HAVANA (AFP) ― For the past three decades, Brazilian telenovelas have helped Cubans forget their litany of woes for an hour a day. But today, dozens of South Korean soap operas are earning wide audiences. Following in the footsteps of South Korean films and K-pop, “doramas” ― South Korean soaps dubbed into Spanish ― first appeared on Cuban televisions earlier this year. “Queen of Housewives,” ...

Choo Sa-rang, an infant starlet who is captivating South Korean TV viewers once again gave a delightful scene: This time, showing her love toward Disney character Tinker Bell. In the episode of the variety TV show “Superman is Back” aired on Sunday, Choo and her father Choo Sung-hoon, went shopping together at a character store in Shibuya, downtown Tokyo. Little Choo, who showed her infinite lo...

Cable and general programming TV programs have been widely regarded as less in quality, but the recent success of several shows has brought change and dynamicity to a field that has long been ruled by terrestrial TV content. Armed with “daring” humor and nature, these minor players are emerging as trend setters, and the next possible hallyu engine. On Friday, Lee Woo-jung and Song Jae-jeong, wri...

Go Ji-yong, former member of the idol music group Sechs Kies, is getting married on Friday. Go and his bride-to-be, Heo Yang-im, will hold their private wedding at Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel, and about 50 bodyguards have reportedly been hired to protect their privacy. Heo is a doctor at the department of family medicine at the Seoul Paik Hospital who guest-starred on several TV shows, including “V...

Korean-Japanese fighter Choo Sung-hoon said his wife Shiho Yano had encouraged him to appear on “Superman is Back,” a segment of a South Korean variety TV show that has become wildly popular. Yano’s agency was originally opposed to the idea of featuring the Choo family on a Korean program. Yano is one of the top models in Japan, and it is assumed that the Japanese agency did not want something t...

Taiwanese singer-actress Vivian Hsu is getting married next year, Chinese media reported Thursday. The news came as the actress was spotted browsing an array of wedding dresses with her boyfriend, Lee Yunfeng, who is CEO of Singapore’s Marco Polo Marine. Her agency confirmed that the couple is now preparing for the wedding. Hsu debuted in 1995 as a member of a group called Girls’ Team. She beg...

Popular South Korean sports announcer Choi Hee has resigned from cable channel KBS N and is looking forward to signing a contract with a new agency. The local media reported Thursday that Choi might sign an exclusive contract with entertainment agency Chorokbaem Media to step into the entertainment field. Chorokbaem Media is a digital content production house. It has produced many shows such as...

Some fans claim that celebs on basketball variety show are too good

South Korean solo diva Lee Hyori and CL, the leader of the K-pop girl group 2NE1, are to collaborate on stage in an upcoming end-of-the year music show on a local television network. The two stars are preparing a performance for SBS Gayo Daejeon, an annual music program to be aired by the station on Dec. 29. Lee, who got married to guitarist Lee Sang-soon on Sept. 1 this year, is a veteran sing...

MBC, a major broadcaster in South Korea, said Monday it would ban five celebrities from taking part in its programs, citing their drug and gambling issues. MBC’s internal committee reviewed the cases and made public its decision to impose the restriction on Kim Yong-man, Jang Mi-in-ae, Lee Seung-yeon, Hyung Young and Park Shi-yeon. Kim Yong-man, MBC comedian and TV program host, was sentenced...

She can barely put a full sentence together, but two-year-old Choo Sa-rang sure knows how to make TV viewers of virtually all ages squeal with delight. The infant daughter of Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Choo Sung-hoon is rapidly gaining popularity with her appearances on “Superman is Back,” a segment of a South Korean variety TV show that has become wildly popular. Netizens express t...

Girls’ Generation singer Yoona to play journalist in new rom-com drama

Hallyu star to play tough fighter in new gangster drama