TaeTiSeo ― the popular Girls’ Generation spin-off group consisting of members Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun ― is gearing up for a new album release, SM Entertainment announced Wednesday.“TaeTiSeo is currently working on a new album and preparing for a comeback,” said an SM official. “The release date has not been confirmed yet, but will be announced in the future.”TaeTiSeo. (SM Entertainment)The trio is expected to make its return by the end of this year, according to news reports. Though the for

Aug. 6, 2014

After School subunit group Orange Caramel is slated to release the trio’s latest single “Do It Like I Do,” on Aug. 18, according to an announcement made by Pledis Entertainment on Wednesday.The girl group is well known for its oddball concepts, and based on the array of still cut images from the music video that have been released, the ladies’ upcoming fourth digital single looks as though it will live up to Orange Caramel’s quirky standards.  Orange Caramel. (Pledis Entertainment)In March, the

Aug. 6, 2014

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ― Jessica McQuillen never saw herself as a preschool teacher. Instructing at an elementary school was always the goal.Still she went down a winding road that led her to the job as the only arts and music teacher at Charlotte’s Thompson Child Development Center, a preschool facility that serves many children from families that have struggled with substance abuse, mental health, poverty or other issues.McQuillen, 44, uses the creative process through Thompson’s art progra

CultureAug. 6, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS ― For many, learning how to ride a bike is a rite of passage. For others, it never happens. Now, some adults are finding out what they’ve been missing.Sheldon Mains is helping adults take care of that unfinished childhood business.In a metro area known for its thriving bike culture, Mains discovered that there’s a surprisingly large number of adults who have little or no experience on two wheels.As an avid cyclist, he’s trying to change that. Two years ago, Mains worked with a neighb

CultureAug. 6, 2014

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania ― When Bill Sheppard plays “Traumerei,” sweet chords fill his living room, and you understand instantly why he wanted to keep this grand piano with the golden sound.Made in 1917 by Mason & Hamlin, the mahogany instrument was a gift from Margaret Schreyer, his late, longtime music teacher and friend.“She was my son’s godmother,” said Sheppard, who already owned a 1929 piano made by the same Massachusetts company when he inherited this one, made during a golden age for pia

CultureAug. 6, 2014

Apink (A-Cube Entertainment)K-Pop girl group Apink topped the Japanese Oricon Chart for preorders, its agency A-Cube Entertainment said Wednesday.“The debut EP ‘NoNoNo’ ranked No. 1 in the combined daily preorder chart in Tower Records, which is the largest retail music chain in Japan,” the agency told reporters. The agency hopes that Apink will revive the popularity of K-pop girl groups in Japan.The group will debut in the Japanese music market in October with their 2013 hit “NoNoNo.”Universal

Aug. 6, 2014

Lee Soo-man, Yang Hyun-suk and Seo Tae-ji ranked top three on the value of real estate holdings among Korean entertainment figures, market research showed Wednesday.SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man ranked No. 1 among the 18 people in Korean entertainment who currently own buildings worth 10 billion won ($9.7 million) or more by market value, according to Chaebul.com, a website that tracks the wealth of the rich. The combined value of his two buildings in Apgujeong, Seoul, is 65 billion won, ba

Aug. 6, 2014

Actor Kim Soo-hyun will perform on stage for the opening ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games slated for Sept. 19 to mark the kick-off of the global sports festival, his agency said.Kim has been known for his talent in both singing and acting since his debut in 2007. The multi-talented star is raising speculations from fans over what kind of performance he will stage.OSENThe upcoming ceremony will led by veteran director Im Kwon-taek and produced by popular film director Jang Jin. The opening cer

Aug. 6, 2014

　JYJ, a leading K-pop group that recently returned to the stage after three years, was hit hard by a ban on its title track “Back Seat.”Public broadcaster KBS banned “Back Seat” from airing due to what it claimed to be inappropriate lyrics, prompting JYJ’s management agency, C-Jes Entertainment, to consider requesting a review in deliberation.“We passed deliberation for MBC and SBS. But we are contemplating on whether or not to request for a review of deliberation (with KBS),” the management age

Aug. 6, 2014

Jun Ji-hyun, the star of the mega-hit TV series "My Love from the Star," ranks No. 1 on the value of real estate holdings among female celebrities in South Korea, market research showed Wednesday. The combined value of buildings owned by Jun in southern Seoul was estimated to be worth 13.15 billion won ($12.72 million) as of end-July, according to Chaebul.com, a website that tracks the wealth of the rich.  The appraisal, used in setting tax rates, is based on construction costs and the property'

Aug. 6, 2014

             A fashion editorial in bnt featuring miss A member Jia was released today. The K-pop idol sported a sexy, bohemian image, wearing a black bra top and short pants. She also tried on some funky clothes while posing in front of a retro-patterned background. Jia revealed that she was very close to K-pop idol HyunA and that she wanted to appear in the famous variety shows “Running Man” and “We Got Married.” By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: bnt)

Aug. 6, 2014

Jun Ji-hyun, the star of the mega-hit TV series “My Love from the Star,” ranks No. 1 on the value of real estate holdings among female celebrities in South Korea, market research showed Wednesday. The combined value of buildings owned by Jun in southern Seoul was estimated to be worth 13.15 billion won ($12.72 million) as of end-July, according to Chaebul.com, a website that tracks the wealth of the rich.  Jun Ji-hyun accepts an award from the Korea Tourism Organization during a cermony held in

FilmAug. 6, 2014

Singer Lee Hyori appears on SBS talk show "Magic Eye." (SBS)K-pop star Lee Hyori was sexually harassed in New York, the singer alleged in SBS talk show “Magic Eye” that aired Tuesday. Lee said she was bending over to try on a pair of shoes at a shoe store in New York when a stranger approached from behind and grabbed her buttocks. “I freaked out and looked back right away, only to see the foreign man walk away across the street of Soho. … I chased after him but was at loss because of the languag

Aug. 6, 2014

Period action flick “Roaring Currents” has set one box-office record after another since its opening last Wednesday. Previous period flicks have enjoyed notable successes, including “The King and the Clown” in 2005 and “Masquerade” in 2012. But none became box-office hits as quickly and sensationally as “Roaring Currents.” The film premiered on July 30, with the biggest-ever opening-day viewership in Korean film history (682,778 viewers). It topped the 6 million mark in just seven days on Tuesda

FilmAug. 5, 2014

Six short weeks after the 2014 cohort of the Ewha-Harvard Summer School program set foot on the campus of Ewha Womans University, the students wrapped up documenting snippets of Korean society on camera.Hours of hard work culminated in a documentary film festival Friday, where the students’ documentaries highlighting their perspectives on key issues in modern Korea were screened and applauded. The summer course, titled “Cinema Korea: Documenting Korean Society through Film,” did not only help st

Expat LivingAug. 5, 2014