdang. Other prominent actors in the show include Song Seung-heon, Oh Yoon-ah, Park Hyea-su.The drama will air in the first half of next year. Aug 11, 2015
Mithra Jin to wed Kwon Da-hyun Epik High’s Mithra Jin, 32, and actress Kwon Da-hyun, 30, are getting married in October.Mithra announced his plan on “Tablo and Dreaming Radio,” a radio show hosted by fellow musician Tablo. Jin will be the last member of Epik High to marry.Aug 11, 2015
DUI celebrity rebounds after layoff Celebrity No Hong-chul 36, who has been lying low after a driving under the influence incident, is set for a comeback. MBC and No’s entertainment agency, FNC, confirmed Monday that No has left for Europe for his new show.“The new show will include four ordinary guys backpacking through Europe with No for 20 days at minimal expense,” MBC said.It said the show will be a fusion of entertainment and documentary.No was a member of popular entertainment program “Infinite Challenge,” but MBC said No’s comeback did not mean he would return to the show.Aug 10, 2015
Ha Ji-won denies romance with Chen Bolin / Courtesy of Instagram Actress Ha Ji-won has denied she is romantically involved with Taiwanese actor Chen Bolin (Jin Baek-rim).Reports on Monday said Ha and Jin had been posting similar photos on their Instagram pages.The fact Chen has a contract with Ha’s management company, BM+ Entertainment, to begin his acting career in Korea, inflamed the romance rumor.But BM+ Entertainment said Ha and Chen were not personally acquainted and not in a relationship.Ha has been starring in SBS drama “The Time We Were not in Love,” which is adapted from the Taiwanese drama “In Time With You.”Aug 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
이규태 회장 측 "클라라 잘되라고 한 것…협박 아냐" 이규태(65) 일광그룹 회장이 방송인 클라라(29·본명 이성민)를 협박했다는 혐의를 재판에서 부인했다. 서울중앙지법 형사합의30부(이동근 부장판사) 심리로 10일 열린 공판에서 이 회장의 변호인은 "검찰 공소 내용은 이성민의 녹취록 일부만 발췌한 것이며 전부 읽어보면 이성민을 위해, 더 잘 되게 하려고 김모 이사(매니저)와의 관계를 끊으라고 얘기한 것뿐이다. 협박한 사실이 없다"고 주장했다. 이 회장 본인도 "녹취록 전체를 나도 이번에 처음 봤는데 전체 취지가 그렇더라. 검찰은 일부만 발췌한 것"이라고 강조했다. 이 회장은 애초 무기중개업체 일광공영을 운영하며 공군의 전자전 훈련장비(EWTS) 도입 사업과 관련해 1천억원대의 납품 사기를 저지른 혐의(특정경제범죄가중처벌법상 사기)로 올해 3월 구속기소됐다. 이후 일광그룹 계열 연예기획사(일광폴라리스)에 소속된 클라라와 분쟁을 벌이다 협박 혐의로 지난달 추가 기소됐다. 이 회장은 작년 8월 서울 성북구의 한 커피숍에서 클라라 부녀를 만나 기존의 매니저와 관계를 끊으라고 요구하며 "너한테 무서운 얘기지만 한순간에 목 따서 보내버릴 수 있다"는 등의 말로 협박한 것으로 조사됐다. 이어 자신이 소유한 사학법인에서 수십억원을 불법운용한 혐의(사립학교법 위반)로도 추가 기소돼 벌금 1천만원이 약식청구됐다가 본안 재판에 회부됐다. 이 회장의 변호인은 이날 재판에서 사립학교법 위반 혐의는 모두 인정한다고 밝혔다. 이 회장은 사립학교법 위반 사건 재판에 건강상 이유를 들어 불출석한 데 이어 방위사업 비리 사건을 불구속 상태에서 재판받게 해달라며 지난달 중순 재판부에 구속집행정지 신청서를 냈다. 이 회장 측은 신경 등의 문제로 음식을 제대로 삼키지 못하는 '식도이완불능증' 때문에 입원치료와 수술이 필요하다는 이유를 제시한 것으로 알려졌다. 재판부는 허가 여부를 판단하기 위해 11일 심문기일을 따로 열 예정이Aug 10, 2015
Actor Kim Soo-hyun mesmerizes Japan Hallyu actor Kim Soo-hyun, 27, has successfully wrapped up a promotion for his new drama, “The Producers”, in Tokyo.All tickets for the event were sold out, an indication of Kim’s popularity in Japan.The actor gave homemade “patbingsu” or shaved ice topped with red beans and “bibimbap” or rice mixed with vegetables to fans and played games. He also sang the theme song of his drama “Dream High.”Kim’s future looks bright because he is popular in several Asian countries.Meanwhile, “The Producers” will begin airing in Japan in October. His next movie, “Real” will premiere later this year.Aug 10, 2015
Song Seung-heon to star opposite Lee Young-ae Song Seung-heon / YonhapActor Song Seung-heon, 38, will join the new drama “Saimdang, the Herstory,” which started shooting Monday, with actress Lee Young-ae.Song’s management company, Group Eight, said Monday that the actor will play the role of Lee Kyum, who falls in love with Saimdang in the drama.Lee Kyum is an artist who will be Saimdang’s soulmate. It’s been 11 years since Lee played a role in a drama. She is widely known for her performance in “Jewel in the Palace” in 2003.The drama is slated to air in the first half of 2016.Song has been making headlines for his romance with Chinese actress Liu Yifei.Aug 10, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Park Hae-jin, Seo Kang-joon also to star in 'Cheese' Actor Seo Kang-joonHallyu actors Seo Kang-joon and Park Hae-jin will star in an upcoming cable drama “Cheese in the Trap,” reports said. Female lead Kim Go-eun has already been announced.The drama will be based on a popular webtoon of the same name, and will be aired on the cable channel tvN. It is produced by a popular producer Lee Yun-jeong, who was behind the 2007 MBC drama “Coffee Prince.”Seo will play a former piano prodigy-turned-loser Baek In-ho in the drama. Park Hae-jin will star as the “perfect man” Yu Jung opposite female star Kim, who will play Hong Seol, in the drama mainly centered around the three characters on campus. Actor Park Hae-jinAug 10, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
Sulli no longer f(x) member Sulli, a former f(x) memberSulli, a former member of girl band f(x), will focus on her acting career, reports say.Sulli, who has been on leave since July last year, has left SM Entertainment’s band. The management agency said f(x) will now be a four-member group, comprising Victoria, Luna, Amber and Krystal. There were rumors Sulli would leave the band, but nothing was concrete until last week.Sulli is dating Choi Ja from Korean rap band Dynamic Duo. Aug 9, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
Girls' Generation, Teen Top wow K-pop fans in New Jersey K-pop boy band Super Junior performs on Aug. 1 in Los Angeles as part of the KCON 2015 festival. / YonhapPopular K-pop groups such as Girls’ Generation, Teen Top, VIXX and AOA performed to Korean pop fans at the Prudential Center in New York Saturday, as part of 2015 KCON. The now eight-member girl group Girls’ Generation sang its latest song “Party” as well as their other hits including “Genie.”Photos of Girls’ Generation attending the 2015 KCON in New York Saturday was featured on Splash News.The largest hallyu or Korean wave festival in North America was held for three days starting from July 31 through Aug. 2 in Los Angeles, and then moved to New York to the Saturday concert.Top K-pop boy and girl bands including Super Junior, Sistar and Block B and R&B singer Crush took part in the Los Angeles concert. Aug 9, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
