2NE1 to come back with new song 2NE1 comes back from one year hiatus with new song “Falling in Love.” YG Entertainment announced Monday the four-member girl group’s comeback is slated for July 8, releasing the teaser of their new song. They have been away from the local music scene for the most part of last year, performing abroad, with their single “I Love You” that they released in July last year.“Falling in Love” is their first reggae song. The members have recently finished shooting its music video and are busy practicing choreographs of the song ahead of the scheduled comeback.Previously the group announced that they will release new songs, one for each month until October. Prior to the group’s new release, CL, the leader and rapper of 2NE1 showed off her solo ability with “The Baddest Female.”Jul 2, 2013
Gangnam District opens Medical Tour Center Gangnam District Mayor Shin Yeon-hee, third from right, draws the curtain with Gangnam Severance Hospital director general Lee Byung-seok, fifth from right, who is serving as the head of Gangnam Medical Tourism Association, and other guests at the opening ceremony of the Gangnam Medical Tour Center in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Gangnam District OfficeBy Yoon Ja-youngPsy sang about it in “Gangnam Style,” but even before his song became a global hit, Gangnam District in southern Seoul was known as an affluent neighborhood and a hub for culture and entertainment. Adding another forte to its name, the district on Tuesday opened the Medical Tour Center, which aims to help medical tourists from various countries heading to the district to receive a range of treatments.“I think it is very timely and meaningful to open the center, which will be a foothold to promote the district’s high quality healthcare infrastructure and help the medical tourism industry expand overseas,” said Gangnam District Mayor Shin Yeon-hee at the opening cereJul 2, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Korean church group bashes 'Gay America' CCK Chairman Hong Jae-chul, seen here in happier times,has been a reliable source of homophobic hatred.By Kim Tong-hyungHere’s your midweek update on the stories in entertainment and media you might have missed while reading about the Korean spy agency channeling WikiLeaks, political unrest in developing nations, or because your life is undoubtedly a lot more fulfilling than ours.United States of ‘Jongbuk Gays’ After the U.S. Supreme Court made a historical decision to strike down a law denying federal benefits to gay couples, clearing the way for same-sex marriage in California, a furious response from Korea’s regressive Protestant church was as predictable as can be.It came last Friday when the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), representing more than 45,000 churches with a combined 12 million followers, issued a statement denouncing America for “completely discarding” its Puritan beliefs.“There is a reason that (God) made the United States a country to guide and show the way for the world, but (after the country) approved an act that iJul 2, 2013
Leading icon Actor Kim Soo-hyun meets fans in Shibuya, Tokyo, on June 30. This is the first time for Kim to meet his Japanese fans officially. The event consisted ofthe screening session of some video clips from his dramas and films, talk show, cooking corner and mini concert for some two hours./ Courtesy of Key EastCan Kim Soo-hyun become another hallyu phenomenon? Kim Soo-hyun was featured in the June issue of Vogue Japan. The magazine praised Kim as a“young Korean actor who is receiving the most public attention right now.” / Courtesy of Key EastBy Chung Ah-youngRising hallyu darling Kim Soo-hyun is stealing the limelight not only in Korea but also in other countries as he is one of the most sought-after actors saving the sagging Korean movie industry as Hollywood blockbusters reign.His recent roles in a series of hit films such as “Secretly Greatly” and “The Thieves” are believed to play a crucial role in selling tickets particularly to young moviegoers in their 10s and 20s. “The Thieves” attracted some 13 million viewers last year, while hJul 2, 2013
Shin Ramyeon on American Airlines By Park Si-sooInstant noodle maker Nongshim’s signature product Shin Ramyeon will be available on American Airlines’ Dallas-Incheon route that was launched in May.It will be the only noodle dish on the world’s largest airline’s in-flight menus. The carrier will serve over 5,000 cups a month to passengers in all classes, according to Nongshim.Nongshim is now in talks with Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, to sign a similar deal. The cup noodle recently became available inside the Sphinx observatory at Jungfraujoch, a tourist spot in the Swiss Alps, and around 1,000 cups are sold there each day on average, the firm said.Nongshim started to supply its instant cup noodles to Korean Air in 1998. Now Asiana Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Cebu Pacific Airlines also serve them to their passengers.Jul 1, 2013
Todai recognized for quality service By Park Si-sooSeafood buffet restaurant Todai topped the service quality index assessed by the Korean Standards Association (KSA). The company outscored competitors in the seven categories subject to the evaluation, which include creditability, kindness, accessibility and regular and non-regular services among others.This is an outcome of a survey the KSA conducted of 84,900 people in the country’s five biggest cities ㅡ Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju ㅡ between March and May.Todai said it doesn’t use chemical seasoning at all to meet expectation of health conscious seafood consumers. In addition, the company has improved its cooking guideline to make customers intake less salt and cholesterol, it said.“It’s great honor to be recognized by the index,” a Todai spokesperson said. “We will never stop in improving the quality of products and services.”The first Todai restaurant opened in 1985 in California. It entered the Korean market in 2006. There are a total of 19 Todai restaurants in Korea, the United States and Singapore, serving 25Jul 1, 2013
Hypocrites! Sgt. Jung Ji-hoon, top, whose stage name is Rain; Private Choi Dong-uk (Seven), left; and Private First Class Lee Sang-cheol (Sangchoo). A 16-member “entertainment soldier” squad, including the three, is subject to an ongoing probe by the defense ministry as Choi and Lee were confirmed to have violated internal discipline during their out-of-barracks stay last month. / Korea Times fileCeleb-turned-soldiers undermine military unity and moraleBy Park Si-sooPrivate Choi Dong-uk (Seven)Private First Class LeeSang-cheol (Sangchoo).An old saying goes, “A mudfish messes up clear water.”Perhaps this is a maxim the military should take more seriously than other organizations, considering that its power hinges on strong unity of its members. In other words, a violation of internal discipline or code of conduct by some at any degree is not a problem of their own; it could badly affect the unity and morale of the entire military.In this regard, celebrity-turned-soldiers, confirmed last week to have committed “inappropriate” behavior as active servicemen duringJul 1, 2013
First Asian slow food festival to be held in October Visitors sample Korean foods in Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, an international slow food festival held in Bra, Italy, in 2012. Namyangju City will host the first Asian slow food festival in October./ Courtesy of the Organizing Committee of Asio GustoBy Park Jin-haiThe first slow food festival in the Asia and Oceania region will kick off in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, from Oct. 1 to 6 this year. The organizing committee for the “2013 Asia Gusto” said Tuesday that this year’s event will take place under the theme of “Slow food, change the world with taste.”“We will make the event a global festival, where visitors can sample various food varieties from grandma’s foods to those of globaly renowned chefs,” said an official of the organizing committee.It estimates that some 300,000 people, including 15,000 foreigners from 40 Asian and Oceania countries, will attend the six-day festival, to be held at the Namyangju Sports and Culture Center, in Ipae-dong, and Organic Theme Park in Joan-myeon in Namyangju.Slow foods, as opposed to fJul 1, 2013By Park Jin-hai
SM Entertainment For all you fans of Girls’ Generation, Super Junior, TVXQ, BoA, SHINee, f(x) and EXO, SM Entertainment has opened pop-up store at Lotte Department Store in downtown Seoul.The pop-up store will set up shop on the first and B1 ground levels at Young Plaza at Lotte Department Store where 65 types of 700 some merchandises on SM artists will go on sale. The nation’s top agency last opened a pop-up store in January that was met with rave response from fans.The attention this time goes to the recently popular 12-member group EXO, whose song “Wolf” from their first full-length album “XOXO (Kiss&Hug) remains on the top of the music charts.There will daily goods decorated with the motifs from EXO’s album, as well as fashion and stationeries. Fans can also expect to purchase EXO-related hats, t-shirts and bandana. Targeting the summer, TVXQ, Super Junior and EXO’s beach sandals will go on sale as well as waterproof bags, fans and other travel kit items. Fans will also see accessories for cell phones and hair as well as full-length photos oJun 30, 2013
Home shopping ups global presence TV show hosts sell kitchenware on MNG Shop, GS Shop’s Turkish home shopping channel, in partnership with MNG Group of Turkey, in this file photo. GS Shop opened the 24-hour shopping channel in May./ Courtesy of GS ShopBy Park Jin-haiMajor home shopping channels have turned their sights abroad over the past few years, as the local market is near saturation point coupled with the rising level of competition.Like CJ O Shopping, which pioneered the outward look with its entry into the Chinese market in 2004, Lotte Home Shopping and GS Shop have made similar moves. Their initial operating profits there were in the red, but their fortunes have been improving lately.Not only do they make profit in the existing markets, they are competing in a race to expand their global presences from Asia to Europe on the back of “hallyu” or Korean wave.The products that are selling also range from moving laundry racks to Korean kitchenware and cosmetics.Industry watchers say there are several factors that contribute to the success of local home shopping channels abroad. Among Jun 30, 2013By Park Jin-hai
