Park Jin-young to Release New AlbumBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Top Korean music producer Park Jin-young is releasing his first album in six years on Nov. 15. He made the announcement Monday on the Web site of JYP Entertainment, where he is the CEO. ``After being a producer for six years, I will become a singer again," he said. Park is currently working on his seventh album in the United States. The 35-year old Park is going back to his roots in Korea, after working hard for the past few years to lay the groundwork for other Korean artists to advance in the United States. Park made his debut as a pop singer in 1994, with the hit song ``Please Don't Leave Me.'' One of the most successful singers in the 1990's, Park established his own entertainment company JYP Entertainment. He produced numerous singers and groups such as Rain, g.o.d., Lim Jeong-hee and recently, Wonder Girls. Earlier this year, he officially opened JYP USA, a company aimed at producing Asian singers to debut in the U.S. Park also mentioned the progress of Korean singers Min, Lim Jeong-hee and G-Soul in the U.S. Min Oct 23, 2007
Megadeth Promises Memorable ConcertBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Legendary thrash metal band Megadeth might have undergone some line-up changes in recent years, but founder and frontman Dave Mustaine promises to give another energetic, memorable concert experience in Seoul Oct. 28. ``Even the critics agree that this is the best Megadeth. The old guys were all great, but this is a different band with a new energy. … For people who have never seen Megadeth before, this will be a positive, and fresh experience,'' he told The Korea Times, in a telephone interview. The new Megadeth line-up includes guitarist Glen Drover, Glen's brother Shawn Drover on drums, and bassist James LoMenzo. Mustaine had originally formed Megadeth after leaving Metallica in 1983, but the band has undergone several changes throughout the years. The band is one of the pioneers of American thrash metal music. Mustaine said the band will be playing for an hour and a half in Seoul, with a repertoire of old and new songs. ``We assure fans that they're not going to walk away without their money's worth,'' he said. MegadetOct 23, 2007
stars 10 Influential Women on the Cultural Scene (1950-2007)The Korea Times, the nation’s first English daily, turns 57 on Nov. 1. The TOP 10 Series will feature the biggest news stories, scandals, events, figures, surprises and memorable moments in the coming weeks, in celebration of the anniversary. The series will allow our readers to revisit these moments of the past. Current and former staff members of the oldest English daily selected the Top 10s through internal meetings, online surveys and advice from outside experts. If you have differing opinions, let us know by email (janee@koreatimes.co.kr). Choi Seung-hee (1911-1967), a pioneer dancer in Korea, introduced modern dance costumes to the country. She also contributed to popularizing Korean dance through the “fan dance” and “Hwagwanmu,” a creative dance performed while wearing ornamental crowns. Choi earned fame both in Korea and Japan during the colonial era for her versatility mastering traditional as well as modern styles. Her defection to North Korea in 1946 dealt a particularly harsh blow to the South’s dance community. She continued performing in the North until she waOct 22, 2007
Star DJ Files for DivorceBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Star couple Park Chul and Ok So-ri are divorcing after 11 years of marriage. Park filed for divorce on Oct. 9, shocking many who considered them the ``perfect couple.'' Park, who was one of the heartthrobs of the 1990's, and Ok met and fell in love on the set of the 1994 drama ``Yeongung Ilgi (Hero Diary).'' They married in December 1996, and have been one of the most beloved couples in Korean entertainment. They have an 8-year old daughter. Considering the couple's popularity, Ok's mini-home page also became the subject of public scrutiny. She closed the photo section, which used to be filled with her family photos, and replaced it with an image of a bouquet of flowers. Only the message board is open to the public. Park has been quoted as saying the divorce should not affect his broadcast activities, and will continue his work on cable TV and radio. He hosts the ``Park Chul Show'' on StoryOn cable channel. The 38-year old Park has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas including ``Four Sisters'' and ``All About Eve.'' Ok iOct 16, 2007
Singer M Rises to New HeightsBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When you've been a member of one of the country's longest-running boy bands for nearly a decade, it would be tempting to sit back and enjoy your success. But not if you're Lee Min-woo who is not just known as member of the popular group Shinhwa, but also a solo singer, music producer, songwriter, actor and businessman. This year, Lee started his own company M Rising Entertainment, released a third solo album, held successful solo concerts in Korea and Japan and produced songs for several artists. In an interview with The Korea Times at his office in southern Seoul, Lee said he established his own company so he can produce the music that he wants to do and develop new talent. ``It was a kind of independence for me. I wanted to do more music and have more concerts, and produce (music) for other singers,'' he said. Lee appears to be following in the footsteps of former pop-stars-turned-entertainment-moguls such as Park Jin-young and Yang Hyun-suk (a member of popular Seo Taiji and Boys) who have built their own companies JYP EnteOct 16, 2007
stars 10 Hallyu StarsThe Korea Times, the nation's first English daily, turns 57 on Nov. 1. The TOP 10 Series, which will feature the biggest news stories, scandals, events, figures, surprises and memorable moments in the coming weeks, in celebration of the anniversary. The series will allow our readers to revisit these moments of the past. Current and former staff members of the oldest English daily selected the Top 10s through internal meetings, online surveys and advice from outside experts. If you have differing opinions, let us know by email (editor@koreatimes.co.kr). Actor Bae Yong-joon, 35, affectionately called “Yonsama” by his fans, topped the poll for hallyu star of the year. The actor rose to hallyu stardom in 2002 after the drama “Winter Sonata” drew devoted fans in Asia, and continues on today. Bae currently stars in the blockbuster drama, “Taewangsasingi” (The Four Guardian Gods of the King), which is recording high ratings in Korea and will be broadcast in some 90 countries around the world. Singer Rain, 25, boasts his strong fan base in Asia as he places second in the poll. Oct 14, 2007
Actresses Gain Presence OnscreenBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter While the female persona Korean entertainment remains largely reminiscent of Hollywood during the 1950~60s, a few in recently released or upcoming films are beginning to reflect, with some realism, Korean women today. Women onscreen tend to be either innocent asexual Audrey Hepburns (think Lee Young-ae, Choi Ji-woo, Song Hye-kyo) or smoldering Marylin Monroes oozing with sex appeal (Kim Hye-soo, Uhm Jung-hwa). Then there exists a third, very minor group of eccentrics like Katherine Hepburn that fit into neither category, like actresses Kang Hae-jeong, Bae Doo-na and Kong Hyo-jin. In other words, it is rather difficult to meet truly realistic female characters in movies. A most disappointing example is director Kwak Kyoung-taek's latest offering ``A Love.'' In this terribly old-fashioned story about a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, the heroine is but a mere caricature embodying romantic fantasies: the unforgettable first love, frail damsel in distress and untainted prostitute. She is but a superficial plot element that gives the male protagonist aOct 2, 2007
TV Falls in Love with Epic DramasBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Historical accounts are usually associated with heavyweight textbooks and a big yawn. But fresh interpretations by hot young actors are sending viewers on a delightful blast to the past through television. Monarchs are far from middle-aged, bald and pot-bellied _ young, sexy and love struck kings and court ladies dazzle in period pieces like ``Yi San,'' ``King and I'' and ``The Tudors,'' all sizzling with melodramatic court scandals and clandestine romances. King in Love: ``Yi San'' ``Yi San'' recounts the high-flying life and times of Yi San or King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the 22nd king of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). Lee Byung-hoon, director of international hit ``Jewel in the Palace,'' and Lee Seo-jin, the hero of the phenomenally popular ``Damo'' and ``Phoenix'' have joined their star power in this SBS TV series. The cast and crew garnered much public attention even before it started airing Monday. Korean heartthrob Lee plays the role of the fair and charismatic ruler, who is remembered for reforming the state examination and reviving tSep 18, 2007
Singer Rain to Perform in ChinaBy Sa Eun-young Staff Reporter Korean singer, Rain, 25, will hold a large-scale concert next month in Shanghai. The show, which was initially planned in April as part of the singer's world tour, ``Rain's Coming," had been cancelled due to difficulty in finding a venue and getting authorization for the performance. The concert will be held on Oct.6 at a stadium that can hold up to 20,000 fans in Shanghai, the country's largest city. ``We were a bit late in starting ticket sales, but so far they have been running smoothly," Rain's world tour organizer Star M Entertainment said. Despite the Shanghai performance, however, it is yet uncertain whether the star will resume his world tour, which was brought to a halt in the United States. The world tour was suspended in June when the singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, had to postpone his scheduled concerts because of a lawsuit filed against using his stage name, Rain, in the U.S. The lawsuit was later dropped, giving him the green light to use the name, but problems remain with promoters in cancelled areas. The eSep 18, 2007
Singer Lim Teams With OutkastBy Sa Eun-young Staff Reporter Korean singer Lim Jeong-hee, 26, will collaborate with a Grammy-winning group to take her music to the United States. Lim will release an album with top U.S. hip-hop duo Outkast as the two sides agreed to co-produce a record, JYP/Big Hit Entertainment announced Thursday. JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young, a music producer and singer, was largely responsible for setting up the successful deal. Park, with a wide network among leading figures in the U.S. music industry, distributed a demo record of Lim voicing pieces written by Park, which was well received. Lim, a highly accomplished singer in Korea, went to New York last year to receive vocal training and tune up her English. The singer, dubbed ``diva of the streets" in Korea for her mini street concerts, which made her famous even before her official debut, previously released two popular albums, ``Music is My Life" and ``Thanks." Apparently, groups other than Outkast also showed interest in joining hands with the Korean pop diva. ``Not only Outkast, but world-class producerSep 14, 2007