TV’s great outdoors

When KBS’ iconic “Two Days and One Night” segment hit the small screen in 2007, it pioneered the tough outdoor survival format. By pitching comedians, actors and singers against each other in a sort-of Darwinian situation, where team members would have to battle one another for lodgings and grub, the show made waves. It was hard. It was dirty, but it never got ugly. In fact, it was downright funny. Ratings went through the roof. Not only did the show do well on home turf, the program was also ex

May 21, 2013

T-ara N4 to release album, perform in U.S. next week

Popular K-pop girl group T-ara N4 is releasing an album in the U.S. and will perform during Chris Brown’s upcoming concert next week, according to news reports.The girl group reportedly met with recording artist Chris Brown in the U.S. last week, and signed a deal with an American record label to release their upcoming U.S. album, “Jeonwon Diary.”The upcoming album will include a total of five different English-language versions of the group’s Korean debut single, “Jeonwon Diary.” Popular U.S. r

May 20, 2013

Violinist Eugene Park opens up on rumors

Violinist Eugene Park discussed rumors about him in a documentary that aired Saturday, revealing that he suffers from bipolar disorder. Last month, a photo of Park performing at a small local restaurant in a shabby outfit shocked his fans, coming just four years after he made headlines for being practically enslaved by his agency for five years. Explaining the photo on Saturday, Park said that he was working at the restaurant of an acquaintance for his mother.  He added, “My mother is sick. So I

May 14, 2013

Baek Ji-young, Chung Seok-won to have a baby

Singer Baek Ji-young and actor Chung Seok-won are to become parents in the fall.Contradicting their statement denying the pregnancy last month, when they announced their June wedding, Chung’s agency Forestar Entertainment said Tuesday that the couple decided to release the news of the pregnancy in response to “widespread media speculation concerning their wedding.” According to an insider, Baek is now four months pregnant and getting prenatal checkups. The source also stated, “Since Baek is in t

May 14, 2013

Tradition meets science in the art of making kimchi

Kimchi is viewed through an entirely different kind of lens by the chefs at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul. These hotel chefs have meticulously developed an innovative approach to the complicated science of making kimchi, the key word being “science.” In 1989, the Walkerhill Hotel established its first kimchi laboratory to allow its chefs to study the science of fermentation and the process behind the making of the country’s most representative dish. Stepping into this kitchen, on

May 14, 2013

Psy tells Harvard: ‘Life’s beautiful’

Korean superstar Psy gave a speech at Harvard University on Thursday, cracking jokes and buying bibimbap for the students of the elite U.S. university. The lecture, streamed live on the school’s online channel, was the singer’s second at an internationally renowned school following last year’s speech at the University of Oxford. Psy, who spoke without a script, making him the first person since Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1838 to give an “unorthodox lecture” at the school, started by describing his p

May 10, 2013

Hallyu fans abroad to get together in Gangwon Province

“K-POP Festival in Gangwon 2013” invites hallyu fans to South Korea in September to celebrate becoming a successful host of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.“Unlike the last year’s festival, we are promoting a ‘cover dance preliminary’ which will provide a chance to introduce the upcoming Olympics to be held in PyeongChang and also a chance to promote Gangwon Province’s tourism,” an official said. Hosted by Visit Korea Committee, a quasi-government organization, Gangwon Province and the city of Wo

May 6, 2013

Psy nabs another world record, enters Encyclopedia Britannica

Psy’s one-hit wonder worries are behind him. His latest release “Gentleman” has broken the world record for having the most viewed online video in 24 hours, Guinness World Records has confirmed. The Korean rap star’s “Gentleman” music video was uploaded onto YouTube on April 14 and received 38,409,306 views within the first 24 hours. Less than three weeks later, the music video has now surpassed 261 million hits and garnered more than 1.9 million “likes.” Psy’s first global hit, “Gangnam Style,”

May 1, 2013

Cho Yong-pil’s new album hits the jackpot

Cho Yong-pil’s new album “Hello” is selling faster than his company can supply it. On the day of its release, the first batch of 20,000 albums sold out in hours. An additional 10,000 albums sent for sale two days later sold out as well. Currently orders for about 40,000 copies have piled up. “Currently our supply cannot meet the demand even with two factories running, so we are looking for another factory. We expect to supply an additional 30,000 copies by this week,” Cho’s agency YPC Production

April 30, 2013

2PM unveils new album

JYP Entertainment has revealed the track list for 2PM’s third official album, “Grow,” on Monday through 2PM’s official website. The album consists of 12 tracks including two main songs “All Day I Think of You” and “Listen to This Song and Come Back.” The members were involved in writing the lyrics and producing the songs. Junho participated on “Go Back” and “Love Song,” Jun. K on “Game Over” and “Suddenly,” and Chansung took part in “Coming Down.” Taecyeon wrote rap lyrics for six tracks. “The u

April 30, 2013

Psy nominated for six Billboard music awards

South Korean pop star Psy has been nominated to contend in six categories of the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.Psy, who became a worldwide sensation for his “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman” music videos, is among the finalists for six awards, including “Top New Artist,” “Top Streaming Artist,” and “Top Rap Artist,” according to the Billboard.com Web site on Tuesday. The awards show is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas and airs live across the United States on May 19.Psy’s megahit “Gangnam Style,” Y

April 23, 2013

[Photo News] Super Junior in Brazil

April 21, 2013

CJ E&M to jointly launch audition program “Superstar China”

Cultural media company CJ E&M on Friday said it would jointly produce a Chinese version of its popular audition program “Superstar K” with a Chinese local broadcaster. “We are planning to co-produce ‘Superstar China’ with Hubei Satellite Television, one of the largest media in China,” said an official from CJ E&M. Superstar K is a hit audition program which finished its fourth season in last November. More than 2 million aspiring singers have applied for the latest season, according to CJ E&M. C

April 19, 2013

Kim Jae-joong’s first solo concert wrapped up in Taiwan

Kim Jae-joong, a member of K-pop group JYJ, successfully closed out his Asia tour in Taiwan on Saturday, C-JeS Entertainment said. The popular singer kicked off his first solo concert series “Your, My and Mine” in January, marking the release of his first solo EP album. Kim held concerts in Seoul, Shanghai, Nanjing and Hong Kong. Some 4,000 fans gathered at Taiwan University Gymnasium to cheer Kim on. The 27-year-old singer hosted a short fan meeting session at the concert where his fans threw q

April 15, 2013

'Gentleman’ generates mixed reviews from foreign press

YouTube sensation Psy is back on stage with “Gentleman,” a follow-up single to his 2012 megahit “Gangnam Style.” The Korean singer unveiled its music video at a live concert, where 50,000 fans jumped along with him. His latest music video was released Saturday and has attracted more than 45 million hits on YouTube, reaching the mark three times as fast as “Gangnam Style.”The much-anticipated release of the song and music video on YouTube prompted a varied response from foreign media: BillboardPS

April 15, 2013

Hallyu star Park Yong-ha’s commemorative concert held in Japan

A concert tour to commemorate the late actor Park Yong-ha began on April 13 in Tokyo, Japan. The “2013 Park Yong Ha Memories Tour in Japan” was held in memory of the hallyu star, who committed suicide in June 2010. He was reportedly suffering from financial problems and stress.The show hosted the launching ceremony of “Park Yong Ha’s One Love Charity Society,” a foundation established by the late actor’s family to support the Yona School, which the deceased had set up in Chad, Africa. The top Ko

April 15, 2013

Girl's Generation members participate in fan event

Girl’s Generation members, SeoHyeon and SooYoung participate in a fan event in Seoul on Sunday. 소녀시대 수영과 서현이 14일 오후 서울 소공동 롯데백화점 본점에서 열린 팬사인회에 참석하고 있다.(사진: 연합뉴스) 

April 15, 2013

[Newsmaker] Psy returns to limelight with ‘Gentleman’

“Kim Jong who?” was the line that kicked off the New York Daily News article that introduced the release of YouTube sensation Psy’s long-awaited follow-up song to global hit “Gangnam Style.” While the current political tension between the Koreas is making headlines around the globe, the buzz about Psy’s follow-up single “Gentleman” has begun to overshadow talk of missiles and war. Psy had kept people around the world on their toes for months with promises of a new song and a new dance routine to

April 14, 2013