2PM’s Jun. K drops teaser for “ALIVE”

Ever since 2PM‘s debut, member Jun. K (Junsu) has been praised for his all-around musical talent, from his soulful vocal pipes to a knack at composing his own tracks. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that he’s making his official solo debut this month, starting with the release of a music video for his brand new track, “ALIVE”!
Now, he’s dropped a hot teaser for everyone!
Without any further delay, feast your eyes and ears on Jun. K’s teaser for his first solo release, “ALIVE”!

source:allpop

Chief prosecutor speaks up about G-Dragon’s marijuana case

After G-Dragon‘s marijuana investigation came to light, many netizens immediately commented on how the idol must’ve shaved off his hair to avoid getting caught. The investigation required both a urine and hair sample.
To refute these accusations, a chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office named Kim Hwe Jong stepped forward to say, “G-Dragon and the shaving of his head during the marijuana investigation have no relation to one another“.
On October 5th, prosecutor Kim had a phone interview with a reporter and said,

“The truth is that Kwon Ji Yong‘s [G-Dragon's] marijuana examination took place in the middle of June, not in July. We didn’t even know that Kwon Ji Yong shaved his head in August; by then, it was a closed case. Therefore, you can’t say that he shaved his head in order to avoid further testing. Since it is a closed case, there are no plans to hand out a probation or to hold further investigations.“

The reporter then asked about G-Dragon’s behavior and confession during the investigation. (G-Dragon had confessed to smoking marijuana in a club while he was visiting Japan for a performance in mid-May.)
Chief Prosecutor Kim said,  ”Kwon Ji Yong appeared to be regretful. There were no difficulties when we were trying to hear his confession. He told the truth, as the positive results had already been released. He also expressed his will to never smoke marijuana.”

G-Dragon did not receive a suspension or indictment for his charges. Many netizens expressed whether this was too light a judgment, considering his offense.
Chief prosecutor Kim explained,

“It’s not like that in any way. This type of case is one that would normally not carry a suspension. He is a college student, and it’s his first offense. Also, the investigation’s results only detected a very small amount. The fact that he was a college student weighed most heavily. College students and grown adults are [judged] differently, because it may have a larger impact on their future.“

And why was this revealed so late?
Kim replied, ”Since Kwon Ji Yong is a public figure, the case could not be easily stated. The case was revealed, it seems, because rumors were going around about it.”
At this time, all activities for G-Dragon have been temporarily suspended. YG Entertainment has issued an official apology, and the national broadcasting networks of KBS, SBS, and MBC have all declared that G-Dragon will not be blacklisted from any appearances.
Source: allpop

Big Bang’s G-Dragon will not be blacklisted from broadcast appearances

Big Bang‘s G-Dragon made headlines recently after it was revealed he tested positive for marijuana usage. Considering how his peers in the industry were blacklisted for scandals, netizens have been wondering whether he too will be banned from appearing on the nation’s biggest public broadcasting channels, KBS, MBC, and SBS.
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as KBS, MBC, and SBS officially announced that “appearance sanctions [against G-Dragon] will not be made.”
To start, KBS and MBC have confirmed that they will not be imposing any restrictions on G-Dragon. A representative of KBS stated, “Kwon Ji Yong‘s indictment is currently suspended and thus he is not standing before the law. Consequently, imposing a restriction would be difficult.”
MBC also announced, “We could talk about appearance restrictions, but opening a whole conference is not yet decided. We would usually have a meeting if it were civil or criminal cases, but when a case’s indictment is suspended, we typically will not open one.”
SBS also came out with similar announcements to KBS and MBC, stating that chances of restricting G-Dragon’s TV appearance would be low.
Normally, an official decision for a celebrity’s removal from a broadcast appearance is normally made after each of the broadcasting stations hold a meeting with the Performers’ Regulation Commission. Currently, a total of 12 celebrities have been blacklisted by MBC and KBS after being hit with drug-related charges. Some of these include Oh Kwang Rok, Yoon Sul Hee, Jun In Kwon, Ju Ji Hoon, and Crown J.
Source: allpop

Wonder Girls’ Sohee looking as pretty as ever in her new photos

Have you been wondering about what Sohee‘s been up to lately?
On October 4th, Sohee updated the Wonder Girls‘ Twitter account with some new photos that had the caption, “Look at the orange“.
Sporting a casual outfit, Sohee points to her bright orange socks. Her unique track-pants, loose grey top, and spiffy Adidas kicks exude a comfortable charm that appeals to both her male and female fanbase. Her face seems to have lost some of its baby fat, and her slightly wavy hair gives her a more mature look.
Fans commented, “Whatever Sohee wears fits her well” and “She lost some baby fat but she still looks so young!”
The Wonder Girls are busily preparing for their Korean comeback, which is slated for the month of November.
Source + Image: allpop+ Naver

Lee Yoon Ji & Lee Si Young talk about their love lives at “Couple” press conference

Upcoming movie “Couple” held a press conference at the Apgujong CGV Theater on October 4th. The film is a romantic comedy revolving around the lives of five singles, and stars Kim Joo Hyuk, Lee Si Young, Lee Yoon Ji, Oh Jung Se, and Gong Hyung Jin.
During MC sessions, host Yoon Jong Shin interviewed the two females about their love lives. Turning first to Lee Yoon Ji, he asked, “You haven’t had a boyfriend in the past seven years?“, to which she responded, ”No I have… we just had to hide.” She also added that she’s not the type to act very cute in front of her boyfriend.
When Lee Si Young was asked about her ideal type, she replied, “Someone who I can communicate well with and is fun.” She went on to say that it would be great if she could work out with her boyfriend.
Lee Si Young and Lee Yoon Ji’s movie will be released in theaters on November 3rd.
You can watch the trailer for the movie below:

Jang Dong Gun and Go So Young celebrate their son’s first birthday

Celebrity couple Jang Dong Gun and Go So Young recently held their first birthday party for their son, Jang Min Joon.
Jang Dong Gun’s agency stated, “Jang Dong Gun came back to Korea on October 3rd to celebrate his son’s first birthday. They only invited close friends and relatives to this private event.”
The event was said to be small and cozy, and guests shared their well-wishes with the proud parents. Then came time for the party’s highlight — the “dol-jab-ee” ritual.
For Koreans, the highlight of a child’s first birthday party lies in the “dol-jab-ee” ritual. “Dol-jab-ee” is a tradition in which a family lays out a few objects with symbolic meanings in front of the 1-year-old (like money, books, and rice cakes). Whatever object the child chooses determines their “future” or “character”. Baby Jang Min Joon chose rice, which meant success and everlasting health. This promised that he would follow his parents’ path in the future.
In celebration of their child’s first birthday, Jang Dong Gun and Go So Young also donated $100,000 USD to a charity.
Source +Image: allpop+Newsen

SuJu’s Kim Heechul collaborated with Orange Caramel on “Shanghai Romance”

Orange Caramel will be making their comeback with a new song called “Shanghai Romance”.
As reported earlier, Orange Caramel received much love for their hit song, “Bangkok City”, from their ‘One Asia Project’. This time, they’ll be showcasing one of China’s most vibrant cities as their next ‘destination’.
The girls drew in a star composer for “Shanghai Romance”, and on October 5th, Pledis Entertainment finally revealed this individual’s name.
Representatives stated, “Super Junior‘s Kim Heechul participated as a composer for Orange Caramel’s new single. In the album, he was introduced by his nickname ‘Big Space Star’.” They continued, ”The combination of Orange Caramel’s delightful melody and Kim Heechul’s unique lyrics resulted in a song that’s fresh and lively, so please anticipate it.”
Orange Caramel will be releasing “Shanghai Romance” on October 13th. Stay tuned to allkpop for updates!
Source + Photo: allpop+Chosun via Naver

YG Entertaiment releases an official statement regarding G-Dragon’s marijuana case

YG Entertainment has just released an official statement about their position regarding the issues surrounding G-Dragon‘s marijuana case.
In the documents released to the press, YG Entertainment stated,

We would like to sincerely offer our deepest apologies to all the fans and to everyone who appreciates Big Bang’s music.
G-Dragon underwent an investigation for smoking marijuana last July. Because G-Dragon had never smoked marijuana, we cooperated with the investigation confidently and proceeded as usual with scheduled events. However, according to the hair strand test, G-Dragon tested positive for minuscule amounts of marijuana, which shocked us.
While we were contemplating what the reason could be, we thought of the event that occurred in May during their Japan tour. There was a drinking event to celebrate a successful concert with various Japanese associates who visited us at the concert location. When G-Dragon went to use the restroom, a young person who seemed to be a Japanese fan recognized G-Dragon and offered him a cigarette as he greeted him. Out of courtesy, G-Dragon took two or three puffs, but upon feeling that it was different from normal cigarettes, he flushed it down the toilet right away.
We thought it to be a trivial event, and soon we were unable to remember that it ever happened. However, when we began to ponder over the reason for this positive test, that night’s event returned as the likely cause.  We contacted the prosecution right away and related the event exactly as it happened.
Although there was no legal penalty issued, the guilty conscience and responsibility for causing everyone pain is a weight that G-Dragon and the company must now carry upon our shoulders, and it is heavier than any penalty.
As celebrities who have received a lot of interest from the public, and as a company who is supposed to thoroughly manage them, we sincerely regret the emergence of this situation, and have been self-reflecting on our carelessness. We deeply bow our heads as we apologize for causing you to worry once again, and we will try our best to make sure this type of event does not occur again.

source: allpop

Big Bang cancels a scheduled photoshoot with North Face

It’s just been reported that in light of G-Dragon‘s marijuana scandal, G-Dragon as well as the other members of Big Bang failed to show up for a scheduled photoshoot.
With the exception of Daesung, the members were scheduled to participate in a photoshoot for a North Face advertisement at a studio in Seoul. By noon, all the preparations were complete, and staff members as well as the other models were seen waiting on set.
Unfortunately, due to the breakout of G-Dragon’s scandal this morning, the Big Bang members did not turn up for the shoot.
A staff member revealed, “We’ve just received notification that today’s photoshoot will be cancelled.” It seems with the sudden breakout of the issue, Big Bang has been confined to their homes, and YG Entertainment called in to cancel their schedule.
Netizens expressed mixed reactions, ranging from, “How is this going to affect their other schedules?”, “What about all the staff members wasting their time on set?” and ”Big Bang fighting!“.
Source: TV Daily, Star, Joins

Is Big Bang on the verge of collapse?

With the recent news of Big Bang‘s G-Dragon caught in a legal issue for smoking marijuana, fans can’t help but be worried about Big Bang’s future as they are arguably one of the most successful boy bands in Korea at the moment.  Without a doubt, this is the boys’ most difficult moment in their careers, as now another member of the group is forced to postpone his activities.
Back in May of this year, member Daesung was involved in a car accident which took the life of a man and ultimately had the idol temporarily leaving the music industry.  Now we have G-Dragon who has been arrested for smoking marijuana.  These boys have come a long away starting from their debut years, but 2011 seems to be their worst year.
Many of their future schedules have gone down the drain.  First off, GD&TOP were in plans to release a new single in Japan between November and December, however with the recent incident, it’s unlikely to happen.  Furthermore, G-Dragon was in the process of making a comeback with a new solo, mid October.  All of his comeback plans have been dismissed.
This isn’t the first time the group has had to pause major activities.  Prior to Daesung’s car accident, the group was in preparation for new music and concert releases.  Unfortunately, those plans were trashed when news of the idol’s accident hit media outlets.
It is apparent that Daesung took a huge loss with the unfortunate event.  Even after 5 months, there are no signs of the idol returning to the industry.  Industry Analysts have predicted that G-Dragon might have to take a long break just like his group mate.  Considering how strict the Korean government is in regards to marijuana usage, this prediction is very reasonable.
According to reports, the idol took the drug back in May and after further investigation, a hair drug test came out to be positive in July.  The idol even confessed himself that he smoked marijuana while attending a club in Japan.
On the bright side, because this was G-Dragon’s first offense, the prosecutor will not be giving him a serious charge, which means he will not be officially indicted.  Despite this, the idol has taken a huge loss all because of the usage of marijuana.
The boys’ agency, YG Entertainment is also struggling as Big Bang is their biggest source of income.  According to their annual reports, 27.98% of their total revenue for the first half of the year was from Big Bang’s concerts alone.  If you include their album sales and endorsements, it goes beyond 50% of the total revenue mark.
With the band’s temporary cease of activities, it’s no doubt that the company will have a sharp drop in revenue in the latter half of the year.  Analysts have shared that if G-Dragon gets his name blacklisted from broadcasting companies, it may be the very end of Big Bang.
Source + Photos: allpop+sportsseoul via Naver

KARA to launch their first official online fanclub since debut

2011 has been a roller-coaster ride for both KARA and their fans due to the threat of disbandment that haunted the girls earlier this year. Yet they’ve emerged from this threat with stronger bonds to each other and with their fans, and so to celebrate a successful turnaround, the group will be opening their first online fanclub since their debut in 2007.
KARA’s comeback album ‘Step‘ has been sweeping charts from the get-go, and KARA expressed thanks to their fans for helping them achieve great success. “Even though our domestic album promotions are short-lived, we are grateful for all the love, support, and attention we’re getting from our fans. We want to use this online fanclub as an opportunity to get closer with all of them.”
KARA’s online fanclub will open registration between late October and early November. Those who enroll will receive official fanclub cards as well as special perks, such as designated member lines at concerts, fanmeetings, and broadcasting recordings.
Stay tuned for more info on KARA’s online fanclub!
Source & Photo: allpop+Sports Seoul via Naver

Did Taeyang know about G-Dragon’s marijuana scandal before it blew up?

After G-Dragon‘s marijuana scandal blew up in the media earlier today, netizens have been wondering if his fellow members were aware of the situation prior to public exposure. Consequently, fellow Big Bang member Taeyang has been gathering attention from fans and netizens alike with a Twitter message dating from October 1st.
On the 1st, Taeyang tweeted an enigmatic message that read, “I might act like I don’t know, but I know it all. I might act like I’m being fooled, but I’m just closing my eyes.”
Taeyang’s message didn’t receive much attention at the time, but after the marijuana scandal broke out, netizens began to wonder if the message was directed towards his group leader, G-Dragon.
Netizens have been leaving comments like, “I think there’s a hidden purpose in this message“, “Did Taeyang know?“, and “This has to be directed towards G-Dragon, right?”
Are netizens making mountains out of molehills, or is there some credence to their theories? Toss us your thoughts below.
Source: TV Daily via Nate, Taeyang’s Twitter + allpop

Simon D is nervous about his upcoming solo album

Supreme Team‘s Simon D is feeling the pressure. The star is preparing to release his first solo album, and he’s concerned about its success.
Simon D was widely popular in the underground as ‘Simon Dominic‘ prior to his mainstream debut with Supreme Team, and so he technically isn’t new to the ‘solo’ game. He’s anxious in not just doing well for himself, however, but for his team as well.
One reason for Simon D’s individual project is that fellow member E-Sens has had lung-related health issues since the beginning of this year. As such, the rapper has taken a temporary hiatus from the music industry in order to recover.
Rather than cancelling all events and promotions, Simon D took on the burden of performing by himself.
A representative of their entertainment company, Amoeba Culture, explained that with the recent successes of Korean hip-hop veterans Leessang and Verbal Jint, Simon D feels extra pressured to continue the high streak.
“Although he hasn’t said it explicitly himself, Simon D is so physically and mentally overwhelmed by the burden of solo promotions that he even considered delaying the album release. However, he’s been working diligently for the past eight months and will prove his musical confidence when it finally goes public. He is very disappointed and sorry that he will not be able to perform on stage with feellow member E-Sens, but promises to work even harder to make up for his absence.”
Simon D’s collaborative work with producer Loptimist will be released on October 7th.
Source & Photo: allpop+ Star News via Naver

Super Junior thanks ELFs after their ‘Super Junior K.R.Y’ concert

The members of Super Junior recently gathered together for a shot after their ‘Super Junior K.R.Y’ concert in China.
Ryeowook tweeted a group shot on October 5th, along with the caption, “It’s such nice Fall weather. Thank you ELFs for coming to our ‘SJ KRY’ concert in China.”
The photo shows Donghae, Yesung, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Sungmin standing together in their stage outfits while smiling for the camera.
Netizens commented, “You are all totally handsome,” “A heartwarming picture,” and “The new hairstyles look good on all of you.”
In related news, Super Junior will launch a world tour across various parts of Asia, the Americas, and Europe this coming November.
Source: allpop

Super Junior to embark on a world tour this November

As major ambassadors of the Hallyu wave, Super Junior will kickstart a full-blown world tour this November, titled ‘Super Show 4‘!
Starting in Seoul, the tour will then head over to Osaka, Beijing, Taipei, Bangkok, and Singapore. Reportedly, the group will also make their way to the States as well as Europe to meet with fans all across the globe.
Last year’s ‘Super Show 3‘ covered 13 cities across Asia for a total of 20 concerts. After receiving constant love calls from all over the world, Super Junior decided to please fans with a global tour this time around.
The tour will officially begin with two concerts on November 19th and 20th at Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium. Tickets go on sale on October 13th at 8:00 PM through G-Market, but fans will have to be quick – with a group as huge as these guys, tickets are bound to sell out in an instant!
Source & Photos: allpop+Sports World via Naver

2PM’s Jun. K unleashes concept photos for his solo debut this week!

JYP Entertainment has just informed allkpop that 2PM hottie Jun. K (Junsu) is returning to the spotlight with his very own solo debut!
On the morning of October 5th, a brand new concept photo unveiling the idol, who has undergone an intense transformation to say the least. There’s no question that Jun. K has always oozed a certain masculine appeal, but with these latest photos, the singer’s stepped up his game and is looking as sexy and sophisticated as ever.
After impressing both fans and music aficionados with his self-composed track “HOT” and featuring in Kan Mi Youn‘s “Sunshine” earlier this year, Jun. K has proved himself as not only an apt siner, but a talented and well-rounded musician. Indeed, a spokesperson from JYP commented, “It’ll be good to have high hopes and expectations from Jun. K to go further past his pop idol status to a musician in a new direction.”
The concept photos play with a dramatic monochrome color scheme with a dash of red, showcasing Jun. K in two full suits: a red one matched with a unbutton  black shirt and chain necklaces, and a black one with a white button-up and a black bow tie.

this photo release, Jun. K’s music video will be released tomorrow, followed by the digital album release on October 8th. Stay tuned as allkpop closely follows Jun. K’s exciting solo debut!
 source: allpop

Super Junior’s Siwon to serve as co-host on new web talk show

Not only is he a member of Hallyu’s hottest k-pop group Super Junior and playing one of the main roles in the hit new drama ‘Poseidon‘, Choi Siwon is now also teaming up with the beautiful Han Ji Min to serve as a co-host for the first ever online Korean web talk show.
Siwon, who impressed viewers with his acting skills on ‘Poseidon’, will work with Han Ji Min to lead a new kind of program that’s different from the standard talk shows on many television programs today. Although the show will be taped rather than streamed live, the MC duo will prepare answers to questions they anticipate receiving from listeners in regards to the discussion topic and will proceed with the show as if they are having a live conversation.
This online web talk show is a first in Korea and it is a project launched by AmorePacific Mamonde, and the show will mostly cover the concerns women thirty years old and older have regarding their skin. The show is mostly for consumers and anyone who wants to participate can listen in at any time most convenient for them.
“I like that we can discuss things that listeners are thinking about, rather than them offering their two cents on a topic of our choice,” Siwon remarked. “And I like that it feels like a live show, even though it’s pre-recorded.”
Han Ji Min, who’s known for looking years younger than her actual age, surprised the staff members on set. The woman with flawless skin actually had some beauty concerns of her own. She honestly revealed her own insecurities that any woman at her age may have.
Women can tune in to the new web talk show hosted by Han Ji Min and Siwon starting October 1st on Mamonde’s Youtube channel. In order for women of all nationalities to be able to listen in, the program will be posted in three different languages.
Check out the teaser video below!

 source: allpop

YG Entertainment responds to G-Dragon’s marijuana case

Earlier this evening, we reported that Big Bang‘s leader G-Dragon had been arrested and warned by the Seoul police for smoking marijuana. As the story progresses, more details are being released about the circumstances surrounding his case.
“On June 15th, there was a search-and-seizure done on G-Dragon,” said a representative for the police. “The original urine tests came out negative, but a hair test performed in July, the results came out positive,” he said.
YG Entertainment had no immediate reaction. “It’s a shock,” said CEO Yang Hyun Suk. “We will make an official statement when everything has been verified.”
“There has been an emergency meeting,” revealed a YG insider. “It appears necessary to change our plans for Big Bang as well as GD&TOP,” he said. “G-Dragon is undergoing self-reflection as well.”
This latest incident is expected to have negative effects on G-Dragon’s scheduled comeback later this month, as well as GD&TOP’s promotions in Japan. YG’s standing on the KOSDAQ, Korea’s stock index, is expected to take a hit, as well.
Source: allpop+StarIn via Naver

Lee Dong Wook’s ideal type is singer IU

Actor Lee Dong Wook revealed his ideal type as singer IU.
On the 30th of September, Lee Dong Wook guest-featured on SBS Power FM (107.7 Mhz)’s, ‘Boom’s Young Street‘. He was asked a series of ‘Who’d you rather…’ questions to reveal the one celebrity he most preferred. When asked, ‘Taeyeon vs Sulli‘, Lee Dong Wook chose Taeyeon, and between co-stars Kim Sun Ah and Seo Hyorim, he chose Kim Sun Ah without hesitation.
When asked who he preferred between the glamourous G.NA or the nation’s sweetheart IU, he chose IU, admitting that he preferred cute over sexy. And between veteran actors Oh Yeon Soo and Go So Young, he revealed that he had worked with Oh Yeon Soo in the past, picking her in the end.
Lee Dong Wook easily and quickly answered the first few questions, but as the choices got harder, he began to hesistate, which led Boom to create specific scenarios trying to get an answer out of him.
The final ‘Who’d you rather’ question was IU vs ‘Scent of a Woman‘ co-star Kim Sun Ah, and the actor chose IU.
After the game was over, Lee Dong Wook admitted that he was suddenly really tired from doing all that thinking, sparking laughter.
Source & Image : allpop+SportsChosun via Nate

Kim Bomi talks about her ideal type: Super Junior’s Eunhyuk

Actress Kim Bomi, who played the role of a young girl dreaming of becoming the next Miss Korea in the movie ‘Sunny‘, revealed her ideal type as Super Junior‘s Eunhyuk.
On the episode of ‘Strong Heart‘ that aired on October 4th, she introduced her personal story as “My love, Anchovy” and revealed, “Eunhyuk’s bright smile is kind of dorky but really cute.”
Boom informed, “When all the Super Junior members came out together, he was voted the least good looking out of all of them,” to which she responded, “I don’t like guys that are too good-looking,” which caused the entire set to explode in laughter.
“In 2009 when I was invited on a different entertainment program, before the shoot began the writer asked who I liked and I told him ‘Eunhyuk’,” she continued. “But when we started shooting the episode, 2PM‘s Chansung was really nice to me and so I changed my mind. I thought Eunhyuk didn’t like me because he didn’t talk to me.”
Eunhyuk admitted he was also interested in Bomi by saying, “I tried to approach her but Chansung beat me to it.”
Boom and Leeteuk immediately then tried to set Bomi up on the spot, her choices being Eunhyuk, Lee Jae Yoon, Gary, amongst a few others. Despite revealing that her love was ‘anchovy’ Eunhyuk, Bomi hilariously chose Gary.

Other guest stars of this episode include Hyun Jin Young, Gary, Choi Ran, Yoo Haeri, Choi Soorin, Narsha, Miryo and Lee Jae Yoon.

SNSD’s Shorts: Hot or Too Short?

The length of SNSD‘s shorts are currently a hot topic amongst netizens.
On October 3rd, SNSD performed live at the ’2011 Hallyu Dream Concert’, putting on a very powerful and glamorous performance, attracting a tremendous amount of praise and cheer from fans.
As soon as photos of the performance were posted online however, the shortness of the members’ shorts instantly became a hot, controversial topic.
Netizens commented, “Aren’t they too short? There’s a certain length that is appropriate“, “They’re almost like panties…that’s embarrassing“, “I can almost see their butts“, expressing negative emotions.
At the same time, there were other comments such as, “Not everyone can pull them off… they look attractive to me“, “They’re average length shorts“, “I personally like them a lot” and “I’m so jealous of SNSD members’ genetically long legs“.


So what’s your verdict? Hot or Too Short?
Source: allpop+Asiae, Kyeongin, XportsNews

Untouchable end their basic military training

Untouchable‘s Sleepy (birth name Kim Sung Won, 28) and The Action (birth name Park Kyung Wook, 27) revealed to StarNews on the 4th that the two ended their five-week basic military training in Gyungkido and will both be serving in the 28th division military band together.
H.O.T‘s Lee Jae Won also completed his service at this same location. Untouchable’s rep stated, “All the members were able to end their basic training well and they are healthy. It’s a relief that the two will be serving together to encourage one another.”
On August 2nd, both Sleepy and The Action were admitted through the 306th reserves located in Gyungkido. Untouchable made their debut in 2006, and released their new single “You You” in May of this year. Their sensuous melodies and strong hip-hop flavor are loved by fans everywhere.
Source & Image :allpop

TVXQ, 2NE1, T-ara, FT Island, After School and Rainbow on HEY! HEY! HEY! Music Champ K-Pop special for October 10th

Via tokyohive:
Popular Japanese Variety show, HEY! HEY! HEY! Music Champ announced that they are going to air a two-hour-long special on October 10th in order to celebrate the 18th year anniversary of the show.
They also revealed the line-up for the special on their blog and made it clear that it’s going to be full-fledged K-Pop special, but the biggest highlight is going to be the appearance of Tohoshinki (TVXQ), who haven’t been on the show for two years.
The rest of the line-up includes T-ARA, RAINBOW, and AFTERSCHOOL, who are each going to perform medleys of their most popular songs, as well as performances from 2NE1 and FTISLAND.
Child actor Suzuki Fuku is going to be one of the panelists again and he already announced that he is going to dance to “Maru-Maru-Mori-Mori!” together with the girls from AFTERSCHOOL.
However, the show won’t be limited to just K-POP. The long-standing pop & dance group TRF, who have frequently been in the TOP 20 when HEY! HEY! HEY! Music Champ started 18 years ago, are going to perform a special medley that shouldn’t be missed.
Furthermore, it was announced that there is going to be a special collaboration by ‘ONE PIECE‘ and AMEMIYA dedicated to Tohoshinki.

Sources: allpop

Lee Jang Woo becoming a hot endorser in the advertisement industry

Thanks to his rising popularity, actor Lee Jang Woo‘s worth in the advertisement industry has been skyrocketing.
Recently, he’s been starring in various dramas, variety shows, and music videos, and has become a household name to most viewers.  Fortunately, his efforts are paying off, as he’s also been receiving a large amount of CF casting offers.
In addition to KBS‘s ‘Human Casino‘, he’s also working on ‘Jane’s Honor‘.  Earning the title of the most sought after male actor, he’s naturally become a targeted figure in the advertising industry.
He’s already working as the endorsement model for ‘ABC Market‘, and his influence alone has managed to launch search terms like “Lee Jang Woo’s Shoes” to the top of portal search rankings after the CF airs.  There’s also reportedly been a rise in sales with brands he models for like LG Fashion‘s ‘TNGT‘ and ‘HUM‘.
It’s still early to tell, but many believe that he’s on his way to becoming a top tier model in the ranks of Jo In Sung and Lee Seung Gi.
Source: allpop+Financial News via Naver

AZIATIX releases Instrumental album for “Nocturnal”

Coined the Trailblazers of ‘new school’ R&B, the boys of Aziatix have just released their new instrumental album for ‘Nocturnal‘!
The album is in response to a flood of requests from fans to release an instrumental version, and it includes all of their tracks featured in their original album, including “Cold” which debuted at #4 on iTunes.
Additionally, the album includes a special new track titled “Be With You” (Rock Version) that garnered over 130,000 hits on YouTube when the MV was released last month.
Their fanbase is international- ranging from Japan, all the way to Chile & the Middle East, and they are ready to take on America with an upcoming US concert and a radio tour next month.
The boys will also be releasing a music video for “A Game” soon, so stay tuned to allkpop!

The ‘Nocturnal’ Instrumental album is available immediately on iTunes.

Highlight of miss A & 2PM’s new interactive movie, ‘Hello’ revealed

As part of the 2011 campaign for the new interactive movie ‘Hello‘, a press conference was held earlier today featuring JYP Entertainment‘s very own 2PM & miss A. Now, the highlight for this interactive movie was uploaded on Touch Korea’s official YouTube channel.
“Hello” is an interactive movie created to spread awareness about Korea’s beautiful traditional culture. In the movie, the idols take a trip across Korea with fans and viewers to introduce the nation’s history and culture.
A representative from the Korea Tourism Organization stated, “With 2PM & miss A serving as the official spokespersons for ‘Hello’, international fans will get to see a more historical side of Korea, causing the Hallyu wave to grow even stronger. We plan on using various new strategies in the future to spread more information about Korea throughout the world, and we hope that it will continue to attract more overseas visitors.”

 Source & Image : allpop+TVDaily via Nate

Song Seung Hun is working on “Lucid Dream”

Upon completing “My Princess” and rejecting “Brain“, many have been wondering what actor Song Seung Hun plans to do next.
It has been revealed that Song Seung Hun is in the process of working on a top secret project. Currently, Song Seung Hun has been filming “Lucid Dream” with director Chang, who is mostly known for his work on music videos.
This project which was originally called the Song Seung Hun Project is a work that is specifically for Song Seung Hun, and is a type of monodrama.
It’s been reported that Song Seung Hun has been filming “Lucid Dream” in secret with director Chang since the middle of last month. This global project is aiming to be released in the latter half of next year. Befitting a hallyu star, Song Seung Hun plans to show “Lucid Dream” not only in Korea, but in Japan and China as well.
Also, Song Seung Huns plans to work on “Lucid Dream” apart from his next work. While working on his personal project “Lucid Dream”, he is open to taking on movies or dramas for his next work.
Source: allpop+Star News via Naver

Girl’s Day experiences popularity at ‘Korea-Japan Festival’ in Japan

Girl’s Day was showered with love during their recent attendance and performance at the ‘Korea-Japan Festival’.
The girls uploaded a photo on October 3rd through their me2day with the caption, “‘Korea-Japan Festival’ – the reactions of Japanese fans’ were just wow~ We thought it was a Girl’s Day concert. Thank you! Thanks to the 300 Japanese fans who greeted us at the airport as well, we were able to experience our popularity first hand.”
In the picture, Girl’s Day can bee seen doing their cute signature poses in the midst of the enthusiastic cheer from Japanese fans.
With the positive response they received at the event, Girl’s Day’s near future advancement into Japan seems promising. In addition, during February on Mnet Japan‘s ‘Viewer Appreciation Event’, Girl’s Day became the first girl group from Korea to make an appearance in the ‘Kpop Zone’, and received praise from the audience.
Netizens commented, “My Japanese friend went to that event too,” “Hallyu star status?”, “You girls are so pretty and beautiful,” and “Girl’s Day seems to have a lot of popularity in Japan.”
Source + Photo: Nate

Sandara Park returns to Seoul after NOLZA tour in Japan

On October 4th, 2NE1‘s Sandara Park posted via her me2day page, “Back in Seoul! Thunder and Dadoong came to pick me up from the airport, so cute!”
With the post, she uploaded a picture she took in the car of her brother driving and the family cat, Dadoong sitting ever so still next to him.
Netizens commented on the post with, “Jealous you have such a nice brother!”, “So cute“, and “I want to see more pictures of Dadoong!”
2NE1 just ended their ‘2NE1 First Japan Tour – NOLZA‘ concert tour in Japan, performing at the Yokohama Arena (9/19 ~ 9/20), Kobe World Commemoration Hall (9/24 ~ 9/25), and Chiba’s Makuhari Messe Hall (10/1 ~ 10/2). The concerts attracted an impressive figure of 70,000 fans in total.
Source & Image : allpop+ Dara’s me2day

CNBLUE’s Japanese concert photo receives attention

A recent photo from CNBLUE‘s concert in Japan has been receiving satisfied responses from Korean fans.
On October 3rd, an online portal site uploaded a photo of CNBLUE with a caption that read, “CNBLUE’s Japan concert picture.”
In the photo, the members are seen standing on stage in the middle of their performance. In addition, the boys are seen wearing simple and casual outfits of jeans paired with printed t-shirts.
Netizens commented, “I want to see you in Korea. How long will you be having promotional activities in Japan?”, “I’m happy that you are receiving a warm response from the Japanese”, and “Jung Yong Hwa, you look even more handsome now that you’ve dyed your hair.”
Meanwhile, CNBLUE will have their major debut album ‘In My Head‘ through Warner Music Japan on October 19th.

Source: allpop

Annabelle Ambrose from ‘Global Talk Show / Misuda’ reveals Wedding Photos

Known for her guest appearances on KBS ‘Global Talk Show / Misuda‘, Annabelle Ambrose revealed that she will marry her boyfriend of three years, Park Se Jin, on October 15th at 6pm in Fradia Wedding Hall in Seoul.
The two met for the first time back in January 2009 through Winter, another guest on ‘Global Talk Show’.
Husband Park Se Jin is a graduate of Sungkyunkwan University and is now shooting, editing, and doing video work for a production company.
Earlier this year in August, the couple previously held a small wedding in Annabelle’s home country of the United Kingdom with about 50 guests in attendance. After their upcoming wedding in Seoul, the couple plans to have a honeymoon trip in Paris, France.
 Source + Image: allpop+ Nate

New Girl Group ‘C-REAL’ releases MV teaser featuring MBLAQ’s Thunder

Another girl group has emerged, N.A.P Entertainment is unleashing ’C-REAL‘ consisting of five girls Chemi (Kim Young Won, 18), Lady (Lee Da Hee, 17), Effy (Lee Ji Hoon,17 ), NJay (Jo Yeo Woon, 16), and Leni (Lee Yoo Jin, 15).
These girls have reportedly been in the making for two years and Representative Choi stated that he was looking for the next young IU, and have been labeling the girls the ’5 IU mini me’s’.
All the girls are in high school, except for the youngest member Leni who is in Middle School.
‘C-REAL’ released a video teaser for their title track “No No No No No” on October 5th, as well as information about their mini album, ‘Round 1‘ which features 5 songs.

The lyrics and composition for “No No No No No“ was done by hit making producer, Brave Brothers.
Star News was on set for their Music Video “No No No No No” and when the cameras weren’t rolling the ‘C-REAL’ members were quite shy in front of the staff. However, when asked about music they became passionate and determined.
Leader Chemi replied, “We’re going to become a team that will make our innate natural talents shine. When we dance we’re going to dance, when we sing we’re going to become a team that will really sing”.
Rapper Lady revealed, “In the last MBC’s ‘Birth of a Great Star’ I passed the first round of auditions, but of course I instead chose to join C-REAL. I’ve practiced in a lot of different areas and rap is so much fun. This Fall, let’s try to make good memories with C-REAL”.
Effy replied, “We want to quickly grow (and become better), and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. First we want many people to listen to our cheerful song ‘No No No No No’”.

From Daejeon, NJay shyly responded, “Since our debut is right around the corner, we wake up around 5-6am and practice till late at night. We hope that our efforts will produce great results”.
Youngest member Leni added, “Since we filmed our music video, I’ve now realize that our debut is actually happening. I want us to become a girl group that will be able to express ourselves well to our peers”.

Representative Choi lastly commented, “C-REAL will reveal a track that will have emotions and feel that fits best girls that age. Of course they will also be a girl group that will take on the challenge of change”.
We’ll just have to wait and keep an eye out for this new girl group ‘C-REAL’.
Check out their music video teaser below featuring MBLAQ‘s Thunder.

Source + Image: allpop+ Nate and Yes24

Lee Min Ho to become the next face of Chinese apparel brand

Lee Min Ho is rising as a blue-chip model for Chinese advertisements.
After signing with Hyundai as a model for ‘Veloster’ in the Chinese market, Lee Min Ho has once again scored another endorsement contract with the Shunma, the biggest casual apparel brand in China. He will be continuing in the footsteps of Hangeng (Super Junior) as the next face of Shunma.
Shunma, who only employs top stars as their models, currently has 6,000 stores and has proved their status as a top fashion brand by securing a deal with Lee Min Ho.
A source stated, “The Korean idol groups who promote in China have fan bases that consist of mostly teenagers, while in contrast, Lee Min Ho is loved by broad age groups ranging from teens to the 50′s. This is a major distinguishing factor from other stars… With the luxurious image he has as an actor and with physical attributes even better than models, he will be popular not only among women but men as well.”
Source + Photo: allpop+Newsen via Nate

Jung sisters Krystal and Jessica take a picture together

The famous Jung sisters, f(x) member Krystal and SNSD‘s Jessica have released a picture together.
On October 4th, the above picture was posted on an internet portal site along with the title, ‘Bare faces of the Jung sisters’.
The picture shows Jessica and Krystal’s bare face without being ashamed nor embarrassed of showing off their good looks. They both posed adorably with their hands to their cheeks and showed off an adorable facial expression.
Fans who viewed the pictures commented, “Of course they are the Jung sisters! They look so alike!” and “Their poses are so cute, their bare faces are pretty too!”
Meanwhile, Jessica is gearing up for SNSD’s 3rd album comeback while Krystal is in the midst of filming ‘High Kick 3‘.
Source + Image: allpop+ Nate

Super Junior’s Kibum grows mustache for his new role, go behind the scenes of ‘A Tree of Deep Roots’

Producers of SBS recently went behind-the-scenes of their historical drama, ‘A Tree of Deep Roots‘, and interviewed Super Junior‘s Kim Kibum on his audition and role.
The clip starts off footage straight from his audition for the drama.  Kibum gives a brief script reading for a camera test.  The director praises back, “You were great.”
Looking back on his audition, Kibum commented, “When I first met the director, I was sick so I remember being really quiet.  I think that image influenced his decision to give me the role of ‘Park Paeng Nyun’.”
When asked to describe his character, he replied, “I’m the quiet and highly traditional side character that contrasts against ‘Sung Sam Moon’, who’s really quite the jokester and the energizer of the group.”
After revealing that he was growing out a mustache for his role, he stated, “I think viewers won’t be used to seeing this side of me.   But I’m sure they’ll get used to it after seeing me three or four more times.  I’ve been tweeting pictures and whatnot to help ease the image transition.”
Check out Kibum at work below!

 

source: allpop

Se7en to release his new album in Korea + Japan in January

Good news for all you Se7en fans. It’s been revealed that in January of 2012, Se7en will have a joint release of his new full album in both Korea and Japan.
A spokesperson for YG Entertainment on the 4^th stated via telephone, “Se7en is scheduled to release his album in early January of 2012. Additionally, next month in November, he will be unleashing his digital single album in Japan.”
It was also discovered that Se7en’s highly anticipated new album was originally scheduled to be released in November of this year but circumstances led to pushing the comeback date back to January of 2012.
Mainly due to Se7en being busy with his new chicken restaurant and his Japanese album work being done in Korea, it was decided that it would be best to push back the date allowing him to have some space to breathe before his comeback.
While being away from the Kpop scene for a year, Se7en recently made an appearance at the ‘2011 Hallyu Dream Concert’. On that day he performed his hits such as ‘Better Together’ and ‘Digital Bounce’ with an energy and charisma never seen before.
Let’s all wait a few more months and wish the best for Se7en’s upcoming promotions!
Source + Image: OSEN + allpop

2NE1′s Dara and YG’s Trainer Hwang compare arm sizes

On October 4th, YG Entertainment‘s Trainer Hwang (‘Hwangssabu’) shared a hilarious photo of himself and 2NE1‘s Dara through Twitter.
He wrote, “Extreme opposites ^^”, laughing at the vast difference between Dara and himself.
In the photo, Trainer Hwang is facing Dara while she has her back to him, and the two appear to be comparing arm widths.
Both have the red ’2NE1′ tattoos on their upper arms, but Dara’s arm looks tiny and fragile next to muscular Trainer Hwang’s.
Fans burst out with laughter and left comments like, “Hwangssabu is a muscle man!”, “His wrist is thicker than her’s!”, and “Complete opposites indeed“.
Source + Photo: Trainer Hwang’s Twitter + allpop

Kim Ah Joong breaks long silence after tax evasion scandal

Actress Kim Ah Joong, who recently came under fire for tax evasion, has opened up about the matter through her personal Twitter.
On October 2nd, the actress tweeted, “Life is not a novel story where everything is planned out beforehand, organized, and neatly constructed.”  This statement was taken from a famous novel by Gong Ji Young called “Mackerel“.
Kim Ah Joong was investigated by the Korean Internal Revenue Service, and was penalized with a 6-digit fine for evading her taxes. The actress put a hold on all her activities, and has been relatively quiet. She made a tweet back in September apologizing to her fans, and this recent message was her first in a month.
Netizens expressed their joy as they commented, “I’m so happy to know that you’re alive! ^_^“, “You’ve returned! I’ve missed you so much T_T“, and “Don’t give up, fighting!”
Source + Photos: mydaily+allpop

Seo In Young reveals two photos ahead of her comeback

Singer Seo In Young is getting ready for her comeback!  On October 4th, she revealed two contrasting mini-teaser photos through her Twitter.
Seo In Young wrote, “I’ve been recording, rehearsing, and preparing for my comeback.  Taken during a brief break from all of that.  Do you think I look like him?”. In her informal photo, she’s seen holding up a cute bear with puckered lips.
In another tweet, she wrote, “There’s really not much [time] left until my comeback!! ^^”
Seo In Young is famous for her unique fashion sense, so fans are already looking forward to seeing what she’ll be coming up with next. They commented, “Hurry and come back! I want to see you on stage again”, “Looking forward to it”, and “I can’t wait any longer, please hurry up!”

Source: Seo In Young’s Official Twitter + allpop