The Korea Herald

BBC criticized over pageant coverage

Jun 5, 2012

The BBC is faced with viewer backlash over its live broadcast of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on Sunday. The documentary celebrating the 60-year monarchy of Queen Elizabeth II was criticized as “tedious” and “lamentable,” with viewers complaining it lacked key historical information that they had anticipated. “Beeb keep cutting to useless ‘features’ instead of showing us what’s hap...
Comedian Baek drops 40 kilos

Jun 5, 2012

Comedian Baek Jae-hyeon said he lost 40 kilograms through nearly a year of rigorous exercise. Baek used to weigh 118 kg and went to a hospital for a general medical checkup in February last year. The doctor said Baek had six years left due to high risks for diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Once he lost 40 kilos, he went on to have plastic surgery on his mouth, eyes and nose. H...
Park Jin-young: From showbiz to merchandise

Jun 3, 2012

Versatile celebrity launches diamond-shaped headphones after Korean restaurant in New York Singer Park Jin-young expanded his entertainment business by launching his new diamond-shaped headphones in Seoul on Friday. The product, named Monster Diamond Tears Headphones, was personally designed by Park and launched by U.S. company Monster. The music mogul, who serves as the head of JYP Entertainme...
‘Housewives’ actress Kathryn Joosten dies at 72

Jun 3, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Kathryn Joosten, a character actress best known as the crotchety, yet loveable, Karen McCluskey on “Desperate Housewives” and the president’s secretary on “The West Wing,” has died. She was 72. Joosten, who had battled lung cancer for 11 years, died Saturday at her home in Los Angeles, her publicist Nadine Jolson said. Joosten “was surrounded by love and humor ‘til the end,’”...
'Housewives' actress Kathryn Joosten dies at 72

Jun 3, 2012

Kathryn Joosten, a character actress best known as the crotchety, yet loveable, Karen McCluskey on “Desperate Housewives” and the president's secretary on “The West Wing,” has died. She was 72. Joosten, who had battled lung cancer for 11 years, died Saturday at her home in Los Angeles, her publicist Nadine Jolson said. Joosten “was surrounded by love and humor `til the end,” her family said in ...
‘Superstar K’ looks for U.S. talent

Jun 1, 2012

Mnet is once again calling on future K-pop stars in the U.S. to grab their mics, touch up their dance moves, and audition for “Superstar K.” The popular Korean audition program will be holding auditions in Los Angeles on June 9, and New York on June 10. Solo and group acts who pass the U.S. auditions will get to perform in Seoul during Mnet’s “Superweek” following the final round of the U.S. au...
Lee Min-jung says Gong Yoo is a riot in new drama

May 29, 2012

Gong returns to television after five-year break Five years have passed since actor Gong Yoo last starred in a television drama, leaving fans hankering for his long-awaited return to the small screen. It looks like his television comeback will not disappoint. Gong has decided to return with a puff pink, star-studded, star-scripted rom-com. Given that, it would be hard to say Gong is taking a g...
KBS documentary wins 2012 AIBD World TV Award

May 27, 2012

A documentary program by KBS TV has been selected as one of this year’s World TV Awards winners by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, according to KBS and the AIBD website on Friday. “Dharma ― Where Does Happiness Lie?,” directed by Yun Chan-gyu and Choi Geun-young, won the Category Humanity for the Best TV Documentary “promoting religious understanding and tolerance.” Dha...
Kim, well-shod, chic and ready for her close-up

May 25, 2012

‘My Lovely Samsoon’ star in new MBC drama Why deviate from a good thing if it is working for you? That is the overall impression initially given by golden girl Kim Sun-a’s latest endeavor, MBC rom-com “I Do I Do.” The title is a dead giveaway. Yes, actress Kim ― known for playing single ladies with verve and humor in MBC’s “My Lovely Samsoon” and SBS’ “Scent of a Woman” ― is tackling yet anoth...
MBC president under fire for alleged real estate law violation

May 24, 2012

The striking union members of the nation’s second-largest broadcaster claimed that their president violated a real estate law and gave favors to a dancer. The MBC labor union alleged at a press conference on Tuesday that MBC president Kim Jae-chul and a female dancer surnamed Jeong co-purchased three apartments in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, in 2007 when property prices jumped. MBC manag...
Jang Dong-gun gets first ‘proper’ kiss scene

May 24, 2012

After a 12-year hiatus, Jang takes on rom-com with new SBS drama It would come as a major shock if SBS’ latest weekend installment, “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” failed to make a strong showing this Saturday. When one of South Korea’s most beloved actors returns to the small screen after a 12-year hiatus, the public is bound to tune in. Especially if over the past decade he has starred in a major i...
IU sheds tears recalling trainee life

May 22, 2012

K-pop singer IU burst into tears while talking about her experiences as a trainee during the filming of a TV show, broadcaster SBS said. During the shooting of “Strong Heart,” which will be aired Tuesday night, the 19-year-old singer showed tears. It is unusual for IU to shed tears in public. 아이유, ‘강심장’ 녹화 중 눈물 흘린 사연은? 가수 아이유가 강심장 녹화 중 눈물을 흘렸다. 오늘 5월 22일 밤 방송되는 에 출연한 아이유는 녹화 중 과...
Will Smith slaps journalist who tries to kiss him

May 20, 2012

MOSCOW (AP) ― Hollywood star Will Smith slapped a male television reporter who he said tried to kiss him on the lips as he walked down the red carpet for the Moscow premiere of “Men in Black III.” The reporter from the Ukrainian television channel 1+1, Vitalii Sediuk, made headlines at the Venice Film Festival in September when he presented a bouquet of clearly unappreciated purple hydrangeas to...
Song says new role is very ‘Alice in Wonderland’

May 18, 2012

Viewers might be wavering over which program to tune in to come next weekend when two brand new series, MBC’s “Dr. Jin” and SBS’ “A Gentleman’s Dignity” (working title), go head to head. While actor Song Seung-heon, who is starring in “Dr. Jin,” sincerely wishes fellow actor Jang Dong-gun and his drama, “A Gentleman’s Dignity” the best, he did not mince words when it came to the desired outcome....
Ko Young-wook accused of two more sexual assaults

May 16, 2012

TV celebrity Ko Young-wook, who is under police investigation on allegations of raping a teenager, has been accused of two more sexual assault charges by two other victims, police said Wednesday. Last week, Ko denied allegations that he intentionally got an 18-year-old female entertainer-aspirant drunk to rape her at his home. According to the police, the 36-year-old was summoned again to a pol...