EXO sweeps charts with 2nd album 'Love Me Right' Music video scenes from EXO's "Love me right" / Screen capture from YouTUbeK-pop idol boy band EXO started strong Wednesday with their new album, “Love Me Right,” immediately jumping to the top spots on the nation’s major online music charts.The title song by SM Town’s 12-member band took the No. 1 spots on online music charts including Melon, Genie and Naver Music. The websites also positioned the band’s other songs from the album, “Tender Love” and First Love,” in their top 10. Melon temporarily experienced a server breakdown Wednesday as netizens inundated the website to listen to the band’s new songs, which were released at midnight Tuesday.Released online with the album was a music video for “Love Me Right,” where members boast their signature regimental choreography with strong dance beats.Jun 3, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
Idol singer Taeyang dating actress Min Hyo-rin Taeyang, left, and Min Hyo-rin / Courtesy of Facebook, TwitterLocal news outlets confirmed Wednesday that singer Taeyang from K-pop idol boy band Big Bang has been dating actress Min Hyo-rin for more than a year.One of the reports quoted two of the couple’s personal acquaintances as saying, “It’s already been a long time since many K-pop idol singers knew about the couple’s relationship.” A music video scene from Taeyang's "1 a.m." where the singer acted with Min as a couple. / Screen capture from YouTube“Their relationship is serious. Their looks and characteristics naturally bond well,” the sources added.Taeyang, 27, first met Min, 29, when he worked with her on a music video for his song “1 a.m.” that he had released with his album “Rise” in June of last year. The two acted as a couple in the video. After the video was released, netizens reported that they saw online photos of the two wearing the same pants and shoes and assumed they might be dating.Jun 3, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan
The late Choi Jin-sil's children still hurting The late Choi Jin-sil’s mother, center, and her two children Jun-hee, left, and Hwan-hee are seen in a promotional image for MBC’s “Human Documentary Love.” / Courtesy of MBCBy Kwon Ji-younHwan-hee was just 8 when his mother, actress Choi Jin-sil, committed suicide in 2008, and only 10 when his uncle, actor Choi Jin-young, followed suit in 2010. And when his father, former baseball player Cho Sung-min, died in 2013, he was just 13.Now, Hwan-hee is 15, a dependable older brother and all the world to his grandmother ― but it is evident time has done little to lessen his suffering.MBC’s “Human Documentary Love,” narrated by actress Kim You-jung, closed its 10th season by revisiting Hwan-hee, his younger sister Jun-hee and their grandmother Jeong Ok-suk to give viewers a peek into their lives as Choi’s two children grow.And while puberty has certainly brought about some changes, it was obvious Hwan-hee and Jun-hee have become aware of too much in too little time. Their adolescence was marked with untimely maturity.TJun 2, 2015
K-pop mogul wants severe competition for girl band JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young, left, poses with 16 candidates of “Twice” during a press conference on April 29. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunJYP Entertainment’s debut project for new girl band, “SIXTEEN,” on music channel Mnet is forcing too much competition for what Park Jin-young, the host of the program and founder of the company, said was not an auditioning program.“This is not an audition. Feel comfortable and have self-esteem in what you do,” said Park during the contestants’ third mission which aired on Tuesday to decide the second round of dropouts among the 15 performers. The first eliminated member was Chaeyeon, who was a great dancer but failed to show her charm in the second mission to shoot an album jacket cover.The reality survival show premiered on May 5, telling the story of 16 JYP trainees competing for places in the new girl band Twice. Park said he is looking for stars who can not only dance and sing, but also have personality and charm. Some participants like Jungyeon, Nayeon, Minyoung and Jihyo May 27, 2015
Lee hopes to inspire young K-pop singers Singer Lee Seung-chul talks about his new album during a press conferenceat Design & AUDIO in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Jin & Won Music WorksBy Kim Jae-heunVeteran singer Lee Seung-chul released his 12th album last Thursday at Design & AUDIO in Seoul, with the hope of becoming a role model for young K-pop singers.“This is an album that I could proudly play for young singers,” Lee said. “Young people look up to me to find answers for their music career as I did with singer Jo Yong-pil’s albums. People are also curious to hear what I will say when they ask me for advice about music. For this reason, I had to produce the best album myself first.”Lee stopped all his touring to fully concentrate on producing the new album coming close to the 30th anniversary of his debut in 1986. He arranged all the songs for the first time by himself.The singer worked with three Grammy Award Winning engineers ― Steve Hodge, Dan Parry, and Tony Majeratti ― to pursue the finest sound quality. The sound engineers from Britain and America are wellMay 26, 2015
Lee hopes to inspire young K-pop singers Singer Lee Seung-chul talks about his new album during a press conferenceat Design & AUDIO in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Jin & Won Music WorksBy Kim Jae-heunVeteran singer Lee Seung-chul released his 12th album last Thursday at Design & AUDIO in Seoul, with the hope of becoming a role model for young K-pop singers.“This is an album that I could proudly play for young singers,” Lee said. “Young people look up to me to find answers for their music career as I did with singer Jo Yong-pil’s albums. People are also curious to hear what I will say when they ask me for advice about music. For this reason, I had to produce the best album myself first.”Lee stopped all his touring to fully concentrate on producing the new album coming close to the 30th anniversary of his debut in 1986. He arranged all the songs for the first time by himself.The singer worked with three Grammy Award Winning engineers ― Steve Hodge, Dan Parry, and Tony Majeratti ― to pursue the finest sound quality. The sound engineers from Britain and America are wellMay 25, 2015
Apology 13 years too late Former singer and draft-dodger seeks redemptionBy Kim Jae-heunYoo Seung-junIt took 13 years for Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun to apologize for dodging the draft, and his pleas now appear to be too late.The Ministry of Justice said it was not considering lifting an entry ban on Yoo or reinstating his Korean citizenship.Also, his critics say the K-pop scene has changed so drastically since he left that few fans would be enthused with his comeback.In a 90-minute interview on the live video streaming service Afreeca TV, the former star said Tuesday, “Of course, I will go. I never expected my 2002 declaration would create such a controversy. If I can, I want to go back and change my decision.”The singer, who also goes by his English name Steve Yoo, debuted in 1997, becoming an instant sensation and selling 5 million records in five years.Yoo publicly said he would fulfill his compulsory military service but later went back to the U.S., announcing that he chose to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. It was only three months before he was supposed to report to boot camp.HeMay 20, 2015
Singer Yoo Seung-jun apologizes for evading conscription A Korean-born American pop star publicly apologized Tuesday for evading compulsory military service 13 years ago and appealed for a chance to get back to Korea to correct his past misdeeds.Steve Yoo, who is better known as Yoo Seung-jun in Korea, was banned from entering the country after acquiring U.S. citizenship amid speculation that he did so in order to evade conscription."I'm sorry for causing troubles and I apologize for greatly disappointing you," the 38-year-old said on a program that was broadcast live on a South Korean online video-sharing service Tuesday night."If I can return back to the past, I'll enlist into the Army without a second thought... I want to step on Korean land without guilt, along with my children, in some way or other."In South Korea, all able-bodied young men are subject to compulsory military service for about two years.Before starting the one-hour-long interview, Yoo knelt down and sobbed for minutes in a gesture of deep apology.But the Ministry of Justice has downplayed the possibility that Yoo may return to the local music scene when local news mediMay 20, 2015
'The Producers' - great boast, small roast Scenes from “The Producers” / Courtesy of KBSBy Kwon Ji-youn “The Producers” has all the makings of a fine drama series ― an all-star cast, impressive cameos and an original setting and plot. But the first two episodes, which aired May 15-16, only went to prove that when expectations are this high, it’s almost impossible to meet them.More or less everything about The Producers was unconventional, perhaps even foolhardy and reckless. The camera angles were suggestive of sitcoms, the shooting took place at the actual KBS building in Yeouido, Seoul, and the fusion of entertainment and drama was certainly eccentric. Well known celebrities, including the likes of actress Youn Yuh-jung, singer Kim Jong-kook, actress Cho Youn-hee and members of Girls' Generation, made guest appearances.The drama made headlines when it became known that hallyu (Korean wave) star Kim Soo-hyun would be starring alongside veterans Cha Tae-hyun, Gong Hyo-jin and singer IU in a story set in KBS’s entertainment department. It garnered even more interest when KBS announMay 18, 2015
EXO's web drama hits 10 million views EXO‘s web drama, “EXO Next Door”By Chung Ah-young K-pop group EXO‘s web drama, “EXO Next Door,” has surpassed 10 million views, a record for this genre, SM Entertainment said Friday.The 16-episode series has aired on Naver TV Cast every Tuesday and Thursday since April 9.SM Entertainment and mobile messenger company LINE have collaborated to produce the program.In the drama, EXO members play fictional characters similar to their real personalities, along with actress Moon Ga-young.The series also has been released in China, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan.“Although 12 episodes out 16 have been aired so far, it has already hit the highest number of views,” SM Entertainment said. “Every episode draws huge attention.”The group, consisting of 12 members separated into two subgroups, EXO-K and EXO-M, made its debut in 2011.The band will hold a concert titled “EXO PLANET #2 ― The EXO’luXion ― in Shanghai” on May 30-31 in Shanghai.May 15, 2015
