Korean Sexy Idol

Performances from January 28th’s episode of ‘Music Core’

2012-01-28T20:24:00.003+07:00

MBC’s ‘Music Core‘ is back once again with another fun and exciting show! It was unfortunately announced that regular MC Yuri will officially be resigning from ‘Music Core’. But like the trooper she is, she continued to brighten the set alongside fellow MC Tiffany for one last time.
Aside from the usual performances on today’s episode, B.A.P. continues to impress fans with their second debut stage of “Warrior“, and Six Bomb debuted with “Chicky Chicky Bomb“. Both Brian Joo and Dal Shabet also held their comeback stages for “Let This Die” and “Hit U” respectively.

Check out the adorable MC cuts below!

Performances from today’s show include MBLAQ, T-ara, TEEN TOP, Rainbow Pixie, NS Yoon-G, CHAOS, Nine Muses, Fat Cat (with Boyfriend’s Youngmin and Kwangmin), Boyfriend, Lee Hyun (8eight), Sunny Hill (with MBLAQ’s Thunder), F.I.X, AXIZ, Wink (with TEEN TOP’s Chunji and L.Joe), BoM, and Yeon Ji Hoo!

Check them out below!

source: allkpop

Sunny, Key, Kyuhyun, Dana, & more to star in ‘Catch Me If You Can’ musical

2012-01-28T20:15:00.003+07:00

The Korean production of Broadway musical ‘Catch Me If You Can’ has finally revealed its all-star cast!
K-Pop fans will be excited to know that Girls’ Generation‘s Sunny, SHINee‘s Key, Super Junior‘s Kyuhyun, and CSJH‘s Dana were included alongside musical actors like Lee Jung Hee, Lee Jung Ryul, Kim Bum Rae, Lee Gun Myung, Um Ki Jun, Park Kwan Hyung, Kim Jung Hoon, Jun Soo Kyung, Seo Ji Young, and Choi Woo Ri.

The musical, made possible through SM Entertainment, CJ E&M, and M Musical Art, will be put on through March 28th through June 10th. Kyuhyun and Key will be playing the role of ‘Frank’, while Dana and Sunny will be playing ‘Brenda’, Frank’s love.
Check out the promo video and photos below!

source: allkpop

Super Junior’s Siwon reveals his Twitter got hacked

2012-01-28T20:09:00.002+07:00

Super Junior‘s Choi Siwon is known for being the social media prince of K-Pop (as voted by the international K-Pop community here on allkpop). Unfortunately, that means he became a bigger target for attack. On January 28th, Siwon sent out a notice that his Twitter account had been hacked. “Someone hacked my account,” he wrote. “I know who did [it], but I’m not gonna tell. JUST DON’T DO THAT ANYMORE. Please.”
Concerned fans immediately rallied to support Siwon, sending messages of sympathy and annoyance at this invasion of his privacy. It seems that Siwon put it out of his mind, however, as he was determined to enjoy his final day in London. He shared a last photo from his trip, along with the words, “Last day in London. Regretful glance.”

Getting hacked and having to deal with a security issue while abroad is definitely not a great way to end a trip, but hopefully Siwon managed to fully enjoy his UK vacation.

source: allkpop

Donghae and Son Eun Seo are not confirmed as an official couple on ‘We Got Married’

2012-01-28T20:04:00.004+07:00

With Park So Hyun and Kim Won Joon leaving ‘We Got Married’, fans of the show have been looking forward to seeing which new couple would replace them on the show. With rumors of numerous couples being ‘confirmed’, Kim Joon Hyun PD of ‘We Got Married’ has firmly stated that they’ve yet to choose an official couple. He revealed to Sports Seoul on January 27th that, “With the exit of the Park So Hyun – Kim Won Joon couple, we plan to recruit a new couple to continue on the show with three couples. We are currently still looking for a new couple, so nothing has been confirmed yet.”

Recently, Super Junior‘s Donghae and Son Eun Seo were spotted holding hands on their double date with Leeteuk and Kang Sora during a shoot for ‘We Got Married’. This led to speculations that Donghae and Son Eun Seo had been officially recruited for the show as the new permanent couple.
However Kim Joon Hyun PD refuted, “Their story will be broadcast for the meantime, but they have not been confirmed as a permanent couple on the show. There have been other guests on the show besides these two had expressed their wish to ‘date’, so if they wish, we plan to carry on filming them as well.”
When asked what age groups the PD was looking for to replace the Park So Hyun – Kim Won Joon couple, he answered, “We don’t take age into account when we do the casting. They could be a couple who are both 20 years old, or they could be a couple with an age difference.”

source: allkpop

Jessica and Lee Dong Wook take an on-set snapshot for ‘Wild Romance’

2012-01-25T18:46:00.000+07:00

Girls’ Generation‘s Jessica and actor Lee Dong Wook have shared this sweet snapshot from their drama shoot!
Released on January 24th, the caption attached to the photo read: “Jessica will appear as Lee Dong Wook’s ex-girlfriend in ‘Wild Romance’. This is [from] today’s shoot.” Ever the camera whiz, Jessica whips out a cute yet relaxed pose while her co-star Lee Dong Wook looks like he was caught a little off-guard.

Netizens commented on the ‘couple’ with, “The two look really good together” and “Can’t wait to see how ‘Eun Jae’ [Lee Si Young] reacts!”
Make sure to catch Jessica’s drama debut on January 25th’s episode of KBS‘s ’Wild Romance‘!

source: allkpop

T-ara’s Eunjung injures her knee

2012-01-25T18:43:00.000+07:00

T-ara‘s Eunjung has suffered a knee injury that will need six weeks for full recovery. While commuting back home from her “Lovey Dovey” choreography practice on January 24th, Eunjung fell and ended up rupturing the supporting structures within her kneecap. At the time of her accident, there had been a heavy snowfall and the ground had been frozen solid as a result.
Eunjung was rushed to the emergency room immediately, where she took X-rays and received treatment. She later returned to the hospital on the 25th to receive a thorough check-up.

The results of the check-up determined that six weeks would be needed for recovery. While at the hospital, Eunjung also underwent a joint aspiration procedure which drained 30ml of blood from the inside of her knee with a syringe. She will have to make more trips to the hospital to keep receiving the treatment.
The region around her knee is currently swollen, and she is reported to be in a cast.
T-ara’s agency Core Contents Media stated, “We plan to see how Eujung’s leg is, and then adjust her schedule accordingly.”

source :allkpop

Girls’ Generation to appear on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’

2012-01-25T18:40:00.000+07:00

Earlier, allkpop reported that Girls’ Generation would be appearing on the American talk show program, ‘Live! With Kelly‘. It’s just been revealed that the girls will also be performing on CBS‘s late-night program, ‘The Late Show with David Letterman‘.
David Letterman’s talk show is famous for its celebrity guests, ranging from A-list Hollywood stars to politicians, athletes, and news anchors. It’s considered to be one of the top late-night TV programs in the States, and so the girls will be performing to a nationwide audience.

Girls’ Generation is scheduled to appear on January 31st (EST), before moving onto ‘Live! With Kelly’ for February 1st.

source: allkpop

KARA’s Park Gyuri leaves a savvy response to anti-fan comment

2012-01-25T18:36:00.000+07:00

KARA‘s Gyuri offered a word of advice to a hater who sent her a malicious tweet.
On January 24th, Gyuri used the retweet function to share a block of hateful messages with her followers. The malicious tweets read, “Park Gyuri, take care of it. My friends, who are fans of Ki Sung Yong, said they’re going to hit you. Writing hateful replies and making you commit suicide. My friends are huge fans of Ki Sung Yong, and they said they’re not going to leave you alone. Plastic surgery addict and loner. Pitiful.”

The hater appears to be responding to Gyuri’s video message for soccer player Ki Sung Yong during MBC‘s ‘Lululala’, where she stated, “I love you Sung Yong.”
After retweeting the malicious comment, Gyuri wrote, “There are all sorts of ways to express an inferiority complex, but I’m going to just go my way in 2012. For the new year, why don’t we use the time it took to create comments like these to learn new English words instead.”
She added shortly after, “Oh yeah, just in case there is a misunderstanding about the word, ‘inferiority complex’. That word is not something that applies to many people. It’s a word that refers to people who express their thoughts in such a rash manner.”

source: allkpop

Hyun Young to get married in March

2012-01-25T18:33:00.000+07:00

With all the news today about couples breaking up and rumors about others getting together, the Korean media is reporting that at least one celebrity will be making it down the aisle!
Earlier, MC Hyun Young revealed through a variety show that she was in a relationship. It’s just been announced that she’ll be hearing her own wedding bells this coming March. On January 25th, a representative from her label stated, “On March 3rd, Hyun Young will get married in Seoul’s Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel to a foreign finance worker (known as) ‘A’.”

The representative continued, “After revealing her relationship to the public, many people have sent in their encouragements and well-wishes.Now Hyun Young and her fiance have decided to get married. We can’t tell you her spouse’s identity as he is a non-celebrity, and as such, we want to protect his privacy.”
Hyun Young added, “Last March, we met for the first time through (mutual friends) and started to develop feelings for one another. Like fate we felt a strong bond, believed in each other, and decided to spend the rest of our lives together. Please cheer us on to live a happy life.”
Though details about Hyun Young’s mystery man are kept close, a light description of him says that he is tall and has a very handsome face.
The representative then assured fans that Hyun Young will continue to appear on television. “Even after marriage, there will be no changes to her entertainment activities,” they said. Congratulations to the happy couple!

source: allkpop

JYP denies reports that Wonder Girls’ Sohee and 2AM’s Seulong are dating

2012-01-25T18:29:00.000+07:00

A few hours ago, the Korean media reported that 2AM‘s Seulong and the Wonder Girls‘ Sohee were dating. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), their management company, JYP Entertainment, has released a statement denying all rumors of a relationship between the two idols. “Rather than dating, Sohee and Seulong are just close friends,” JYP explained. “All JYP artists have close friendships.”

Big Hit Entertainment, who jointly manages the ballad group 2AM along with JYP Entertainment, also professed to having no knowledge of their relationship. “Seulong is in Japan for his 2AM schedules, and we are in the process of verifying the particulars,” they said. “We will get back [to the media] once everything is confirmed.”

source: allkpop

MBLAQ’s Lee Joon and After School’s Lizzy perform an acrobatic dance routine

2012-01-24T19:06:00.000+07:00

MBLAQ‘s Lee Joon and After School‘s Lizzy have delivered a dazzling dance routine for MBC‘s Lunar New Year special, ‘Pit-a-Pat Shake‘. On January 24th, the two idols performed an acrobatic dance routine to the ‘Romeo and Juliet Theme‘. The song inspired a romantic performance with dramatic expressions and movements from Lizzy and Lee Joon.
The two began their routine in cloaks, which they threw off later to reveal matching uniforms in red and black for the new year.

Although the two performed magnificently, the 100-member panel ultimately ruled in favor of Super Junior‘s Sungmin and SISTAR‘s Hyorin, who delivered a Korean opera performance. Check out Lizzy and Lee Joon’s performance below!

source: allkpop

Super Junior’s Sungmin and SISTAR’s Hyorin perform Korean opera for ‘Pit-a-Pat’

2012-01-24T19:02:00.000+07:00

Super Junior‘s Sungmin and SISTAR‘s Hyorin blew fans away with their impressive pansori performance!
The two idols collaborated for MBC‘s holiday special ‘Pit-a-Pat Shake‘, where they performed their twist on a Korean opera classic. Inspired by the lunar new year, Sungmin and Hyorin carried out the traditional Korean folk tale of ‘Chunhyang’, the beautiful young woman who is loved by the governor’s son, ‘Mongryong’.

Both Hyorin and Sungmin were complimented for their talents in a genre that differed from the typical Western-influenced pop culture. Check out their refreshing performance below!

source : allkpop

KARA’s Seungyeon: “Now that I am 25, I want to fall in love!”

2012-01-24T18:58:00.000+07:00

Everyone is looking for love, and it seems like KARA‘s Han Seungyeon is no exception! On January 24th, MBC aired their Lunar New Year’s special, ‘Pit-a-Pat Shake‘, where Seungyeon revealed her intention to fall in love soon. “I think it is time for me to find a boyfriend,” she laughed. During her interview, she directed a bold message to her company by sending a video with the following message: “I am now a 25 -year-old woman [23 in Western age]. Stop teasing me and introduce me to a boy so I can start dating!”

She jokingly threatened, “If you don’t let me, I will start rebelling. I dare you to stop me.” On this episode of ‘Pit-a-Pat Shake’, four couples (consisting of Park Hwi Soon-Han Sunhwa, Lee Tae Sung-Seungyeon, MBLAQ’s Lee Joon-After School’s Lizzy, and Super Junior’s Sungmin-SISTAR’s Hyorin) performed duet stages together.

Check out Seungyeon’s performance with her partner, Lee Tae Sung, below!

source :allkpop

Super Junior’s Ryeowook & his cousin Jung Wook ask for Lunar New Year money

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000+07:00

One of the many traditions of Korean Lunar New Year is to bow to one’s elders to wish them happiness. Oftentimes, kids receive allowance money after completing the rites. On January 23rd, Super Junior‘s Ryeowook and his cousin, F.I.X‘s Jung Wook, had some fun re-anacting the Lunar New Year tradition. Ryeowook tweeted, “Happy New Year~” and “Wherever I go, I’m the proudly smiling and charming hyung~~~^^ Jung Wook, sorry. Don’t play with hyung’s money~~~Everyone, have a happy holiday~~>< I love you, keke.”

Ryeowook shared photos of the two adorably asking for money and doing the traditional Lunar New Year bow. Hilariously, he also gloated over his elder status as he showed his money off to his younger cousin.
Netizens commented on the cuteness of the two boys, as they wore matching outfits with similar styled sweaters, hairstyles and beanie hats.

source: allkpop

Past photos of B2ST’s Junhyung posing with girls attract attention

2012-01-24T18:48:00.000+07:00

Past photos of B2ST‘s Junhyung posing with many girl friends are becoming a hot topic online. In a recent community site, the photos were posted with the title, ‘B2ST’s Yong Junhyung, photos with past girl friends‘.
In the above photos, Junhyung gets close with a few girls, leading many to suspect that they could be his past girlfriends.

Junhyung sportings different styles with a warm look and natural schoolboy look while posing playfully with the girls. Netizens are responding hotly with, “Are they friends, or girlfriends? Either way, I’m envious“, “He looks like a different beauty“, and “Some of the photos have a couple feeling“.

source: allkpop

Possibility of TVXQ reunion through Avex?

2012-01-24T18:45:00.000+07:00

Recent news on the possibility of TVXQ‘s reunion is sending shockwaves throughout the industry. On January 22nd, a Japanese article titled, “Will Avex act as the savior? TVXQ’s reunion project” surfaced. It reported of rumors of a reunion concert at Tokyo Dome orchestrated by Avex, who was previously accused of hindering JYJ‘s Japanese activities. In light of Avex’s recent under-performing releases, it is said that they are willing to go head with this project and stop hindering JYJ’s Japanese activities. Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki is rumored to be negotiating on behalf of both sides.

While the news of a possible reunion is being met with enthusiasm by fans all over the world, many are skeptical of the chances of such a reunion actually occurring. The fact that this reunion is being orchestrated by Avex instead of SM Entertainment is also a cause of skepticism. The article goes on to state, “While the reunion of TVXQ is something that many fans are waiting, the small possibility of this actually happening is an indicator of Avex’s desperation,” hinting that Avex’s recent lack of success may be reason for pursuing such an unlikely project.
TVXQ fans responded to the news with, “While it would be great if reunion happens, it seems unlikely“, “They say Avex will lead the project but I can’t trust them“, and “I hope they stop writing these pointless reunion articles“.
As no official statements have been released from any parties, it’s important to wait for these rumors and speculations to be confirmed. Stay tuned to allkpop as we await developments on this matter.

source :allkpop

Han Chae Young deletes tweet after netizens leave negative comments

2012-01-24T18:40:00.000+07:00

Actress Han Chae Young greeted her fans on Twitter yesterday with the message, “HAPPY NEW YEAR! Taking a drive for the first time in a while this holiday weekend. I pray that in the new year, everyone will be prosperous with everything they do. Always remember to be happy and healthy.”

With her tweet, she also shared a photo of herself driving what looked to be a Lamborghini, a high-end Italian sports car.
Although there were a few fans that responded positively to her tweet, even wishing the actress the same blessings in the new year, there were a few that criticized her for driving such a luxurious car.
The netizens’ comments apparently proved to be too much, as the tweet had been removed as of 4:00PM January 23rd (KST).

source: allkpop

Co-Ed guest performs with T-ara on ‘Music Core’

2012-01-21T18:59:00.000+07:00

There’s no doubt that T-ara‘s latest hit “Lovey Dovey” has been attracting the likes of many, and even led to some trophies on several music programs. The girls continued to shuffle their way to Music Core‘s, as they put on another performance of “Lovey Dovey” on January 21st. This time, however, there was a short but sweet introduction from their fellow labelmates, Co-Ed School!
Does this mean that Co-Ed will be making their long-awaited comeback soon? Possibly! Stay tuned to allkpop for further news, and be sure to check out their performance below:

source: allkpop

Performances from January 21st’s ‘Music Core’

2012-01-21T18:54:00.000+07:00

MBC’s ‘Music Core‘ is back once again with another fun and exciting show! MCs Yuri and Tiffany brightened the set with their cheerful banter and cute aegyo while they guided the program.

Performances from today’s show include MBLAQ, T-ara (ft. Co-Ed), TEEN TOP, Sunny Hill, Nine Muses, Boyfriend, Dynamic Duo, A Pink, Rainbow Pixie, NS Yoon-G, Fat Cat (with MBLAQ’s Lee Joon), Koyote, Chocolat, CHAOS, Wink, Lee Hyun, and X-5.

Check them out below!

source: allkpop

Girls’ Generation’s Yuri selected as the best female idol in a “see-through look”

2012-01-20T17:52:00.000+07:00

Girls’ Generation’s Yuri has been chosen as the best female idol sporting the “see-through look”.
From December 27th to January 18th, a plastic surgery clinic ran a survey asking the question “Which girl group member looks the best with the ‘see-through look’?”
It was none other than the gorgeous Yuri who took the top spot.

Ahead of this survey, Yuri had garnered the attention of netizens by showing her glamorous body in a see-through dress on a photoshoot for Cosmopolitan’s September issue. In the photo, Yuri gave off her feminine allure in a red and black see-through dress looking sexy, yet refined. On the survey, Wonder Girl’s Sohee came in 2nd, and miss A’s Suzy followed in 3rd place.

source: allkpop

F.T. Island’s Lee Hongki spotted holding hands with a girl

2012-01-20T17:48:00.000+07:00

On January 20th, a photo of F.T. Island‘s Lee Hongki entitled ‘Is Lee Hongki dating?’ caused quite a stir as Primadonnas were left wondering if the mysterious girl was his real girlfriend. With news traveling fast, some were torn about the two holding hands, while other’s complimented his and her good looks. To dispel all rumors, an official from Hongki’s agency replied, “It looks like a picture that was taken while filming for their new MV that will be released at the end of this month. It is not possible that they are dating for the one in the photo is an actress under the same agency”.

Meanwhile, the group embarked on an Asia tour after finishing up their Japanese promotions, and is currently gearing up for their comeback in Korea which is scheduled to happen this month.

source: allkpop

HyunA and Hyunseung share their “Trouble Maker” memories

2012-01-20T17:44:00.000+07:00

4minute’s HyunA and B2ST’s Hyunseung have been receiving a lot of love from their fans despite promoting together for just a month as “Trouble Maker“. Despite the short promotion, the duo have been quite successful as they racked up win after win on programs like JTBC’s ‘Music On Top’, Mnet’s M! Countdown and SBS’s Inkigayo, as well as gaining over 10 million hits for their music video on YouTube.

HyunA has shared some photos taken together with Hyunseung and also left a message for fans through Joins, “Hello everyone, this is HyunA. Although time was short, I was very happy whilst doing promotions as ‘Trouble Maker’. I thank everyone for their love and support. I worked hard to show everyone a great performance as well as my growth. I don’t know how everyone else saw it, but I felt a tinge of regret. Although our ‘Trouble Maker’ promotions concluded after ‘The 26th Golden Disk Awards In Osaka’, I will be returning soon on stage as a part of 4Minute, so please wait patiently for us and show lots of love for 4minute’s new mini-album~^^”

- This is our “Trouble Maker” cake that was made by our fans. It feels wasteful if we were going to eat it~

- Ahng~Ahng! Standing with Hyunseung oppa and doing the same pose!

- Having a drink with lots of love~

- Finally, this is our stage photo from the ‘The 26th Golden Disk Awards In Osaka’, we are really grateful to our Japanese fans for all the support~

source: allkpop

SNSD’s Hyoyeon wants to be a mother of 5 children in 10 years

2012-01-20T17:28:00.000+07:00

Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon has revealed that 10 years from now, she sees herself as a mother of five children!
On JTBC‘s upcoming episode of ‘SNSD and the Dangerous Boys‘, the girls participated in a segment called ‘Reading my Diary from 10 Years Later‘. To everyone’s surprise, Hyoyeon’s diary said, “I feel the birth pains. I think my fourth and fifth babies are on their way“.

Furthermore, Hyoyeon revealed in her diary that in 10 years, she hoped to achieve her long-time dream of becoming a fashion designer. “This is something that I’ve dreamed about ever since I was young. I am proud that I never gave up on achieving this dream,” she wrote. The January 22nd episode of ‘SNSD and the Dangerous Boys’ will feature segments of the boys reading from their own diaries, revealing that in 10 years, they would like to perform on stage, turn away from their old lives, and start happy families.

source: allkpop

B2ST to release their first world tour track, “I Knew It”, on January 26th

2012-01-20T17:22:00.000+07:00

On January 26th, B2ST will release a new track called “I Knew It” for their upcoming world tour, “Beautiful Show”. B2ST will open their world tour with back-to-back concerts on February 4th and 5th at the Seoul Olympic Sports Stadium. The idol group will then move on to different parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Through this tour, B2ST will reveal some new tracks — their first in just over eight months. Fortunately, these new songs (all of different genres) will become available through the form of digital singles.

As the first track from the ‘Beautiful Show’ tour, “I Knew It” will be released on January 26th at midnight. It’s described as a modern ballad with a heart-wrenching melody and pulsing beat. Regarding the rest of the tracks, B2ST has chosen to reveal the titles before the actual concerts to express their appreciation for fans.

source: allkpop

Rainbow Pixie debuts with “Hoi Hoi” on ‘Inkigayo’

2012-01-15T15:56:00.000+07:00

Rainbow‘s first ever sub-unit, Rainbow Pixie, has just recently stepped into the music scene with their debut title track titled “Hoi Hoi“.
The funky track brings out the aegyo of the unit’s members Seungah, Jisook, and Hyunyoung. The girls brought their game to today’s episode of SBS‘s ‘Inkigayo‘ to put on one hot stage for fans. Don’t miss out, and check out the girls’ stage below!

source: allkpop

MBLAQ declares “This is War” on ‘Inkigayo’

2012-01-15T15:52:00.000+07:00

MBLAQ have declared “It’s War” on the latest episode of SBS‘s ‘Inkigayo’! The boys took fans by complete surprise by putting on a powerful performance of their comeback track, which is from their new mini-album, ‘100% Ver.‘. They showcased their upgraded talents through strong vocals and aggressive choreography. MBLAQ also performed “Scribble” on today’s episode for their A+ fans to enjoy. Check out their comeback stage below!

source: allkpop

T-ara wins ‘Inkigayo’ mutizen + Performances from January 15th

2012-01-15T15:43:00.000+07:00

SBS‘s ‘Inkigayo‘ is back once more with a new exciting show full of performances from the artists you adore, and hosted by IU, and KARA‘s Goo Hara and Nicole. Artists of this week’s ‘Take 7′ include: Lee Hyun, Electroboyz, Dynamic Duo, A Pink, Davichi & T-ara, TEEN TOP, and T-ara. As for today’s mutizen winner, it was T-ara for “Lovey Dovey“. Congratulations!

source: allkpop

Super Junior’s Eunhyuk is a speedy chef on ‘Star King’

2012-01-15T15:28:00.000+07:00

It seems as though these days, you need to be lightning fast to survive in this competitive world. And to show just how quick you need to be to remain the the game, some of Korea’s most skilled and speedy chefs guest-starred on the most recent episode of ‘Star King‘. On the January 14th episode of ‘Star King’, brothers and rice cake mill owners Kim Wooseob and Kim Sung Hoon guest-starred, as well as Lee Ho Kwang who runs his own restaurant.

The Kim brothers and Lee Ho Kwang battled it out to see who could cut things on the cutting board faster. The Kim brothers cut rice cakes, while Lee cut radish, and both the audience and the stars on set were astonished by their speed.
The Kim brothers are famous in the Haeundae district, known for their charm and wit along with their speedy skills in the kitchen. And Lee Ho Kwang took only about 10 seconds to quickly cut up a large radish, living up to his name as a speedy expert.
Hilariously enough, Super Junior members Eunhyuk, Shindong, and Donghae also stepped up to the plate to see how their cutting skills measured up. But of these three, Eunhyuk surprised the other guests on set with his hidden talent, efficiently cutting the rice cakes at an impressive speed.

source: allkpop

ZE:A appears on ‘EAT BULAGA!’ in the Philippines

2012-01-15T15:03:00.000+07:00

The boys of ZE:A recently released the Philippine version of their album and singles under Warner Music Philippines. To help promote their music, the boys planned a trip to the Philippines. On January 11th, ZE:A arrived in Manila and the boys have held various fan signing and other events throughout the week. On January 14th, ZE:A appeared on GMA‘s popular noon-time variety show, ‘EAT BULAGA!‘.

The boys performed ‘Watch Out‘ and also held a brief interview session, check it out below.

source: allkpop

T-ara to go on a 10-day break next month

2012-01-10T18:43:00.000+07:00

After promoting without rest since last summer, T-ara will finally be rewarded with a 10-day break next month!
On January 10th, Core Contents Media revealed, “T-ara will be ending their ‘Lovey Dovey‘ promotions around mid-January. Since they’ve been working without rest all this time, all of the members will be given a 10-day break.”

After releasing “Roly Poly” in August of 2011, T-ara dove straight into their “Cry Cry” promotions before ending the year with “We Were In Love” with Davichi. Now they’re back with “Lovey Dovey”, marking a six-month run of topping the charts and promoting on TV. Additionally, they also made their Japanese debut in September with “Bo Peep Bo Peep“.
To thank the girls for their hard work, the company decided to give them some much needed rest.

source: allkpop

Dal Shabet’s homepage gets hacked

2012-01-10T18:22:00.000+07:00

Dal Shabet‘s homepage has been reportedly hacked by fans of B1A4. On January 10th, fans who visited Dal Shabet’s homepage met with several pop-ups that prevented them from entering the site. The pop-ups had a picture of B1A4 with the message, “Why are you messing with us Banas?” (Bana is the name of B1A4′s fanclub). B1A4 fans have also put up several notices and posts about B1A4 in other sections of Dal Shabet’s homepage, such as their schedule.

This has only added fuel to the bitter dispute between Dal Shabet and B1A4 fans, a dispute that eventually led to police officials stepping in for allegations of rape and kidnapping.

source: allkpop

TEEN TOP releases dance version for “Going Crazy” MV

2012-01-10T18:14:00.000+07:00

TEEN TOP drove fans wild with their dynamic music video for “Going Crazy“, and now they’re aiming to do it again with the dance version of the MV!
Their latest video showcases all the points in their choreography, from the jump stunt to the body waves that draw loud screams on music shows.

Check out their MV below!

source: allkpop

Sohee gets named as the idol whose skin secrets are coveted the most

2012-01-10T18:07:00.000+07:00

Wonder Girls‘ Sohee was picked as the top female idol coveted for her secrets to clear, baby-like skin. As a 2012 New Year’s special event, a Korean skin care clinic surveyed 100 married women in their 20′s to 40′s on the question, “Which idol/girl group member is coveted the most for her baby face secrets?” At the end of the poll, the youngest member of the Wonder Girls received the most votes and placed in first with 46%.

Following Sohee, IU placed second with 31% and After School‘s Kahi placed third with 19%. The surveyor from the skin care clinic stated, “Some participants of the survey stated that if possible, they would like to have beautiful skin like Sohee’s.” They continued “Currently, Sohee is the top wannabe star that many women desire to be like.” In related news, the Wonder Girls are patiently waiting to release their U.S. single album, “The DJ is Mine”, on January 12th. If you haven’t heard the preview yet, be sure to check it out here!

source: allkpop

Top four female idols who surprised fans with their curvy figures in 2011

2012-01-10T18:01:00.000+07:00

Female idols with unexpected, glamorous figures have been dominating the public’s interest lately, especially with all of the year-end award ceremonies that took place at the end of 2011.
Out of the many female idols who walked the red carpet last year, four grabbed immediate attention with their sexy ensembles that showed off a surprising curvaceous body.

Davichi‘s Kang Min Kyung dressed in a strapless navy blue mini-dress for MBC‘s Gayo Daejaejun festival. Since she’s typically known for her baby face and long legs, netizens were stunned to see that Kang Min Kyung also possessed a voluptuous figure.
Girls’ Generation member Jessica also surprised fans during her independent ‘Girls’ Generation’s Christmas Fairy Tale‘ stage. Jessica performed “When You Wish Upon A Star” and became applauded as a siren, a figure of mythology who combines seductive looks with an angelic voice.

Fellow member Seohyun, who’s known as the sweet and innocent maknae of the group, also showcased her own curvaceous figure. The straight-edged and proper young lady stepped onto the 2011 MAMA red carpet wearing an elegant dress with a plunging neck-line. Her innocent face was juxtaposed by her full figure, earning a higher degree of interest from fans and fashion representatives alike.
As for 4minute‘s Nam Jihyun, her S-line wasn’t revealed in a moment of triumph at an event. Jihyun was recently featured in Mnet‘s ‘Boom the K-POP‘ dressed in comfortable clothes while partaking in everyday tasks. Though she wore a simple T-shirt, netizens took note of her toned silhouette and cleavage.

source: allkpop

T-ara reveals making-of film for “Lovey Dovey – Zombie Version”

2012-01-10T17:55:00.000+07:00

Ahead of releasing the ‘Zombie Version’ of the music video for “Lovey Dovey“, T-ara has revealed a 3-minute-long behind-the-scenes clip from the MV set!
In the making-of film, actress Im Soo Hyang introduces the set to viewers and shares a sneak peek into T-ara’s zombie getup, as they get dressed into character.
In the music video, Im Soo Hyang turns into a zombie along with the members of T-ara and shuffles at a club to “Lovey Dovey”.

Check out the making-of film to ‘Zombie Dovey’ below!

source: allkpop

JYJ opens their official YouTube channel

2012-01-08T19:13:00.000+07:00

JYJ has finally opened their official YouTube page!
On January 8th, the boys welcomed fans to their long-awaited channel, which now holds their music videos, past performances, and making-of films from the MV sets.
In the video, Jaejoong encourages a lot of fans to come check out their videos on the channel and help them gain high view counts. He talks about how the number of clicks reflect the number of their fans, which cause Junsu and Yoochun to crack up controllably over his mistake. Junsu then replies, “Even if we have only 1,000 fans, I’d still be happy!“, a sentiment Jaejoong echoes with the more dramatic figure of 100.
Check out their video below!

source: allkpop

A Pink sheds tears after hearing that their dog needed surgery

2012-01-08T19:06:00.000+07:00

While taking care of an abandoned dog named Quick for KBS’s ‘Birth of a Family‘, A Pink learned the shocking news that their pup required surgery for his knees.
The girls took him to the animal hospital after noticing that something was wrong with his legs. They explained to the vet that Quick wasn’t able to jump onto the sofa as usual, which made the vet examine Quick’s knees. He discovered dislocated knee caps on its hind legs and explained that Quick required a procedure to shave the bone, which could be painful.

Upon hearing the diagnosis, the girls shed a few tears and with a heavy heart, sent Quick in to surgery room. They waited outside nervously, and after three hours, A Pink were let back in.
Leader Cho Rong could not hold back her tears after seeing Quick lying on the table, who was whimpering as the anaesthetics wore off.
The girls were able to bring Quick back home soon afterwards.

source: allkpop

Trouble Maker wins ‘Inkigayo’ + Performances from January 8th

2012-01-08T19:03:00.000+07:00

SBS‘s ‘Inkigayo‘ rang in the new year with a new episode of performances!
Artists of this week’s ‘Take 7′, which included: A Pink, Boyfriend, Davichi & T-ara, and Trouble Maker.
As for today’s winner it was Trouble Maker, congratulations!

source: allkpop

T-ara transforms ‘Inkigayo’ into a club with “Lovey Dovey”

2012-01-08T18:52:00.000+07:00

Girl group T-ara brought the house down with their debut performance of “Lovey Dovey” on tonight’s episode of ‘Inkigayo‘!
The girls hinted that they would be using the ‘shuffle dance’ in their choreography, but fans weren’t expecting the group to bust out a 360-degree, left-to-right movement that transformed the stage into a real dance floor.

Check out their performance below!

source: allkpop

TEEN TOP returns with “Going Crazy” on ‘Music Bank’

2012-01-06T19:55:00.000+07:00

The boys of TEEN TOP are aiming to drive their fans wild with their strong comeback song, “Going Crazy“!

On January 6th, TEEN TOP returned to Music Bank with their new song, which involved a dynamic choreography that included a hip hop influence and even a jump stunt. The members are definitely ditching their ‘flower boy’ image from “Don’t Spray Perfume” for a harder, more aggressive image.

Check out their performance below!

source : allkpop

T-ara transforms ‘Music Bank’ into a club with “Lovey Dovey”

2012-01-06T19:50:00.000+07:00

Girl group T-ara brought the house down with their debut performance of “Lovey Dovey” on tonight’s episode of ‘Music Bank‘!

The girls hinted that they would be using the ‘shuffle dance’ in their choreography, but fans weren’t expecting the group to bust out a 360-degree, left-to-right movement that transformed the stage into a real dance floor.

Check out their performance below!

source: allkpop

IU wins Music Bank K-Chart 5th week in a row + Performances from January 6th

2012-01-06T19:42:00.000+07:00

‘Music Bank’ is back with another fun and exciting show that was chock-full of amazing performances!
The MCs UEE from After School and actor Lee Jang Woo is ready to the new year with Music Bank. Besides the usual stages on tonight’s show, F.I.X made their debut, NS Yoon-G, Lee Hyun, Teen Top, Fat Cat, CHAOS,made their comeback as a project duo while T-ara began their follow-up promotions.

As for the winners, IU faced off against Girls’ Generation but in the end, it was IU who clinched the ‘K-Chart’ win.

Congratulations, IU!

source: allkpop

TEEN TOP takes group photo with Sohyun on the set of ‘Going Crazy’

2012-01-06T19:36:00.000+07:00

On January 6th, boy group TEEN TOP revealed a new photo taken with 4minute‘s Sohyun at their film set for “Going Crazy“.
Writing through their me2day, the boys wrote: “Revealing our group photo, taken at the filming set of ‘Going Crazy’~ It was awkward and we were nervous when the filming started, but it was only for a short moment!!! It was a fun recording that helped us forget the cold weather~”

The idols could be see huddling together like close friends to snap a memorable photo.
Netizens commented, “Chunji oppa, please be careful of the cold and don’t get too close to Sohyun!!!“, “Gahh! I’m so jealous of Sohyun unnie~“, and “Please stop taking photos with other women T_T”

source: allkpop

Hyoyeon’s industrious character gets spotlighted on ‘Invincible Youth 2′

2012-01-06T19:31:00.000+07:00

On the upcoming broadcast of KBS 2TV‘s ‘Invincible Youth 2‘, Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon will display her aptitude in learning new skills, as she helps construct a home for farm animals. On December 6th, a representative from the show shared that the idol was puzzled at first by her assignment, as building a barn seemed foreign and complex to her. However, a village elder taught her some basics and eventually, Hyoyeon picked enough to surprise the staff with her work.

During the recording of the show, the idol expressed, “I’ve been working hard; I’m also very efficient in my work, but people simply did not know“.
It was also reported that Hyoyeon was easily encouraged by compliments. There were many times where the idol would accidentally hit her hand with the hammer, but fellow members of the show would say, “You’re good at nailing“. This simple encouragement would pump Hyoyeon up and she eventually hammered all the nails.

source: allkpop

Wonder Girls’ Sunye gets noticed for her refined manners

2012-01-06T19:27:00.000+07:00

Wonder Girls‘ leader Sunye previously gained headlines for her caring heart and strong leadership by switching out an unstable chair belonging to her groupmate for her own on stage.
The idol gained the nickname, ‘Angel heart’, after a photoset of her bowing a full 90-degrees spread like wildfire on the web.

The images are from the Wonder Girls’ debut period in 2007, and Sunye can be seen bowing formally to thank the audience for their attention after each performance. Other photosets aside from the one shown above were also shared online, and they show that even five years later, Sunye continues to bow in the same way to the audience.
Touched by her refined manners, netizens praised the star for her humble heart. “Truly, a great celebrity and a perfect role model”, “She really does the ‘leader’ title proud”, and “Proud to be a Wonderful!“, they wrote.

source: allkpop

Nine Muses releases MV teaser for “News”

2012-01-06T19:20:00.000+07:00

A few days ago, Nine Muses released a tabloid-themed image teaser for their comeback album. Fans were puzzled over why the promotion team decided to design an image in that fashion, but now with the release of their MV teaser, the connection was made in a ‘flash’.
The girls will be releasing a new song called “News“, and the concept plays with the paparazzi/star dynamic. It’s slightly dark, but alluring and intriguing at the same time.

Nine Muses will release their new album on January 12th. Stay tuned to allkpop for more updates!

source: allkpop

T-ara talks about their “Lovey Dovey” concept backstage at ‘M! Countdown’

2012-01-05T18:59:00.000+07:00

On January 5th, the members of T-ara sat down for an interview following their “Lovey Dovey” comeback on Mnet‘s ‘M! Countdown‘.
The girls commanded attention by dressing up in two different outfits as they shuffled across the club-themed stage.
Hyomin began, “There were some who asked why we used the shuffle dance as a concept, especially since it was dying out of popularity. We just wanted something that people could easily enjoy, and so we switched up the shuffle dance a bit to fit our own concept. ‘Lovey Dovey’ has a different feel in that you move your arms with the shuffle.”

Soyeon stated, “We really want to turn the shuffle dance into a dance that’s popular nationwide. It’s perfect for those that are dieting since it eats up a lot of your energy. You really don’t need any other diet with it.”
Eunjung also expressed, “Since we’re the first girl group to use the shuffle dance as our concept, we’re having a lot of fun with it. It’s a dance that’s really diverse , so as opposed to focusing on the final results, we just want to have fun with everyone on stage.”

source: allkpop

TEEN TOP’s L. Joe asks 4minute’s Sohyun to be his girlfriend?

2012-01-05T18:47:00.000+07:00

Last week, 4minute‘s maknae Sohyun shared a photo taken with TEEN TOP‘s L. Joe from the set of TEEN TOP’s “Going Crazy” music video. Some speculated that the photo was an actual couple shot, since the two were sitting cozily side-by-side.
Fortunately, the mystery was solved after TEEN TOP released their new music video today. In the video, L. Joe plays the love interest of Sohyun, who refuses his confession at first. She accepts it later on when they’re alone, calling L. Joe “Stupid” and chiding him for asking her to be his girlfriend in front of his friends.

To commemorate the MV’s release, L. Joe shared a new photo with Sohyun from the set along with the tweet, “Babo~ (Stupid). Do you want to be my girl friend?”
Fans commented, “I know this is a joke, but still…!“, “Congrats on your comeback!“, and “You guys look really cute together ^^”

source: allkpop

TEEN TOP reveals MV for “Going Crazy”

2012-01-05T18:37:00.000+07:00

TEEN TOP has kicked off their comeback by releasing a new music video!
On January 5th, the boys unveiled a MV that’s both dynamic and dramatic, as it mixes fluid choreography sequences with a story of a frustrating love.
As reported earlier, TEEN TOP teamed up with Brave Brothers for their second mini-album, who oversaw each aspect to ensure a high quality album. The effort definitely seems to have paid off, as the boys delivered an upgrade in looks, talents, and skills through just their music video alone.

Check it out below, and stay tuned for their comeback performance on Mnet‘s ‘M! Countdown‘ later on tonight!

source: allkpop

Big Bang sends their New Year’s greetings

2012-01-05T17:39:00.000+07:00

Big Bang has just released a video wishing fans a Happy New Year through their YouTube channel. The video kicked off with G-Dragon‘s greeting, followed by Seungri, Daesung, Taeyang, and T.O.P. The goofy members found a way to incorporate their own names into the greeting.

Check out the video and the translations below!

G-Dragon: “Knock knock. Hello, this is G-Dragon. A new year’s card has arrived for you. I’ve prepared a new year’s greeting. They say 2012 is the year of the dragon ["yong" in Korean], and as you know, my name is Jiyong~ I think next year will be a year that I’ll really look forward to. I pray that next year will be meaningful and filled with good things for all of you. Happy New Year.”

Seungri: “Knock knock knock. Hello, this is Seungri. A new year’s card has arrived for you. I’ve also prepared a new year’s greeting. I will hope this will be a year in which you achieve victory ["seungri" in Korean] in love, victory in your studies, victory in work, and victory in everything that you want. This was Big Bang’s Seungri ringing in the new year, 2012.”

Daesung: “Knock knock. Hello, this is Daesung. A new year’s card has arrived for you. I’ve also prepared a new year’s greeting. Everyone, attain greatness ["daesung" in Korean] this year. Us, Big Bang, are energetically starting off again this year, so let us and all of you attain greatness!Daesung, Daesung, Daesung.”

Taeyang: “Knock knock. Hello, this is Taeyang. A new year’s card has arrived for you. Hello everyone, I, also, have prepared a new year’s greeting. Happy New Year. In 2012, a new sun ["taeyang" in Korean] will rise, and Big Bang’s Taeyang will also rise. I sincerely hope that in 2012, everything you wish for and want will come true. Everyone, fighting!”

T.O.P: “Knock knock. A new year’s card has arrived for you. The first day of 2012 has arrived. I hope that 2012 will be the year that you remember as the ‘top’. Top. You are my t-o-p.”

source: allkpop

Super Junior’s Shindong declares himself to be the “eyeliner prince”

2012-01-05T17:34:00.000+07:00

Super Junior‘s Shindong is back with yet another hilarious Photoshopped image!
This photo appeared on his me2day with the description, “I am the eyeliner prince!”
The tongue-in-cheek wisecrack refers to the black paint Shindong liberally dabbed on his eyes. In fact, instead of looking like a prince, the idol ends up looking like some sort of crazy sea captain, thanks to his white cap and painted-on beard.

Netizens commented, “Oppa this is too much!“, and “This is more like dark circles!”

source: allkpop

miss A’s Suzy talks about college with Verbal Jint

2012-01-05T17:31:00.000+07:00

miss A‘s Suzy recently appeared on jTBC‘s variety show, ‘Quiz Idol Preview‘, where she discussed her concerns about college with rapper Verbal Jint.
Now that she’s a senior in high school, Suzy has naturally begun to worry about her college plans. Many young stars around Suzy’s age have been opting to forgo college in order better concentrate on their careers, especially since it’ll be difficult to attend classes with their busy schedules anyway.
But having grown up with the idea to go to college, it’s difficult for them to give it up so easily, especially for those who are scared to put their entire future in the hands of their idol career.

Suzy honestly confessed that she’s standing at a crossroad between attending or not, and wondered whether it’d be meaningful to go when she can’t realistically attend classes. Still, she couldn’t ignore the fact that college would be an invaluable experience.
Rapper Verbal Jint, who also guested on the show, shared his opinion with her. Verbal Jint himself is a graduate of Economics at Seoul University and is currently attending law school at Hanyang University.
As someone that developed his music career while in college, Verbal Jint advised that although he could understand why people will decide to forgo it in order to focus on their music, it would still be beneficial to keep the option open since you never know what the future can hold.

source: allkpop

B2ST’s Yoseob celebrates his 23rd birthday

2012-01-05T17:25:00.000+07:00

B2ST‘s vocalist Yoseob is celebrating his 23rd birthday!
On January 5th, Yoseob amused fans by congratulating himself on his own birthday.”Yoseob, happy birthday,” he tweeted to himself.
Hilariously, Yoseob then replied to his own tweet. “Thank you, Yoseob ㅜㅜ sob sob.”
Kikwang tweeted, “Today is our Yoseb Yoseb Yoseb’s birthday. Please congratulate him. Congratulations, our Yoseb!” Junhyung added, “Yoseob, happy birthday ㅠㅠ I love you.”

Dongwoon and Hyunseung respectively wrote, “Yoseob hyung, happy birthday, going to see you soon!” and “Yang Yo Yang Yo Yang Yo, wishing you a seriously happy birthday, can’t stop you nowwwwwwww.”
Other stars like Supreme Team‘s Simon D, F.T. Island‘s Hongki, Huh Gak, G.NA, and Shinsadong Tiger sent him their birthday wishes.
Fans replied, “Happy birthday, Yoseob,” “We hope you spend a happy time with your members,” and “Eat delicious things and gain weight”!

source: allkpop

JQT to make American debut in first half of 2012 with a dance track

2012-01-04T19:11:00.000+07:00

JQT has been preparing for their American advancement ever since they announced that they’ll be working with Melvin Brown last year.
The girls have finalized their debut album to includetwo dance tracks and a ballad, and are currently discussing their official debut date. On January 4th, representatives of their agency expressed, “We’re going to focus their promotions on radio broadcasts and performances, so we decided to go with a club style dance track to fit with the trends.”

They continued, “Producing team Ray&Renny, who are known for their work with Akon, T-Pain, and Lady Gaga, has produced the album.”
Melvin Brown has been pulling all the stops to prepare the girls for their debut. They’re moments away from signing with Capital Records, who stated, “Melvin is handling all of the expenses towards the girls’ album production and promotions, and he’s highly affectionate of them.”

source: allkpop

T-ara’s Soyeon thinks having a crush isn’t all roses

2012-01-04T19:06:00.000+07:00

T-ara‘s Soyeon confessed that she thinks having a crush isn’t as great as people make it out to be.
On January 4th, the idol appeared for the premiere of the ‘Roly-Poly‘ musical at the Press Center, where she stated, “I think a crush is definitely a sad thing.”
When asked, “Have you ever had a crush?” Soyeon thought back to her days as a student and said, “Whether it was a church oppa or a school sunbae, I think I had many crushes. When it comes down to it though, I think it’s good when both sides love each other; to have a crush is a very sad thing.”

She added, “When I was a student, my dream to become a singer was very big, so I think I am similar to my character on ‘Roly Poly’. If there is one thing I regret, I think it would have been nice to have a close ‘family’ like in the musical.”
The ‘Roly-Poly’ musical stars musical diva Park Hae Mi and ‘I Am a Singer‘ star Jang Hye Jin, along with T-ara’s Jiyeon, Hyomin, Soyeon, and actor Lee Jang Woo.

source: allkpop

‘Vampire Diaries’ star Kat Graham once again declares she’s a 2NE1 fangirl

2012-01-04T19:03:00.000+07:00

Hollywood star Kat Graham of the popular TV series, ‘Vampire Diaries’, recently confessed her love for 2NE1′s music through a Dutch magazine.
During an interview with a magazine from the Netherlands, Kat was asked the question, “What are songs do you listen to in order to have a great night?” She replied, “I love the Korean girl group 2NE1. If I were to be having a great time, then it would have definitely begun with their songs.”

To this, netizens mostly commented with, “I’m so proud to see 2NE1′s name in foreign papers!”
This isn’t the first time the actress has mentioned 2NE1. As reported earlier, she was spotted tweeting about her love for K-Pop and 2NE1 with her fellow ‘Vampire Diaries’ actress, Nina Dobrev.

source: allkpop

JYJ’s South American tour dates confirmed!

2012-01-04T19:00:00.000+07:00

JYJ has announced that they’ll soon be performing in South America!
On January 4th, C-Jes Entertainment revealed, “JYJ’s South American tour has been confirmed. JYJ’s solo concert will be held on March 9th in Chile followed by March 11th in Peru.”
The March 9th concert will be held in Santiago, Chile at the Teatro Caupolican, while the March 11th show will be held in Lima, Peru at the Explanada Sur del Estadio Monumental.

The South American promotion agency for JYJ remarked, “The popularity of JYJ in South America is in a different class altogether from the craze for K-Pop. Their popularity exceeds that of domestic artists as well as American pop artists, and they have the passionate support of teens as well as those in their 20′s.”
The JYJ members stated, “The countries are very far with flight times over 30 hours. After releasing an English album in 2010 with Kanye West and Rodney Jerkins, the amount of fans in the Americas have grown rapidly. Thus, although the [countries] are so far away, they have always felt familiar [to us].”
They continued, “During the 2010 Worldwide Album Showcase, many South American fans came to our concerts in cities like L.A. and San Francisco, and even to Europe; they’ve wanted us to come to South America for a long time. We are happy that we can keep our promise to our fans, and we will prepare a perfect performance to match the passion of South America.”

Baek Chang Joo, CEO of C-Jes, stated, “The K-Pop craze and JYJ’s happiness have different paths. …We don’t want this to be thought of as Hallyu’s new challenge. It’s not about where one goes to hold their first overseas concert, it’s about how much substance and what kind of content is brought into the shows.”
He continued, “This is not a concert meant to try and gain new fans, this is a concert where we wanted to repay the JYJ fans for their love and support. For the South American fans who have waited so long, we will put on a well-made performance filled with JYJ’s vocals and amazing harmonies, as well as numerous other performances.”

source: allkpop

CHAOS reveals remaining three members!

2012-01-04T18:55:00.000+07:00

Upcoming rookie idol group, CHAOS, has revealed their remaining members through their official Facebook fan-page today.
The group has already been in the spotlight for a controversy surrounding one of the member’s names, ‘Taeyang’. We reported earlier that Winning Insight Entertainment responded to fan complaints by including ‘Park‘, Taeyang’s last name, into his official stage name.

After unveiling their first two members, Hyunsun and Park Taeyang, as well as their official music video teaser, CHAOS has revealed its final three members of the group: Heejae (top left), Dongmin (right), and Doohwan (bottom left).
Heejae, the leader of the group, will be showcasing his strong leadership skills as well as his smooth charisma. Dongmin gives off an intense vibe with his sharp jaw line and a smouldering look, while maknae Doohwan is sure to capture hearts with his innocent appeal.
CHAOS will take the stage at ‘Music Bank‘ on January 6th for their official debut.

Check out their MV teaser below, if you haven’t already!

source: allkpop

2NE1 gets listed on MTV Style’s ‘Top 12 Girls to Watch in 2012′ list

2012-01-04T18:52:00.000+07:00

The ladies of 2NE1 were recently included on MTV STYLE‘s fashion list, ‘Top 12 Girls to Watch in 2012‘.
On January 2nd, MTV STYLE posted an article that pointed out 2NE1 as one of the rising fashionistas of the world. “We’re keeping our eyes glided on 2NE1 as the new year progresses, namely because of their bestie collab status with our beloved Jeremy Scott and their enviable collection of high-drama streetcar like JoyRich,” the author writes.

2NE1 has already impressed the international music community with their win as MTV Iggy‘s ‘Best New Band in the World‘, and now it looks like they’re well on their way to sweeping hearts in the fashion world as well.
In related news, 2NE1 will participate in the ‘15th Anniversary YG Family Concert‘ at the Osaka Kyocera Dome on January 7th and 8th, and at the Saitama Super Arena on the 21st and 22nd.

source: allkpop

Brave Brothers praises TEEN TOP: “An idol group I can’t help but covet”

2012-01-04T18:48:00.000+07:00

TEEN TOP will be making their second comeback under the direction of hit composer Brave Brothers.
Brave Brothers was revealed to be the composer behind TEEN TOP’s 2nd mini-album, “Going Crazy“. He’s not only produced the album, but participated in the writing, composing, and mixing of every track to ensure its high quality.
Brave Brothers praised the boys by saying, “TEEN TOP exceeds whatever I ask them to complete, and as a producer, they’re a group that I really can’t help but covet.”

The boy group has shown several image transformations through two different teasers, making many wonder what the final concept will be.
TEEN TOP will be making their comeback through Mnet’s ‘M! Countdown‘ on January 5th.

source:allkpop

B2ST & A Pink’s ‘Skinny Baby’ promotional video draws over 670,000 views

2012-01-04T18:45:00.000+07:00

The music video for ‘Skinny Baby‘, which promotes a new line of school uniforms, has reached over 670,000 views cumulatively on YouTube and other video sharing sites as of January 2012.
The trendy uniforms caught consumers’ eyes, but it was B2ST and A Pink‘s couple dance that made them stick around for the whole endorsement. As spokesmodels for the brand, the idols strutted their stuff on the runway and delivered the product enthusiastically throughout the MV.

An associate of GomTV, Nam Yoon Chul, commented, “We are closely looking at B2ST, who showed a great improvement and growth in the last year as well at A Pink, who’s critiqued as one of the best girl groups, to see who will be in the lead.”

source: allkpop

A Pink releases rehearsal video for “My My”

2012-01-03T17:49:00.000+07:00

It goes without saying that A Pink was the most successful girl group to have debuted in 2011. Their success didn’t come without hard work, though, and their practice video for ”My My” shows just that.
Dressed in cozy winter outfits, the girls practice each step diligently in an impeccably clean rehearsal room. As is tradition with rehearsal videos, their bare faces stand out, as well as the way they indicate who’s singing with the raised arm.

Check it out below!

source: allkpop

Alexander releases first solo MV, “I Just”

2012-01-03T17:23:00.000+07:00

Former U-KISS member Alexander has finally unveiled his first solo music video!
The idol delivered a light love song with “I Just“, and his music video strives to balance his sweetheart image with that of a rich playboy. Surrounded by fancy cars and other shiny toys that make boys go wild, Alexander confesses that he can only focus on his girl, who has yet to understand his feelings.

Check out his MV below (and if you haven’t heard his album, check it out here):

source: allkpop

After School’s UEE celebrates her 1,000th day since debut

2012-01-03T17:20:00.000+07:00

After School‘s UEE has reached a milestone in her career, as it’s her 1,000th day since debut!
On January 3rd, she wrote on her Twitter, “Good morning! ^^ It’s the 1,000th day since my debut today! Hehe! Thank you to all of the fans that left congratulatory messages! Let’s be together for~ever!!!^^ Fighting today, everyone!”

Although UEE joined After School in 2009 with “Diva“, she made her first TV appearance as Yubin‘s friend on MBC‘s ‘Introducing a Star’s Friend‘. She was also a trainee for Five Girls with SECRET‘s Hyosung, G.NA, and others.
Netizens replied back, “Congratulations! Fighting for the future!” and “We hope you continue to improve!”

In related news, UEE won the rookie award at the ‘2011 KBS Acting Awards‘.

source: allkpop

NS Yoonji releases comeback MV teaser for “The Reason I Became a Witch”

2012-01-03T17:14:00.000+07:00

Diva NS Yoonji has always been known for her overly cutesy concepts, but that’s all about to change with her latest comeback teaser!

Decked in leather and spikes, NS Yoonji proves she’s made a dramatic image transformation with her teaser music video for “The Reason I Became a Witch“. If her teaser image released just hours ago is any indication, the teaser is a full blown realization that NS Yoonji is no longer a pretty lady dressed in frills.

Her full album, “NEO SPIRIT“, will be released on January 5th.+

source: allkpop

miss A’s Suzy turns 19

2012-01-03T17:10:00.000+07:00

miss A‘s Suzy has revealed a photo to celebrate turning 19 years old.
On January 3rd, Suzy tweeted “I’m 19 years old now!” and uploaded the above photo.
In the photo, Suzy is seen posing cutely with her fist up to her cheeks while looking at the camera. Her long hair and innocent beauty especially stood out.

After viewing the photo, Netizens commented “Unni, you’re really pretty“, “Congratulations on becoming 19!“, “What on earth do I have to eat to get a face like that?“.

source: allkpop

2NE1′s Dara wants to be in a romantic comedy

2012-01-03T17:07:00.000+07:00

2NE1‘s Sandara Park is bursting with excitement over her upcoming CF for cosmetics brand Etude.
On January 3rd, Dara posted a picture through her me2day and cackled, “Ahaha HA HA! I just saw the new Etude advertisement ahead of time…! kekeke I burst out with laughter! Fresh+Cute+Comical = Dara! Ahh… It’s fun ^_^ Aw, I really think I would do well in a romantic comedy! Right? Please look forward to this commercial, too~!^^”

It’s easy to see why the ad caused Dara to crack up, as her face was powdered a ghostly white for the CF.
Netizens commented, “She’d be perfect for a romantic comedy“, “Producers! Pay attention!“, and “Can’t wait to see why Dara’s face is so white…”

source: allkpop

KARA’s ‘MBC Gayo Daejaejun’ stage is worth $17 million USD

2012-01-03T17:04:00.000+07:00

It’s been revealed that KARA‘s pre-recorded stage for the ‘MBC Gayo Daejaejun‘ cost a whopping 20 billion won (~$17 million USD).
On January 31st, KARA attended Japan’s ‘NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen‘, which forced them to miss out on performing a live stage for the ’2011 MBC Gayo Daejaejun’.
Instead, KARA presented viewers with a video of their hit songs ‘Jumping‘ and ‘Step‘. The cruise ship they performed on for their pre-recording was said to be worth $17 million USD, and to rent it for one day cost thousands of dollars.

A representative from KARA stated, “Because we felt sorry for being unable to attend the ‘Gayo Daejaejun’, we thought it would be nice to give our all for the video. By chance, we were able to make a deal with Japan’s leading shipping company, and so we shot the video for ‘Jumping’ and ‘Step’ there. This was a busy season where we got to know KARA’s status in Japan.”
KARA garnered much attention and popularity in Japan by attending several special year-end programs, such as the ‘Kohaku Uta Gassen’, ‘Japan Record Awards‘, ‘Music Station Super Live‘, and ‘FNS Festival‘.

Check out their performance below!

source: allkpop

SNSD’s Jessica confirmed for KBS’s ‘Wild Romance’

2011-12-23T19:53:00.000+07:00

Earlier this week, it was reported that SNSD‘s Jessica was offered a role in KBS‘s upcoming drama, ‘Wild Romance‘.

On December 23rd, the production company for the drama confirmed Jessica’s drama debut by stating, “Jessica will be playing the role of ‘Kang Jong Hee’, Lee Dong Wook‘s first love. She’ll be appearing in about eight episodes of the drama.”

Scheduled to begin broadcasting on January 4th, Jessica will be an ex-girlfriend that reappears in Lee Dong Wook’s life, claiming that she can’t seem to forget him. The drama itself is about a love story between a judo-athlete-turned-bodyguard woman, who comes to work for a baseball player through a twist of fate.

Jessica has had acting experience through her musical, “Legally Blonde“, so fans are anticipating how she’ll fare as fellow member and actress, YoonA, is also currently starring in ‘Love Rain‘.

source: allkpop

Jessica, Go Ara, & Song Hye Kyo rank on ’100 Most Beautiful Faces’

2011-12-23T19:44:00.000+07:00

Online Entertainment review site, TC Candler recently posted their annual ‘100 Most Beautiful Faces‘ of 2011.

This was the 22nd annual independent critic list since 1990. TC Candler is known for listing the names of 100 faces on a global scale as it factors in many cultures, lifestyles, professions, and degrees of fame to compose the list. TC Candler does its best to recognize the modern ideal of beauty and uses millions of suggestions received each year in order to judge the top 100 faces. It’s not just about the popularity, but also grace, elegance, class, etc that embodies a beautiful face.

These lists have been viewed by over 25million people and over 20 countries were presented in the 2011 list. Check out TC Candler’s description of SNSD Jessica, Go Ara, and Song Hye Kyo who came at 45th, 12th, and 5th, respectively.

45. Jessica Jung

She is better known simply by her first name, Jessica. She is Korean-American singer, dancer, actress and model. The new addition to our list is a member of the fantastic South Korean nine-member girl group, Girls’ Generation, where she is one of the main vocalists.

12. Go Ara

Here is a lovely South Korean actress and model who deserves a worldwide following. The 21-year old enters the list at #12 and will assuredly be a fixture for a very long time.

5. Song Hye Kyo

The South Korean actress and model makes her second appearance, rising 13 spots from last year’s debut. She is already one of the legendary beauties of the world and we think she deserves to be celebrated as such by the entire world. Too often, it seems that Western audiences don’t get to enjoy Asian cinema and celebrity as much as they should. Look for her in the upcoming 2012 film, “The Grandmasters” with Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi.

source: allkpop

B1A4, Dal Shabet, A Pink, & Boyfriend perform ’90s hits on ‘Music Bank’

2011-12-23T19:34:00.000+07:00

KBS‘s ‘Music Bank‘ aired their Christmas special this week, which included four awesome stages from B1A4, Dal Shabet, A Pink, and Boyfriend. On December 23rd, these four rookie groups paid homage to their legendary seniors by performing covers of their best hits. Boyfriend performed H.O.T.‘s “Candy“, Dal Shabet covered S.E.S‘s “I’m Your Girl“, A Pink sang Fin.K.L.‘s “Forever Love“, and finally, B1A4 delivered Sechskies‘ ”Couple“.

Check out their fun performances below!

source: allkpop

Special stages & collaborations from Music Bank’s Christmas special

2011-12-23T19:23:00.000+07:00

KBS‘s ‘Music Bank‘ has prepared a special episode for its viewers this week to celebrate the Christmas holiday!

Aside from the ’90s throwback stages, organizers have also produced dance battles and duets between some of K-Pop’s hottest stars.

Check out the performances below!

source: allkpop

Jaejoong reveals his kiss scene in ‘Protect the Boss’ took over 50 takes

2011-12-23T19:13:00.001+07:00

On December 25th, JYJ‘s Jaejoong guested on the Christmas broadcast of KBS radio’s ‘Choi Kang Hee’s Night Flight‘.

DJ Choi Kang Hee invited her two male co-stars from ‘Protect the Boss‘ to the show, where they shared some never-before-heard stories from the drama set.

Jaejoong brought up the famous kiss scene between himself and Wang Ji Hye, and admitted that they smooched several times to get it right. “I put a lot of effort for the kiss scene with Wang Ji Hye,” he said. “It took over 50 takes. If there ever was an NG award, it would definitely have been awarded to us.”

Jaejoong and Ji Sung were also complimented on the show by Choi Kang Hee on their similar fashion. Jaejoong replied, “Ji Sung and I give off a similar vibe. I hope we receive a ‘couple award’ as the ‘cha cha couple’ in one of the year-end awards.”

source: allkpop

IU wins K-Chart triple crown + Music Bank performances from 12/23

2011-12-23T19:13:00.000+07:00

‘Music Bank’ is back with another fun and exciting show that was chock-full of amazing performances!

The MCs for tonight’s episode were B2ST‘s Doojoon, Super Junior‘s Siwon, CN BLUE‘s Yonghwa, and anchorman Jun Hyunmoo.

Besides the usual stages on tonight’s show, ‘Music Bank’ put together a few special performances for the Christmas holiday.

Since it was a Christmas special, ‘Music Bank’ brought back some of the biggest hits of the year for this week’s episode. Fans got to see favorites like “Mr. Simple“, “Hot Summer“, “Be Mine” and more from artists who made a special comeback for KBS.

Super Junior, Wonder Girls, B2ST, T-ara, CN BLUE, SISTAR, IU, SECRET, Davichi, Kim Hyun Joong, G.NA, HyunA, miss A, f(x), INFINITE, Boyfriend, A Pink, B1A4,and Dal Shabet all performed their hit songs and even special throwback stages as well as collaborations.

Check out their performances below!

source: allkpop

After School’s UEE transforms into a real life Barbie doll for ‘Elle Korea’

2011-12-22T15:48:00.001+07:00

After School‘s UEE has literally ‘dolled up’ for her latest pictorial with fashion magazine, ‘Elle Korea‘.

UEE was perhaps the busiest After School member of the year, joining the group in all of their albums as well as their Japanese debut, while simultaneously juggling her acting career with ‘Ojakgyo Brothers‘ and ‘Birdie Buddy‘.

In the accompanying interview with the photoshoot, she talked a bit about her expanding career, and how she hopes to pursue everything possible.”

She expressed, “My weekend dramas average 20% in viewer ratings. I have the title of ‘idol’ in my name so there was pressure in that regards. The more popular my dramas get, the better I want to do. Right now, I think I’m just addicted to my work.”

She thoughtly added, “Acting, singing, and even variety shows and MCing – I don’t want to give up any one of them.”

Check out this real-life Barbie doll and her mini-me in the shots below!

source: allkpop

‘Palm News’ to reveal proof of SM Entertainment’s obstruction of JYJ’s activities?

2011-12-22T15:48:00.000+07:00

On December 22nd, journalist Lee Sang Ho revealed that he would be showing proof of SM Entertainment‘s obstruction of JYJ‘s activities for the very first time through Palm TV‘s ‘Lee Sang Ho’s Palm News‘.

Representatives of the show stated, “For the past 14 months, journalist Lee Sang Ho will be exclusively unveiling the investigations by the Fair Trade Commission. Officials of the FTC have been investigating SM Entertainment since March, and results show that there was indeed proof of the obstruction of JYJ’s activities, as well as a fine of several hundreds of thousands in penalty being processed.”

The show is expected to include an exclusive interview of Jung Hae Im, the first official figure to lead the investigations into SM’s 13 year contracts and minimize them to seven years. Jung is once again at the forefront of the recent issue with the FTC.

The chief of the FTC, Lee Tae Hwi, however, revealed through Star Today that this was not the case. He stated, “I do confirm that there are current investigations being done regarding the issue with SM and JYJ, but we have yet to lay down a fine worth the amount they claim. I also find it difficult to reveal the details of our investigations at this point, and promise to release an official statement once things begin to materialize.”

The episode will broadcast on December 22nd at 6 p.m. KST.

source: allkpop

SNSD to recreate popular fairy tales for their MBC Christmas special

2011-12-22T15:36:00.000+07:00

SNSD has prepared a special event for their fans this Christmas through a special MBC program titled ‘SNSD’s Christmas Fairy Tale‘.

Scheduled to broadcast on Christmas Eve (24th), the girls recreated popular fairy tales with the addition of performances that were previously only seen at their international concerts. Taeyeon took on the role of the ‘Ice Queen’ to sing “Oh Holy Night” on a stage which required her to be up 3 meters in the air to achieve the full effect.

Sooyoung performed her Latin ‘Cha Cha Cha’ dance for the first time on TV, a dance which attracted wide attention amongst her fans after being performed at their solo concert in 2009. Sooyoung’s partner for the show was professional dancer Kim Dae Dong. Jessica‘s stage made a stunning transformation into a forest on which she performed a jazz track titled “When You Wish Upon a Star“.

Seohyun and Yuri reportedly collaborated for a ‘Swan Lake’ themed stage where they performed “Winter Wonderland“, accompanied by Yuri’s piano performance.

Fit to the ‘black and white’ concept of their theme, the girls also took a 180 degree transformation by turning into rocker chicks for the second half of their stage.

The girls also sang their various hits such as “Genie“, “The Boys“, and a carol version of “Kissing You“. Also included in the broadcast are clips of their visit to an army training camp, surprising 500 soldiers stationed there.

Finally, the special came to a close with a performance of “After One Year” by Jessica and Onew.

Catch the show on December 24th!

source: allkpop

Lee Jang Woo becomes the ‘Man of Viewer Ratings’

2011-12-22T15:32:00.000+07:00

It’s been a busy year for actor Lee Jang Woo, who’s been juggling several dramas on top of his variety show with T-ara‘s Eunjung.

His hard work has certainly paid off, as it’s earned him a new nickname, ‘The Man of Viewer Ratings‘. He’s currently starring in KBS’s ‘Man of Honor‘, which recorded 14.6% in viewer ratings last week — the best it’s achieved all season long.

The development of his character and love line heightened the public’s interest in the drama, which is clearly being reflected in the numbers.

Lee Jang Woo possesses a history of being a power player in high viewer ratings, as his former work, ‘Smile, Donghae‘, came out to be the highest rated drama of 2011.

Opportunities are rapidly becoming abundant for him now, and he’s been expanding his activities to include variety programs and pictorials. As such, Lee Jang Woo is becoming a blue chip in both the advertising and film industries.

He was also named in the ‘Troika of New Male Actors’ by many, right alongside Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah In.

His agency stated, “He’s grateful that he was already able to earn such a status with the little work he’s done. He’ll be greeting his fans through a more variety of roles in the future.”

source: allkpop

‘Dream High 2′ releases first set of Kang Sora’s still-cuts

2011-12-22T15:26:00.000+07:00

Anticipation for the pilot broadcast of ‘Dream High 2‘ just got kicked up a notch with the release of the drama’s first still-cuts!

Actress Kang Sora is seen busily running errands and cleaning shoes with a sign on her chest that explains she’s being punished for coming to school late.

But why is being late such a big deal? In ‘Kirin Arts High School’, the gates are zealously guarded by teacher ‘Yang Jin Man’ (J.Y. Park). He finds out that she’d been out all night at an idol group concert and punishes her by making him clean his stinky shoes and pots.

Kang Sora earned the praise of staff around her for not being afraid to scruff up her image for the sake of her role. She also showed smooth chemistry with her castmates and warmed up the film set with her lively personality.

source: allkpop

Kim Hyun Joong to start the new year with his fans

2011-12-22T15:21:00.000+07:00

Kim Hyun Joong will be spending the new year with his fans through his new fan meeting event called ‘2012 Kim Hyun Joong Fanmeeting in Seoul‘.

He’ll be performing songs from his “Break Down” and “Lucky” mini-albums, as well as hold discussion sessions to talk about what 2012 will be like for him and his fans. Since the event is open to fans from all over the world, the diverse turnout is expected to cement his status as a Hallyu superstar.

Reservations for tickets opened up on December 21st, and in moments, the pages were flooded with 10,000 fans, claiming every last seat in just under 30 minutes. Fans that weren’t so lucky are still scrounging on boards and hoping that more dates will be added to the fan meet.

A representative of Key East expressed, “He’s counting down the days to meeting his fans. Even amidst busy preparations for year-end shows, he’s working hard to come up with ways to make the event memorable for his fans.”

After his fan meet, he will be preparing for the release of his Japanese single and promotions.

source: allkpop

SHINee to release a photobook of their ‘SHINee World’ Asia tour

2011-12-22T15:10:00.001+07:00

SHINee will be releasing a new concert photobook on December 26th!

The photobook will contain pictures from their Asia tour concert, ‘SHINee The 1st Concert – SHINee World‘, along with behind-the-scenes, rehearsal, and waiting room photos, all amounting to a total of 192 pages.

In addition, the photobooks will come with booklets full of stories, Q&A sessions, and handwritten messages and autographs from their Nagoya concert in October.

Fans who weren’t able to attend the concerts definitely won’t want to miss out on this!

In related news, SHINee will be holding their ‘SHINee Japan 1st Album The First Showcase Live‘ at the Tokyo International Forum A Hall on Christmas Eve, in addition to participating in the live event, ‘Music For All, All For Music‘, on Christmas Day.

source: allkpop

KARA to teach Korean through their new smartphone app

2011-12-22T15:10:00.000+07:00

KARA will be putting their multi-language skills to use by becoming Korean language teachers for their new smartphone application!

On December 22nd, DSP Media will release “KARA’s Korean Vacation“, an app that features over 400 different lessons on vocabulary and phrases fans will need when visiting Korea. Topics cover everything from greetings, transportation, shopping, eating, and finding a place to stay.

By utilizing fun pictures of the members and voice recordings to help with pronunciation, the app wil be far from boring. For those that need a little encouragement, KARA’s cheers are just a click away. The app also includes quizzes and bookmarks to personalize your lesson style.

An auto translator will be included with the app, as well as a penpal service that connects fans to Korean speakers for more practice.

The app is only available for iPhone users, but will be made available on the Android market in January with additional themes on Hallyu dramas and movies.

source: allkpop

IU to talk about her dream date + Lee Seung Gi’s gift on ‘Strong Heart’

2011-12-20T20:23:00.000+07:00

IU intrigued fans when she revealed that she got a gift from actor Lee Seung Gi. During the latest recording of SBS’s ‘Strong Heart‘, IU stated, “I recently received a surprise gift from Lee Seung Gi,”,to which Lee Seung Gi replied, “I’m not sure if you liked it. I picked it myself.”

While on the show, the young star also shared her feelings about becoming an adult in Korea. “Now that I’ll be turning 20, there’s a date that I really want to have.”
Details on Lee Seung Gi’s gift and IU’s dream date will be revealed in full on December 20th’s broadcast of ‘Strong Heart – Christmas Special.’

source: allkpop

Seo In Young reveals how to prevent a puffy face after eating ramen

2011-12-20T20:20:00.000+07:00

Singer Seo In Young has revealed that she’s obsessed with ramen, and even figured out a trick to keep the puffy after-effects at bay.

On December 19th’s episode of KBS 2TV‘s ‘Star Life Theater‘, the singer showed off her Singapore dormitory, which was held a solid stock of midnight snacks.

She displayed all the snacks she brought with her from Korea and remarked, “This is my source of strength when I go overseas. I can’t live without ramen.”

“After you eat ramen, you must drink milk before going to bed. I heard that some people even put milk in their ramen, but drinking milk helps prevent a puffy face in the morning,” she said.

When the staff asked if she diets regularly, Seo In Young replied, “Only when I need to. I don’t like being on diets.”

The singer also revealed, “I want to study properly to become a legitimate designer. I want to maybe collaborate with other designers first, and then create designs of my own.”

source: allkpop

What were the most watched TV shows of 2011?

2011-12-20T20:05:00.000+07:00

On December 19th, AGB Nielsen Media released the rankings for the most watched dramas and variety shows of 2011!

The #1 most watched drama of the year went to ‘Smile, Donghae‘, which exceeded 50% in viewer ratings by recording 50.5% on its April 4th broadcast. KBS also showed strong viewership, dominating most of the rankings in both the drama and variety show categories.

Check out the full list below!

- All TV programs

1. KBS Sports, ‘(Korea:Japan)’ – 37.7%

2. KBS, ‘Smile, Donghae’ – 36.4%

3. SBS, ‘Secret Garden’ – 30.2%

4. KBS, ‘Ojakgyo Brothers’ – 25%

5. KBS Sports, ‘(Korea:Australia)’ – 24.7%

6. MBC Sports, ‘(Korea:Indonesia)’ – 24%

7. KBS, ‘I Believe In Love’ – 23.6%

8. KBS, ‘Women of Our Home’ – 20.3%

9. KBS, ‘Happy Sunday’ – 19.7%

10. KBS, ‘Only You’ – 19.5%

- Drama only

1. KBS, ‘Smile, Donghae’ – 36.4%

2. SBS, ‘Secret Garden’ – 30.2%

3. KBS, ‘Ojakgyo Brothers’ – 25%

4. KBS, ‘I Believe In Love’ – 23.6%

5. KBS, ‘Women of Our Home’ – 20.3%

6. KBS, ‘Only You’ – 19.5%

7. KBS ‘Princess’ Man’ – 19.3%

8. MBC, ‘Flames of Ambition’ – 19.1%

9. SBS, ‘Deep-Rooted Tree’ – 19%

10. SBS, ‘Sign’ – 18.7%

- Variety programs

1. KBS, ‘Happy Sunday’ – 19.7%

2. KBS, ‘Gag Concert’ – 18.1%

3. MBC, ‘Birth of a Great Star’ – 18%

4. MBC, Infinity Challenge’ – 16.7%

5. MBC, ‘Quiz That Changes the World’ – 15.7%

- Best viewer rating by episode

1. KBS, ‘Smile, Donghae’ – 50.5% (11/4/4)

2. KBS, Sports ‘Korea:Japan’ – 48.4% (11/1/25)

3. SBS Sports, ‘(ISU)’ – 46.9% (11/4/30)

4. KBS, ‘Happy Sunday’ – 40.7% (11/1/23)

5. KBS, ‘Ojakgyo Brothers’ – 40.1% (11/12/18)

6. SBS, ‘Secret Garden’ – 40% (11/1/16)

7. KBS, ‘I Believe In Love’ – 38.6% (11/7/10)

8. SBS, ‘Gisaeng’ – 34.8% (11/7/17)

9. KBS ‘Gag Concert’ – 34.1% (11/12/18)

10. KBS Sports, ‘(Korea:Australia)’ – 34.1% (11/1/14)

source: allkpop

SNSD releases maxi single, “The Boys”

2011-12-20T19:58:00.001+07:00

After a delay of more than a month, SNSD has finally released their maxi single, ‘The Boys‘.

Comprised of eight tracks, the single holds the English version of “The Boys“, as well as an instrumental and an a cappella. There are five remixes, as well, one of which includes a creation by Teddy Riley. Sample their tracks below, and remember to support the girls by purchasing their music!

source: allkpop

G.NA reveals her grandfather has passed away

2011-12-20T19:58:00.000+07:00

On December 20th, G.NA revealed that her grandfather had passed away. Through her Twitter, she wrote, “On December 20th, my grandfather left the world. He was like my father ever since I was little. Because he lived in Canada, I wasn’t able to see him before he left, and I’m in disbelief with what is going on. This can’t be true. I’m so sorry I couldn’t even tell you that I loved you.” She added, “I think it will be hard for me to attend to my schedules right now. But I will do my best for what I can do. Let’s not fall, G.NA!”

Cube Entertainment stated, “G.NA is currently filming for MBC‘s ‘Lulu Lala‘. She found out about her grandfather this morning. Although she tried to go to him, she wasn’t able to. G.NA tried to go to Canada once she was notified, but her family has decided not to hold a funeral there. Since he was a soldier, he will be laid to rest at the Seoul National Memorial Cemetary. Her family in Canada will be coming to hold the funeral. G.NA will be attending.”

Netizens commented, “Rest in peace,” and “He will have gone to a better place. Please don’t be too sad.”

source: allkpop

Mothers of Super Junior’s Sungmin, Kyuhyun, and Leeteuk to open a cafe

2011-12-20T19:47:00.000+07:00

The mothers of Super Junior‘s Sungmin, Kyuhyun, and Leeteuk have revealed that they will be opening a cafe together!

On December 20th, Leeteuk wrote on his Twitter, “On the 22nd, my mother, Sungmin’s mother, and Kyuhyun’s mother will be opening a coffee shop. I was the only one left in the dark. They said it’s going to be in Apgujung.”

He continued, “Mom, you’ve been lonely for a while now, so I hope that you enjoy your time running it and have a lot of fun ^^ I’ll try to help as much as I can!”

Netizens commented, “Wow, oppa I’ll drop by often and try to help!”, “I’ll bring my friends there!” and “If we go, will Leeteuk oppa make us coffee?”

source: allkpop

Alexander kicks off his solo showcase tour in Japan and Malaysia

2011-12-20T19:43:00.000+07:00

U-KISS‘s former member Alexander has kicked off his solo showcase tour to a successful start in Japan and Malaysia! On December 9th, he held his ‘Alexander Showcase Live 2011‘ in Japan and was greeted by a crowd of 700 fans and 100 industry officials.

A director of his Japanese concert promotions stated, “Alexander showed dancing and singing skills that exceeded the expectations of officials from music labels, so they took a lot of interest in him. He’s also someone that the Japanese people take very well to character-wise, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can show on dramas or variety shows.”

On the 17th, he headed for Malaysia to perform at NTV7‘s ‘Star Live Concert‘, where he sang “Bad Girl” and “That Man” as a special guest. On the 18th, he held his second showcase with 1,500 fans, and performed his title track, “I Just“, along with other songs like “Oh! Baby“, “Bad Girl”. He also did a special shuffle dance.

Fans commented, “It’s nice to see him so confident even while standing alone“, and “It was worth waiting for him.”

Representatives of his Malaysia showcase stated, “His numerous charms makes him stand out as a singer. He’s also capable of several languages, so we’re absolutely sure that he’ll be well-loved by not only Malaysia, but all of Asia.”

source: allkpop

SBS’s ‘Running Man’ will avoid shooting outside Korea for the time being

2011-12-20T19:42:00.000+07:00

SBS‘s Sunday variety program ‘Running Man’ has become one of the most popular programs both domestically and abroad, reaching a stunning 20% in ratings with its latest Hong Kong excursion.

However, the producers behind the hide-and-seek program have denied any plans of going abroad to other foreign countries, despite love calls from several Asian nations.

“There are no more foreign projects for the time being,” stated ‘Running Man’ PD Jo Hyo Jin. “Instead of expanding carelessly, this is the time to strengthen our core,” he said.

“Compared with long-running variety shows such as ‘Infinity Challenge’ and ‘1 Night 2 Days’, ‘Running Man’ is still taking its baby steps,” he said. “The two programs give off a vibe of well-aged grace, but ‘Running Man’ has such a short history that we still worry about how long it will last.”

The program has just returned from a two-part episode which took place in the beautiful city of Hong Kong, and was greeted by thousands of supportive fans who professed their love for the variety show. The episodes were also remarkable for guest-starring Jackie Chan as the mission-giver, along with guests Jung Yonghwa and Lee Min Jung, who both showed off their running skills.

“For ‘Running Man’ to grow even more, we feel that the problem of balance needs to be worked out,” he said, referring to the balance between the members and their teams. “There is still room for improvement for the members’ characters, as well as the relationships between them,” he stated.

source: allkpop

High ratings for ‘SNSD and the Dangerous Boys’ show hope for new cable channels

2011-12-19T16:59:00.000+07:00

Much buzz was generated when it was revealed that all nine members of SNSD would be featuring in JTBC‘s new TV show, ‘SNSD and the Dangerous Boys‘.

While some speculated that it’d be difficult for idols to pull off a reality show on a cable channel, the girls did just that, and even helped the show score the highest viewer ratings out of all four sub-channels for its time slot.

On December 19th, AGB Nielsen Media revealed that the show recorded 1.299% in viewer ratings, a significant lead ahead of not just variety shows, but other dramas and informational programs.

The ‘Joint Organization Channel‘ (Channel A, TV Chosun, JTBC, MBN) is now three weeks into its launch and has been struggling with dismal ratings, barely managing to reach the 1% mark with most of its shows. JTBC has been on the higher end, with ‘Queen Insoo‘ recording a consistent 1.105%.

The two music shows, however, have been recording as low as 0.28%, proving that the four sub-channels still need a bigger push to be competitive enough for the public broadcast networks.

source: allkpop

KARA gets named as 2011′s most popular Korean star on Japan’s ‘Orista’

2011-12-19T16:56:00.000+07:00

Oricon‘s weekly entertainment magazine, ‘Onlystar Oricon‘, recently held a survey asking Japanese fans to pick the most popular star of 2011.

It comes as no surprise that KARA topped the list of Korean acts, with SNSD following closely in 2nd place. Jang Geun Suk, TVXQ, and 2PM drew up in 3rd, 4th, and 5th place respectively.

Representatives of Orista explained, “KARA’s second album, ‘Super Girl‘, topped the Oricon chart and showed remarkable sales numbers. They’ve also been in several CFs, giving stable rise to their popularity in Japan.”

Commenting on SNSD, the representatives stated, “SNSD achieved big goals this year by entering the worldwide market with the English version of ‘The Boys‘. Their first album, ‘Girl’s Generation‘, exceeded 630,000 units in sales. ”

They also pointed out how Jang Geun Suk was also the only solo singer in the top 5. “He began earning popularity through his drama, ‘You’re Handsome‘, and topped the Oricon with his debut single, ‘Let Me Cry‘. He also held a live concert at the Tokyo Dome in November.”

source: allkpop

Lee Ji Ah’s prestigious family background unveiled

2011-12-19T16:50:00.000+07:00

Ever since Lee Ji Ah was discovered to have been in a secret relationship with Seo Taiji, her identity became the stuff of mystery. Netizens endeavouring to find out more about Lee Ji Ah’s past weren’t able to do so, until a family friend of 40 years disclosed some insider information on her family through an interview.

On December 19th, Jung Dae Chul revealed that Lee Ji Ah’s grandfather was a prominent citizen of Seoul.

“Lee Ji Ah’s grandfather is the late Kim Soon Heung, a prominent figure in the education business. During his time, there were only two homes the size of 180-pyeong within Seoul. One belonged to the late former president Yoon Bo Sun, and the other belonged to the late Kim Soon Heung,” he said.

He continued, “Lee Ji Ah’s grandfather was passionate about education and set up the Seoul Arts High School out of his own expense.”

For a while now, Lee Ji Ah has been nicknamed as ‘Alien‘ because her family background was kept hidden from the public. She’s been making an effort to get closer with her fans ever since her lawsuit with Seo Taiji, sharing childhood photos on her official homepage and interacting more through SNS services.

source: allkpop

SNSD provides fans with warm drinks and hot packs outside ‘Inkigayo’

2011-12-19T16:49:00.000+07:00

On December 18th, SNSD warmed fans with their thoughtfulness, as they provided a meaningful present to those who came to support them at SBS‘s ‘Inkigayo‘.

The girls performed their follow-up track, “Mr. Taxi“, and later came out with coffee, hot packs, milk, and other beverages to warm up their fans and thank them for making the effort to support them. The fans had been waiting outside in the cold for some hours and were touched to hear that the girls had delivered snacks through their managers.

Fans commented, “Definitely SNSD“, and “We’re truly touched!”

source: allkpop

KBS announces its MCs for the ’2011 KBS Entertainment Awards’

2011-12-19T16:40:00.000+07:00

On December 19th, KBS announced their three hosts for the ‘2011 KBS Entertainment Awards‘.

The MCs this year are Shin Dong Yeob, SNSD‘s YoonA, and anchorwoman Lee Ji Ae. The trio will be hosting the 170-minute long event on December 24th, which will be broadcast live through KBS.

Lee Ji Ae has been hosting the ‘KBS Entertainment Awards’ since 2008, making this her fourth consecutive year. Each year, she caught the attention of the media for her elaborate dresses, and so much of the focus this year is already on what she’ll be wearing to impress this time.

YoonA made her hosting debut at the ’2009 KBS Entertainment Awards’, so this will be her return as an MC after two years. This will also be Shin Dong Yeob’s second consecutive year, having hosted the event in 2010.

Producers revealed that they also have some special guests lined up for surprise stages.

source :allkpop

Still cuts from YoonA and Jang Geun Suk’s first meeting on ‘Love Rain’

2011-12-19T16:33:00.000+07:00

On December 19th, upcoming drama ‘Love Rain‘ released two romantic still cuts from the scene where Jang Geun Suk and SNSD‘s YoonA first meet. Jang Geun Suk plays the dual role of a handsome ’70s art student named ‘Seo In Ha’, and his son in the year 2012, a free-spirited photographer named ‘Seo Jun’. YoonA, on the other hand, plays the innocent ’70s campus goddess ‘Kim Yoon Hee’, as well as her daughter, ‘Hana’.

Their first meeting looks like something out of a watercolor painting, bringing together elements of the campus and its scenery into their blossoming love. After picking up YoonA’s book, Jang Geun Suk is seen handing it back to her without being able to take his eyes off of her, capturing their moment of love at first sight.

Director Yoon Suk Ho stated, “In the ’70s, love was about innocent, warm romance. I hope bring out these analog emotions, so please look forward to how their shy love begins to blossom in the drama.” In related news, the drama was exported for $9 million USD to Japan.

source: allkpop

HyunA and Hyunseung get festive for ‘High Cut’

2011-12-19T16:23:00.000+07:00

Troublemaker‘s HyunA and Hyunseung have unveiled their photoshoot with ‘High Cut‘ magazine!

Combining the luxurious colors of gold and red, the two played up the festive atmosphere of Christmas for their first couple photoshoot together. As if performing a routine straight out of their choreography, the two impressed staff members by easily pulling off some sexy poses without any hesitation.

HyunA showed off her lean legs in a golden spangle dress while Hyunseung channeled a beastlier look in an Yves Saint Laurent pants, a Sung Jin fur vest, and Dior Homme high tops.

HyunA’s golden jacket is from Balmain, and under it, she wears a black jersey jump suit from Elie Tahari. Hyunseung matched her in Prada pants and a metallic shirt.

In their warmer red and white look, HyunA’s wearing a 96 New York red muffler as a dress while Hyunseungs decked from head to toe in white pieces from Neil Barrett.

Their full photoshoot can be seen through the 67th edition of the magazine.

source: allkpop

Murderer of Iris’s Lee Eun Mi sentenced to 17 years of prison

2011-12-19T16:16:00.000+07:00

Back in June, it was reported that Lee Eun Mi, the lead vocalist of female group Iris, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend by being stabbed 65 times on the head and abdomen while on her way home.

Her case finally came to a close today, with her ex-boyfriend being sentenced to 17 years of jail. The court originally ruled for a 20 year sentence, but cut back three years after deciding that the man had demonstrated his remorse.

The court stated, “After being told that their relationship was over, ‘Cho’ attempted to meet with her again to fix the relationship. What he heard in return were words of shame and hurt, leading him to murder her in a gruesome manner. A heavy sentence is inevitable.”

They continued, “Taking into account the fact that he is showing remorse over his actions and that he has deposited $10,000 USD to the family of the deceased in an effort to recover their loss, we will be sentencing him to 17 years of prison.”

source: dailymail

Lee Hyori to hold a fan signing event to promote her 2012 charity calendar

2011-12-19T16:15:00.000+07:00

On December 22nd, Lee Hyori will be holding a fan signing event for her 2012 calendar to spend a warm year end with her fans.

Hyori will be personally there with her sleeves up to aid and promote the sale of her calendars, as all proceeds from its sales will be donated directly to charities. The calendars are already a hit online, with phones ringing off the hook with fans inquiring about pre-orders.

On her Twitter, she wrote, “It’s not just a portion that will be donated, but everything. I’m going to keep my eyes open to make sure that none of it leaks into another pocket.”

The project was a personal idea that Hyori came up with to help people easily contribute their part to helping the cause of abandoned animals, especially for those that don’t know where to start or where to donate.

source: allkpop

Jiyeon impresses with her popping skills on ‘T-ara’s Flower Boys’

2011-12-18T16:55:00.001+07:00

A few days ago, T-ara revealed that they would be running their own reality show, ‘T-ara’s Flower Boys‘, on SBS E!TV.

On December 17th, the pilot episode finally aired, and it kicked off with a talent show. Jiyeon impressed many with dance skills never-before-seen on stage.

Collaborating with one of the pretty boy contestants hoping to land a business deal with the girls, Jiyeon showed off her popping skills, followed by a sexy dance and a puppet routine. Her groupmates couldn’t help but drop their jaws in awe.

Check it out below!

source: allkpop