SBS’s ‘KPOP STAR’ reveals new details about its auditions and program format

SBS‘s “KPOP STAR“ has contacted allkpop about some new details regarding its judging process, as well as dates for its live auditions!
For those of you who’ve been out of the loop, “KPOP STAR” has been receiving applications from K-Pop fans all over the world, who hope to one day make it big in the industry. While there have been many star audition programs, SBS felt that a “real star, one who could be the new pioneer to K-Pop’s global expansion, has not yet been discovered“. Accepted applicants will get to showcase their talents in front of industry juggernauts Yang Hyun Suk, J.Y. Park, and BoA – representatives from three of Korea’s top agencies, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and SM Entertainment, respectively.
Unlike other talent search programs that pick a winner based on their singing abilities, “KPOP STAR” will have a survival competition between various groups. Not only will the contestants have to survive as a group, but they’ll also have to face off against one another within the group! It’s a format that aims to foster growth under pressure.
The judges are looking for star qualities, but more than that, they’re look for a diamond in the rough. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t sing or dance. If you have the potential that we could develop, anyone can become a K-Pop star!,” said YG’s Yang Hyun Suk
After undergoing numerous trials, the winner will receive a phenomenal top prize – the opportunity to debut within the shortest time through the most direct path. The winner will get the unprecedented privilege of deciding which company — SM, YG, JYP — they wish to debut under.
Those who want to give it a shot can audition live in front of judges. The schedule is as follows:

• September 9th – 11th: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• September 17th – 18th: New York City, New York
• September 24th – 25th: Los Angeles, California
• September 26th: China (More details to come)
• September 28th – October 2nd: France (More details to come)
• October 1st – 2nd: Seoul
• October 7th – 8th: Seoul

(Contact info for additional details can be found through the SBS ‘K-POP STAR’ application site)
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Meanwhile, a press conference for SBS’s ’KPOP STAR’ was held a few days ago at the Imperial Palace Hotel. Though allkpop covered some of the questions answered during the press conference, SBS has sent us the full Q&A.
Check it out below:
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Q. What is the reason behind the companies (SM, YG, and JYP) joining forces to create an audition program?
Park Sung Hoon PD – “I think that ordinary audition programs have a limit. The main essence of an audition program is to produce a star. Many talented individuals have been discovered, but for some reason, their popularity doesn’t seem as strong after the program ends. The making of a real star is the reason why the three companies — SM, YG, and JYP — have joined hands.”
Yang Hyun Suk - “‘KPOP STAR’ is a program that Park Jin Young and I have wanted. Unlike other auditions, we will look at the dancing ability as well as looks, and most importantly, their talent. We will inspect their talents with an objective view as experts. I decided to join because I liked the purpose of making a star.”
J.Y. Park – “A few years ago, while I was having a drink with Yang Hyun Suk, we discussed what it would be like if we started an audition program together. It would be to find the second Big Bang or second Wonder Girls.”
Q. What kind of talent are you looking for?
J.Y. Park – “There will be no distortions for the sake of entertainment. I will pick a person who I would have picked even without this show. In other programs, you have to be able to sing well in order to be picked, however, ‘KPOP STAR’ will pick the person with the biggest potential for growth.”
Yang Hyun Suk – “I like watching ordinary audition programs, but when I talk to YG staff members or other people around me, it turns out that the talents produced from these shows do not sing well enough to beat out other singers in the market. In fact, I suspect that other singers out there sing just as well. As an expert, I will look at their potential rather than their current ability.”
Q. What criteria will you look for in the contestants?
J.Y. Park – “Personally, I like people who are good natured. Wonder Girls, g.o.d., and Rain are all very sincere and modest. They don’t need to make themselves up to try to look good, since they look good because of who they are as a person. Something that they must possess is talent. A talent unique to them, whether it’s their dancing or singing ability, or their expressions, or the feel that they give off. Another is self discipline. If they aren’t a sincere person, it will be hard for them to handle. Sincerity and self discipline are as important as talent.”
Yang Hyun Suk – “I like people who look rough. Of course, they need to have the fundamental personality. Simply, they must look tougher on stage, I prefer people with charisma.”
Q. What will you show us as judges?
J.Y. Park – “I will forget that this is a show and act as I normally do when I judge auditions. I’ll try to show you what I’m really like as much as possible.” 
Yang Hyun Suk – “If I act spiteful and bitter, the viewers these days will see through me right away and criticize me. Rather than harsh criticisms, I will give accurate and truthful comments. Rather than praise, I will point out things that need to be corrected and supplemented.” 
 Q. What do you think about the other judge, BoA?
Yang Hyun Suk - “Truthfully, she’s the one that I worry about the most as well, as look forward to the most. We both do not know BoA personally. To be honest, if Lee Soo Man were to come out on the show, it would make things a little more difficult for us. Even though she doesn’t have producing experience, she has an outstanding ability as a singer so we’ll give her a lot of advice as well as listening to her attentively, and figure out a way for the three of us to get along.”
J.Y. Park – “BoA is highly qualified to be a judge. It is not always the case that singers who are respected and recognized in Korea will have the same recognition overseas. Even though they possess a charm that receives love within Korea, that might not translate overseas. The person that knows the most about that is BoA. I asked for her contact information so that we can have a meal together before the program starts.”
Park Sung Hoon PD – “In my perspective as a director, having three people who have walked the same paths can be troublesome. As a sunbae who has walked the path before, I expect to see a BoA who sympathizes, advises, nods, and sheds tears for the contestants.”
Q. It is said that there could be a difference between the views of the judges and the viewers.
J.Y. Park – “There will probably be a lot of comments like ‘It doesn’t make any sense. This person did better, but why did that person get picked?’ after the program, but we won’t judge with any thought for those comments. I would explain to the viewers why I chose that person as the winner, but if I were scared of being critcized, I would have left before I even started. I will not throw away my opinion.”
Yang Hyun Suk – “I wonder if it’s really necessary to create some kind of story when this is a program to pick a singer. My hope is that there won’t be a movie-like story about a person who came from a less fortunate background making it big. The reason behind the judging is to look for real talent with the hopes of creating the second Big Bang and 2PM. It’s important not to make special allowances for things related to a contestant’s personal life. There will probably be a difference between the judges’ point of view and the viewers point of view on this kind of matter.”
Q. If the program is successful, would you participate in a season 2?
Yang Hyun Suk – “There are so many audition programs being produced, but I hope that this will be the last broadcasted audition program. If a season 2 does come out, I would definitely like to be a part of it with BoA or J.Y. Park again. Like I mentioned earlier, I think that in order for ‘KPOP STAR’ to be successful, a true star must be produced. If season 2 does happen, I would definitely love to be a part of it.”
J.Y. Park – “I also really want to be on the next season, but since I have just recently started as a new actor, I cannot be certain. I will try to be a part of it by controlling my schedule as an actor.”

Supernova snags $500,000 contract for ‘Talent Cosmetic’ endorsement

Hallyu group Supernova has snagged a one-year modeling contract with cosmetics brand ‘Talent Cosmetic‘. Their contract was estimated to be worth $500,000 USD!
The boys took some time off from their busy promotions in Japan to head to Korea for the photoshoot. All of the cosmetics brands in Korea seem to be intent on expanding their business overseas, as Supernova rounded out the list of Hallyu stars currently working as models for make-up companies. Some include The Face Shop‘s Kim Hyun Joong, Missha‘s TVXQ, Tony Moly‘s T-ara, Holika Holika‘s CNBLUE, and Bobby Pet‘s F.T. Island.
‘Talent Cosmetic’ is a luxury brand that has seven stores in Myungdong, Seoul alone. This is also the first time in four years that the boys have landed a Korean CF since working with SNSD for school uniform brand ‘Elite‘ back in 2007.

SM Entertainment reveals Kim Heechul’s farewell video message

Days ago, we reported that Super Junior‘s Heechul finally step foot into his military life to begin his four weeks of basic training before going on to complete two years as a public service personnel.
Recently, SM Entertainment’s official YouTube channel uploaded a two-minute long video message directly from Heechul himself, which was filmed before his enlistment.
The full translated transcript can be read down below!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0RAFLCOhQE&feature=player_embedded

Hello, this is Kim Heechul. I’ve been given the chance to greet you through this video message. By the time you get to watch this on the internet, I’ll probably already be working hard in training.
As you all know, I personally wanted to go in as quietly as I can, but the workers at the company were concerned that that would be a little disrespectful to all the fans who’ve loved and supported me. I think those words are right, though. It’d be sort of like, I’d suddenly disappear and everyone would ask ‘Where did Heechul go?!’ and then they’d be answered with, ‘Ahh, he’s already left for the army.’ I felt that fans would be a little sad in that respect, so I’m here sending my message through this video.
I’ll be turning 29 this year. It’s an older age compared to others, but due to an injured part of my body, I think I’ll be working at another place after my four weeks of training. It’s something that was definitely going to happen and it’s something everyone has to experience, so please don’t be too sad about it. After two years, I’ll still come back as the fun and cool ‘Big Space Star’ that I am today, so please keep liking me. If you end up liking someone else by then, well then, there’s not much I can do about that either, right? Haha. In these next two years I’ll make sure to work hard and take care of myself so that I’ll come back as the same person that I am today, or even at least with a more mature and adult-like image.
I think this is the first time I’ve said something like this. Our Super Junior’s fan club, ELFs, I really thank you. I’ve always been thankful and always loved you all. It’s only now that I’ve come out and expressed it. I love you, thank you!

In addition, a netizen on an online community board posted a picture of Heechul with his training camp team.  Netizens who saw the picture commented, “He’s a real man now”, “His shaved head suits him so well. Look how small his head is”, and “I don’t know if it’s because he’s the ‘Big Space Star’, but you can notice him out of the entire group immediately.”

Ki Tae Young reveals married life isn’t all that different

Marriage is a huge step in one’s life, so many believe that everything gets turned upside-down once they enter this new phase. Actor Ki Tae Young recently married S.E.S‘s Eugene, and he revealed that contrary to what he thought, marriage life isn’t all that different.
On September 6th, Ki Tae Young attended a production conference for the SBS drama ‘Live with Pride‘, where he chuckled, “I thought that there would be many changes in my life once I got married. But actually I don’t see much difference“.
He then added, “Eugene and I are able to comfortably move around in public now that we’re married. People were saying that we look more laid-back.”
Ki Tae Young also revealed that he and Eugene had many discussions about which drama to pick. He said, “Because I’m usually very reserved, she tells me not to worry so much and focus on my acting with the other actors.”
For his new drama, Ki Tae Young will play the part of ‘Choi Shin Hyung’, the son of ‘Yun Duk’ (played by Park Jung Soo). Choi Shin Hyung seems like a mama’s boy who seems easily pushed around at first, but when he sees his mother doing hard-labor for his sake, he starts working harder himself in order to not disappoint.
Ki Tae Young commented, “I’ve never played or seen a character like this. You’re going to see a totally different side of me.”

2PM’s Nichkhun and Taecyeon melts fans with their chiselled abs

‘Beast Idols’ Nichkhun and Taecyeon recently flaunted their chiseled bodies, causing fangirls to melt over the sight.
On September 5th, 2PM finally revealed behind-the-scenes footage from Nichkhun and Taecyeon’s ‘Coca Cola Zero‘ CF on their official Youtube page.
The footage contains a non-stop reel of visual treats, as Nichkhun and Taecyeon emphasized their tight abs through an intense kickboxing session during filming. The boys also didn’t forget to add their cute aegyo throughout the clip as they playfully nudged the camera with their antics.
Netizens commented, “Where is my jaw?“, “Thank you for the video, my eyes are in heaven“, and “No words can describe this“.

2PM’s Nichkhun thanks fans for their support of ‘Khuntoria’

Shortly after MBC‘s ‘We Got Married‘ announced that the famous ‘Khuntoria‘ couple would be leaving the show, 2PM‘s Nichkhun left a message on his Twitter, thanking his fans for the immense love and support they’ve shown ‘Khuntoria’.
On September 6th, Nichkhun tweeted, “I am but thankful for all the support we’ve received for over a year and 3 months. We only hope that what will last are the good memories. Thank you always for your love and support”.
Since June of 2010, Nichkhun has been in a virtual marriage with f(x)‘s leader Victoria on the widely popular show, “We Got Married”. They’v both received a generous amount of popularity as one of the hottest ‘newlyweds’ on the show, thanks to Nichkhun’s sweet antics and Victoria’s charm as a wife.
Due to clashes in their busy schedules, however, it was decided that both Nichkhun and Victoria would step down for a brand new celebrity couple to take their place.
Khuntoria’s final episode will be aired this coming September 17th. Stay tuned to allkpop for updates!

Lee Da Hae shows off her tiny waist

On the morning of September 6th, Lee Da Hae posted a picture of her ‘ant waist’ via Twitter under the title, ‘What’s going on in the waiting room?‘
The picture was taken during a commercial photoshoot, and Lee Da Hae is seen goofing around during her break. Though she charms with her cute antics, netizens were more distracted by her tiny waist.
They commented, “Wow! You are so slim”, “Maybe you should eat more“, and “You seem very happy. Congratulations on shooting a CF!“.
Is her figure too thin or is she healthily proportionate? Toss us your thoughts below!

Mnet to launch RT Mcountdown Online Show

Curious as to what goes on behind the scenes on some of your favorite music programs? If you are, here’s some good news for you!
Mnet has just informed allkpop that they’re launching a new online show titled, RT M Countdown. Basically, the show will reveal backstage secrets from Mnet’s popular music program, M! Countdown on YouTube. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to ask questions to some of their favorite stars by submitting questions via twitter and facebook.
Expect to see cool features as the first episode is scheduled to have a Q&A session with Teen Top, backstage commentary from MBLAQ, a special feature on G.NA’s dance, and reaction from INFINITE as they celebrate their first victory. The debut episode is slated to premiere on September 7th 10AM KST, (September 6th 6PM in Los Angeles, September 6th 9PM in New York) on Mnet’s official YouTube channel.

Top stars Won Bin, Kim Tae Hee, Jang Dong Gun & Shin Min Ah come together for a CF

On September 6th, LG Electronics revealed that they had recruited four of Korea’s top CF models for promotions of their ’3D’ campaign, which include their full 3D lineup of LG’s cinema 3D television, 3D monitor, 3D laptop, and 3D smartphone.
Top stars Won Bin, Kim Tae Hee, Jang Dong Gun, and Shin Min Ah each filmed an impressive 3D ‘movie-like’ CF that portrayed different storylines.
In Won Bin’s action packed CF, the actor sprints and jumps to avoid flying missiles and pulls out a gun to aim at the helicopter on his tail, making viewers feel like they were watching a blockbuster film. Next, Kim Tae Hee is desperately searching for her true love in her CF while looking beautiful in a flowing red dress.
Meanwhile, Jang Dong Gun is seen racing down the street in his hot red Ferrari while being pursued by another car. He dodges flying bullets and jumps out of the television screen with a car exploding close behind him. And finally, the lovely Shin Min Ah is filmed riding down a peaceful path lined with the yellow leaves of ginkgo trees on her bicycle.

2NE1 completely sells out concert tickets in Japan

2NE1 has sold out every single ticket for their upcoming concert tour in Japan!
Japanese media outlet Sankei Sports has reported that 300,000 fans attempted to buy tickets for the 70,000 seats available on September 4th, the day the tickets went on sale.
The girls will put on a concert at Yokohama Arena for September 19th and 20th, before moving onto Kobe World Hall for the 24th and 25th. They’ll then wrap up their mini-tour at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe Hall on October 1st and 2nd. Meanwhile, their Japanese debut album will be released on the 21st, in the middle of their six-concert tour.
Congratulations, ladies!

YG Entertainment surpasses SM Entertainment’s mid-year profits for 2011

YG Entertainment stunned the industry when it was revealed that they’ve surpassed SM Entertainment in terms of sales for the first half of 2011! YG Entertainment is home to artists like 2NE1, Big Bang, and Psy, while SM Entertainment hosts artists likes SNSD, Super Junior, and TVXQ.
YG Entertainment has made 44,744,823,563 won (approximately $41,756,037 USD) from January 1st to June 30th. Meanwhile, SM Entertainment has made 40,592,465,358 won, which is approximately $37,867,691 USD, for that same period. It’s speculated that the profit leap for YG Entertainment came from GD&TOP‘s album, Seungri‘s solo activities, Big Bang‘s new album, and 2NE1‘s latest mini-album and concerts.
YG Entertainment maintained their sales numbers from last year; however, SM Entertainment made 6.9 million won less, since they recorded 47,527,869,269 won in the first half of 2010. YG Entertainment’s net profit is said to be around $6,718,774 USD, while SM Entertainment’s net profit is reported to be around $3,659,605 USD.

Japan’s “You’re Beautiful” sees a rise in viewer ratings thanks to Jang Geun Suk’s cameo

Actor Jang Geun Suk finally made his cameo appearance in the Japanese remake of his hit drama, ‘You’re Beautiful‘.  Thanks to his special appearance, the drama experienced a sharp rise in viewer ratings, thus demonstrating the power of the ‘Jang Geun Suk Effect’.
The drama usually records an average of 9.5% in viewer ratings, but the episode with Jang Geun Suk’s cameo saw an increase to 10.1%. Although Jang Geun Suk enjoys great popularity in Japan, this was his first time appearing in a Japanese drama. Thanks to his Japanese lessons, the actor managed to complete his scenes in fluent Japanese without any NG cuts.
Jang Geun Suk also refused pay for his role, commenting, “I made a cameo for the fans who love the drama and me. I hope that they’ll use my compensation for the benefit of the drama.”
A Japanese representative said, “It’s because of such actions that Jang Geun Suk has become a much-loved actor in Korea and Japan.”

Wonder Girls appointed honorary ambassadors for ’2011 Korean Food’

On September 6th, the Wonder Girls were appointed as the honorary ambassadors for the ‘2011 Korean Food‘ campaign.
As honorary ambassadors, the Wonder Girls will be actively working overseas to raise awareness about the taste and quality of Korean food.
The members stated, “It was difficult not eating Korean food for more than three days while on tour in the U.S.  We toured 50 different states with the Jonas Brothers and we’d ask ahjummas for kimchi, gochujang (pepper paste), and tuna to eat on the bus while moving.”
They continued, “One time, a hurricane was hitting our area so we weren’t able to go out, but still, we ended up going to a Korean restaurant to eat samgyupsal. Sunye even made us ddukbokgi back home so we were able to have some fun in spite of the hurricane.”
Reflecting on being named honorary ambassadors, the girls stated, “It’s such an honorable and meaningful position, so we’re very grateful for the opportunity.  We’re going to make sure that everyone knows about Korean food through our music.”

CN Blue to release ‘In My Head’ single in Japan

Idol group CN Blue will be releasing their single, “In My Head” in Japan on October 19th.
CN Blue who has performed as an Indie group thus far has just signed a contract with Warner Music Japan and will kick off their Japanese promotions with their single, “In My Head”.
Previously, CN Blue earned the #1 spot on the Oricon Indies Chart, and recently the #3 spot with their final Indies album ‘392‘, which was released in Japan on the 1st.
CN Blue will be performing their solo concert ‘BLUESTORM‘ at the Olympic Hall in Seoul on the 17th & 18th, and cross over to Japan on the 25th to put on their last Indie concert at the Yokohama Arena.

Super Junior on the cover of Ceci China’s September edition

Super Junior was on the front cover for the September edition of Ceci China, and they’ve set a new record as every copy was sold out in a matter of a single day.
According to a Ceci representative, it was highly effective to model Super Junior on the front cover of Ceci China, as all copies were sold out in 24 hours. Ceci China is currently being sold in major cities in and around China such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The concept for their cover photo shoot was a crime scene, and the boys are dressed as suspects, prosecutors, detectives and reporters, as if telling a story.
Ceci China’s VP remarked, “Super Junior is already well-known in China for being leading stars of the Hallyu wave, but this was reconfirmed after our September edition was able to sell out in just a single day. In the future, we plan to continually introduce Korean Hallyu stars and exchange both Korean and Chinese cultures.”
Ceci launched Ceci China in June of 2008, and Ceci China is currently being picked by Chinese women as the leading source for Asian trends and fashion.
Meanwhile, Super Junior continues to actively promote their album, despite their fellow member Kim Hee Chul enlisting in the Korean military service. On the 2nd through the 4th, Super Junior performed in Japan at the Tokyo Dome with their fellow SM family members including TVXQ, SNSD, BoA, and SHINEE for SMTOWN LIVE IN TOKYO, and 5,000 to 15,000 Japanese fans gathered to watch them perform each day.

Girl’s Day Minah responds to haters

In a recent interview with TV Report, Girl’s Day Minah shared her feelings about a stage incident where an individual remarked that she was overacting with her cuteness.
Minah shared her thoughts about the matter, saying, “I can understand why some would regard my cute acting as excessive and annoying, so I don’t feel upset about it.”
Furthermore, Minah brightened the situation by stating, “Although there are people who frown while watching me on television, it’s better than having zero viewers.”
Minah also explained that she was extremely nervous while performing by herself  on MBC’s Music Core with DEFCONN.  It was her first time on stage without her co-members.

Jeon Do Yeon praises miss A’s Min for her acting skills

miss A‘s Min recently took up her first acting role for the movie ‘Countdown‘, and it was said that she received much praise for her acting skills from actress Jeon Do Yeon.
In the movie, Min plays the character of Jeon Do Yeon’s hidden daughter, and was cast after Jeon Do Yeon’s appearance in the movie was finalized because the drama officials wished to cast a rookie actress who had a similar feel to that of Jeon Do Yeon’s, but also had talented acting skills.
It was said that Min gave a great first impression during her meeting with the producers and Jeon Do Yeon, and displayed a level of confidence that was not often seen in rookies.
Jeon Do Yeon commented, “She has much talent and desire. While filming, she followed the director’s instructions perfectly and displayed her talented acting skills. I was especially impressed by her confidence- at first I thought she was just acting like she wasn’t timid. I think that she will be able to become a great actress in the future.”
‘Countdown’ will be released in theaters on September 29th.

Kwon Ri Sae and David Oh to leave ‘We Got Married’

One of the four couples on the MBC reality show ‘We Got Married‘, David Oh and Kwon Ri Sae, will bid farewell to the virtual marriage program sometime this month to focus on their own album and drama activities.
Gaining fame through MBC‘s “Birth of a Great Star“, the duo joined the program back in July of this year and quickly gained many fans, even being selected for a commercial with LG Electronics.
With their removal from the show, there are rumors that a new couple will soon join the storied ranks of the “We Got Married” altar. Although there has been speculation that the Nickhun – Victoria couple will also take their leave, the producers have yet to comment on their removal.

Baek Ji Young & Jung Suk Won leave for Thailand

Singer Baek Ji Young and her boyfriend, Jung Suk Won, were recently spotted at Incheon International Airport where the two showed off their airport fashion before heading to Thailand.
The couple are planning to stay at Bangkok for approximately a week to complete a special photo shoot focused on their growing relationship.
Baek Ji Young can be seen wearing a simple cap, along with a pair of jean shorts and a fashionable white see-through top. Jung Suk Won also went with casual clothing, sporting a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and some headphones around the neck.

Nichkhun and Victoria confirmed to be leaving ‘We Got Married’

Looks like today won’t be a good day for “We Got Married” fans — on the heels of the news that the David Oh – Kwon Ri Sae couple will be leaving from the show, Nichkhun and Victoria (known as the ‘Khuntoria‘ couple) will also be getting a ‘divorce’ from the popular MBC reality show.
“Two couples will be leaving the program in the middle of September,” stated a representative for MBC. “We’re in the middle of recruiting a new couple.” With the departure of two couples, it will be interesting to see how ‘We Got Married’ plans on filling the gaps.

Is singer Tim dating actress Jung Eun Seon?

Sony Music Entertainment Korea, the agency of singer/actor Tim, recently opened up about rumors of a relationship between Tim and actress Jung Eun Seon.
Possible signs of the two dating were picked up by reporters when one of the musical officials responded in an interview,”The two are just like any other couple, they enjoy going on small dates.”
When news about the relationship quickly spread, officials at Sony Music Entertainment Korea called in for a phone interview with TVreport on September 5th at 5PM.  The agency assured, “The two are NOT dating.” Additionally, they expressed, “The two played in the musical, ‘My Heart’s Organ‘ together and treat each other as close church siblings.”
For those who aren’t familiar with Tim, he debuted back in 2003 with ‘First TIM‘ and played in musicals such as ‘Jesus Jesus‘ and ‘My Heart’s Organ‘.

Former SNSD trainee Jang Ha Jin is the special guest on SBS’s ‘Morning Wide’

Last year, we reported that former SNSD trainee Jang Ha Jin was accepted into the prestigious KAIST University to continue her studies.
Jang Ha Jin made an appearance on the September 6th episode of SBS‘s ‘Morning Wide‘ where she talked about how she was almost the 10th member of popular idol group SNSD / Girls’ Generation, but gave it all up to continue her studies.
She explained, “I was brought in as a trainee of SM Entertainment after I had won first place at the ‘SM Best Youth Contest’ doing what I love most, singing and dancing. Seohyun and YoonA were two of my closest friends at the time, and they placed well too. Because our friendship was so close to one another, we were often referred to as ‘The Three Musketeers’.”

In addition, Jang Ha Jin also revealed that she trained with T-ara‘s Soyeon, who was also supposed to debut with SNSD in her place as the 10th member, however Soyeon also withdrew because she didn’t feel ready at the time, and thought it to be too difficult.
Meanwhile, Jang Ha Jin revealed that she’s been doing extremely well in her studies at KAIST, and hopes to keep her grades high.

Bada shares pictures from her latest photoshoot

Singer and musical actress Bada revealed few pictures from recent photoshoot for Cebu.
On September 3rd, Bada uploaded a picture on her personal homebage titled, ‘Cebu Photoshoot‘ along with a few pictures from the actual shoot and behind-stage picture.
In one of the pictures that Bada had uploaded, Bada is wearing a coral, layered dress, flaunting her sophisticated beauty. Furthermore, she showcased her perfect complexion, taking professional pictures even without any make-up on.
Netizens who came across these photos commented, “Bada unni gets prettier everyday! When are you going to stop getting pretty?“, “I think you look the best natural“, and, “When can we see you back on stage?”.
Meanwhile, Bada is preparing for the release and Asia tour for the upcoming musical, ‘200 Pounds Beauty‘, in which she is starring as the protagonist, Kang Han Byul.

Wedding photos of Han Ye Seul & Eric revealed for ‘Spy Myung Wol’

Netizens are expecting a happy ending for KBS’s ‘Spy Myung Wol’.
On the episode that aired on the 30th of August, Myung Wol (Han Ye Seul) hid her true feelings for Kang Woo (Eric) with a cold threat, “Shut up. You still don’t know? I could kill you on the spot right now for my country. That is who I am”.
While during the last scene of the same episode, Kang Woo proposed to Myung Wol, “Han Myung Wol, let’s get married. And let’s live here together”, leaving the viewers unsure about whether the ending of the drama would be a sad or happy one.
However, wedding photos of Kang Woo and Myung Wol have surfaced from the set on the 5th, leading netizens to believe that there may be a happy ending in store for the drama after all. The producers could be also pulling a fast one as the surfaced photos could actually be from a dream sequence.

Boom to make his comeback on SBS ‘Strong Heart’

Comedian and VJ Boom will finally made his long awaited comeback on SBS ‘Strong Heart‘ which is scheduled to air on September 6th at 11:15PM.
It was told that during filming, Boom had made his grandiose return and had performed various comical ceremonies celebrating his own comeback.
In addition, Boom was lost for words because of the friendly and grand welcoming that he had received. Boom also performed the dance that he had been practicing for his comeback called, ‘Boom’s Frantic Dance‘, and also taught the dance to other guests on the show. Not only that, but Boom had also shared his story while he was in the army causing the crowd to burst into laughter.
On this day, Baekdoosan (Yoo Hyun Sang and Kim Do Gyun), SNSD (Seohyun, Sunny, Hyo Youn), No Joo Hyun, Jun Hyebin, BMK, Yoon Hee Suk, Yang Sae Hyung, and Boom starred in the show as guests.

Brown Eyed Girls’ Ga-In spotted with black hair in Japan

 
On September 5th, the photos shown above were shared on an online portal site with the title ‘Ga-In in Japan‘.
In the photos, Brown Eyed Girls member Ga-In is seen making her way through a large crowd while sporting jet black hair, unlike the blonde look she previously showed through a drama.
After seeing her new look, netizens left comments such as, “Is the black hair part of their new album concept?” and “She looks much sharper than before“.
Meanwhile, the Brown Eyed Girls will be making a comeback to the music scene towards the end of September with their new album.

KARA dominates the charts with “Step”

Although it’s only been a few hours since KARA‘s third album, “Step“, was revealed to the public, the girls are already riding high by placing first on various online music charts.
With first-place accolades on Melon, Olleh, Bugs, and Soribada, it looks like the storied group has yet another success on their hands with their trademark “KARA-style” music. “Step” was composed by Han Jae Ho and Kim Seung Soo, the same duo behind such hits as “Mister” and “Honey“.
Meanwhile, KARA will start comeback promotions following the busy Chuseok holiday this weekend.

Girl’s Day Sojin’s ideal type is T.O.P?

 Girl’s Day member Sojin (25) revealed that Big Bang‘s T.O.P was her ideal guy type.
During an interview with TVReport, she shyly admitted, “TOP is my ideal man. He’s so charismatic.”
Additionally, it was revealed that SG Wannabe‘s Lee Suk Hoon (27) was a close second.
Sojin also talked about her experience as a radio DJ on an MBC Radio program. She stated, “Kyuri was overseas so I filled in for her… It was a fun experience but I don’t think I have enough experience to be a radio DJ.”

Lee Seung Gi is a ‘baby daddy’

Pictures of Singer Lee Seung Gi holding a young child were leaked on the internet.
The pictures of Lee Seung Gi were taken during the filming of 1N2D‘s Viewers Tour Special. He is seen with all smiles holding Shim Eui Jin- a young toddler who is a guest on the show.
Netizens commented, “So jealous of Eui Jin“, “Seung Gi will be a good father“, and “She looks like a daddy’s girl“, etc.
100 guests ranging from the ages of 0 to 100 were invited to partake in the show for 1N2D’s Viewer’s Tour, Shim Eui Jin being one of them.

TVXQ to model for Lacoste and travel to New York

TXVQ is gaining interest for signing a ‘friendship contract’ with French fashion brand Lacoste.
Lacoste commented, “In order to further contribute to Korea’s worldwide success, we have selected TVXQ as the new faces of Lacoste, for they are at the leading forefront of the current Hallyu wave. Through this new friendship contract, we hope to market our brand to the younger generation.”
TVXQ was also invited to the first showing of Lacoste’s Creative Director- Felipe Oliviera Baptista‘s fashion collection which will take place in New York on the 9th. They will be standing before many international fans and people of high fashion gathered from all over the world.
This is the first ‘friendship contract’ that Lacoste has ever signed, and it further proves TVXQ’s force and influence not only in the music entertainment world, but in the fashion industry as well. TVXQ will also be taking part in a dynamic photo shoot during their stay in NYC.
TVXQ will officially begin promoting the French brand Lacoste towards the end of this year.