Regrouped KARA to return with new EP

KARA will release its new EP “Day & Night” on Aug. 18. (DSP Media)K-pop quartet KARA will officially return to the music scene with a new EP and a showcase next month, its agency said Friday. KARA, which now consists of the group’s three original members Park Gyu-ri, Hang Seung-yeon and Koo Ha-ra and new member Heo Young-ji, will drop its sixth EP “Day & Night” on Aug. 18 with the album’s showcase to be held the same day. The showcase, slated to feature KARA’s first performances of tracks from i

July 25, 2014

Rain to star in SBS rom-com

Rain. (Cube DC)Korean heartthrob Rain will return to the small screen with a rom-com in September. The TV drama, tentatively titled “The Lady Who Is Lovely to Me,” will go on air from Sept. 17 every Wednesday and Thursday on Korea’s TV network SBS.Popular entertainer will play Hyun-wook, the CEO of a showbiz firm who has lost his lover to an accident. He meets a would-be singer who later turns out to be his past lover’s sister and ends up falling in love. “I was touched by the story of the chara

July 25, 2014

Korean films headed to Venice Film Festival

Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s film “Hill of Freedom” will be competing at the Venice Film Festival in the “Horizons Sections,” dedicated to a score of cutting-edge films, the festival’s organizers said Thursday as they unveiled this year’s lineup.The film depicts a Japanese man, played by Japanese actor Kase Ryo, who visits Korea to track down his bygone love. Korean actress Moon So-ri (“Oasis”) and actor Kim Eui-sung star in the film. Three other Korean films have been invited for the noncomp

July 25, 2014

U-know Yunho not okay with dating publicly

K-pop idol duo TVXQ’s U-Know Yunho revealed Thursday that he is not comfortable about going public with his romantic relationship on a TV show. On the MBC TV show “Star Gazing,” the 28-year-old heartthrob said that he personally thinks that keeping his cherished person out of the public eye is the best way to protect her.  (MBC)“When women are in a relationship (with celebrities), they are envied. But when they spilt up, women get hurt more than men do,” he said during the show. Comedienne Song

July 25, 2014

B1A4 members say they are banned from dating women

Members of the K-pop boy band B1A4 said that they are not allowed to date women on a radio program on Friday. Asked whether there is any rule that prevents the idols from dating someone, they said “Yes, there is” on the radio show “Jo Jung-chi and Jang Dong-min’s 2 O’ Clock” that aired on Friday. (OSEN)The members also confessed that they have no girlfriends, and that’s why they named a recent song “Solo Day.” Launched in 2011, the five-member group recently returned to the K-pop scene with the

July 25, 2014

EXO’s Lay praised for composing skills by Yuen Wei Ren

K-pop sensation EXO’s Lay was highly praised for his compositional techniques by famed Chinese songwriter Yuen Wei Ren, Chinese media outlets reported Friday.“I am so happy to listen to your song in Shanghai. I am surprised by young composers’ outstanding skills these days,” Yuen wrote on his Weibo account. (OSEN)“Creation takes time, but it would be the most powerful weapon for your music. Hope I can listen to more of your songs,” he added. The Chinese member of EXO expressed his appreciation,

July 25, 2014

Leeteuk to be discharged from military next week

Leeteuk of boy band Super Junior will complete his military duty on July 29, his entertainment agency announced on Friday.“An interview with reporters or an event with fans will not be held for Leeteuk’s discharge,” SM Entertainment was quoted as saying. “Leeteuk wanted to be discharged from the military without any attention,” the agency added.The singer started his military service on October 2012. After the discharge, Leeteuk is to participate in “Super Junior World Tour Super Show6,” visitin

July 25, 2014

Yoo Ah-in gets head injury while filming ‘Sado’

Actor Yoo Ah-in was rushed to the hospital after having a head injury while filming his upcoming historical film “Sado.”Yoo was injured by accidentally hitting his head on the floor in a conflict scene, according to local reports on Friday.  (Showbox)The injury occurred on Thursday while filming a scene in which Yoo’s character, prince Sado, has a fiery discord with his father, King Youngjo.The actor was sent to the hospital and had his injury treated. Despite the doctor’s advice, Yoo pushed ahe

July 25, 2014

TV commercial for JYJ goes on air

JYJ became the first K-pop band to advertise themselves through a TV commercial.The commercial to promote JYJ was first broadcast on July 21 right after the closing of MBC’s 23-episode action drama “Triangle,” starring group member Jaejoong.The TV commercial brings JYJ’s three members -- Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu -- into the spotlight, with the catch phrases “One for all” and “All for one.” “We invested 1 billion won into this three-week TV commercial campaign to raise JYJ’s brand power,” thei

July 25, 2014

Sulli temporarily leaves entertainment industry

Sulli of the girl group f(x) has decided to temporarily leave the entertainment industry, her agency SM Entertainment announced on Friday.“Sulli has been suffering from endless rumors and malicious comments on the Internet. She is determined to stay out of the entertainment scene for a while,” the agency wrote on its official homepage.“To protect the artist, we have decided to minimize Sulli’s entertainment activities and let her take some time off,” the agency added.SM also wrote that Sulli’s g

July 25, 2014

‘Kundo’ draws 1m viewers in 48 hours

“Kundo: Age of the Rampant” drew a record-high 1 million viewers in its first 48 hours, dwarfing its competitors at the box office.In its first two days, “Kundo,” directed by Yoon Jong-bin and starring Ha Jung-woo and Gang Dong-won, replaced the former records by “Transformer: Dark of the Moon” (2011) starring Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and “Secretly, Greatly” (2013) starring Kim Soo-hyun. “Kundo” is set in mid-19th century Joseon, in the 13th year of King Cheoljong’s reign. Dolm

July 25, 2014

Jung Yun-ho devotes himself in sword practice for ‘The Night Watchman’

The upcoming MBC drama “The Night Watchman” on Friday revealed behind-the-scenes photos of actor and idol group TVXQ member Jung Yun-ho.In the drama, Jung plays the skillful swordsman Moosuk. According to local reports, the staff of the drama spotted him devoting himself to sword practice for his character.The released photos show Jung practicing his sword skills in the scorching summer heat. His sharp eyes show the strength and dignity of a swordsman.The Monday-Tuesday drama will air from Aug.

July 25, 2014

‘Madama Butterfly’ ballet removed from KNB 2015 lineup

After falling on harsh public and media criticism, the country’s premiere of the much-anticipated and widely publicized ballet production of “Madama Butterfly” has been removed from the Korean National Ballet’s 2015 season lineup. On Wednesday representatives of KNB released its final lineup for next year, which does not include its originally scheduled season opener “Madama Butterfly.” A scene from Innsbruck Dance Company’s production of “Madama Butterfly.” (Credia)The Austria-based Innsbruck D

PerformanceJuly 24, 2014

Mayfield opens business hotel in Dongdaemun

A suite in Mayplace Seoul Dongdaemun (Mayplace Seoul Dongdaemun)The Mayfield Hotel and Resort opened its first business hotel Mayplace in Dongdaemun, Seoul on Thursday.Mayplace is located within walking distance to major tourist spots in the capital such as Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine. It’s also close to the shopping districts of Dongdaemun, Myeongdong and Insa-dong. “The location, outstanding service and reasonable price make the hotel an attractive accommodation option for both l

TravelJuly 24, 2014

Joseon royal’s endeavor for longevity

In 1879, 5-year-old crown prince Sunjong was diagnosed with smallpox, a disease that claimed many lives during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). But the prince began to show signs of improvement, and his father King Gojong hosted a party when the royal doctor confirmed his full recovery. That feast is displayed on an eight-panel folding screen at the National Palace Museum of Korea, in a special exhibition on Joseon’s royal medicine. “The Birth, Aging, Illness and Death of the Royal Family of the

CultureJuly 24, 2014

[Herald Review] ‘Dracula’: Blood, love and a red-haired Jun-su

More than two hours before showtime on Wednesday afternoon, Seoul Arts Center’s opera theater was already brimming with people ― predominantly young women. The kiosk that sells official souvenirs had a long line, although it wasn’t open yet. The manager at a lobby cafe shared how her business was booming thanks to the early birds, many of whom munched on sandwiches and muffins at her shop while waiting for the show to start. Much of the enthusiasm might be attributed to K-pop group JYJ member Ki

CultureJuly 24, 2014

It’s a Barbie world

This is the ninth in a series highlighting women and their accomplishments in the various facets of the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed.Stacy Oh is the manager for quite possibly one of the best-known celebrities in the world: Barbie.And while most may not think of Barbie or other Mattel brands such as Monster High as celebrities, Oh says that with the way companies are incorporating entertainment content into their brands and promotions, more characters are reaching celebrity status.“People

CultureJuly 24, 2014

MC Mong to drop first album in 5 years

MC Mong. (IS Entertainment Group)Well-known hip-hop artist and entertainer MC Mong announced that he would return to his musical roots for the first time in four years with the release of a new album this year.MC Mong is reported to have signed an exclusive contract with entertainment agency Wellmade Yedang and is working on an album to be released in September or October. The star’s last album release was his fifth studio album “Humanimal” in 2009. Shortly after, he was caught up in a legal sca

July 24, 2014