YG to mix and match to create boy band iKON

YG Entertainment, home to some of the biggest names in K-pop, will be launching yet another all-out, fight-for-survival boy band reality program with the goal of creating the agency’s newest seven-member boy band ― iKON.The upcoming show, “Mix & Match,” comes a year after YG aired its hugely popular “WIN: Who Is Next?” TV series ― on which two teams made up of the agency’s top trainees competed against one another to make their debut as the boy band Winner, the first boy group from YG since it d

Sept. 3, 2014

Lawn painters keep green in season amid California drought

SACRAMENTO ― Thanks to California’s chronic drought and watering restrictions, there’s no shortage of dry, dusty-brown lawns. And that’s led to a growth in business for a remedy that doesn’t involve wasting water or risking fines: lawn painting.Using nontoxic, emerald-hued paints, lawn painters can transform even completely dead lawns to look about as lush as a golf green.On a recent summer afternoon, David Bartlett, owner of Xtreme Green Grass, stood on the yellowing grass of a Folsom home, a b

CultureSept. 3, 2014

Anti-hazing program seeks ‘full-scale culture change’ in U.S. high schools

SEATTLE ― As an eager, if nervous, ninth-grader, Anya Meleshuk allowed several older girls to blindfold her one afternoon, put her in a car and drive her to a park where she was told to “propose” to a stranger. Later, dressed in fairy wings, she downed a dozen flavors of ice cream while her friends watched, and went home afterward feeling as if she had been accepted, initiated into Garfield High School, where such “froshing” has a storied history.Many alumni cherish similar memories and were out

CultureSept. 3, 2014

More women discover the thrill of motorcycles

LOS ANGELES ― They rumble by night, these bikers.Dressed in heavy leather jackets and gloves, long hair streaming from under their helmets, they straddle smoking black-and-chrome motorcycles, waiting for the signal.Finally, it comes: “All right, ladies. Let’s ride!”On a hot Tuesday night, Stacie B. London had come to Silver Lake’s Casbah Cafe to meet her East Side Moto Babes riding club for their weekly cruise.London is one of a growing number of women who have taken up the sport with vigor. Mor

CultureSept. 3, 2014

Tax agency begins probe into property-rich celebrities

The National Tax Service has launched a thorough investigation into several Korean celebrities for possible tax evasion, a local paper said Wednesday.The NTS’ Gangnam office is looking over at least seven wealthy celebrities’ income reports for tax loophole exploitation, the report said. Speculations rose that the large-scale probe was targeting stars who own properties in Seoul’s posh Gangnam district. (JTBC Twitter)“Tax investigation into celebrities is nothing new. It’s part of a bigger probe

Sept. 3, 2014

g.o.d. to hold encore concert on Oct. 25

K-pop boy band g.o.d (groove overdose) will hold an “encore concert” at Seoul Olympic Stadium on Oct. 25.The veteran idol group appeared on an episode of KBS2’s “You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” that aired on Tuesday. “You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” is a K-pop music TV program that is both a talk show and live music show. They performed many of their hit songs including tracks from their newest album, “Chapter 8,” on the show.“We’re going to hold the encore concert on Oct. 25. The location will be Seoul O

Sept. 3, 2014

EXO to model for luxury brand MCM

   K-pop idol group EXO has been chosen to model for luxury fashion brand MCM. A related shoot was taken with two different concepts - punk and dandy -- in which the idols posed in European styled outfits, each showing off a different charm. MCM lauched an exclusive EXO online page (http://exo.mcmworldwide.com), where various events will be held throughout September. Presents that can be won through the site include items that EXO wore at the shoot, MCM’s luxurious iPad pouch and much more. By C

Sept. 3, 2014

Surgery of RiSe stopped after 11h due to low blood pressure

Kwon RiSe of the ill-fated girl group Ladies’ Code is currently in intensive care after 11 hours of surgery at a hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, news reports said Wednesday.According to the reports, the surgery was stopped due to Kwon’s worsening condition.“RiSe’s surgery was stopped due to her low blood pressure and she is currently being treated in intensive care,” her agency Polaris Entertainment was quoted as saying.The singer underwent more than 11 hours of emergency surgery beginning

Sept. 3, 2014

Suzy on cover of fashion magazine

   K-pop idol Suzy graced the cover of the fashion magazine Grazia. The idol looked flawless with her red lipstick and long hair. She also can be seen in a simple black dress and a colorful printed dress that’s perfect for the cool autumn weather. The pictures can be seen in the next issue of Grazia, which will published on Sept. 5.By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: Grazia)

Sept. 3, 2014

Boy bands, girl groups offer words of condolence for EunB

Fellow celebrities offered words of condolence online for EunB of K-pop girl group Ladies’ Code who died in a fatal car accident Wednesday. The 22-year-old singer, whose real name is Koh Eun-bi, was injured after the van she was on lost control and crashed into a protective wall around 1:32 a.m. on a freeway near Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. She was transferred to a nearby hospital but died despite efforts to save her.Shocked at the tragic news, Jaehyo of boy band Block B wrote on his Twitter, “Ma

Sept. 3, 2014

Ladies’ Code Kwon RiSe in critical condition, being operated for over 7h

Kwon RiSe from K-pop girl’s group Ladies’ Code is in critical condition after a car accident in which fellow member EunB was killed. Sojung was also severely injured, while two other members and some support staff also suffered minor injuries. They are being treated at a hospital.RiSe underwent seven hours of emergency surgery after suffering a serious head injury when the van carrying Ladies’ Code suddenly lost control and crashed into a protective wall at around 1:32 a.m. on a freeway near Yon

Sept. 3, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong partially admits to assault charges

South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong partially admitted to assault charges, 12 days after his girlfriend filed the charges against him. Kim, 28, appeared at the Songpa District Police Station in southeastern Seoul at 9 p.m. on Tuesday to be questioned by the police over the accusations. (Yonhap)Asked how he felt before entering the police station, he told reporters waiting at the site, “I apologize for causing trouble. I will sincerely respond to the questioning.”Kim had charges pressed

Sept. 3, 2014

Lee Byung-hun officially declares stern actions against two blackmailers

GLAM DaheeActor Lee Byung-hun turned hard-line against the two female celebrities who blackmailed him, declaring uncompromising legal actions. The announcement by the star’s agency came along with a police request for an arrest warrant for the two women on attempted menacing. BH Entertainment, Lee’s entertainment label, officially announced, “We do not plan to go easy (on the blackmailers).” “This matter has nothing to do with who the blackmailers are -- whether they are a girl group member (and

Sept. 3, 2014

Ladies’ Code member killed in car accident

　EunB of Ladies’ Code died Wednesday in a car accident that left two other members of the K-pop girl group in critical condition, police said.The 22-year-old singer, whose real name is Koh Eun-bi, was injured after the van she was in skidded off the road and crashed into a protective wall at around 1:32 a.m. on a freeway near Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. She was transferred to a nearby hospital but died despite efforts to save her. According to a police investigation, Koh was not wearing her seatb

Sept. 3, 2014

Park Hae-jin reveals creepy teaser of ‘Bad Boys’

An astonishing still cut of actor Park Hae-jin in “Bad Boys” has been revealed.Park changed up his acting style, playing psychopathic genius Lee Jung-moon in OCN’s new drama “Bad Boys.”Lee is a mysterious man with an IQ of 160 and holds many titles including the youngest doctor of philosophy, the youngest doctor of mathematics and even the youngest serial killer.In the photo, Park’s face, hands and clothes are spattered in blood as he holds a bloody stone on a bloody surface and stares blankly.T

Sept. 3, 2014