Shows & Dramas

Super Star K to hold audition in LA

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The popular Korean program ``Super Star K'' is reaching out to the United States. Mnet Media, the cable channel that airs the show, announced Wednesday that the program, which is in its second season, is casting its eyes on America. ``We have received requests for overseas auditions from people who wanted to try out and hopefully become the next winner of `Super Star K.' Considering that many singers who work in Korea have been chosen through auditions held abroad, we decided to hold one in Los Angeles as a start,'' Kim Yong-beom, the chief producer of the show, said. People of any age who can sing Korean songs in Korean can apply for an audition, regardless of nationality. It will take place at 10 a.m. on June 26 at the L.A. CGV theater in Koreatown and anyone who wishes to show off their talents is welcome to show up. Qualifiers from the first round will move on to the next stage the next day on June 27, and the winners from the second heat will be flown to Korea in July for the final show with the Korean contestants. ``The whole crew

Incheons most beautiful women

Super Junior to tour Asia in August

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter Boy band Super Junior is launching its third Asian tour ``SUPER SHOW 3.'' According to the group's agency, SM Entertainment, the 13-member band will start their tour in Seoul in August, and move to 13 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore and Manila with 16 performances in total. The agency explained that the group is preparing various events and sequences, including numbers from the group's recent album ``Bonamana,'' and previous hits. The song ``Bonamana,'' the title track of their fourth album, is a powerful electronic number with catchy lyrics and melodies. Like always, the group's new look also caught the attention of both fans and fellow signers, with the members all dressed in chic black with silver accessories and edgy hairstyles. Making their debut in 2005, the group instantly became one of the most popular boy bands around. Super Junior started out with 13 members, but the fourth album featured only 10. Kang In, who made headlines after an assault incident last year, is planning to join the military next

Entertainment industry ready for World Cup

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The World Cup is finally drawing near and the entertainment industry is getting ready to celebrate and cheer on the Korean team along with the public. The easiest way to feel the excitement will be through music, and numerous groups and soloists have prepared their version of cheering songs to share with fans. Psy and Kim Jang-hoon started the World Cup fever as they appeared in a commercial with their new song ``Once Again Daehanminguk!,'' and fellow singers have followed suit. Boy band Big Bang and rock group Transfixion teamed up with figure skater champion Kim Yu-na to bring a World Cup cheering song fit for everyone. The song ``The Shouts of Reds Part 2'' was released online last month, and many internet users have downloaded the catchy tune. Fellow idol groups Kara, T-ara, 2PM and 2Am also came out with exciting and powerful World Cup songs. While 2PM released the number ``What's Your Celebration'' with the official World Cup sponsor Coca Cola, 2AM managed to work with musicians around the world and bring the official Wor

Will Kim, Han create magic thru Bad Boy

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The teary-eyed heartthrob from the period drama ``The Great Queen Seondeok'' Kim Nam-gil, joins one of the prettiest actresses in the business for a stylish plot of love, betrayal and revenge. Will this combination captivate viewers? Find out tonight with a brand new soap ``Bad Boy'' on SBS. Kim became a household name, not to mention one of the most sought after actors in the industry, after appearing as Bi-dam in the hit drama last year. After some commercials and a movie, the 29-year-old decided to return to the small screen as Shim Geon-wook, a heartless stuntman who knows how to deal with pretty girls with innocent hearts to achieve his goal. ``(Shim is) an innocent but bad guy,'' he said during a press conference last week. Shim is adopted by a rich family that owns Haeshin Group, one of the biggest and richest companies in the country. But when the young Shim is abandoned by his own family due to a misunderstanding, he vows to destroy everything they have and win back the love and fortune he was once promised. ``You can't hate

YouTube star keeps it real with his music

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter Becoming famous online is not news anymore. Many attract fans by singing, dancing or even talking online, but few get to find their true selves and become rooted through the experience. It's what you do after the hype and popularity have settled that really counts. Actually, the hype is still ongoing for singer/songwriter and YouTube star David Choi, with his second album scheduled to be released soon in Korea and also a concert already under his belt, but he still feels ``weird'' about being called an artist. For the 24-year-old, it's always been about music over stardom and he intends to keep it that way. ``I'm more of a songwriter and producer. I always wanted to be behind the scenes and do music, something I'm passionate about,'' he told The Korea Times during an interview last week at the concert venue Welcomm Theater in Jangchung-dong, Seoul. Choi didn't dream of becoming a singer since he was a young boy, nor did he know that he had what it took to become a star. When he heard someone in his 10th grade history class play a se

New drama to bring more than coffee

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter A new drama on SBS titled ``Coffee House'' begins airing this week and it has already made headlines thanks to its star-studded cast and producer Pyo Min-su. Coffee and books may seem like main ingredients for a typical romantic comedy targeting young women, but Pyo, who created popular works such as ``Worlds Within,'' ``Full House'' and ``Pretty Insun,'' is adding a bit more philosophy and thought to the series. The soap stars hallyu star Kang Ji-hwan, along with actresses Park Si-yeon and Ham Eun-jeong. Kang plays successful novelist Lee Jin-su, who seems like the perfect catch but underneath is one of the pickiest people on the planet. One of Lee's biggest pet peeves is bad coffee, so he becomes an expert in grinding and making his own high quality brew. Park will appear as Seo Eun-young, the head of a famous book company where Lee is contracted to, and shows off her comical side. The two can't stand each other, but they consider themselves professionals and endure daily interaction without realizing their true underlying feeling

Wonder Girls, JYPE deny mistreatment

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter Girl group Wonder Girls and the group's agency JYP Entertainment (JYPE) denied the accusations of mistreatment claimed by Daniel Gauss, their English tutor, saying that they were not true. Their response came after news that group members were mistreated by the agency during the group's time in the U.S., was reported Tuesday night. According to Jung wook, the current head of JYPE which was founded by singer and producer Park Jin-young also known as JYP, the girls were not newcomers and if they sensed there was a problem, they would have said something about it. ``If the girls felt they were being mistreated during their activities both here and in the United States, this would have been expressed in some way or other,'' he said. ``The claim that the girls were not covered by health insurance is not true. It doesn't make any sense,'' he added. Meanwhile, Sun-ye, wrote on the group's official fan Web site that what the English tutor claimed was not true, especially the part regarding her family. Gauss claimed that the member had to

`Wonder Girls mistreated by JYPE

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The Wonder Girls may have tasted success as a Korean group by reaching the Billboard Hot 100 last year, but it seems their life and activity in the United States was tougher than expected, according to a claim by the group's former English tutor. Daniel Gauss, who claimed he was the group’s English tutor from October 2009 to May 2010, alleged that they were treated badly by the American branch of the JYP Entertainment (JYPE) agency, without even being covered by health insurance. ``I once saw one girl in extreme pain (due to a pre-existing problem from an operation) who received no professional medical treatment for the pain, and I saw others with minor ailments go untreated. I am pretty sure JYP, himself, has health insurance in America. Why can’t these girls be covered by health insurance in America?’’ Gauss wrote in an email sent to The Korea Times. Park Jin-young, the head of JYP, has been considered a hero here for promoting the Wonder Girls in the U.S. and placing them in a position no other Korean singer has achieved, but the En

Korean War resurrected onscreen

By Lee Hyo-won, Han Sang-hee Staff reporters The Korean War (1950-53) has unfortunately been dubbed ``The Forgotten War'' overseas, but for Koreans the deep scar it left behind is still sorely felt. In time for the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict, domestic movies and television series are zooming in on the human tragedy to provide drama, action and some history lessons. Big screen Currently showing in theaters or due for release are films highlighting specific incidents during wartime and its aftermath. Released last month, ``A Little Pond'' sheds light upon the No Gun Ri massacre, in which American soldiers shot to death South Korean refugees in Nogun-ri, North Chungcheong Province, in July 1950. Reports of the number of casualty varies, ranging between 150, according to a South Korean military report, to 400, as cited by the Associated Press, and in 2001 then-U.S. President Bill Clinton issued a statement of regret. The film brings together big names in the local theater and screen industries, such as Moon Sung-keun and Shin Myoung-cheol, an