Selfie for a happy finale

Singer-actor Jung Ji-hoon, better known as Rain, posted a selfie with fellow actors in SBS rom-com “My Lovely Girl” on Instagram on Thursday. 　In the photo, Rain strikes a friendly pose with actress Cha Ye-ryeon and singer-actor Alex.  Jung Ji-hoon (left), Cha Ye-ryeon (center) and Alex. (Jung's Instagram)　With the selfie Jung wrote, “The hyeong (elder brother) who is so like the youngest brother,” pointing at Alex. 　Directed by Park Hyung-gi and written by No Ji-seol, My Lovely Girl stars sever

Nov. 6, 2014

MC Mong tops music charts with sixth album

MC Mong. (IS Entertainment Group)The embattled South Korean hip-hop artist MC Mong, who was once mired in controversy over draft evasion, topped major local music charts with his latest track for the second straight day. As of Tuesday morning, the single “Did you miss me?” off his sixth full-length album “Miss Me or Diss Me,” took the No. 1 spot on all 10 online real-time music charts including Naver Music, MelOn, Daum and Mnet after its release on Monday. The 13-track album comes five years aft

Nov. 4, 2014

You Hee-yeol to release first Toy album in 7 years

You Hee-yeol. (Antenna Music)Antenna Music CEO and famed singer-songwriter-pianist You Hee-yeol will be dropping a new album as part of his one-man project, Toy, on Nov. 18, according to an announcement by Antenna Music on Tuesday. The duo-band-turned-solo act Toy first debuted in 1994 and featured the ballad vocal styles of You and Yoon Jeong-oh. After parting ways in 1996, You has been the sole member of Toy, which has released six full-length albums to date. Toy’s upcoming seventh studio albu

Nov. 4, 2014

JYP celebrating 20 years with anniversary show

Park Jin-young. (JYP Entertainment)Iconic K-pop producer and solo artist Park Jin-young will be hosting a special anniversary concert to commemorate two decades in the music industry. Teaming up with Milk Music, Park will be putting on a one-and-half-hour-long show on Nov. 8 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Hall, performing 42 No. 1 singles his since debuting 20 years ago. Now one of the K-pop industry’s best-known producers as head of talent agency JYP Entertainment, Park made his singing debut

Nov. 4, 2014

Psy to repeat ‘All Night Stand’ concert series

The mirthful, gentlemanly Psy will ring in the holiday season in true party fashion with the return of his four-day “All Night Stand” holiday concert series, according to an announcement by YG Entertainment on Monday. Just as he did last year, Psy will be going all-out from Dec. 19 to 24 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium in his upcoming five-show series ― hosting two separate performances on Christmas Eve. Inarguably the world’s most famous K-pop star to date, Psy has held some form of

Nov. 3, 2014

Ha Ji-won outshines U.S. muses at TROA event

Hallyu top star Ha Ji-won flaunted her curves in TROA shirts and tuxedo jeans by designer Han Song, exuding charm at a cocktail party with U.S. fashion muses. The action blockbuster queen showed up at a cocktail party that was hosted by TROA on Oct. 28, wearing white shirts and shiny-textured tuxedo jeans that were made of “hanjisa,” one of Korea’s finest raw materials. Actress Ha Ji-won poses at a cocktail party that was hosted by TROA on Oct. 28, wearing white shirts and shiny-textured tuxedo

Oct. 31, 2014

2AM prereleases ‘Days Like Today’

K-pop ballad quartet 2AM is gearing up to unveil its upcoming third full-length album by prereleasing its new single, “Days Like Today” on Monday. The group’s latest R&B ballad, which talks about one of those days when one just can’t help but think about a former lover, was composed and produced by JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young. The track is the first single in five years on which the 2AM members ― Jo Kown, Junwoon, Seulong and Lee Changmin ― have collaborated with their CEO since the gro

Oct. 27, 2014

2NE1 Minzy’s sister debuts

Gong Min-young. (Sony Music)Gong Min-young, the older sister of 2NE1’s Minzy, debuted Friday as a singer with her first album “Rebirth.”The album consists of eight tracks, most of them self-composed contemporary Christian music. Gong tried an unconventional music style by mixing religious songs with contemporary genres such as jazz, hip-hop and rhythm and blues, her agency Sony Music Entertainment said. Track titles such as “Let’s Party,” “Go!” and “Turn It Up” contain her modern take on Christi

Oct. 24, 2014

First-generation K-pop idols reunite for EP

S (SM Entertainment)Group S, a trio of first-generation K-pop singers, released an EP on Friday after an 11-year hiatus.The group, which debuted in 2003, consists of vocalists of popular boy groups of the late 1990s: Kangta of H.O.T, Shin Hye-sung of Shinhwa and singer Lee Ji-hoon. Their latest EP “Autumn Breeze” has five songs, which are composed and produced by Kangta. The title track “Without You” is an acoustic pop ballad sung in harmony by the three vocals. The song tells the story of a cou

Oct. 24, 2014

[Herald Interview] Mraz says ‘Yes!’ to return to Korea

After performing in Korea for the first time at the 2006 Incheon Pentaport Rock festival, American folk-pop star Jason Mraz is making his way back to Korea next month, marking the start of his seventh concert performance in the country in eight years. Mraz is slated to hold his first nationwide acoustic concert tour here, where he will be performing in Daejeon and Daegu for the first time, before concluding his tour with two performances in Seoul. However, unlike in the past when the singer held

Oct. 23, 2014

Bobby Kim reflects on new album ‘Mirror’

In his first full-length album return in four years, R&B veteran Bobby Kim overcomes personal struggles and reflects on his past. The new album, “Mirror,” was released on Wednesday. Marking his first full album release since his third album, “Heart & Soul” (2010), the singer admits that the past four years had their shares of ups and downs, and that on his new album he wanted to encompass these experiences through music. “I chose to title the album ‘Mirror’ because it actually had a lot of meani

Oct. 22, 2014

Seo Taiji sheds ’90s icon persona in ‘Quiet Night’ return

Although still considered an unparalleled iconic musician by the generation that grew up listening to him push the envelope with his controversial and politically defiant lyrics, Seo Taiji, who recently released his ninth album, says his relevance as an artist has faded over time and that to him, the heyday of his career actually ended decades ago.Legendary musician and media-shy Seo, 42, finally unveiled his new family-inspired comeback album, “Quiet Night,” on Monday, and turned heads when he

Oct. 21, 2014

TVXQ’s live tour begins in Seoul

 TVXQ will begin their concert tour, “TVXQ! Special Live Tour -- T1ST0RY,” at Seoul Olympic gymnasium on Dec. 6-7.The tour title, “T1ST0RY,” is the combination of TVXQ, “HISTORY,” and the numbers 1 and 0, which imply their 10th anniversary.The group had successfully finished their last world wide tour, “TVXQ! Live Tour ‘Catch Me’” that took place in major world cities such as Seoul, Los Angeles and Hong Kong from November 2012 to July 2013. The group was also recorded as the first Korean group w

Oct. 21, 2014

[Herald Review] Seo Taiji induces ’90s nostalgia with lavish ‘Christmalowin’ return

Seo Taiji, one of the country’s most influential musical figures and ’90s icons, finally made his long-awaited return to the music scene with his extravagant live production of “Christmalowin,” the singer’s first concert performance in five years.  A view of the lavish stage for Seo Taiji’s “Christmalowin” solo comeback concert held at Jamsil Sports Complex’s Olympic Stadium in Seoul on Saturday. (Seo Taiji Co.)In commemoration of his upcoming ninth full-length album, “Quiet Night,” Seo’s comeba

Oct. 19, 2014

Model refutes Lee Byung-hun’s claim in trial

The legal representative of Lee Ji-yeon on Thursday stated that the model was in a relationship with top actor Lee Byung-hun.The first hearing on the celebrity blackmailing case, held at the Seoul Central District Court, aroused public criticism nationwide of all three celebrities involved: Lee Byung-hun, Lee Ji-yeon and Kim Da-hee of girl group GLAM. The trial comes a year after Lee Byung-hun married actress Lee Min-jung in Aug. 10, 2013.  Actor Lee Byung-hun. (OSEN)The prosecutor claimed that

Oct. 16, 2014

DaeGukNamA goes ‘Rilla’ in last-ditch album

Five-member K-pop boy band DaeGukNamA is returning to the stage in jungle fashion and showing off the group’s animalistic side with its latest EP “Rilla Go!”Under the concept of “bring out your animal instinct,” Hyunmin, Jay, Karam, Injun and Mika have slapped on some face paint and channeled their inner warriors with the release the group’s latest four-track EP on Wednesday. The group’s latest “Rilla Go!” album marks the fifth EP release from DGNA since debuting in 2010. However, after four yea

Oct. 15, 2014

EXO’s Luhan wants to appear in Chinese drama: report

Chinese media outlet Teng Xun reported on Tuesday that former EXO member Luhan is willing to appear in the Chinese drama “Zhu Xian.” 　According to the news reports, Luhan said to Yang Mi, a colleague at his management agency, H&R Century Pictures, that he wants a main role in the drama “Zhu Xian.” Yang Mi, one of the top actresses in China, is most famous for her role in the drama series “Palace.”　However, neither party has released an official statement yet. Filming of the series will begin nex

Oct. 15, 2014

Super Junior’s Sungmin to tie knot with actress

Sungmin, a member of K-pop boy band Super Junior, confirmed Tuesday that he will marry actress Kim Sa-eun in December, hours after Kim denied news reports about their betrothal. Sungmin himself announced his plan to marry Kim on Super Junior’s official homepage, apologizing to his fans for the fact that they had first heard the news through the news reports.  “I met a good woman and will marry her on Dec. 13. I am heartbroken that you might have been perplexed and surprised about the news,” Sung

Oct. 14, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong to join military in March: source

South Korean singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong will join the military in March to serve his two-year duty, a source in the advertising industry said on Tuesday.Kim’s decision comes after he came under fire for allegedly beating an ex-girlfriend, an incident that led to a police investigation. The source said Kim is currently rearranging his advertisement schedules and contracts for his military service.Kim’s management agency KeyEast was not available for comments. The 28-year-old K-pop star was origi

Oct. 14, 2014

Actress Kim Sa-eun denies rumor on marriage with Sungmin

Actress Kim Sae-Eun’s agency denied reports that she and Super Junior member Sungmin will get married in December.A local news outlet stated on Tuesday that Sungmin and Kim will tie the knot on Dec. 13 at a luxurious wedding hall “The Raum” in southern Seoul.However, Kim‘s management agency denied the reports as untrue.“Kim and Sungmin are still dating, but the rumor of the two getting married is not true. Kim is currently focusing on her schedule as an actress,” Kim‘s agency was quoted as sayin

Oct. 14, 2014