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
'한 여자의 남자'된 배용준…과거 연인 살펴보니 2004년 결별 이사강, '배용준 카톡' SNS 올렸다 삭제'겨울연가' 이후 한류 붐을 일으키며 만인의 연인 '욘사마'로 살아온 배용준(43)이 14일 가수 출신 배우 박수진(30)과 결혼을 발표하면서 그가 그동안 만나 온 전 연인들에게도 관심이 쏠린다.특히 지난 2003년부터 2004년까지 배용준과 교제했던 영화감독 이사강(35)은 배용준의 결혼소식이 전해진 직후 자신의 인스타그램에 축하인사를 나눈 대화를 캡처해 올려 화제가 됐다.이사강이 올린 사진에는 이사강이 배용준에게 '축하해요^^ 진심으로^^'라는 메시지를 보내자 배용준이 즉각 '감사해요~^^'라고 답한 내용이 담겼다.이사강은 사진과 함께 '헐리우드 프렌드쉽' '잘돼서 기쁘다'(So happy for you)는 글을 남겼다.이 글은 곧장 인터넷에서 화제가 됐고 상대방의 결혼소식이 전해진 상황에서 전 연인이 개인적인 대화를 일방적으로 공개하는 것은 적절치 않다는 비난이 이어지자 이사강은 글을 삭제했다.2013년에는 배용준과 구자균 LS산전 회장의 차녀 구소희(31)씨의 열애 사실이 알려졌다.열애설이 퍼지자 배용준은 교제를 공식 인정했다. 이 만남은 구씨가 재벌가의 일원이고 이른바 '돌아온 싱글'이라는 점이 알려지면서 한국과 일본에서 여러 화제를 모았다.지난해에는 두 사람이 곧 결혼식을 올릴 것이라는 보도가 일본에서 나오기도 했으나 결국 지난 2월 결별 소식을 전했다.한편, 배용준과 박수진은 지난 2월 설 명절을 앞두고 소속사 배우들과 함께한 식사자리에서 서로에게 호감을 느끼게 된 것으로 전해졌다.박수진이 지난해 3월 배용준이 실질적 주인인 기획사 키이스트로 이적할 때만 해도 두 사람의 관계는 키이스트 1대 주주와 소속 여배우에 지나지 않았지만, 이날을 계기로 연인 사이로 발전해 교제 3개월도 안 돼 결혼을 발표하게 됐다. May 15, 2015
'Three Meals a Day' kicks off new season “Three Meals a Day — Jeongseon”By Kim Jae-heunTelevision producer Na Young-seok’s third spin-off of his popular cooking show “Three Meals a Day” premiered on cable TV channel tvN on Friday night.The new season, “Three Meals a Day ― Jeongseon,” is set in a rural village in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, where cast members such as Lee Seo-jin, OK Taec-yeon and Kim Kwang-kyu prepare meals using only locally grown ingredients.“Nature itself is incredible,” said Na during a press conference at the Digital Magic Space (DMS) Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. “I wanted to show the audience how hard it is to harvest the materials for our daily meals that can now be easily purchased at supermarkets near our homes.”Unlike other cooking programs that provide mouth-watering food made in fancy kitchens, “Three Meals a Day” shows that cast members can create meals using food from the village.In this new season, Na has planned a four-month project that depicts the whole process of growing food, froMay 15, 2015
Bae Yong-joon to tie knot actress Park Actor Bae Yong-joonActress Park Soo-jinBy Kim Jae-wonActor Bae Yong-joon, 42, will tie the knot with actress Park Soo-jin this autumn, their agency said Thursday. “Bae Yong-joon and actress Park Soo-jin will be getting married this fall. They have been dating since February after getting known each other as friends,” said Keyeast in a statement released on its website. The agency said Bae was attracted to the actress for her bright personality and thoughtfulness while the 29-year-old singer-turned-actress was attracted by his warmness. “They found they have many things in common, though they have not dated for a long time. They got permission from both sets of parents after agreeing to get married,” said the agency in the announcement. Keyeast, owned by Bae, said details of the wedding, including the date and venue, have not been decided yet. Bae rose to fame after appearing in the 2002 TV drama “Winter Sonata.” Actress Park was a member of K-pop girl group Sugar from 2001 to 2006. She started acting in 2007.The announcement came severaMay 14, 2015
Yeo Jin-goo promises romance in “Orange Marmalade” Yeo Jin-goo, right, and Seol Hyun pose at the press conference at GLAD hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heun Teenage heartthrob Yeo Jin-goo promises to make the viewers’ hearts flutter in his new fantasy melodrama “Orange Marmalade” that premieres this Friday on Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).“This is my first time to star in a romantic drama as a leading character,” Yeo said during a press conference at the GLAD hotel, in Seoul, Tuesday. “I will remind viewers of their forgotten feelings of first love through the drama.”The 17-year-old actor, who began his career back in 2005, said he has never had a girlfriend and the emotion of love is still unfamiliar to him. However, Yeo thinks his situation can help him express love more purely than veteran actors.“Orange Marmalade is a teenage drama and I am the character’s age. I don’t have to think about acting out certain feelings. I naturally showed my feelings on the spot as I read the script with my partner Seol Hyun.”Seol Hyun, a member of the girl band May 13, 2015
CULTURE LINE SHINee to release fourth album ‘Odd’ SHINee will release its fourth album “Odd” on May 18, SM Entertainment said Monday.All tracks included in “Odd” will be unveiled online, including the track “View.” The group’s last album “Everybody” was released in October.The group will hold a series of concerts at the Gymnastics Stadium in Olympic Park May 15-17, which will also serve as a showcase for its upcoming album. Here, they will unveil “View” for the first time. SHINee’s third Japanese album “I’m Your Boy,” which was released in September, topped the Oricon weekly album chart and their Japan tour “SHINee WORLD 2014” attracted more than 300,000 fans. No Min-woo files damage suit against SM No Min-wooActor-singer No Min-woo has filed a suit for damages against his former agency SM Entertainment.No’s attorney issued a press release Monday saying that the former TRAX member has filed a damages suit with the Seoul Central District Court, and has reported SM&May 12, 2015
Kim Soo-hyun returns in 'Producers' From left, Cha Tae-hyun, Gong Hyo-jin, IU and Kim Soo-hyun pose during a press conference at the Raum in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunStar-studded Korean drama “The Producers” is drawing extraordinary attention with only three days until its premiere on Friday at 9:15 p.m.Top actors and actresses, Kim Soo-hyun, Cha Tae-hyun, Kong Hyo-jin and IU will star in the first ever drama produced by the entertainment department of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).“I was curious about the difference between the entertainment department’s drama and the drama department’s product, but there seems to be no big distinction,” said Cha during a press conference, Monday, at the Raum in Gangnam, Seoul.Cha, who has been acting since 1995 rose to stardom after appearing in the box office hit comedy “My Sassy Girl” in 2001. The veteran actor said he felt comfortable in his role as a producer of reality show “Two Days and One Night” in the drama, which is an actual program that he is currently participating in.Kim, the May 11, 2015
Kwanghee's big challenge goes on ZE:A member Kwanghee, second from right, poses with the members of MBC’s “Infinite Challenge.” From left are Jung Jun-ha, HaHa, Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo, Kwangee and Jung Hyung-don. / Courtesy of MBCBy Kwon Ji-younZE:A member Kwanghee made his first official appearance on MBC reality show “Infinite Challenge” Saturday amid worries he would not sufficiently answer to the needs of 10-year fans who have watched and waited as members came and went.And while most viewers and the media seem generally satisfied with his first attempt, others cannot help but wonder whether Kwanghee fit the “sixth man” glove, or the glove just happened to fit Kwanghee.When it became known Kwanghee would become the sixth man, the show’s fans greeted his big challenge with petitions for his removal, cyber attacks and a tremendous amount of pressure. They found fault with his characteristic laugh, impoliteness and flighty attitude, and claimed he did not fit the requirements of such a coveted spot. The departures of the show’s former sixth men had been conMay 11, 2015
Park Yoo-chun and Namkoong Min want to swap roles Park Yoo-chun talks about his role in the drama “The Girl Who Sees Smells” at a press conference, Friday. / Courtesy of SBSBy Kim Jae-heun Park Yoo-chun, a member of boy band JYJ, and actor Namkoong Min said they want to switch roles in the next series of the drama “The Girl Who Sees Smells,” on Friday during a press conference held at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.“I want to play Kwon Jae-hui (the chef character played by Namkoong, who is a serial killer). I have done detective characters like Choi Mu-gak a number of times,” said Park. “I watched an episode of our drama on TV and Namkoong’s character Kwon looked cool when his eyes glared red. I want to play a villain.”Namkoong, who has had enough of acting villains _ including a man who rapes and kills his wife in the 2007 movie “Beautiful Sunday” and a movie director who betrays his old friend in the 2006 film “A Dirty Carnival” _ took Park’s answer and returned wittily.“I want to be a detective in my next work,” said Namkoong. &May 10, 2015
Multi-Channel Network sets new platform By Kim Jae-heunPewDiePie and Bethany Mota may sound foreign to many Koreans, but they are a couple of the most influential people on the Multi-Channel Network (MCN).PewDiePie is an alias for a 25-year old Swedish producer on the YouTube game channel “Let’s Play,” and he has 36.4 million subscribers.Teenage girl Mota started her haul video called “Macbarbie07” six years ago and the channel has attracted more than 8.6 million subscribers so far. These are influential figures, considering Lady Gaga has 5.8 million followers.Mota, a YouTube celebrity, makes $40,000 a month from her videos, according to a Business Insider’s report in January 2014, and she interviewed U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this year.Entertainment conglomerate CJ E&M on Thursday launched Digital Influencer & Artists TV (DIA TV) to provide a platform for some 400 content creators to promote the country as Asia’s No. 1 in the MCN business. It plans to expand partnership with as many as 2,000 creators by 2017.“Contents have to become a brand,” saiMay 8, 2015
