Two Koreans lose cage fights Carlos Toyota punches Choi Hong-man in a mixed martial arts fight held at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. / Screen capture from afreeca TVKorean mixed martial art fighters Choi Hong-man and Lee Ye-ji lost their matches on Saturday.Choi, 34, lost to Brazil’s Carlos Toyota, 43 in an open-weight match at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan. Toyota, 190 centimeters tall, knocked out Choi (218 centimeters) 1:19 minutes into the first round.Choi was reportedly called to the prosecutors’ office on Thursday on a charge of swindling 100 million won ($85,000), according to reports before the match. Online website afreeca TV said while broadcasting the fight that Choi had borrowed the money to buy watches for his girlfriend and himself.Lee Ye-ji weighs down on Satoko Shinashi in a mixed martial arts fight held at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. / Screen capture from afreeca TVReports on Sunday said Choi was disturbed by the reports and could not concentrate during the fight.Lee, 16, a high school student, lost her debut match to Jul 26, 2015
Stars to wed with a song in their hearts The One / Screen capture from YouTube Singer The One and Shin Yong-jae will sing at the wedding of“hallyu prince” Bae Yong-joon and actress Park Soo-jin’s on Monday.Media reports on Sunday said The One, who is also a vocal trainer for singers, and Shin, a member of male duo 4men managed by The Vibe Entertainment, are among a group of singers for the occasion.Shin Yong-jae / Screen capture from YouTubeThe group includes JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young, and will include one or two more professional singers who have not been confirmed.The One, whose real name is Jeong Soon-won, is Bae’s friend.Bae Yong-joon, left, and Park Soo-jin / Korea Times file The private wedding will be at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Jul 26, 2015
Supermodel to marry star chef Lee Chan-oh / Screen capture from YouTubeKim Se-rom / Korea Times fileModel and TV personality Kim Se-rom and star chef Lee Chan-oh are getting married.The couple will wed in late August, the model’s management company, Chorokbaem Juna, said Friday.Fellow models introduced Lee, 31, to Kim, 28, in April.The couple will not hold a wedding ceremony but instead have a family dinner to celebrate the occasion, reports said.Lee recently earned fame in TV cooking show “O’live Show 2015” on O’live. The chef caught viewers’ attention with comments that sounded more like those from women than men.Kim debuted in 2004 as a supermodel and has been in TV series and entertainment shows. Jul 24, 2015
Pop diva's 'Bad Blood' stirs 2NE1 copy questions Controversial scenes from "Bad Blood," above, and "Come Back Home." / Screen capture from YouTubeAmerican singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has been accused of copying some scenes from a Korean girl band’s music video for her music video for “Bad Blood.”Media reports said several scenes from Swift’s video, released online in May, were similar to those from 2NE1’s music video of “Come Back Home.” The four-member band, managed by YG Entertainment, released its music video in March 2014.Netizens posted screenshots of three scenes from the videos to compare them. The videos are alike in portraying members of the band and the American star lying on an experimental bed, walking through a dark tunnel holding a torch and walking towards viewers in slow motion.2NE1 / Korea Times fileMedia reports on Friday said YG did not plan to comment on the matter.“Bad Blood” features American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last November and January. Jul 24, 2015
Actor Lee Jong-suk's 'identity' stolen / Courtesy of InstagramActor Lee Jong-suk, 26, has been a victim of identity theft.The actor’s management company, Wellmade Yedang, said Lee’s personal information and his personal seal were allegedly stolen by someone who falsely represented himself as Lee’s agent.The personal seal, or stamp, is often used for authentication in Korea. The man, who was identified only as Cho, 46, is said to be well connected in the entertainment industry. He allegedly faked Lee’s personal seal to get an exclusive management contract and lured around 800 million won. He also is alleged to have created fake bank accounts in the actor’s name.Lee posted a photo and messages to express his frustration with the situation on Wednesday. In the posting, he said: “Things that I’m not even aware of keep happening and I got distressed. I’m still surviving though.” Jul 24, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
Affair allegations put spotlight on TV personality lawyer Kang Yong-suk in a scene from JTBC's "Surgeon" / Screen capture from YouTubeTV personality and lawyer Kang Yong-suk was back in the news this week over allegations he had an affair with a married woman.A media report said the former lawmaker went to Hong Kong with the woman, a popular online blogger, last year. The story rekindled a report from January that said the woman’s husband was suing Kang for “destroying his family” by having a romantic relationship with his wife. The man demanded 100 million won ($85,000) compensation. Kang denied the accusation.Kang reportedly did not appear at the first court hearing of the case on Wednesday or for the shooting of his regular TV show, “Wed Food Talk,” on tvN. Reports said Kang might have avoided both because he was feeling pressured.While there has been speculation Kang might drop out of TV because of the scandal, sources say he has not considered such a decision.Jul 24, 2015
Athletic celebrities from Korea, China clash Nine Chinese celebrities visited Korea to join Korean TV entertainment show “Let’s Go! Dream Team” on KBS. / Courtesy of KBSNine Chinese celebrities are in Korea for a friendly gladiator-like match against Korean contenders.The Chinese stars are joining Korean TV entertainment show “Let’s Go! Dream Team” on KBS. The celebrities, who were selected for their athleticism, will lock horns with Korean stars including singers Jun Jin from boy band Shinhwa, Nickhun and Chansung from 2PM, and Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A.The Chinese stars were all smiles when they landed at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday.The national match-up takes place on a stage built for the occasion at the Gimpo Ara Waterway Square on Thursday evening.Jul 23, 2015
Seo Taiji to release live album next month Cover of Seo Taiji's new albumSouth Korean pop icon Seo Taiji will release a live album that documents the trajectory of his entire music career next month, his management agency said Thursday."Quiet Night," scheduled for release on Aug. 7, is comprised of 29 live recordings from concerts that span from his early years in the 90s band Seo Taiji and Boys, through his nine solo albums that followed, Seo Taiji Company said.The 43-year-old will personally mix the recordings to take the listener on a walk through his storied career that has earned him the moniker "President of Culture."Of the 29 tracks, "My Everything," a love song from Seo Taiji and Boys' fourth album, will be unveiled first through South Korean online music portals on Friday. "Sogyeokdong," a collaboration with singer-songwriter IU from his ninth album, will follow suit next Friday. (Yonhap) Jul 23, 2015
Han Go-eun to tie the knot Han Go-eun / Screen capture from YouTubeActress Han Go-eun is getting married.Han, 40, will marry an office worker four years her junior on Aug. 30, her management company, GnG Production, said Wednesday.Han met her future husband on a blind date set up by a friend.Some media reports have questioned the haste of the marriage, pointing out the couple have only been dating for a short time. But GnG said “the couple have determined they are meant for each other.”The wedding will be held in private with family and relatives. Jul 23, 2015
Kloudy outlook for pregnant actress' beer ads By Bahk Eun-jiThe possibility of a beer commercial featuring top hallyu actress Jun Ji-hyun has raised concerns because she is expecting her first child.The actress, 34, is the face of several Korean products but people are questioning whether the pregnant actress should continue to promote Kloud, a beer produced by Lotte Chilsung. She has recently renewed her contract with the brewer for another year.Lotte Chilsung released a statement celebrating its model’s pregnancy under the title “Congratulations, Jun Ji-hyun.” The company said it will keep Jun on as part of efforts to encourage women’s employment and to support childbirth and childcare.Attention is now on how the company will make its next commercial, which will be released this fall, because no pregnant women have starred in alcohol commercials in Korea.Jun’s management company, CultureDepot, said she is 10 weeks into her pregnancy and is due early next year. She married Choi Joon-hyuk three years ago. Jul 23, 2015By Bahk Eun-ji
