Web dramas on the rise ZE:A member Kim Dong-jun in a scene from web drama “Aftermath” / Courtesy of Oasis CompanyBroadcaster KBS leaps into make-or-break web drama industryBy Kwon Ji-younKBS is making inroads into the web drama market. The state-run broadcaster and Daum Kakao at a press conference Monday signed a memorandum of understanding that detailed a joint web drama project, and as if to seal the deal, KBS promptly unveiled its production blueprints for two upcoming web dramas. Actors to star in “Love Detective Sherlock K” and “Prince of Prince,” on top of members of the production crew gathered at KBS in Yeouido, Seoul, to promote the release of their new web dramas. That one of the nation’s three major broadcasters has plunged into the web drama market has generated worries that it may be leaving smaller production companies high and dry, but KBS producer Ko Chan-soo stressed that KBS will only be serving as a business partner and platform provider. GOT7 member JB in a scene from web drama “Dream Knight” / Image captured from Facebook&rsquoFeb 10, 2015
Drama revisits ancient Korea-Japan war Kim Sang-joong, left, will portray Joseon Kingdom’s (1392-1910) Yu Seung-ryong, who served as prime minister when the kingdom was fighting a waragainst Japan (1592-1598), and actor Kim Tae-woo will play King Seonjo in new KBS period drama “Jingbirok.” / Courtesy of KBSVeteran actor Im Dong-jin makes comeback after 10-year break from televisionBy Baek Byung-yeul Following the huge success of last year’s massive hit film “Roaring Currents,” which broke the country’s box office record, KBS will launch a period drama dealing with 16th century’s Korea-Japan war Feb. 14.Entitled “Jingbirok (book of correction),” the period drama revolves around Yu Seong-ryong (1542-1607), who served as prime minister of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) during the seven-year war, dubbed as Imjin War (1592-1598). During the war, the kingdom was invaded by Japan under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.The title of the drama is named after Yu’s war memoir of the same title. The original manuscript of the book is National Treasure No. 132.WFeb 2, 2015
Singer's attempt to return to TV fails on past misdeeds By Yun Suh-youngSinger Isu / Korea Times fileThe return to screen of entertainers with a dark past doesn’t seem easy, especially it involves sexual scandals.Singer Isu, former member of vocal group MC the Max, suffered a setback from returning to a music program after a six-year hiatus due to fierce opposition online that it was too early to let a sex offender re-appear on screen.Isu was charged in 2009 for buying sex from a teenager while working as a public service worker. He appealed that he didn’t know the girl was a teenager and was suspended from indictment.He had kept out of the public eye until recently when he received an offer from MBC’s “I Am a Singer Season 3” to appear as a regular cast. “I Am a Singer” is a music program where singers compete with each other in front of a panel audience. The third season of the program will start Friday.Isu’s appearance on the program, however, was abruptly cancelled on Jan. 22, a day after the first recording of the program. MBC announced the cancellation of Isu’s participation in tJan 25, 2015
Culture Briefs K-pop girl group Rainbow / Korea Times fileRainbow to come back next monthSeven-member K-pop girl group Rainbow will make a comeback next month with new studio album, the group’s management company DSP Media announced, Wednesday.“Members of Rainbow, who have actively performed as a soloist and as a subunit, will return with new studio album after a-year-and-seven-month hiatus,” the company said in a statement.Along with the “comeback” news, the company also revealed the behind the scenes snap from photo shoot for their album cover.Comprised of Kim Ji-sook, Kim Jae-kyung, Go Woo-ri, Cho Hyun-young, No Eul, Oh Seung-ah, and Jung Yoon-hye, the band made their debut in 2009 with EP “Gossip Girl.”The band released their first studio album “Rainbow Syndrome” in 2013.Sota Fukushi in a scene from “As God Says” / Courtesy of Sidus PicturesTop Japanese film to screen in Korea“As God Says,” a Japanese thriller film that captured the top spot at the Japanese box office last November, will be screened in Korea in tJan 21, 2015
Girls' Generation into design thievery Girls’ Generation performs “Mr. Mr.” in a costume that imitated Dolce & Gabbana’s 2015 Spring collection at KBS Song Festival on Dec. 26, 2014 in this YouTube image. / AP-YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunSince 2010, the top Korean girl band Girls’ Generation have been flaunting imitations of luxury outfits on air, and they show no remorse about this habit. Recently, they denied reports that they wore a copy of Dolce & Gabbana’s new design at the KBS Song Festival on Dec. 26, 2014.Three weeks ago, Girls’ Generation came under fire for their stage costume for the Korean version of the Grammy Awards. The girl band put on what was clearly a replica of a piece from Dolce & Gabbana’s unreleased 2015 Spring Collection.“Yes, Girls’ Generation refers to luxury brand for stage costumes,” said the former girl band stylist in condition of anonymity. “Many of their outfits are sponsored, but sometimes they just copy off the originals. The white top shirt and embroidered high-waist shorts were the finale outfit of 2Jan 20, 2015
Plagiarism under disguise of homage Seen above is a photo from a spread included in the magazine W Korea that girl group 9muses referenced for their album’s cover image. The spread was published in 2012. / Korea Times fileBy Kwon Ji-younLast August, Hyuna, a member of girl group 4 Minute, became a hot topic for netizens when it was revealed that the lyrics to one of her songs had been plagiarized. “From Where to Where,” a song from the 22-year-old’s third mini album, took lyrics straight from a track on group g.o.d’s sixth album, “The Reason Opposites Attract,” word for word. Lim Hyun-sik, the song’s lyricist and a member of boy band BTOB, explained on his Twitter: “I took a couple of lines of ‘From Where to Where’ from g.o.d’s song to pay homage to the veteran K-pop group,” he said. But this wasn’t enough to stamp out the fire, and the song was soon pulled from all music service websites. The word “homage” has become something of a habit among Korean artists who have allegedly plagiarized the creations of other artistJan 20, 2015
Retro fever sweeps entertainment industry A scene from the film “Gangnam Blues” / Courtesy of Show Box MediaplexBy Kwon Ji-younKorean films, dramas and entertainment shows are undergoing an unprecedented retro fever.The retro boom emerged in 2012 with tvN dramas “Reply 1997” and “Reply 1994,” which recounted the lives of high school and college students back in the 90s. Watching the Reply series, fans relived the dominance of first generation K-pop bands like H.O.T. and Sechs Kies, conjured up memories of Seo Taiji & Boys and their retirement while recalling the days of the beeper. Top singers of the 1990s took turns topping charts throughout the first week of January this year, after an episode of “Infinite Challenge” recorded a 22-percent viewer rating. This episode, subtitled “Saturday, Saturday is for Singers,” also known as “Totoga,” featured performances by groups and soloists who dominated the music scene in the 1990s, including dance duo Turbo, girl band S.E.S. and hip hop duo Jinusean. Other programs like “Immortal Song 2” have sJan 20, 2015
YG to build concert venue in Uijeongbu Nam Kyung-pil, center, Gyeonggi Province governor, Ahn Byung-yong, right, Uijeongbu mayor and Yang Min-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, pose after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Uijeongbu City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, Friday. YG will invest 100 billion won ($92.7 million) to construct a large-scale concert facility in Uijeongbu by 2018. / Courtesy of Uijeongbu City GovernmentBy Baek Byung-yeul YG Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest K-pop entertainment agencies, will set up its own concert venue in Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province, on the northern outskirts of Seoul.The entertainment company signed an agreement with the Uijeongbu City Government on Friday to invest 100 billion won ($92.7 million) to construct a large-scale concert facility, to be called the “YG Global K-pop Cluster,” by 2018.According to the agreement, the facility will be comprised of a large concert hall, five smaller concert venues, an exhibition hall, a residence hotel, a souvenir shop and an outdoor sports venue. Construction is expected to begin at the enJan 16, 2015
Chinese market draws Korean producers, screenwriters “Running Man” is a famous TV entertainment show.By Kwon Ji-younShin Woo-chulJang Tae-yooIn the past China was satisfied with imports of “finished” hallyu content such as dramas, reality shows, music and other forms of entertainment.Now, however, it wants to make its own versions, using Korean producers, screenwriters and the whole nine yards. This was emphasized late last year when China’s Juna International bought Chorokbaem Media ― Korea’s largest drama production company. The purchase comes as part of a strong pull of top talent by the Chinese market, which has an immediate advantage due to its sheer size. Those who have jumped on the Chinese bandwagon include star producers such as Jang Tae-yoo, who produced “My Love from the Star,” which had a viewership of 3 billion on iQiyi, a Chinese video platform, Shin Woo-chul of “Secret Garden” and the Hong Sisters, screenwriters of “The Greatest Love.”“Dad! Where Are We Going?” is a reality TV program.Chinese companies have also bought the rights to Jan 14, 2015
This week's headlines By Kwon Ji-younThe entertainment industry is rarely quiet, and last week, like any other, featured a number of controversies that ranged from drunken frenzies on flights to hygiene matters in the kitchen. Here’s a roundup of issues that made headlines last week. Song apologizes for wife’s Facebook postActor Song Il-gookActor Song Il-gook, father of adored triplets Dae-han, Min-guk and Man-seh, apologized for his wife’s Facebook post.Song’s wife had responded to a dispute that had been raised six years ago which alleged that the Song in 2009 had had his road manager registered as a lawmaker’s aide, and was paid his monthly due with taxes.To this, Song’s wife Jung Seung-yeon stressed that the manager had been her mother-in-law’s intern -- Jung’s mother-in-law is Rep. Kim Eul-dong of the ruling Saenuri Party. As an intern, Jung said, the manager was not restricted from taking on an additional job, and because Song had suddenly been left without a road manager, they had decided to hire him part-time. Song had provided all payments, sheJan 13, 2015
