Actress Gong Hyo-jin, actor Lee Jin-wook confirmed dating

(OSEN)South Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin and actor Lee Jin-wook confirmed that they are an item, local news outlets reported on Thursday. “We confirmed that the two are in a romantic relationship. They have just started dating and maintaining a good relationship. Please support them,” an official close to the stars told local newspaper Ilgan Sports. The couple is said to have been on a late-night casual date, enjoying what “ordinary couples” do, in a suburb of Seoul out of the public eye.Earlier

May 29, 2014

S.M.’s ‘Singing in the Rain’ trailer released

S.M. Culture & Contents has released an official trailer teaser of S.M. Entertainment’s first-ever musical, “Singing in the Rain.”The anticipated musical for K-pop fans features Kyuhyun, Baekhyun, Jay Kim, Sunny, Sunday and many more professional musical actors and actresses.K-pop boy band Super Junior’s Kyuhyun appears on the show as Don Lockwood, a popular film star from humble roots. EXO member Baekhyun is doubling for the same role. Jay Kim, of one of S.M.’s oldest boy bands Trax, will also

May 29, 2014

VIXX’s Leo meets his idol, football legend Park Ji-sung

K-pop boy group VIXX’s Leo disclosed a photo taken with recently retired football player Park Ji-sung on Tuesday.“Leo meets his all-time idol,” the explanation read alongside the photo on VIXX’s official Twitter account.In the picture, both Leo and Park are smiling and standing side by side, though Leo’s smile is nervous while Park seems relaxed.  (Twitter)Leo flaunted his athletic skills during the filming of SBS’ “Running Man.” The singer joined a team called “Idol All-star” with other K-pop s

May 29, 2014

Psy to make comeback in June

(Twitter) World star Psy, the hero of “Gangnam Style,” is expected to make a grand return to the music scene with a new album in June. The album, to be released two years after the sensational “Gangnam Style” track in 2012, will include mostly “Psy-like” songs. The hip-hop artist once confessed that his latest song “Gentleman” did not reflect his personality at the concert held last December. “I will start f

May 29, 2014

SHINee releases live concert DVD

K-pop boy group SHINee released “Japan Arena Tour SHINee World 2013 ~Boys Meet U~” live DVD on Wednesday that features the group‘s second concert in Japan.The DVD shows the final concert held in Tokyo, where the group showcased 30 performances, as well as the backstage and rehearsal scenes. The idol band toured nine cities around Japan, including Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo for 15 concerts from June to December last year, attracting a total of 220,000 concertgoers. SHINee will make its way to Shangh

May 29, 2014

A whole new palace experience

Nestled in the middle of ultramodern skyscrapers, Seoul’s royal palaces are a perfect refuge from the stress of city life. Shrouded in history, the five grand palaces of Korea’s last ruling dynasty of Joseon (1392-1910) seem almost unnaturally hushed, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The ambience of peace and tranquility is not all one can experience at the historic sites. A variety of cultural programs take place there, aimed at taking visitors a step back in time to when people liv

CultureMay 28, 2014

[Herald Review] Thriller ‘A Hard Day’ chronicles crime with poignant humor

What does a typical hard day look like? If this question were asked of Ko Gun-su, the corrupt detective played by Lee Sun-kyun in the upcoming local film “A Hard Day,” he would probably rattle off a litany of perplexing incidents.He receives a divorce notice from his wife. His mother passes away. He and his coworkers are investigated by police inspectors over alleged embezzlement. He drives recklessly and causes a hit-and-run accident, killing a man. He tries to conceal the accident by hiding th

May 28, 2014

MBLAQ’s Mir daunted by actress Hwang Shin-hye’s charisma

Mir of MBLAQ was intimidated by actress Hwang Shin-hye’s charisma at first sight and could not get out of bed the next day, the boy band member said on Wednesday. From Left: Hong Ji-min, Hwang Shin-hye, Lady Jane and Mir. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)“(Hwang) was the most candid person that I have ever met,” he said in a press conference for the fourth season of the StoryOn makeover show “Let Mi-in.” Mir described his first impressions of the actress by saying she was “so chic that (she) made

May 28, 2014

Bon Jovi guitarist hopes new song helps addicts

TOMS RIVER, New Jersey (AP) ― Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora drew on his own past in debuting a song at a New Jersey forum on drug abuse. Tuesday night’s event at a high school arena was aimed at raising awareness about the abuse of heroin and prescription painkillers along the Jersey shore. A New Jersey native, Sambora unveiled a song he wrote called “Lighthouse,” about providing hope to people mired in addiction. He acknowledged he once abused drugs, but said he’s clean now. “I got firsthan

PerformanceMay 28, 2014

[Herald Interview] 6GAB: Six friends with something to prove

The determination in their eyes is undeniable as the six tight-knit school chums from Baekseok University in South Chungcheong Province talk about their mission to show the public that aspiring musicians don’t have to come out of one of the elite universities in Seoul to make a dent in the music scene. Classmates S.Jay, Coontza, Junohwani, Pangju, dB and JINew all met as music technology majors, with each of the members focusing on songwriting. However, shortly after they entered school, it was

PerformanceMay 28, 2014

More than fun and games: iPads give autistic children a voice

AUSTIN, Texas ― Jaime Morin, 9, was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and has been nonverbal his whole life. When the therapy he was receiving at school became insufficient, his mother, Lupe Santander, sent him to Big Sky Pediatric Therapy, where he went for speech and occupational therapy once a week. It was there that they heard of Zach’s Voice, a nonprofit group that provides iPads to autistic children with communication deficiencies.“He can say exactly what he wants with the iPad,” says Santand

CultureMay 28, 2014

Homes for extended families are a new trend in the Charlotte area

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ― When Alenoosh Kohl travels to her mother’s home, she doesn’t have to get into her car and take the interstate. She’s just one door down the hall.Living in a home designed specifically for multigenerational families, Kohl, 44, and her mother Anna, 67, each have private residences under one roof: separate living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and even laundry rooms.“We have the convenience of her being with us, because she wants to be part of our lives, and it mak

CultureMay 28, 2014

France’s stressed, suicidal white-collar workers

PARIS (AFP) ― Competition, pressure and harassment: France’s white-collar employees are facing a growing litany of “brutal” psychological risks in the workplace, according to experts.Despite France’s labor laws, some of the strongest in the world, depression, long-term illness, professional burnout and even suicide are becoming increasingly common among service-sector workers.Fabienne Godefroy became severely anorexic, losing 30 kilograms, and developed paranoia after two years of sexual and emo

CultureMay 28, 2014

Makeover show ‘Let Mi-In’ to air Thai episode in late August

A Thai episode of StoryOn cosmetics makeover show “Let Mi-In” will be broadcast in late August at the earliest, the show producer said Wednesday.“We will be airing the Thai episode sometime in late August or early September,” show producer Park Hyun-woo told The Korea Herald. "Let Me-In" producer Park Hyun-woo speaks in a press conference held in Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)“Let Mi-In” has become one of the longest-running shows ever aired on StoryOn, a female-targeted chan

May 28, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun acknowledges love for Cheon Song-yi

Actor Kim Soo-hyun on Tuesday wowed the crowd in the 50th Baeksang Awards by saying “Cheon Song-yi, I love you” to actress Jun Ji-hyun who starred alongside him in “My Love from the Star.”At the end of his gratitude speech, Kim jokingly said, “Last but not least, Ms. Cheon Song-yi, I love you.”  (JTBC) (JTBC)The Korean heartthrob was awarded three honors at the awarding ceremony: the best rookie award, the most popular film actor’s award for “Secretly, Greatly,” and the most popular television a

May 28, 2014

Celebrities’ dresses at Baeksang awards

Celebrities in white Singers Lyn and Yuri, and actresses Baek Jin-hee, Lee Bo-young and Go Ara appeared in white dresses. Apparently to avoid dullness, most of them matched simple accessories or chose white dresses with eye-catching details. Celebrities in black Kim Ah-joong, Park Ji-yoon, Sim Eun-kyeong, Park Jung-ah and Dohee chose black for the Baeksang Arts Awards. Their dresses were all simple, emphasizing shoulders and decollete and full of elegance. Celebrities in various colorsCelebritie

May 28, 2014

Song Hye-kyo, Kang Dong-won on couple trip to Paris?

Rumors of romance are spreading after a netizen spotted actress Song Hye-kyo and actor Kang Dong-won together in Paris, France.  (Online capture)A picture of Song and Kang was posted online last week by an unnamed Chinese tourist. While both were only showing their backs, many fans recognized them. Their striped knitwear raised suspicions that they are taking a couple trip. Their agencies, however, denied the rumors, claiming that both were working on photo shoots. Several staffers accompanied t

May 28, 2014

Clara wears skimpy swimwear for commercial shoot

(One Mount official blog)Korean actress Clara flaunts her curves in a swimsuit for a commercial shoot. The photo shoot took place on Monday to promote water park One Mount, northwest of Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)　

May 28, 2014

JYJ’s Jaejoong happy with triangle

(Twitter)K-pop boy band JYJ’s Jaejoong appeared in a group photo taken with the cast of MBC-TV drama “Triangle.” South Korean all-round entertainer Hong Seok-chun posted the picture on his Twitter page on Monday, saying, “We are shooting the drama ‘Triangle.’ Jaejoong, Si-wan and Jin-hee are happy to have found a real triangle. So cute.” Jaejoong is smiling at the camera with a triangle in his hand. The family drama “Triangle” tells the story of three brothers who were separated at an early age

May 28, 2014