Female celebrities battle it out on TV military show A female celebrity is posing as an army trainee in TV reality show "Real Men: Women's Army Special." / Screen capture from YouTube A TV military entertainment show began its latest season on Sunday with a women’s army segment and a new cast. "Real Men: Women's Army Special" on MBC hired 10 female celebrities for the program. The stars included actress Shin So-yul, idol singer Choi Yu-jin from girl band CLC, former tennis player Jun Mi-ra and Japanese TV personality Fujita Sayuri. A new cast for the third season of "Women's Army Special" segment of the programThe weekly program showed the stars bracing themselves before entering an army training facility at Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. Jun said she accepted the challenge to rediscover her ego that she lost while being a housewife for 10 years. Sayuri, widely known as an eccentric, put on war camouflage makeup to prepare for the challenge.In the third season of the segment that was first introduced in August 2014, celebrities who pass the training will receive further training in a women’s anti-teAug 24, 2015
Actor Lee Jong-suk's wax figure to be displayed Actor Lee Jong-suk whose wax figure will go on exhibit at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong next year. / Korea Times fileA wax figure of the popular Korean actor Lee Jong-suk will go on display in a global museum of wax dolls in Hong Kong, his management said Monday."Lee recently met officials from Madame Tussauds' Hong Kong to take his measurements," Wellmade Yedang said.His wax figure will go on display at the museum in the first half of next year, along with world-renowned figures, such as U.S. President Barack Obama, actresses Angelina Jolie and Audrey Hepburn, and Hong Kong actor Andy Lau.Lee is the fourth Korean whose wax figure is to be installed at the museum after actors Bae Yong-joon, Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun, according to Yedang. (Yonhap)Aug 24, 2015
Actress' kindness warms viewers' hearts Seo Yae-ji from JTBC's "Last" / Screen capture from YouTubeActress Seo Yae-ji is attracting viewers in TV series “Last” with her heartwarming kindness to street beggars.As the JTBC series reached its 10th episode on Saturday, nurse Shin Na-ra (played by Seo) has become one of the hottest characters. Media reports said Seo’s talent had enriched the character’s quality in drawing viewers’ sympathy.They quoted Seo as saying she has grown fond of beggars at Seoul Station -- where shooting occasionally takes place -- because her character is always surrounded by them. Shin’s nickname in the series is “Beggars’ Flower.”The action series is set in a huge black market, worth 10 billion won ($8.4 million), underneath Seoul Station. It revolves around main character Jang Tae-ho (played by singer-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang), a former fund manager whose life is turned upside down and becomes a beggar. He fights against a vicious gang that rules the market and beggars at the station, and discovers romance with Shin.Aug 24, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Suh Se-won and Suh Chung-hee divorces Suh Se-wonSuh Chung-heeComedian Suh Se-won and Suh Chung-hee have divorced after 32 years, reports say.The two finalized the divorce was finalized at Seoul Family Court on Friday.The two had been a picture-perfect couple until video footages of the comedian dragging his wife by the leg into an elevator by the leg was disclosed last year. The comedian was indicted for violence last May.The two married in 1983 when Suh was a top comedian and his wife a starting model. After last year’s incident, stories about their marital troubles became public. where Suh Chung-hee first filed for divorce in July and Suh Se-won also filed in December 2014.Aug 23, 2015
Celebrities hit headlines over age gap Mina, left, and Philip RyuKoreans tend to make a big deal of couples when the girls are older than their boyfriends. It is why singers Mina, 43, and Philip Ryu, 26, made headlines on Monday when they revealed they were dating.Media reports said Mina, who gained fame in 2002 as “Miss World Cup” during the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan, will support and wait for Ryu, a member of boy band “So Real,” after he joined the Army two weeks ago to serve his mandatory military service for nearly two years.The singers are certainly a rare case with their comparatively huge age difference, even from outside the entertainment world. But there are other celebrity couples with girls older than their boyfriends who have attracted attention.Baek Ji-young, left, and Jeong Seok-wonActor Jeong Seok-won, 30, and singer Baek Ji-young, 39, wed in 2013, ignoring fierce cyber-bullying by online trolls who mocked their romance.Han Hye-jin, left, and Ki Sung-yeungNational football player Ki Sung-yeung, 27, and actress Han Hye-jin, 35, tied the knot in 20Aug 21, 2015
Wonder Girls make it big on Billboard charts A scene from Wonder Girls' "I Feel You" / Screen capture from YouTubeIdol girl band Wonder Girls have secured a spot in Billboard’s world charts top 10 for two consecutive weeks.The four-member band from JYP Entertainment was at No. 7 this week in the World Albums category on the American pop magazine’s website with its latest album, “Reboot,” released earlier this month.The band hit No.2 spot last week. The category selects the world’s best albums released outside the U.S. based on sales.The band’s previous album was “Wonder Party,” released in June 2012.The band debuted in 2007. When two original members -- Sun-ye and So-hee -- left, the band welcomed new member Hye-rim.Aug 21, 2015
Rebellious ex-baseballer in tears over past Gil Min-sae from “Super Star K: Season 7” / Screen capture from YouTubeA former professional baseballer was brought to tears during a surprise visit to a popular TV singing competition show Thursday.Gil Min-sae, 23, who played for Nexen Heroes in the Korean Baseball League in 2012, appeared in the first episode of “Super Star K: Season 7” on Mnet.He said during his baseball career he often expressed his discontent by posting online messages criticizing the team. He even posted a photo of his reddened buttocks after his coach beat him.He was expelled from the team in 2013 for his provocative online activities.Gil cried in front of the program’s four star judges, regretting his past.Media reports have questioned whether the program will attract a large audience like past seasons.Aug 21, 2015
Sistar on top in summer K-pop tussle SistarIt seems four-member girl band Sistar is the winner in the summer K-pop battle.Sistar and other girl groups, such as Wonder Girls, AOA, Girl’s Day, Girls’ Generation and Apink, have released new songs in the past two months.Sistar’s single “Shake it” was in the “top 5” for six weeks, according to Yonhap's review of the performance of major girl groups on MelOn's weekly chart from June 1 through Aug. 16.More specifically, the band topped the charts three times, was once at No. 2 and twice at No. 4. “Heart Attack” by AOA took No. 3 twice.But some girl groups are having trouble, with Girl’s Day in a controversial dispute over attitude and Girls’ Generation’s “Party” failing to gain traction.Apink’s new song, “Remember,” also failed to gain attention and only achieved fifth place twice.Wonder Girls’ new song, “I Feel You,” hit No. 1 in the week of Aug. 3, but the group was criticized for concentrating more on dancing than playing their instruments. Girls' GenAug 20, 2015
New York street food lands in Korea An image of Combination Platter at "Jil'Hal Bros" / Korea TimesFinally, the wait is over as New York City’s famous street food lands in Korea. Chicken and rice might be unfamiliar in Korea, but it has been loved in New York City since the 1990s.Chicken and rice is to New Yorkers as “tteokbokki” or spicy rice-cake and “sundae” or blood sausage is to Koreans. Now you do not have to board a plane and travel 13 hours to try this exquisite meal. A vendor, “Jil’Hal Bros,” has opened in Cheongdam-dong selling the same chicken and rice you can eat in New York.The menu includes chicken, gyro, combo (a combination of chicken and gyro) platters, and chicken and gyro wraps. Coke, Sprite and beer are among refreshments available.The people at “Jil’Hal Bros” have managed to recreate the famous “white sauce,” which is the special ingredient in chicken and rice.Recent trending on Facebook showed that Ok Taecyeon, the famous idol rapper from group “2PM,” has visited the store several times. The storeAug 20, 2015
Girl band T-ARA signs with Chinese magnate A scene from T-ARA's "So Crazy" music video / Screen capture from YouTubeChinese magnate Wang Sicong, son of Dalian Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin, has signed idol girl band T-ARA for his new entertainment company.Media reports Thursday said Wang Sicong will hold a press conference soon to announce the launch of “Banana Plan” and explain his plans for the company.Wang Sicong / Courtesy of TwitterWang is particularly interested in Korean celebrities and more K-pop singers are likely to sign with his company, the reports said.T-ARA released its latest song, “So Crazy,” early this month. Aug 20, 2015
