Actor Lee Jong-suk's photo book on sale in 29 Asian nations Hallyu heartthrob Lee Jong-suk’s photo book, “Asia Tour Story ~With~” will be sold in 29 Asian nations, his agency, Wellmade Yedang, said Wednesday.The book features photos of the actor, 26, during his tour of seven Asian cities -- Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Taipei, Shanghai and Hong Kong -- from September 2014 to May 2015.The photos capture fan meetings and what went on behind the scenes.Lee has surged in popularity through Korean dramas including "School 2013,” "I Hear Your Voice" and “Pinocchio.”The 200-page book, which also comes with a 120-minute video, will be sold starting Aug. 1 through www.lotte.com and global.lotte.com. Jul 29, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
Idol singer Tiffany to interview Tom Cruise Tiffany / Screen capture from YouTubeIdol singer Tiffany will interview American actor Tom Cruise.Cruise arrives in Korea Wednesday to promote his new Hollywood action movie “Mission: Impossible ― Rogue Nation.” The movie opens in theaters Thursday. It is Cruise’s seventh visit to Korea.Tom Cruise / AP-YonhapTiffany, from eight-member girl band Girls’ Generation, proved her interviewing skills with Hollywood actors Tom Hiddleston and Brad Pitt.Tiffany and Cruise’s conversation will be shown on TV entertainment news show “Entertainment Tonight” on KBS2 Saturday.Cruise last visited Korea in 2013 to promote his thriller movie “Jack Reacher” (2012) Cruise will arrive late Wednesday and give a news conference at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas the following morning. Later that day, he will join a red carpet reception at Jamsil Lotte World Mall.On Friday, Cruise will talk to Korean fans along with the movie’s director, Christopher McQuarrie, at the Lotte Cinema theater in Lotte World Tower.Jul 29, 2015
SHINee to release repackaged album 'Married to the Music' Cover of SHINee's repackaged album SHINee will release a repackaged version of their fourth album “Odd” with four new songs including a new title track “Married to the Music” on Aug. 3, SM Entertainment said Wednesday.The album will include 11 songs previously listed in “Odd,” in addition to the four new songs.The group swept local music charts with “Odd,” released back in May. The album won them top spot in the iTunes album charts in six Asian nations, as well as top spot on Billboard’s world album chart. The music video for the song “View” was chosen as the most viewed K-pop music video in the United States and across the world in May.Jul 29, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
New TV show causes server crash Chan Yeol / Screen capture from YouTubePilot TV reality show “18 Seconds” has become a hot online item after a flood of visitors crashed its server.The SBS program has seven celebrities competing to attract the most online visitors with 18-second videos and by getting their names to the top of keyword searches. The aim is to challenge the stars to survive in the world of social media.Members of idol girl band Sistar in a video posted on official Twitter account of "18 Seconds" / Screen capture from YouTubeThe program’s server broke down Tuesday after one of the stars, Chan Yeol from 12-member boy band EXO, posted on Instagram a message urging netizens to visit the program’s home page to watch his video.Meanwhile, the program’s official Twitter account announced on Monday that singer Soyu from idol girl band Sistar had joined the show. The two-episode show is set to air on Aug. 11 and 18 at 11 p.m.Jul 28, 2015
Placard welcomes star couple to honeymoon destination / YonhapA placard congratulating the wedding of top hallyu star Bae Yong-joon and actress Park Soo-jin was hung on a roadside leading to the couple's honeymoon destination in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday.The placard was hung at a spot around 1 kilometer away from the golf resort the newlyweds are reportedly staying at.A dozen residents sat at the entrance of the village, chatting about the couple and keeping an eye out for the car.Residents welcomed the newlyweds to Namehae, saying they were happy to hear the couple had opted for their village over overseas destinations.A Machbach carrying top hallyu actor Bae Yong-joon and his wife Park Soo-jin is seen entering a high-end resort in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province,Tuesday./ YonhapThe entrance to the resort was heavily guarded, only letting in reserved vehicles.Japanese fans of Bae, who queued outside the wedding hall at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, Monday, were not seen at the resort.Several vehicles from domestic and Japanese media were parked at the entrance.The resort declined to comment on the couple's arJul 28, 2015
Forum to discuss Korean culture in digital age Director Sanjoy Roy / Courtesy of CICIBy Kim Jae-heunFestival director Sanjoy Roy and jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun joined Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) President Choi Jung-wha at the a press conference for the Culture Communication Forum (CCF) at the Woonsan restaurant in Seoul on July 17.CICI has been holding the CCF since 2010, inviting culture experts from around the world to experience Korea by visiting cultural tourist sites, eating Korean food and watching cultural performances. But perhaps the most important part of the forum is the discussion on the last day, during which the experts share their ideas and opinions about promoting the Korean culture.Roy and Nah are the delegates from India and Korea, respectively, at this year’s CCF, which is themed “Cultural Combustion in the Smart Age” and will take place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.“Korea was not the first tourist destination for foreigners,” Choi said. “Now, they choose Korea as a place to experience a unique culture. I think singer Psy’s megahit ‘Gangnam Style’ Jul 28, 2015By Kim Jae-heun
Psy finds new style for latest song Psy /Korea Times file Popular K-pop singer Psy is expected to release a new song soon, his management company, YG Entertainment, said Tuesday.The rapper, 38, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, is said to have overcome the pressure of being a “world-star” and has been completing work on the song.YG did not disclose the exact date of release but said it will be “very soon.”Psy won the title “world star” when his music video “Gangnam style” became a global sensation in 2012. He released “Gentleman” and “Hangover” in 2013 but then decided to take a year off to relieve the pressure.The singer was to unveil an album with the new song “Daddy” in May but decided to delay it to seek “a new direction that attracts wider audiences and find his own style.” Jul 28, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Actor Lee Min-ho promotes Korean tourism Lee Min-ho in scenes from the government produced video ad which aims to boost tourism in Korea. / Courtesy of Starhaus EntertainmentActor Lee Min-ho features in a new government produced video promoting tourism in Korea that will be broadcast around the world.The hallyu star managed by Starhaus Entertainment appears in the ad produced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The commercial’s catchphrase is, “Korea, let your story begin.”Lee, 28, finished shooting the ad in mid-July. The ad will be aired on major TV networks in other countries, including the American TV news channel CNN and Chinese state-run CCTV, starting in August. The ad features Lee introducing some of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations, including the Cheonggyecheon stream, and a traditional hanok (Korean house) town in central Seoul.The ad aims to increase the number of foreign tourists whose numbers dropped after the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) epidemic in May and June. The government declared an end to the outbreak Tuesday morning.&Jul 28, 2015
Julien Kang denies romance with model Julien Kang in a security camera video footage released by SBS's TV news program / Courtesy of Naver blog Jang Seong-huiActor and model Julien Kang has rejected claims he is dating model Jang Seong-hui.Media reports Tuesday quoted an acquaintance of Kang as saying the star, 33, was surprised at the story. Kang had known Jang, 30, as a friend but was not seeing her romantically, the insider said.Reports said Kang was dating Jang and they were interested in getting married.Julien Kang / Screen capture from YouTubeKang, whose father is Korean, was at a funeral house in Busan, South Gyeongsang Province, after the death of his French mother.Jul 28, 2015
Korean hip-hop duo scores three-pointer in video game soundtrack Dynamic DuoKorean hip-hop group Dynamic Duo has participated in the soundtrack for a world-class basketball video game.The duo’s agency, Amoeba Culture, said Tuesday Dynamic Duo’s “AEAO” _ made with American DJ Premier last year _ had been selected as the part of the soundtrack for the video game, “NBA 2K.”The duo, comprising Gaeko and Choi Ja, joins artists, including Calvin Harris, Jay Z and Major Lazer, for the game’s “Around The World” playlist. Jul 28, 2015By Kim Ji-soo
