IU sings at manager's wedding IU sings with her dancing crews at her manager's wedding on Saturday. / Screen capture from YouTubeSinger IU (whose real name is Lee Ji-eun) sang at her manager’s wedding on Saturday to congratulate the couple.A YouTube video shows the singer, 23, performing at the wedding. She wore a purple dress and sang her hit dance number “Good Day.” During the performance, Lee approached the couple and put her microphone in front of her manager. He responded by briefly singing along, much to the amusement of guests.The video showed guests cheering Lee during her performance. Lee also sang “Proposal,” originally sung by Lee So-ra. Jul 14, 2015
Korean indie band beats idol stars Korean indie band Hyukoh has bumped some leading idol groups from the top of the music charts. The four-member band beat out K-pop heavyweights Girls’ Generation, Sistar and AOA, who all released albums this month.Hyukoh’s “Wa Li Ga Li” topped seven online music services on Tuesday, including Melon, Mnet, Naver Music, Soribada, Genie, Bugs and Olleh Music. The song is from the group’s EP album, “22.” It has topped the charts nearly two months after its May release.The band is relatively new, having issued its maiden album, “20,” last year. It gained attention after appearing on popular Korean television entertainment show “Infinite Challenge.” After the segment aired on July 4, Hyukoh’s songs began climbing the charts. Jul 14, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
Former K-pop star shines in Chinese photo shoot Yoo Seung-jun poses in photo-shooting for a Chinese magazine. / Courtesy of WeiboRecent online photos show former K-pop singer Yoo Seung-jun (American name Steve Yoo) posing for a magazine photo shoot in China.The nine photos posted on the star’s Chinese SNS account on Saturday show him in hip-hop style outfits. “The weather is particularly hot and people have begun to pay attention to my body,” Yoo, 38, said in Chinese on his Weibo webpage. “So many things have happened these days, and I thank you for your continued support. I love you.”In 2002, Yoo was banned from entering Korea after he gave up his Korean citizenship allegedly to avoid military service. Yoo has pursued a music and acting career in China since. Yoo appeared on Internet broadcasting platform Afreeca TV in late May and apologized for giving up his Korean nationality."I'm sorry for causing trouble and I apologize for greatly disappointing you,” Yoo said on Afreeca TV. “If I could return to the past, I'd enlist in the army without a second thougJul 14, 2015
Billboard eyes Brave Brothers teaming with YG Brave Brothers (real name Kang Dong-chul), left, and YG / Courtesy of Facebook Music producer Kang Dong-chul, better known as Brave Brothers, has attracted stars from the American pop music industry, teaming up with American rapper YG.The prominent American music magazine highlighted Kang, 36, Friday, who made his debut in the U.S. producing “Cash Money.” The song features YG, whom the outlet has described as “one of hip-hop’s most in-demand rappers in America.” The song also reportedly features a veteran MC Krayzie Bone. The magazine has touched on Kang’s discography involving K-pop idol bands, which includes AOA’s “Heart Attack” and Hello Venus with “Wiggle Wiggle.”YG, who was born Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, was quoted in the magazine as saying Kang is “definitely one of the most profound international producers of our time.”Kang, in turn, said YG is “the new West Coast sound at its finest,” dubbing him a “lyrical genius.”Jul 13, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Online feud between VJ and netizen Seo Yu-ri / Courtesy of TwitterVJ and voice actress Seo Yu-ri and a netizen have engaged in an online feud, criticizing each other over a rapper’s TV performance.The dispute started after 20-something Seo criticized online rapper Song Min-ho, from five-member idol boy band WINNER, on Saturday.Appearing in rap competition music show “Show Me the Money 4” on Mnet a day before, Song stirred controversy with the phrase “spread like gynecology” during his performance. An angry Seo commented,“Some kids these days seem to think they hatched from their own eggs, not from their mothers’ womb.”Song Min-ho in a scene from "Show Me the Money 4" / Screen capture from YouTubeOn Sunday, a Twitter user posted, “I was dumbfounded to find a plastic surgery monster and unpopular underdog like Seo criticizing a celebrity like Song.”The comment soon brought Seo’s SNS reply:“You shamed me with your comment. Please think about what you have said for a day and apologize to me. Then I will forgive you.” Some netizens have suppJul 13, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Tom Cruise to visit Seoul for 'Mission Impossible' sequel Tom CruiseHollywood star Tom Cruise will visit Korea to promote “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,” Lotte Entertainment said Monday.It will be Cruise’s seventh visit to Seoul. He will hold a press conference on July 30 (the day of the film’s release in Korea) and attend a red carpet showing at the second Lotte World Mall Atrium the same evening.Director Christopher McQuarrie and producer Don Granger will accompany Cruise.. Jul 13, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
Sexy TV reporter surprises talent quest judges Kim So-young in a scene from "King of Mask Singer" / Screen capture from YouTubeViewers of “mystery” TV music show “King of Mask Singer” were surprised to find TV reporter Kim So-young was one of eight competitors on Sunday.Kim wore long black boots, a tight one-piece outfit that revealed her slender bodyline. A bright mask hid her identity as she sang on the MBC talent quest.None of the celebrity judges guessed Kim’s identity until she took off her mask after being eliminated in the first round./ Courtesy of InstagramAfter revealing her identity, surprising the judges and the audience, she said it was her first appearance on an entertainment show since her debut as a reporter in 2012.Kim is anchorwoman for News 24 and a DJ for “Sleepless Night” on MBC.Jul 13, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Big Bang's song blast takes a hit Big Bang / Korea Times fileFive-member idol boy band Big Bang is losing chart traction with its latest songs.The band has been releasing two songs on the first day of the month since May. The first two songs, “Loser” and “Bae Bae,” took top spots on online music charts for three weeks. But songs released in June and July only managed shorter periods: “Bang Bang Bang” and “We Like 2 Party” from June were top for two weeks, and “If You” and “Sober” from July for only three days.G Dragon from Big Bang / Korea Times fileRising rock band Hyukoh and girl bands Girls’ Generation and Sistar are having an effect on Big Bang.“At the end of the day, people are eventually fed up with same delicious foods,” a media report said Friday, pointing at the way the band releases new songs, known as the “MADE Project.” “If they keep releasing new songs each month and seeing their ranks drop, they will begin to be overtaken by other singers.”The band plans to release new songs until September Jul 10, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Big Bang singer, Japanese actress star in TV romance T.O.P, left, and Juri Ueno / Courtesy of InstagramSinger T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) from idol boy band Big Bang and Japanese actress Juri Ueno will star in a new TV show.Korean content creator CJ E&M and Japanese celebrity management company Amuse are co-producers of the romance series. / Courtesy of InstagramProgram director Lee Seung-hoon from CJ E&M was quoted on Friday as saying the series had been in planning for a year. He had originally thought to cast the stars in the series and was thrilled to work with them.Ueno posted on Friday two photos of stars and crew from the show. In one photo, which showed the star pair, she said: “Thank you so much TOP.”Jul 10, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Korean-Brazilian beauty draws netizens Catharina Choi Nunes, center, with casts from "Infinity Challenge" / Courtesy of Instagram/ Courtesy of InstagramKorean-Brazilian Catharina Choi Nunes, 25, who won the Miss World Brazil title late last month, has mesmerized Korean netizens.After her recent accomplishment, netizens have begun paying attention to her past photos, including when she won Miss Earth Korea 2013.Nunes, whose Korean name is Choi Song-ee, will compete in the Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China, in December.Catharina Choi Nunes in a scene from "Infinity Challenge" / Screen capture from YouTube Nunes appeared on TV entertainment show “Infinity Challenge” on MBC in 2014, where she taught Portuguese to the show’s cast, who visited Brazil to cheer for the Korean national football team in the FIFA World Cup.Jul 9, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
