Crayon Pop to do opening spot for Gaga Crayon Pop Lady GagaBy Chung Ah-youngCrayon Pop will be the opening act for Lady Gaga’s concert tour “ArtRave: The ARTPOP Ball” this summer. The American pop star revealed her plan March 21 on her Twitter to add Crayon Pop from June 26 to July 22 in the United States and Canada. The plan is part of Lady Gaga’s world tour in North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia from May to November. Other opening acts have not been decided yet. “I’m excited to announce June 26 through July 22 of Lady Gaga’s ArtRave: The ARTPOP Ball will be opened by Crayon Pop!” she said. Crayon confirmed it on its Twitter, “We will perform the opening act (13 performances) during her tour for one month in the U.S. Please look for our performances.”Chrome Entertainment, Crayon Pop’s agency, said Lady Gaga saw the group’s music video and chose it for the opening act. “We are honored to take an opening act of Gaga’s concerts,” it said. The group created a sensation last year with its viral hit “Bar Bar BarMar 21, 2014
Models rushing to small screen Kim Woo-binTalent agencies tapping into models for next Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jong-sukLee Jong-suk Sung JunBy Park Jin-haiSeoul Fashion Week, which opened Friday, is the most coveted event not only for the fashion industry but also talent agencies looking for the next Kim Woo-bin and Lee Jong-suk, the successful models-turned actors.Although it is nothing new for models to break onto the small and big screens, for the last couple of years an increasing number is coming to prominence in TV dramas and films. They include Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jong-suk, Sung Jun and Ahn Jae-hyeon.Their slim physiques and fashion sense are helping them lead a new trend in the entertainment business.“Some 10 years ago, for male actors, 170 to 175 centimeters were considered ideal, since it fits within the camera angle nicely. That has changed. Now it seems like the taller you are, the more chances you have to land a leading role,” said an entertainment business insider."There was a time we saw a lot of K-pop singers-turned actors/actresses on the screen. In terms of business, the images those starsMar 21, 2014By Park Jin-hai
K.will to perform with McKnight K.will Korean R&B singer-songwriter K.will will hold a joint concert with American pop star Brian McKnight in May.Two singers will perform together on May 11 at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, according to its organizer EWW. “The two will hold the separate performances followed by duet performance,” the agency said.Ticket sales will begin on March 24. McKnight is a world-famous R&B artist who has sold more than 20 million albums. He has previously performed with Big Bang’s Taeyang, Lim Jeong-hee, and Kim Bum-soo. Last year, he released a new album “More Than Words.”Mar 21, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Lee Jong-suk on fashion magazine cover Lee Jong-sukBy Park Si-sooActor Lee Jong-suk will appear on the cover of the Korean version of the British fashion and culture magazine Dazed & Confused.In photos released to the media on Thursday, the 25-year-old exudes masculine charisma created by defined muscles and piercing gazes. The photos will be published in the magazine’s April issue.“I’ve worked with many stars. Lee is one of the outstanding figures for his physical attractiveness,” a photographer for the magazine was quoted as saying in a report.In an interview with the magazine, Lee said he is trying to make this year a “turning point” in his life.Lee is set to appear on an upcoming SBS TV drama to be aired in April, acting as a talented medical doctor in Seoul from North Korea.Mar 20, 2014
Yoo In-na to star in Chinese film By Park Jin-haiYoo In-na, 31, will star in a Chinese film.Her agency YG Entertainment on Thursday announced that Yoo, will star in a Chinese movie “Wedding Bible,” carrying on the popularity of the recently ended hit drama "My Lover From the Star" in China.Huh In-moo, director of “My Black Minidress” and “Herb,” will produce the film. It is his second time to work with the actress.The romantic comedy will feature Yoo as a U.K’-educated beautiful elite woman who is in Shanghai to become a professor.Yoo made her name known to the Chinese viewers with the SBS drama “My Love.” She played the role of actress Yoo Se-mi, who is jealous of her best friend Chun Song-i.Her love interest is Taiwanese-born Canadian model and actor Godfrey Gao, who appeared in the Hollywood movie “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.” He was also the first Asian male to model for Louis Vuitton. Yoo currently hosts a cable network’s beauty talk show “Get It Beauty” as well as deejaying a radio show “Yoo In-na's Raise tMar 20, 2014
Entertainers take on teaching role Actor Kim Soo-hyun lectures on the psychological effects of physical contact in this photo from the TV drama “My Love From the Star.” For their hands-on experiences and practical knowledge, many entertainers are given opportunities to teach aspiring artists at colleges.Stars’ lectures full of insider’s knowledge, knowhow Lee Yoon-sukBy Park Si-sooAs Korea puts more emphasis on practical skills, stars that grace small and big screens will be gracing lecture halls.Coincidentally, heartthrob actor Kim Soo-hyun’s character in the drama “My Love From the Star” was a professor.Perhaps finding a lecturer who is as good as Kim in looks is a mission impossible, while there are lots of actors, musicians and comedians — though less attractive physically — who win the hearts of students with impressive lectures based on their hands-on experiences and empirical knowledge. Bae Jong-okMost of them are temporary lecturers who are invited to classrooms when they are in demand and yanked off when it’s gone.But it seems thMar 20, 2014
New manager wants Seoul to fall in love with JW Marriott, again Matthew Cooper, new general manager of JW Marriott Seoul in Gangnam, poses with the Han River in the background. / Courtesy of JW Marriott SeoulBy Kim Ji-sooOpening any new hotel, even with the name Marriott behind you, is a challenge.Matthew Cooper, 42, the new general manager of the JW Marriott Seoul, has officially opened two in India.The Australian, who officially assumed his Seoul post on March 1, has already made new friends in South Korea, both Koreans and expats, in order to strengthen the hotel’s connection with the community.He’s also graced the pages of a few local magazines. He shed 30 kilograms in the past five months before coming to Seoul, which allows him to boldly walk onto such fashion shoots.“Seoul is a mix of cool and culture,” Cooper said in an interview with The Korea Times. “There is money; an undercurrent of culture; you get an art scene, K-pop and drama in Seoul. It’s like Bollywood, so culturally significant.”Cooper, who spent nine years in India, said his strength is in positioning hotels.Thus with his mission Mar 20, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Psy may come back in April By Park Jin-haiPsyK-pop sensation Psy is likely to re-emerge in April.Speculation is rife that the rapper will return to the music scene sometime next month, just two months ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.“His songs released ahead of each World Cup Games have become great hits. It is highly likely that he will release his new album in April and have promotions in Korea for some time before hitting the global stage around the World Cup,” said a music industry watcher.However, Psy’s agency, YG Entertainment, said no final decisions have been made.“We are talking about a mid-April return. But there is nothing yet confirmed, since Psy has the final say. He is in the United States and is in talks with his U.S. management company,” a YG Entertainment official said.Following Psy’s successive global hits “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman,” music fans are waiting to see his next move. Rumors of his return to the public eye started in January, when he was filming the music video for his upcoming album, withMar 19, 2014
Check out where they kissed Tourists are busy taking photos at a venue that was featured in a scene in the drama “My Love From the Star” at Petite France, in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-soo‘My Love’ locations draw many foreign hallyu fansGAPYEONG — In the inner valleys of Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the weather is still in that limbo between winter and spring. But the northern stretch of the Han River was full and smooth, as if inviting visitors to come. Visitors there were, flocking to Petite France, a theme village where a key scene in the TV drama “My Love from the Star” was shot.As soon as the park opened at 9 a.m., tour buses parked nearby and began pouring out tourists who were fans of the popular drama starring actors Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.“I really like the characters,” said Chiu Tzu-ting, 38, a Taipei resident who was in Korea for the first time. Chiu and friends were busy taking photos where Kim’s character, Do Min-joon, flew Jun’s character, Chun Song-i, into the air to bMar 19, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Old, unscripted and fun The SBS show “Baengnyeon Sonnim” generates high ratings by simply showing how old folks will react with their children-in-law under the same roof. / Courtesy of SBSSenior stars shine in reality showsBy Yun Suh-youngThe reality show genre has found a new formula for success: old people."Halbae (grandfathers) Over Flowers,’’ which follows a group of over-70 actors backpacking around Europe, has been such a success that tvN pushed for a self-parody in ``Noona (older sisters) Over Flowers,’’ which is essentially the same show shot with old actresses."Baengnyeon Sonnim (Son in Law),’’ an unscripted family show on SBS, generates high ratings by simply showing how old folks will react with their children-in-law under the same roof.Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said that viewers might be enjoying watching shows about old people the same way they enjoy shows about children."When you think about it, children and the elderly are perfect as cast members for reality television,’’ he said."Children are pure and innocent and they don&rMar 18, 2014
