YG to launch new boy band battle show ‘Mix & Match’

One year after top K-pop talent agency YG Entertainment aired its hugely popular “WIN: Who Is Next?” the agency announced that it would soon launch its newest trainee boy band survival program, “Mix & Match.” In the hopes of giving fan favorite trainees B.I. and Bobby, along with the rest of the members of last year’s runner-up Team B, an opportunity to possibly make their debut. Officials at YG have only announced small details about their upcoming reality TV show plans, which are said to inclu

Aug. 29, 2014

Sunny: “SNSD uses triple in-shoe heel inserts”

Girls’ Generation’s Sunny revealed that group members have been using heel inserts to look taller.On an episode of KBS’ TV show “Happy Together Season 3” that aired Thursday, Sunny said some members have used even three heel inserts at a time.“I once twisted my leg when I was dancing on the stage. Even tall members use heel inserts to look better.“Then the real problem began,” she added. “If tall members used one heel insert, members of medium height started using two, then short members like me

Aug. 29, 2014

Han Ye-seul chased by paparazzi in New York

Korean actress Han Ye-seul was targeted by paparazzi in New York as she dropped by a cafe for a cup of coffee.Han recently visited New York for a photo shoot for the 2014 fall/winter line of a clothing company. An entertainment source said, “Han has managed her schedule perfectly and all the staff was satisfied with her attitude.”In the photo, Han holds her cellphone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, enjoying her day out in New York. Han flaunted natural-style long, wavy hair in a bl

Aug. 29, 2014

2PM’s Sept. 15 comeback confirmed: JYP

 K-pop boy band 2PM will have a comeback performance on Sept. 15, its agency JYP Entertainment said Friday.“2PM will have comeback with a full set of members on the 15th next month, a week after Chuseok,” JYP Entertainment said in a statement.“Since this is a return after 15 months, (2PM) will be carrying out lots of music and television entertainment activities,” the music label added, asking for fans’ support. The boy band originally sought to stage a comeback showcase in April, but delayed it

Aug. 29, 2014

Super Junior unleashes 7th album online

K-pop boy group Super Junior released its seventh album “MAMACITA” on Korea‘s major music online portals at midnight on Friday, three days before the album would go on sale in stores.The long-awaited album came two years since the previous, as members Leeteuk and Hee-chul have returned from military duty. MAMACITA includes 10 tracks of various genres, including title track “Ayaya” that takes on the urban genre new jack swing, backed by strong beats with Indian percussion. In addition to the albu

Aug. 29, 2014

Yoo Seol-ah marries Woongjin Group chairman’s son

Actress Yoo Seol-ah and actor Noh Min-woo attend the press conference for television rom-com series “Full House Take 2” on Oct. 18, 2012. (OSEN)Actress Yoo Seol-ah recently married the second son of Woongjin Group’s chairman, the conglomerate confirmed on Friday. Yoo, 30, tied the knot with Yoon Sae-bom, the 35-year-old son of chairman Yoon Seok-keum, in Seoul on Aug. 22. After debuting in 2006 through film “Mentor’s bliss,” Yoo gained popularity as one of the four lead characters of SBS Plus’ “

Aug. 29, 2014

Prosecution suspends indictment of singer for abusing insomnia drug

Prosecutors said Friday they have suspended the indictment of a singer who attempted suicide last year by taking a common prescription drug that induces sleep.Son Ho-young, a member of popular boy band G.O.D., has been investigated on suspicion of taking zolpidem without prescription in May 2013 when he attempted to kill himself just days after the body of his girlfriend was found in his car along with an empty bottle of sleeping pills, a used briquette and a suicide note.The Seoul Central Distr

Aug. 29, 2014

Song Seung-heon‘s high school photo revealed

The high school profile picture of actor Song Seung-heon. (Weibo)Korean heartthrob Song Seung-heon revealed a high school profile picture on Weibo on Thursday.With the photo, Song wrote: “High school boy.” In the photo, youthful Song looks serious, beaming with his trademark pitch-black eye brows and clear-cut profile. The Korean actor is playing the lead character in Chinese movie “The Third Love” in Shanghai, China. Song Seung-heon in his latest Korean film "Obsessed (Joongdok)."The official p

Aug. 29, 2014

Super Junior return as ‘real men’

More than two years after announcing they were sexy, free and single, 10 of the original 13 Super Junior members, including the group’s newly returned leader Lee Teuk, are officially back in action with the release of the group’s seventh studio album, “Mamacita.”Coming more than two years since the release of the group’s previous full studio album, “Sexy, Free & Single,” Super Junior finally unveiled the digital release of its latest album on Friday. Although last year the group released two J-p

Aug. 28, 2014

‘Audition shows are about people’

This is the 14th in a series highlighting women and their accomplishments in the various facets of the Korean entertainment industry. ―Ed.Mnet show writer Kyung Hyun-ju has been in the game for a while. In her 13 years as a writer, she’s spent the last 10 at Mnet ― a place she says allowed her to grow as a writer.The first show she wrote for at the cable channel was a blind date program, which ended up running for four seasons. After just three, Mnet made her a main writer, something unheard of

Aug. 28, 2014

‘Supernova’ Sung-Je joins Army

Supernova member Sung-je entered military boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on Thursday afternoon.After finishing basic military training for four weeks, he will serve in the military for about two years, working in a special PR unit for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.As Supernova has been active mostly in Japan, about 1,000 of his fans visited Nonsan to see him off. The singer entered the camp after having a brief fan meeting.Sung-je is the second member of Supernova to joi

Aug. 28, 2014

HyunA tops Taiwan’s charts with ‘RED’

HyunA tops Taiwanese charts with ‘RED’HyunA has made it to the No. 1 spot on Taiwan’s music charts.According to the biggest music site in Taiwan, “KK BOX,” HyunA’s “RED” has kept its position at the top of the chart for three consecutive days from Sunday.The song first entered the charts on Aug. 21 and topped the “K-pop new songs” and “K-pop single” charts four days after it was released.HyunA has proved her popularity in Chinese-speaking countries and is now working on filming commercials and d

Aug. 28, 2014

Rain and Krystal make romance in drama

Rain and Krystal will appear in a romantic drama this fall, their agencies said.The first teaser of SBS’ new drama “My Lovely Girl” was revealed on YouTube on Wednesday.The impressive video is about 23 seconds long, and shows Rain and Krystal sharing their feelings like they were destined to meet.After the romantic video was uploaded on YouTube, “My Lovely Girl” became the most-searched-for phrase on the Korean Web portal Naver. The drama is about two pained individuals who will find healing thr

Aug. 28, 2014

GOT7 to drop Japanese debut EP in Oct.

Rookie K-pop band GOT7 will release its Japanese debut EP on Oct. 22, its label JYP Entertainment announced Wednesday. 　 (JYP Entertainment)The debut EP “Around the World” is to include the hip-hop track “So Lucky,” composed and written by 2PM’s Jun. K, and a title song that Korean, Japanese and American producers jointly worked on. 　JYP Entertainment also launched the seven-member band’s Japanese website for fans to access more information about the artists and a detailed schedule for the upcom

Aug. 28, 2014

YG Family to hold joint concert in China

A group of artists under YG Entertainment, dubbed YG Family, will hold a collective concert in October in China, the entertainment powerhouse announced Thursday. 　YG Family is to be reunited for the concert “YG Family 2014 Galaxy Tour: Power in Beijing” to be held on Oct. 19 in China’s capital. The viral sensation Psy will take part in the concert, raising expectations that he might reveal his upcoming track “Daddy” in a performance. Psy recently wrapped up filming its music video in Seoul and B

Aug. 28, 2014

Sistar’s Soyou flaunts perfect body in Saipan

Soyou, a member of the K-pop girl group Sistar, shared a photo taken on the exotic island of Saipan that shows her Coke-bottle bodyline on Thursday on her Twitter account. 　She took the photo while resting after filming the music video for Sistar’s upcoming track “I Swear.” “I am enjoying my break time in Saipan. Today, stay tuned for Mnet’s ‘M! Countdown’ to watch our comeback performance,” she said alongside the photo. In the photo, Soyou is lying on a bench playing with her mobile phone and l

Aug. 28, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong delays military service, fans wonder why

South Korean actor and singer Kim Hyun-joong reportedly delayed his mandatory military service until next year due to his schedule, a local news outlet reported Thursday.　Kim was notified that he should enlist in the army on Oct. 7, but postponed due to his concert tour schedule, according to the reports. 　Kim is currently touring five countries -- Thailand, China, Peru, Mexico and Japan. Kim, who just wrapped up a show on Aug. 24 in Thailand, is to travel to China on Aug. 30 for another concert

Aug. 28, 2014

Heechul turns into ‘Frozen’ character

Heechul of K-pop boy band Super Junior and Kim Jae-kyung of girl group Rainbow transformed into the main characters of the hit film “Frozen.” 　In a photo released on Wednesday on Kim’s Instagram, the two wear costumes for the sisters Anna and Elsa from the animation film. 　Heechul looks like a woman with his make-up, showing off flawless skin. 　Heechul and Kim are to costar in the MBC entertainment show “Tell me your wish” to be aired from September. 　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 28, 2014

Jung Yong-hwa seizes China’s heart with ‘Three Musketeers’

Singer-actor Jung Yong-hwa appear on tvN's epic television series "Three Musketeers." (tvN)TvN’s new epic television drama “Three Musketeers,” starring singer-actor Jung Yong-hwa, is rapidly gaining popularity in China. Since its launch on Aug. 17, the Korean drama has maintained the No. 1 spot as the most frequently searched for K-drama on Weibo. The drama also appeared on the list of the most frequently searched for words on Baidu, China’s main search engine. The success of “Three Musketeers”

Aug. 28, 2014

HA:TFELT Ye-eun posing for DAZED & CONFUSED

   HA:TFELT Ye-eun, a member of Wonder Girls, posed for fashion magazine DAZED & CONFUSED. The idol recently released her debut her first solo album. Ye-eun poses in alluring black-and-white photos, wearing black underwear, sheer knitwear and a denim jacket. In an interview, the idol revealed more about her music, her stay in New York and the places she wants to visit.The photos and interview can be seen in the September issue of DAZED & CONFUSED. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcor

Aug. 28, 2014