Korean actress auditions for'Avengers 2' By Park Si-sooThe sequel of Hollywood action flick Avengers will be filmed in Korea possibly featuring a Korean actress.The film’s producer, Marvel Universe, said at least 10 to 15 minutes of “Avengers 2: Age of Ultron” will take place in Seoul’s Gangnam area and Gyeonggi Province.The domestic shooting of the movie is said to take place in April or May. Other locations for shooting include New York, London and locations throughout South Africa, it said.One of Korea’s top production teams has already been chosen to work with the firm’s crew, it added.Korean actress Kim Soo-hyun is said to have met with Marvel officials to discuss her appearing in the film as a villain.Her management agency said nothing has been decided yet. The 29-year-old featured in several TV dramas including a role as a secretary to Daniel Henney’s character in the television drama “Plan B.”She however is not a widely-recognized performer. She is fluent in English, having spent her childhood abroad.The Avengers series is based on the Marvel comic books of the sJan 29, 2014
'Visit Korea Committee' welcoming Chinese tourists An event center for foreign tourists is located near Doota fashion mall in Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Ji-sooVisit Korea Committee is holding a variety of promotional events with retailers and the nation’s flagship carriers for the estimated 80,000 Chinese tourists expected to visit Korea during the Lunar New Year holiday or “Seollal.”While the Lunar New Year’s Day falls on Jan. 31, Korea goes into public holiday mode starting Thursday.The committee will operate a “roving tourist service center” in collaboration with Shinsegae Department store in Myeong-dong, which will open from Feb. 1 through Feb. 5, and also with the Hyundai Department Store in Samseong-dong, from Feb. 6 through Feb. 9. The center will provide Chinese visitors with information as well as lottery events in conjunction with the two leading department stores.For those that visit the Korea Grand Sale event center in Dongdaemun, the committee will select 100 on a first-come, first service basis, offering fortune cookies and a chance to experience Korean wJan 29, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Try traditional dish of 'tteokguk' Shows the “joraengi rice-cake soup” done by Han Yoon-ju, head of the restaurant Congdu. / Courtesy of CongduNew Year rice-cake soup brings good fortune, unityKoreans are always split over whether they should make more of the Western or Lunar New Year, but if the duration of the respective public holidays are any indication to go by the latter wins out. What Koreans never argue over is that a bowl of “tteokguk” is a must on New Year’s Day; as are turnip cakes and sweet rice cakes for the Chinese and ozoni or hot soup with mochi cake for the Japanese.“The long rice cake means desiring for innocence and grace throughout the year. Slicing them up into coin-size pieces is wishing for good fortune in money,” said Han Bok-ryo, head of the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine, who is Important Intangible Cultural Property 38. She added that eating rice-cake soup simultaneously in the New Year is to express unity of the people.The institute offered its recipes for the staple foods of Korean “Seollal.” These are sourced frJan 29, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
BESTie Haeryung strikes sexy poses BESTie Haeryung / Courtesy of Arena Homme+ KoreaBy Cho Hyun-eui BESTie Haeryung’s sexy photo shoots for Arena Homme+ Korea drew much attention.She showed off her glamorous body with various sexy poses. Her sexiness is emphasized with her beautiful figure. According to Arena Homme+ Korea, she has an inborn talent in posing. Haeryung has been cast as MC of tvN “Comedy Big League.”Jan 29, 2014
Kim Jang-hoon to sing at Carnival of Venice Kim Jang-hoonK-pop singer Kim Jang-hoon will perform at the Carnival of Venice, the Italian city’s largest festival, next month.According to his management company, Kim was chosen as the main artist for the carnival. The singer who is also known for his promotion of the Dokdo islets and charity work will perform with a troupe of Samulnori, a genre of Korean traditional percussion, on the main stage of the Piazza San Marco on Feb. 27. They will present a diverse repertoire, including “Arirang.”Feb. 27 is designated as “Giovedi Grasso,” or a holiday for the highlight of the carnival, and Kim is the first Asian musician to perform on the occasion, according to Kim’s management company.“Kim Jang-hoon will be the first Asian singer to perform at the event, where world-class musicians such as the Rolling Stones and Elton John had been invited before,” a spokesman for the company said.The organizing committee invited Kim after a six-month evaluation process.“The theme of the carnival this year is ‘wonder and fantasy nature.’ Jan 28, 2014
Startups taking steps toward creative tourism Tourists ride the Artee pedicab as they tour around Changdeok Palace, Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The pedicab business won the grand prize at the 2013 competition for “creative tourism business model” run bythe Korea Tourism Organization. / Courtesy of ArteeBy Park Jin-haiAlong the Bukchon Hanok Village, where traditional Korean houses and small alleys dating back to the Joseon Kingdom(1392-1910) stand, runs a blue pedicab. "This area is called Bukchon. It was the center of old Seoul. New Seoul is much bigger," says the driver, Lee In-jae, 28, founder of Ride Artee. Tourists on the ride by his guide slowly go around the beautiful neighborhood, including some hidden tourist spots like Bokjeong Well which supplied water only to royal palaces in the past. Artee pedicab is a venture firm that was honored to receive the top prize at the 3rd competition for the “creative tourism business model,” run by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in May 2013.Ride Artee offers two routes in central Seoul. The History Course takes passengers around historical attractions Jan 28, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Girl groups' exposure faces TV censorship Rainbow BlaxxBy Park Si-soo Three major television networks are acting as “censors” to tame girl groups going wild on the screen.Following their demands, K-pop girl groups such as Girl’s Day, Dal Shabet, AOA and Rainbow Blaxx have decided to scale down the level of body exposure and sexy choreography. The move comes amid escalating criticism of female singers wearing skimpy or overly revealing clothes and giving sexually suggestive performances as a way to lure viewers in the extremely competitive K-pop scene.Kim Ho-sang, chief director of “Music Bank,” a music show aired by the country’s biggest broadcaster KBS, said he had demanded girl bands “adjust” the concept of their onstage dress and dancing, or face “disadvantages” in programming. Affected girl groups include Girl’s Day, Dal Shabet, AOA and Rainbow Blaxx, he said.“We will check whether they follow the demands during rehearsals,” Kim was quoted as saying in an article. “If there is too much exposure, we will ask them to change the Jan 28, 2014
International co-production frequent in musicals By Park Jin-haiThis is a scene from “Feast for the Princess,” a musical produced by CJ E&M in cooperation with China's United Asia Live Entertainment./ Courtesy of CJ E&MThe saturation of the domestic musical market is prompting local entertainment firms to seek co-productions in China and Japan.Highlighting the attractiveness of these two markets is the saturated local musical industry in recent years.Dream International signed a contract with a Chinese production company to produce the musical “Mulan.” The musical, which was an animated film by Disney in 1998, will feature the heroic life story of fictional Chinese character Fa Mulan. There are already several movies and dramas based on the story within China.“It will depict a tragic love story as well as comradeship during war time,” said Lee Yong-do, producer of the musical.Starting with a showcase scheduled for June during the Daegu Musical Festival, the musical will be staged from January to mid February in Seoul in 2015, before touring several Chinese cities.Another prJan 27, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Jo Yeo-jeong works with new agency By Park Si-sooActress Jo Yeo-jeong signed a contract with a new management firm, freeing the 32-year-old from a dispute with her former agency.Neos Entertainment said on Monday it had signed Jo and the company will do everything it can to help the actress.“Jo is a very attractive actress who is good at her work,” Neos said in a statement. “We will provide her full support.”Making her debut in 1997 as a cover model of the then-popular fashion magazine CeCi, the baby-faced actress leaped to stardom by starring in a series of hit dramas and films, including the erotic period drama “The Servant” in 2010. Two new films, in which she has major roles, will be screened this summer.In November, Jo stirred up controversy by signing a new contract with Bom Entertainment while her contract with Didim 531 was still in effect.The Korea Entertainment Management Agency suggested Jo avoid working with both agencies.Jan 27, 2014
Singer Rain departs for Hollywood Singer RainSinger Rain wrapped up promotional activities for his track “La Song” and departed Sunday for Hollywood where he will soon start filming “The Prince.”“La Song” is part of the sixth full-length album, which the 31-year-old released after completing his compulsory military service last year. Rain performed the song with the veteran trot singer Tae Jin-ah over the weekend on television.“The Prince” — starring Bruce Willis and John Cusack — will be the singer’s third Hollywood film, following his appearances in “Speed Racer” and “Ninja Assassin.” Rain is also reportedly set to audition for yet-another Hollywood feature.Jan 27, 2014
