Black Pink feels pressure to fill shoes of Big Bang, 2NE1

With 2NE1 disbanded and Big Bang members joining the military service, the pressure on remaining artists of YG Entertainment is greater than ever.Black Pink said it feels the pressure, but not from being the only female group in the company.“I know we don’t have girl groups (in YG), but we don’t really think about that. ... It’s important to realize that we represent the company and act accordingly,” said Jennie during a joint press interview in Seoul on Thursday.Jennie of Black Pink (YG Enterta

PerformanceJune 22, 2017

Black Pink’s Lisa hopes for Thailand showcase and concert

As Black Pink gears up for a stage comeback with its single “As If It’s Your Last,” the group said it hopes to expand its activities to outside of Korea. Thai member Lisa said that she has always hoped to return home.“Since I’m Thai, naturally I want to go there. I think eventually we will also hold showcases and other various performances there,” she said, during a press interview in Seoul on Thursday. Lisa of Black Pink (YG Entertainment)Black Pink speaks during a join press interview in Seoul

PerformanceJune 22, 2017

Black Pink wants to embody both pink and black

K-pop girl groups have always been associated with words like “cute” or “lovely,” and their 20-something members are often referred to as “girls.”Black Pink has been one of the exceptions, with its provocative and suggestive lyrics and powerful dance moves. Now in its second year, the group says it wants to show off its “girly” charms as well.“It’s the first time we’re being seen (by the public) in six months, and we have a completely new look. I hope we can really make it on our own,” said Jenn

PerformanceJune 22, 2017

British-Korean singer Shannon’s new song to feature members of f(x), Geeks

Established Koran artists will chip in for British-Korean singer Shannon’s upcoming song, slated for release Tuesday.According to her agency MBK Entertainment, the song will feature rapper Lil Boi of Korean hip-hop duo Geeks. The English version of the song will feature Amber of f(x), who is close friends with Shannon.  (MBK Entertainment)Celebrity makeup artist Pony will be in charge of the singer’s appearance. Shannon, whose full name is Shannon Areum Williams Lees, was born to a Welsh father

PerformanceJune 22, 2017

Hongbin of VIXX shows love for ‘Wednesday 3:30 PM’

Taking on the rom-com genre for the first time, Hongbin has left a lasting impression on viewers as the main lead on the recently concluded SBS Plus TV drama “Wednesday 3:30 PM.”The feeling looks to be mutual, as the singer for boy band VIXX expressed his satisfaction at playing the role, and sorry he was that it was all over. (Jellyfish Entertainment)“When I first read the script, I felt it had a cute little charm that ‘tickles.’” he said, on playing Yoon Jae-won in the show. “I was worried if

TelevisionJune 22, 2017

(Photo) Actress Han Ye-ri shows off in Nylon photo shoot

Actress Han Ye-ri on Thursday revealed photos taken for fashion magazine Nylon, along with a corresponding interview.Han was shown posing in a long blue dress, glaring at the camera with a dreamy look in her eyes.  (Saram Entertainment) (Saram Entertainment)In a subsequent interview, Han shared her feelings about appearing in upcoming second season of JTBC drama “Age of Youth.” “The house where the main characters live is named ’Belle Epoque,‘ and I hope that the viewers will be able to ‘feel’ t

Arts & DesignJune 22, 2017

Former actress Shim Eun-ha rushed to hospital

Shim Eun-ha, a Korean actress who enjoyed popularity in the 1990s, was reportedly taken to a hospital, local media reported Wednesday. The cause of her hospitalization Tuesday is reportedly linked to having taken too many sleeping pills, but details remain sketchy. (사진=연합뉴스)“It is true that Shim is hospitalized,” a hospital official said. “But the specific reason cannot be disclosed, since it is personal information.” The hospital confirmed she is not in critical condition. 　Shim has rarely appe

TelevisionJune 21, 2017

Ex-TV personality Amy attempts suicide

Former TV entertainer Amy, who had been deported on drug abuse charges, attempted suicide after a Korean variety show aired malicious rumors about her.  Amy (Amy`s Instagram)The incident came after Monday’s episode of Channel A’s variety talk show “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” featured rumors about Amy’s past, under the theme of “celebrities from well-off families.” The show discusses rumors and gossip surrounding celebrities in the Korean entertainment industry. In the episode, a panel tal

TelevisionJune 21, 2017

Big Bang’s Taeyang named honorary ambassador for PyeongChang Winter Olympics

Taeyang of Big Bang has been selected as the face of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games and Winter Paralympics, authorities said Wednesday.The organizing committee for the upcoming Olympics officially named the K-pop superstar its honorary ambassador for the international event in a ceremony held at Seoul Press Center. As the honorary envoy, Taeyang will not only promote the event, but also produce a song dedicated to the PyeongChang Olympics. Taeyang (YG Entertainment)“Through my performances ou

PerformanceJune 21, 2017

‘Curse queen’ Baek A-yeon shows off playful side during CeCi shoot

Her songs sing of bittersweet struggles of love, but singer Baek A-yeon showed that she had a child-like side in her recent photo shoot and interview.Baek’s agency JYP Entertainment on Wednesday revealed the photos she took for the July edition of fashion magazine CeCi, one of which had the singer posing in a playful fashion by holding up two popsicles near her head like horns.In the interview that followed, Baek revealed what track he likes the most from her EP “Bittersweet” that was released l

Arts & DesignJune 21, 2017

Akdong Musician’s Lee Su-hyun becomes a star YouTuber

Lee Su-hyun of Akdong Musician is fulfilling her dream of being a “beauty YouTuber,” as her channel surpassed 300,000 subscribers faster than any other beauty YouTuber in Korea. As of Wednesday, her channel has over 339,000 subscribers and over 1.38 million views. According to YG Entertainment, it took her just two weeks to reach 300,000 subscribers, since it was launched on June 3. Lee Su-hyun of Akdong Musician (YG Entertainment) Lee Su-hyun of Akdong Musician (YG Entertainment)The channel has

Arts & DesignJune 21, 2017

Hyolyn-Kisum releases summer-themed photos

K-pop stars Hyolyn and Kisum unveiled concept photos for their upcoming tune, “Fruity.”In the images uploaded on the social media page of Hyolyn’s agency Starship Entertainment, the two are clad in summer clothes and apparently enjoying the sun.  (Starship Entertainment) (Starship Entertainment)The photos were shot by local photographer Kim Tae-gyun, better known as “Less.” He has shot photos of several K-pop stars, including IU, SHINee and f(x). Hyolyn, famed for her powerful and unique singing

PerformanceJune 21, 2017

Hwang Chi-yeul becomes best-selling nongroup artist since 2013

Sales of the EP “Be Ordinary” by singer Hwang Chi-yeul have surpassed 100,000 copies, according to a local music sales tracker, Hanteo Chart, on Wednesday.From June 14 to Tuesday, 103,787 copies of the record were sold.This marked the most sales by an artist not affiliated with a group, since 2013 when legendary singer Jo Yong-pil released his album “Hello.”Hwang Chi-yeul (HOW Entertainment)Boy bands and girl groups typically dominate music sales in the K-pop scene. Most commercially successful

PerformanceJune 21, 2017

Crush confirms June 30 album release

Artist Crush confirmed Wednesday that he will return with a new album on the last day of this month. His agency Amoeba Culture uploaded a teaser image for the upcoming record with the words “Crush/2017.6.30/6PM,” referring to the release date and time. The image only shows a drawing of a bone against a light-blue background, leaving fans to guess the concept of the new album. Crush (Amoeba Culture)A teaser image for Crush’s new album (Amoeba Culture)The agency is planning to unveil two teaser vi

PerformanceJune 21, 2017

Culture Minister promises film industry ‘no more blacklist’

Do Jong-hwan, the newly appointed minister of culture, sports and tourism, was to meet with figures from the independent and art film circles Wednesday evening to pledge more support. The move was intended to bring some form of consolation to those ailed by the previous Park Geun-hye administration’s blacklist of cultural figures thought by the authorities to be anti-government.“Independent and art films are the foundation of the movie industry, and carry out a very important role in people enjo

CultureJune 21, 2017

Mamamoo offers video peek at new EP ‘Purple’

Mamamoo fans got the chance to get a sneak peek at its upcoming EP “Purple” on Wednesday, as the girl group dropped a video collage of its songs. The video, 1 minute and 22 seconds long, was uploaded via the group’s official social media and YouTube pages. It contains the hook and highlights of five songs from the record. Images from Mamamoo’s video (RBW Entertainment)Kicking off the video is “Da Ra Dam,” featuring US artist Jeff Bernat and rising star B.O., and is followed by “Worthless,” “Fina

PerformanceJune 21, 2017

M. Eastern tourists spend most in Korea: data

Tourists from Middle Eastern countries spent the most during their visits to South Korea last year, government data showed Wednesday, amid growing demand for beauty and medical tourism. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, tourists from the Middle East spent $2,593 per capita, more than triple the average amount spent by Japanese travelers who spent an average $819. A Seoul department store is bustling with foreign tourists on Aug. 1, 2016. (Yonhap)The survey

TravelJune 21, 2017

'Fight For My Way' leads early-week TV drama race

"Fight For My Way," KBS 2TV's coming-of-age romantic series, led the Monday-Tuesday late night drama race, while two smaller rivals shows duked it out hard for second place, according to data Wednesday.Episode 10 of "Fight For My way" aired on Tuesday recorded 11.2 percent viewership nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.(KBS)Starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won, the show centers around a group of four young adults, who say they have "third-rate lives"due to their mundane and mediocre lives, b

TelevisionJune 21, 2017

Netflix, Korean cinemas locked in row over release of 'Okja'

South Korea's major theaters are at loggerheads with the global streaming giant Netflix over the release of its latest production "Okja," which they fear will upend the local movie distribution industry.Netflix has announced a plan to make the latest film by internationally acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho available simultaneously on the online platform and South Korean theaters. But South Korea's three largest multi-screen chains -- CJ CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox,  which control 9

FilmJune 21, 2017

Sulli criticized for sadism online

Korean actress, singer and model Choi Jin-ri, better known by her stage name Sulli, was criticized online for posting a video clip on her social media account, which showed a chopped eel being burnt alive with a women saying “Please help me, please help me,” in the background. Following a hailstorm of criticism, Sulli deleted the clip and replaced it with a photo of a barbecued eel. With a provocative movie “Real” already revealing her sensitive body parts, Sulli has been gathering interests onl

PerformanceJune 20, 2017