TV personality spotted after drink-drive charge Noh Hong-chul / Courtesy of ruliweb.daum.netTV personality Noh Hong-chul, who was busted for drunk driving last year and has kept a low profile since, has been spotted in his neighborhood.The entertainer, 37, was seen strolling with his bicycle in a video posted online Wednesday by the person who saw him. / Korea Times fileThe person said the star appeared to be in a good mood but refused a picture together, saying he was keeping a low profile due to the charge. Noh’s license was revoked for a year and he was fined.Noh, mostly known for his role in TV entertainment show “Infinity Challenge” on MBC, was seen in Barcelona in January.Jul 9, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Male stars shoulder a beefier look Kim Soo-hyun / Korea Times fileEight Korean male celebrities who have dramatically beefed up their shoulders have been named in a media report.The list includes actor Kim Soo-hyun, 27, who showed off his broader shoulders at the premiere of Korean movie “Northern Limit Line” in June. The big change can be seen when compared with a photo of the actor in December 2010. Yoo Seung-ho / Korea Times fileAnother on the list is actor Yoo Seung-ho, 21, who completed his compulsory military service in December. A photo of Yoo saluting fans as he leaves his military division contrasts markedly with January 2012 when he was in a TV series. Lee Soo-hyukJu-wonJeong Yong-hwa Ju Ji-hoonLee Jong-seokLee Chang-ho Others on the list are model-turned-actor Lee Soo-hyuk, singer/actor Jeong Yong-hwa from rock band CNBLUE, actors Ju-won, Ju Ji-hoon and Lee Jong-hyuk, and comedian Lee Chang-ho.Jul 9, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Late actress Han 'an angel' Kim Yun-kyung, above, and Ji Soo-won speak about the late Han Kyung-sun in an interview with One Night of TV Entertainment. / Screen capture from Naver tvcastThe late actress Han Kyung-sun / YonhapCelebrities saddened by actress Han Kyung-sun’s death on Saturday have praised her on TV.Entertainment news program “One Night of TV Entertainment” on SBS said on Wednesday stars close to the late Han referred to her as an angel and a loving person.“She always shared her things with others,” actress Yun Hye-young said. “I doubt if there was another person like her anywhere else.”Actress Ji Soo-won said: “She once brought bento boxes for her co-workers. They were really packed. I asked her how she managed to cook all these. She told me she cooked them at night when she was usually free. I can still hear her voice after her death.”Actress Kim Yun-kyung said co-workers were sad because they now could not return her kindness.Han, who was single, debuted in 1983. She died of a cerebral infarction aged 52. Jul 9, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
JYP criticized for casting process for new girl group Park Jin-youngBy Kim Jae-heunJYP Entertainment’s reality girl band survival show “SIXTEEN,” which premiered May 5 on music channel Mnet, ended on Tuesday night amid a dispute over the casting process.SIXTEEN followed the experiences of 16 candidates throughout a 10-episode series for two months in which they competed against each other to secure spots for JYP’s newly debuting group “Twice,” modeled after “Wonder Girls,” and “Miss A.”People were concerned that JYP’s show could end up similar to many mundane survival shows that Mnet has been hosting like that of YG Entertainment’s WIN in 2013.JYP Entertainment’s founder and music producer Park Jin-young (JYP) promised that the show would not degenerate into an ordinary star auditioning show and he would adopt a fair system to select JYP-style members with charisma and personality.However, eight out of 10 episodes in the show shot girls singing and dancing and whether girls are competing alone or in groups or even one-on-one were only differences.JYP’s eJul 8, 2015
Indie band 'Hyukoh' breaks into mainstream Oh Hyuk, lead singer and guitarist from rock band "Hyukoh," in a scene from Infinity Challenge on Saturday / Screen capture from YouTubeIndie rock band Hyukoh has been catapulted into the nation’s pop music mainstream after a recent appearance on TV entertainment show “Infinity Challenge”.The band’s four members said they still could not believe the popularity they had gained after their TV exposure on Saturday. The program introduced the band and five other musicians, each of whom will team with the program’s six regular members to perform at the “Infinity Challenge Music Festival” this summer. The band said the TV show was a big opportunity to promote its true music style.A report Wednesday said the band had been building its reputation in the underground scene and often sold out small-scale concerts that seat no more than 100.After the band’s TV exposure, some of its songs have moved into the top 10 on online music charts, including “Wi-ing Wi-ing” and “Wari Gari.” Jul 8, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Girls' Generation heads charts with 'Party' Girls' Generation performs at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul / YonhapIdol girl band Girls’ Generation’s latest single album is dominating online music charts.Just two hours after album title song “Party” was released Tuesday, it went to No.1 on major online music sites, including Bugs Music, Olleh Music and Naver Music.Seohyeon is holding up her teammate Sunny during the band's performance at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul.The band performed the song and another from the album, “Check,” at the Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, in Jung-gu district, just before the release.The band, which debuted in 2007, is scheduled to signal its comeback to the nation’s K-pop market by appearing on three TV music shows over the weekend. Jul 8, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Actor reveals romance with idol singer Lee Dong-gun, left, and Jiyeon / Korea Times fileActor Lee Dong-gun and singer Jiyeon from idol girl band T-ARA have admitted their relationship.Insiders from MBK Entertainment and FNC Entertainment, the management companies of Jiyeon and Lee, respectively, said on Saturday the stars became a couple after spending a month together on a cruise ferry working on the movie “Reunion,” co-produced by Korea and China.Jiyeon, 22, starts her new role as a host for live music show “The Show: Season 4” on SBS MTV on Tuesday evening. It is her first public appearance since the romance was revealed.Media reports on Tuesday quoted the singer as saying Lee, 35, “is kind and takes care of me well.” She said she felt a little awkward admitting the romance because it was her first open relationship since debuting with the band in 2009.Jul 7, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Actress splits, hints at new boyfriend Actress Park Han-byeol and Lee Jeong-jin / Courtesy of InstagramActress Park Han-byeol’s photos with actor Lee Jeong-jin went viral online after her breakup with actor Jeong Eun-woo made headlines Tuesday.The two photos, posted on Park’s Instagram webpage on Sunday, show Park and Lee smiling and taking a selfie on a golf course. The two recently worked on reality TV show “Law of the Jungle” on SBS. Park Han-byeol and Jeong Eun-woo / Courtesy of InstagramA day after the posting, Park announced the breakup with Jeong through her management company, Daydream Entertainment.Park, 30, and Jeong, 29, met while working on TV series “One Well-Raised Daughter” on SBS, which aired from December 2013 to May 2014. They announced their relationship in December 2014, a month after they began to date.Jul 7, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Drunken parents attack actress, family Ra Yun-kyeong, right / Courtesy of FacebookActress Ra Yun-kyeong suffered concussion and a cut face after drunken parents attacked her and her family, media reports said Monday.The women threw a beer glass at Ra’s face and threatened to end her celebrity career, the reports said.Ra needed three weeks of medical treatment for her injuries. Ra’s son’s foot also was cut and her 18-month-old daughter suffered chest and abdominal bruising. Two intoxicated women, known by surnames Kwon and Jeong, allegedly visited Ra’s apartment on Apr. 21. The reports said the women’s children were bullies at an elementary school in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and Ra had mediated an incident involving them.Ra has halted her work on a TV talk show on OBS because of the injuries.Jul 6, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Stars' romance rock-solid Oh Jong-hyeok with a hat and Soyeon in these online photos. / Courtesy of NaverSinging star couple Oh Jong-hyeok and Soyeon’s four-year romance is still going strong.Two photos posted on an online blog Sunday showed Oh, 33, from boy band Click-B, and Soyeon (real name Park So-yeon), 27, from idol girl band T-ARA, with friends on an outing.Oh, managed by DSP Media, said in September 2013 he had been dating Soyeon, managed by MBK Entertainment, for three years. He debuted with the band in 1999 with their first album, “CLICK-B.”Oh appeared in TV talk show “Radio Star” on MBC last year, where he confirmed his romance with Soyeon.Jul 6, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
