Choi Yeo-jin calls Han Hye-jin ‘ugly'

Actress and model Choi Yeo-jin boasted a beautiful face on MBC variety show “Radio Star” on Wednesday, and then jokingly called actress Han Hye-jin “ugly.”The actress complained that her face has never been camera-friendly, appearing less attractive than her actual self. “Some people would recognize me on the street, get all surprised and ask me why I look the way I look on the television screen,” she said. Then the show emcee Kim Gu-ra provoked the actress by saying, “I think you are prettier (

July 10, 2014

Cho Hye-ryeon marries businessman

Comedienne Cho Hye-ryeon said on Thursday that she married a businessman in late June. Cho, 44, tied the knot with her 42-year-old boyfriend in a restaurant. The exact date and location of the marriage was not disclosed. The wedding ceremony was kept simple, with only family members invited.The couple had been dating for about 11 months before walking down the aisle. This is the second marriage for the comedienne. She divorced her first husband in 2012, ending an 11-year marriage.  Comedienne Ch

July 10, 2014

EXO D.O. beams in ’It‘s Okay, That’s Love' poster

SBS revealed four more official posters for its new rom-com series “It’s Okay, That’s love” on Thursday.Two posters feature the drama’s main stars, actor Jo In-sung and actress Gong Hyo-jin. The other two show Jo and Gong along with actors Sung Dong-il, Lee Kwang-soo and D.O. of boy band EXO. The drama is a love story between handsome detective novelist Jang Jae-yeol, played by Jo, and seemingly chic but soft-hearted Ji Hae-su, played by Gong. The rom-com will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays sta

July 10, 2014

Lee Min-ho calls fans ‘a reason to be’

Actor Lee Min-ho thanked his Korean fans, calling them his “reason to be.”The actor met with fans on Tuesday at “Twosome Pairing,” a promotional event for coffeehouse Twosome at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Seoul. “Fans are my reason to be. I thank all of my fans, and I will see you again through ‘Gangnam Blues,’” the actor said. “Gangnam Blues” is a noir film starring Lee and heartthrob Kim Rae-won. Lee closed the event by singing a part of his self-composed song “Say Yes.” Actor Lee Min-ho. (OSEN

July 10, 2014

Actress Kim Yoo-jung sports various looks in magazine

Kim Yoo-jung has modeled for fashion magazine bnt. The young actress poses in a casual combination of jeans and a striped shirt, while wearing her hair down. In other shots she poses in a pink beanie and a leather skirt and looks flawless in a classic sleeveless white dress. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: bnt)

July 10, 2014

AOA celebrates 700th day since debut

K-pop girl group AOA revealed a photo to mark the 700th day since their debut on Thursday.   (Twitter)“Hello, I am Yuna. Do you know what day is it today? It is the 700th day since we debuted. Thanks to our fans who have been always there for us,” Yuna, a member of the 8-girl group, wrote on Twitter alongside the photo. In the photo, AOA members pose holding a cake with candles. Debuted in 2012, AOA recently made a comeback with their first EP “Short Hair.” (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

July 10, 2014

Summer escape to the museum

White balloons sway in the breeze, creating shade where urbanites can take shelter from the blazing summer sun. A mist of water from sprinklers cools off the hot summer air in a forest of high-rise buildings. Even dragonflies fly around the mist as they do over a river fog. The space is in the front garden of the Seoul Museum of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. It is, in fact, an architectural installation that won the prestigious Young Architects Program run by the Mus

PerformanceJuly 9, 2014

Pharrell Williams seduces Montreux

MONTREUX, Switzerland (AFP) ― “Clap along if you know what happiness is to you,” Pharrell Williams sings and the room pulsates with clapping hands and joyous dance moves.Williams, whose ubiquitous hit “Happy” has taken the world by storm and spawned copycat dance videos around the globe, worked his magic on the audience at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland late Monday.When Williams, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt hidden behind a mass of gold chains and of course his signatory hat, wrappe

PerformanceJuly 9, 2014

Big companies continue to shape Korea’s image

Big companies like Samsung, LG and Hyundai continue to be the main image of Korea abroad, according to a survey released Wednesday. Asked to name the first thing that comes to mind when Korea is mentioned, 40 percent of the 280 foreign nationals who responded to the poll cited conglomerates, while 21.8 percent cited food. “A divided country” placed third at 8.9 percent. The survey, conducted annually by the privately run Corea Image Communication Institute, was administered online from June 24 t

CultureJuly 9, 2014

K-EDM needs to be new future of Korean music, producer says

Leaving his K-pop days behind him, 30-year music producer and composer Kim Chang-hwan is setting his sights on K-EDM, the future of Korean music.Kim, a long-time figure in the Korean music industry who is currently the CEO of Media Line production company, say he hopes local EDM music will become the next hallyu movement and take the world by storm.  Music producer and composer Kim Chang-hwan. (FS E&M)“EDM is no longer a minor genre and it has risen to a level that is beyond music that is only b

PerformanceJuly 9, 2014

‘My Love from the Star’ producer to become movie director in China

Earlier this year, the South Korean television drama “My Love from the Star” enjoyed explosive popularity not only at home, but even more so in China.Everything related to the sci-fi romance production, including the main stars, featured products and Korean food, created a sensation among Chinese viewers.Now, the man behind this megahit SBS drama, Jang Tae-you, is gearing up to return to Chinese audiences once again ― this time, not as a television drama producer but a film director.Jang, who le

July 9, 2014

For brides, it’s all in the details

This season’s nuptial fashions fall on opposite sides of the aisle: ethereally sweet and rustic chic, or softly structured and urbane.Yet despite the different silhouettes ― Vera Wang boho, for instance, is all about empire waists and slip-dress sheaths, while a city ceremony might star a cleaner Reem Acra frock with trumpet skirts and peplums ― modern gowns are united in the details.Sequins, pearls and beading are hand sewn on the simplest of gowns in dazzling geometric patterns. The sparkle, r

Arts & DesignJuly 9, 2014

Sacramento Zoo wants your yard waste

Sacramento homeowners struggling to stuff all their yard waste into the city’s green bins now have a new place to send it: the Sacramento Zoo.Two weeks ago, zookeepers started dropping off door hangers in nearby neighborhoods. The tags ask for donations of yard waste, and list the types of trees and shrubs that various zoo animals find tasty. Such green stuff is known in the zoo trade as “browse.”“We hope that it will take off so that donations can provide what we need instead of cutting on zoo

CultureJuly 9, 2014

K-pop legend Seo Taiji to stage comeback in October

K-pop legend Seo Taiji is to make a grand return to the music scene in October, according to industry watchers on Wednesday. Seo has contacted a local entertainment company, Wellmade Yedang, to discuss arrangements for a nationwide concert tour, a Korean daily reported.  According to the reports, Seo is to hold a large-scale concert in Seoul on Oct. 18 to herald his comeback. He is mulling over the place to stage the concert to make it “perfect,” according to a K-pop insider. Following the conce

July 9, 2014

Psy's 'Hangover' most watched K-pop video in first half: YouTube

South Korean rapper Psy's "Hangover" was the most viewed Korean pop video on Youtube in the first half of this year, the video-sharing website announced Wednesday. According to the website's list of popular videos and channels in the first half of 2014, YouTube users worldwide chose to watch Psy and American rapper Snoop Dogg go out on a night of drunken debauchery more than any other music video in the K-pop genre.   (Youtube)

July 9, 2014

‘Doctor Stranger’ ends in happy reconciliation

Actors Lee Jong-suk and Park Hae-jin showed two happy endings in the last episode of SBS’ medical rom-com “Doctor Stranger.”Park Hoon, played by Lee, gains both love and a lifetime vocation as a humanitarian doctor. Even after he faces death threats from a North Korean agent and a South Korean politician, he ends up serving his duty as a doctor by operating on the injured politician. Han Jae-joon, played by Park, reconciles with Oh Joon-kyu, his former boss and the owner of Myungwoo Hospital. As

July 9, 2014

SHINee’s Jonghyun and Taeyang fall for Haru

Haru, daughter of South Korean rapper Tablo, is capturing the hearts of male idols.K-pop idol group SHINee’s Jonghyun posted a photo that he took with Haru, with the caption “Haru, so cute,” on Tuesday. In the photo, Jonghyun is smiling while the 4-year-old is keeping a straight face. Another idol, Taeyang of K-pop boy group Big Bang, also posted a photo taken with Haru at a recording studio on Tuesday. “My Haru today. Thank you,” Taeyang wrote in the caption. The two are looking at each other l

July 9, 2014

Actress Yoo In-young’s femme fatale charisma

Actress Yoo In-young showed her femme fatale charisma in a photo shoot with fashion magazine Arena. Yoo wore heavy smoky makeup with red lips and matching elegant dresses. One photo shows her in a long cut-out dress, revealing her slim and perfect body.  By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: Arena)

July 9, 2014

Gong Hyo-jin, Jo In-sung go ‘nude’ in poster

Actor Jo In-sung and actress Gong Hyo-jin appear in the official poster of SBS rom-com series "It's Okay, That's Love." (SBS)The official poster for SBS rom-com series “It’s Okay, That’s Love” was revealed on Wednesday.The poster shows actor Jo In-sung and actress Gong Hyo-jin lying in a bath tub in their birthday suits, sharing a single sheet of red cloth to cover up the necessary parts. The bright white background and actors’ childlike smiles portray the classic concept of “happy love.” The dr

July 9, 2014