'Infinite Challenge' goes to China “Infinite Challenge,” MBC’s popular reality show, announced that it will provide its program format to China Central Television (CCTV) to produce a Chinese version of the show. CCTV’s Infinite Challenge will be comprised of 12 episodes and premiere on Oct. 25. The cast of the comedy show has not been decided. CCTV revealed that this will be the first time it will air a show modeled after a Korean format and its decision to put it on in prime time is an indication of how much it likes the idea.An MBC official said that a number of Chinese broadcasters and productions have been damaging the Korean reality shows’ reputation by producing Chinese versions without approval. He said, “MBC is glad the show will be produced lawfully by CCTV and aired throughout the country.”Jul 1, 2015
Terminator stars visit Korea Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, and Emilia Clarke from “Terminator: Genisys” Actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke from “Terminator: Genisys” are visiting Korea on Wednesday.The stars from the highly-anticipated Hollywood blockbuster are scheduled to spend three days in Korea. They will participate in a press conference on Thursday morning and visit Lotte World Mall in Songpa-gu district, eastern Seoul, for a red carpet event in the afternoon.Lee Byung-hun from the movie didn’t accompany the stars’ trip to Korea because of his Hollywood schedule.Schwarzenegger previously visited Korea in 2013 to promote his action movie “The Last Stand” which was directed by Korea-born Park Chan-wook. It is the first visit to Korea for Clark, who attracted fans from across the world with her role Daenerys Targaryen in TV fantasy series “Game of Thrones.”Jul 1, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Big Bang music video blasts to 2 million hits Scenes from "Sober" music video / Screen capture from YouTubeIdol boy band Big Bang’s video of new song “Sober” neared 2 million hits Wednesday afternoon.They were recorded just hours after the song was released from the band’s single album, “D,” Wednesday morning. The five-member band from YG Entertainment released another song from the album, “If You.” The two songs, according to media reports, have topped music charts in Korea and many other countries in Asia and Europe.The band has been releasing single albums on the first day of the month since May. They are on a world tour, visiting Thailand on July 11 and 12 and the U.S. and Canada later.Jul 1, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Stars deny romance rumor Park Shin-hye, left, and Lee Jong-seok / Courtesy of InstagramActors Lee Jong-seok and Park Shin-hye have denied a fresh rumor that they are a couple.The pair worked together from November last year to January on TV series Pinocchio on SBS.Friends of the stars said: “They are really close friends but it is absolutely not true that they are dating.” Scenes from Pinocchio / Screen capture from YouTubeOne said it was a coincidence that the two had participated in events like photo shoots and fan meetings together and wore similar bracelets.Earlier Wednesday, a media report said Lee, 25, managed by Wellmade Yedang, and Park, 25, from S.A.L.T. Entertainment, had been dating for four months.Jul 1, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Girls' Generation teases with comeback video / Screen capture from YouTubeIdol girl band Girls’ Generation has released a teaser video before its Korean comeback.The 32-second video, released Wednesday on YouTube, shows clips of music videos for the band’s new songs -- “Party,” “Lion Heart” and “You Think.” The eight band members are dressed in a variety of vibrant clothes, ranging from bikinis to bejeweled dresses, for the video.The band will release “Party” on Tuesday and the other songs later.The band is managed by SM Entertainment and its last album released in Korea was “Mr. Mr.,” in February 2014. Jul 1, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Boxing actress denies sex video Lee Si-young / Korea Times fileActress Lee Si-young’s management company has denied a rumor that it threatened her to take part in filming a sex video.J,Wide-Company, which manages Lee, 33, said the rumor is untrue and they will take legal steps in punishing whoever started the rumor. The company said they were “dumbfounded” by the rumor and called her to confirm that she didn’t film such video, according to media reports on Tuesday./ Courtesy of Instagram“If there was a problem between us and Lee, how could she keep showing herself up on TV screens these days?” the company’s CEO, Jeong Deok-gyun was quoted by a report as saying.The rumor, which surfaced online Tuesday, said the company abused its authority to make the star, a member of Incheon City Office boxing team, film a sex video.Lee currently plays a role in TV series "My Beautiful Bride" on OCN.Jun 30, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Singer admits boyfriend bust-up Seo In-young from “1 vs. 100” / Screen capture from YouTubeSinger Seo In-young has confessed on TV that she broke up with her boyfriend five months ago.On quiz show “1 vs. 100,” on KBS Tuesday, Seo, 32, said she attributed the split to concentrating emotionally on her latest song, “Lie,” from album “Re Birth,” released on June 10. / Courtesy of Instagram“I was informed by my ex-boyfriend that he wished to end the romance,” said Seo, who is managed by IY Company. “I usually open up my heart to my romantic partner after a long period of time. I don’t even know how to say to romantic partners that I want to break up.” When the show’s host, Cho Woo-jong, said relationships did not seem to last long these days, Seo joked, saying she could keep up with all trends except those involving romance. Jun 30, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
K-pop singer debuts in 'killer' Japanese flick Kang Ji-young in "Assassin Classroom" / Screen capture from YouTubeFormer idol girl band KARA member Kang Ji-young is debuting as an actress in the Japanese comedy-action movie “Assassin Classroom.”The movie is based on a cartoon series of the same title by Yusei Matsui and Kang, 21, plays sexy middle-school teacher Irina Jelavic.The movie is scheduled to open at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 19 before its theater opening in Korea in August.The movie depicts an octopus-looking creature with supernatural powers volunteering to be a homeroom teacher for a middle-school classroom before destroying the earth. The students attempt to assassinate the creature, which has a 100 billion won bounty. The movie was a big success in Japan, taking No.1 at the box office when it opened in March.Jun 30, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Hallyu star shines on HK mag cover Ji Chang-wook / Courtesy of TwitterRising hallyu star and actor Ji Chang-wook features on the July cover of Hong Kong-based men’s style magazine Elle Men.Ji, 26, is wearing a casual outfit from British fashion brand Alfred Dunhill, according to reports on Monday. Another photo inside the magazine shows him wearing a fitting suit. Ji Chang-wook on a cover of the July issue of ELLE MEN Magazine staff on the photo shoot praised Ji’s styling, saying he reflected the brand’s prestigious quality, reports said.Ji began his first Asian fan tour recently with a visit to Hong Kong. He is scheduled to visit Japan on July 18 next.Ji, managed by Glorious Entertainment, was recently praised for his role in historical TV series “Empress Ki” on MBC in May.Jun 30, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Photo heats up singer's fake romance Henry, left, and Lee Guk-joo in an online photo from Henry's Instagram webpage / Courtesy of InstagramSinger Henry, from eight-member idol boy band Super Junior-M, has posted another photo online in a bid to heat up his “romance” with comedienne Lee Guk-joo.The selfie showing the pair was posted on the singer’s Instagram page on Monday. He congratulated Lee on her essay book, “I Am a Good Lotus,” scheduled for publication on June 30.The photo was reportedly taken on Friday at the wedding of singer Park Joon-hyung from five-member band g.o.d. The pair raised a romantic scandal with this photo from Henry's Twitter account in 2014. / Courtesy of TwitterHenry, 25, began the “romance” in October last year when he posted on his Twitter account a photo with Lee, 29. In it, he tries to kiss her cheek. He wrote with the photo, “This woman is my girlfriend.”The pair appeared in TV reality show “Roommate” on SBS in April and explained their relationship. Henry said the photo was a joke and had attracted a lot of Jun 29, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
