GREAT NEWS FOR FUTURE ASIAN GIRL GROUP WANNABEES
Wonder Girls watch out. A new Asian girl group is on the way.
FarWest Entertainment — a production company helmed by former Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) president Jon Niermann — and a group of Asian partners are behind a fledgling girl band enterprise called “Project Lotus.”
The concept behind “Project Lotus” is simple.
Grammy Award-winning producers Eliot Kennedy (left) and Brian Grant (center) are set to compose songs with Canto-pop singer Jonathan Wong for a new Pan-Asian girl group. FarWest Entertainment
Get five talented girls from Korea, Japan, China, India and the Philippines. Pair them up with Grammy Award-winning producers Eliot Kennedy and Brian Grant. Give them songs composed by prominent song writers like Take That’s Gary Barlow. Get it all down on film and drop it on the world.
In the midst of pre-auditions, FarWest and team are busy culling talent from a variety of outlets, including the Internet, where hopefuls can upload their audition videos onto Project Lotus’ website (www.projectlotus.tv), Facebook page or their YouTube channel.
To date 850 girls have sent in their clips. The number could more than double by the Aug. 2 submission deadline.
Applicants need to be Asian women aged 18 to 25 who can speak English and sing and dance. Clips should feature hopefuls singing an English-language pop song.
According to production manager Laura Conway, video clips are just the beginning of an extensive auditioning process that includes country manager-hosted tryouts. Producers will also tour Asian cities to scout out candidates from performing arts schools, modeling agencies and local management companies.
“The candidates who are successful will be invited to attend a live audition in their capital city,” Conway explained via e-mail. “This audition will take place in front of a panel of celebrity judges.”
A group of 25 finalists, five from each country, will then fly to Hong Kong to take part in a six-week training process. One girl from each country will be eliminated every week until only five are left.
The resulting footage is slated to air in February and March. The album release is set for April.
“TV deals are currently in negotiation,” said Conway. “We intend that the television show will be broadcast throughout the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Asia of their desire to target an international audience of girls aged 6 to 14, Conway said: “We believe that the timing is right for singers from Asia to make it big in the West.”
By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com)
credit: heraldm.com + kpop.ph
NMB48, NEW SISTER GROUP OF AKB48, TO LAUNCH THIS FALL.
NMB48 already has an official website and is currently gathering girls for an audition that will start this summer. The group is expected to start activities in November.
UPDATE: AKB48 also announced that they will perform in Italy this October, followed by performances in Singapore and Macau in November.
Source: Natalie + tokyograph.com
[AKB48] ERENA ONO TO GRADUATE
Ono has already appeared in a few movies and television dramas. She recently played a main role in Keisuke Yoshida’s movie “Sankaku” (starring Sousuke Takaoka). Through that role, she apparently recognized her own inexperience, and she made the decision to seriously study to improve her ability.
It was also announced at the concert that AKB48′s 19th single, scheduled for release this December, will have its roster decided by a “Janken Senbatsu.” A tournament-like event will be held at the Nippon Budokan on September 21, and the top 16 will perform on the single. All 48 members of the group, plus 4 kenkyuusei, are eligible for the tournament, regardless of their popularity.
Source: AKB48 Official Blog + tokyograph.com
SE7EN TO MAKE COMEBACK WITH NEW ALBUM
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Korean pop singer Se7en is set to make a comeback to the local music scene next week, making his first album release in Korea in over three years.
Agency YG Entertainment (YG) announced in a press release that Se7en will be coming back on July 21, as shown in the teaser page set up for the singer (http://www.hello7.com) last Friday.
The singer, who has been busy working in the U.S. for the past few years, had originally planned to return to Korea at the end of May.
But, as YG explained several months ago, he decided to push the date back because he “wanted to make it perfect” and “wanted to make the [comeback] date relevant to ‘seven.’”
The agency had also hinted that the upcoming record will be “completely different in style than what Se7en has shown in the past” and that fans will be “very surprised” by the new music.
“This is his comeback to the local scene in three years so all the producers and staff members at YG, not to mention Se7en, put in their best efforts into the album,” an official at YG was quoted as saying. “We have been preparing this album for a long time so we will do our best in supporting Se7en.”
The new album is said to feature noted K-pop producer Teddy as well new record producers recruited by YG this year.
Se7en, whose real name is Choi Dong-wook, trained under YG Entertainment for four years before making his debut in 2003 with the album “Just Listen.” He became popular throughout Asia, releasing four full-length albums in Korea and seven singles in Japan.
In 2006, he went over to the U.S. to break into the global music scene and started collaborating with noted record producers such as Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. He has yet to achieve notable success there.
His last album release in Korea was in 2006, the fourth record “Se7olution.”
credit: asiae.co.kr
[SUPER JUNIOR] FULL MV OF NO OTHER AND ANOTHER GREAT NEWS FOR THE FIL.ELF
The wait is finally over..
credit: sment@YT
~0O0~
SUPER JUNIOR’S 4TH ALBUM “BONAMANA” (VERSION A & VERSION B) OUT NATIONWIDE ON JULY 9 ! FREE LIMITED EDITION POSTER IN SELECTED RECORD STORES!
VERSION A
VERSION B
Super Junior’s fourth album is here! Sporting hot new looks for the highly anticipated comeback, Super Junior may be a few members short at the moment, but they’ve definitely brought their A-game for their 4th album”Bonamana”. This time the group has created their own genre dubbed “SJ Funky” to describe their groovy main track “Bonamana” composed by Yoo Young Jin. “Bonamana” is being released in two editions (Version A & Version B) with different album covers.
“Bonamana” has been receiving amazing response since its release and has broken the record for selling the most albums in the shortest amount of time. They have sold 100,000 albums after 8 days from album release! Industry experts expect the album will surpass the group’s previous sales record, achieved with its third album “Sorry Sorry.” That album sold 250,000 copies and topped the album sales chart when it was released in March last year. “Bonamana” has sold more than 160,000 copies so far in Korea alone.
Their “Bonamana” music video has been viewed more than 4.2 million times on SME YouTube Channel. “Bonamana” was #1 on KBS Music Bank K-Chart for 3 weeks as well as triple crown on SBS Inkigayo and reached #1 on music charts in various Asian countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines!
“Bonamana” Version A & Version B come with one (1) randomly selected photocard and big poster (size 24″ x 36″) in selected record stores. Limited supplies only!
Tracklisting :
1. 미 인 아 (Bonamana)
2. 나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom)
3. 응결 (Coagulation)
4. 나란 사람 (Your Eyes)
5. My Only Girl
6. 사랑이 이렇게 (My All Is In You)
7. Shake It Up!
8. 잠들고 싶어 (In My Dream)
9. 봄날 (One Fine Spring Day)
10. 좋은 사람 (Good Person)
11. Here We Go
WATCH “BONAMANA” MV HERE : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSOSxwEWFA4
GET FREE LIMITED EDITION SUPER JUNIOR “BONAMANA” (VERSION A OR VERSION B) BIG POSTERS (SIZE : 24″ x 36″) (STRICTLY FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!) IN THE FOLLOWING RECORD STORES WHEN YOU BUY SUPER JUNIOR “BONAMANA” (VERSION A OR VERSION B) CD:
METRO MANILA :
Odyssey Gateway 4210596
Odyssey SM Megamall 6873620
Odyssey SM Mall Of Asia 5560138
Odyssey SM Manila 5249098
Odyssey Robinsons Place Ermita 5367941
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Odyssey Filinvest 8503763
Odyssey Alabang 7725984
Odyssey SM Southmall 8062602
Odyssey SM Sta Mesa 7161551
Odyssey Robinsons Galleria 6314889
Odyssey Sta Lucia East Mall 6824271
Odyssey SM Bicutan 8229040
Odyssey SM Taytay 6612031
Odyssey SM Marikina 4771874
Music One Quezon Avenue 373-7376
Music One Glorietta 752-8095 to 96
Music One Greenbelt 757-4426
Astroplus SM Mall Of Asia 5560080
Astrovision Robinsons Place Ermita 5363228
Astroplus SM North Edsa 9201531
Astroplus The Block North Edsa 4420372
Astroplus SM Makati 3182382
Astroplus SM Megamall 6331793
Astroplus SM San Lazaro 7862428
Astrovision Virra Mall 7210811
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Astrovision Shangrila Plaza 6359967
Astrovision Robinsons Gallleria 6363173
O Music Video Rockwell 8981090
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The Landmark Makati 8109990
Odyssey SM Bacoor (046) 4177392
PROVINCES :
Astroplus Sta. Rosa Laguna (049) 5349875
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Odyssey Limketkai Cagayan de Oro (088) 8562092
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Odyssey NE Pacific Nueva Ecija (044) 9409038
Odyssey Magic Mall Urdaneta Pangasinan (075) 6562919
Odyssey SM Batangas (043) 7832243
Odyssey SM Bacolod (034) 468 0036
PLEASE CALL YOUR FAVORITE STORES AND RESERVE YOUR SUPER JUNIOR “BONAMANA” (VERSION OR VERSION B) BIG POSTER NOW! HURRY! AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS! HURRY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
source: Universal Records Philippines Facebook Page ~~> HERE
SUPER JUNIOR: BLAST FROM THE PAST (HAPPY DAY GUESTING)
HAPPY DAY WITH SUPER JUNIOR:
EP. 1
Ep. 2
Ep. 3
Ep. 4
Ep. 5
Ep. 6
Ep. 7
credit: muish + SJinLove@YT
they are so cute and still so young looking.. Miss you even more, Kangin oppa. T___T
GUESS WHO IS C.N BLUE’S JUNG YONG-HWA’S IDEAL WOMAN IS.
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Korean singer Jung Yong-hwa of idol group CNBLUE has confessed that Japanese actress Ueno Juri is his ideal woman.
The singer made the remark during a recent guest appearance on SBS radio show “Choi Hwa-jung’s Power Time” where he talked about romance and relationships.
“Who is your ideal woman? Seo-hyun’s husband Yong-hwa~,” asked the show’s host Choi Hwa-jung, referring to Jung’s current variety show gig “We Got Married” where he plays a make-believe couple with Girls’ Generation member Seo-hyun.
Jung said in response, “I love Seo-hyun. She has a good personality. But these days I am into watching Japanese drama ‘Nodame Cantabile’ and I really love Ueno Juri who appears in the show.”
Other band members also revealed their ideal type of women; Kang Min-hyuk said that he likes a woman with short or long straight hair who looks good wearing a baseball cap, meaning a female celebrity who would wear baseball caps in disguise; Jung-shin described his ideal woman as one with fair skin and who looks great in skinny jeans; Jong-hyun picked Korean actress Son Ye-jin, saying he likes a woman who is funny, easy to talk to and looks good in a white T-shirt and jeans.
The members also chose Kang Min-hyuk and Jung Yong-hwa as most likely to have successful romantic relationships with women.
In response to the question whether they have more than two women around them that they want to have a relationship with, all the members answered ‘yes.’
After releasing two singles in Japan, CNBLUE made their debut in the local music scene last January with their mini-album titled “Bluetory.” The group had received much attention ahead of its debut with leader and main vocalist Jung Yong-hwa gaining popularity through SBS TV series “Minamishineyo” last year.
They released their second mini-album “BLUE LOVE” on May 19, which features the title track “LOVE.”
The band is currently preparing for their first concert “Listen to the CNBLUE,” to be held in Seoul on July 31.
cre: asiae.co.kr
KOREAN RAPPER AND BIG BANG MEMBER TOPPED THE MNET’S SINGLES CHART
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Korean rapper MC Mong has topped the Mnet’s singles chart with his recent duet “Hurts Like Death” with female singer Mellow for the first week of July.
According to data released by the cable music channel on Tuesday, the rapper pushed back previous week’s winner Big Bang member T.O.P, taking his first win on the music chart.
The latest collaboration is featured in the second album “Blue Brand; Trauma” that includes various tracks from different recording artists. The songs from the album have fared well on several web-based music charts since its release on June 24.
The new single “Over Time” by singer Baek Ji-young came in at No. 2 and climbing up 11-slots to third place was “Because Of You” by rap duo Supreme Team Feat. Soulman.
Meanwhile, the first studio release from Big Bang member Taeyang made its debut atop the album charts, scoring the title of best-selling record during the week of June 28 to July 4.
The second album “Blue Brand; Trauma” featuring various artists slipped a notch from last week to No. 2, while the best collection record “Timeless; The Best” from Baek Ji-young bowed into third place on the music chart.
cre: asiae.co.kr
OFFICIAL POST OF “GOONG” THE MUSICAL REVEALED
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Korean production company Group 8 unveiled the official poster for musical “Goong” on the musical’s official website today.
The poster shows actors (from left) RUN, U-Know Yunho and Kim Dong-ho, who will play the leading role of crown prince Lee Shin, with actress Gwak Sun-young in one version of the poster and Shin Eui-jung in the other version for the role of the tomboyish Chae-kyeong.
“Goong” is a story about an average high-school girl marrying a royal prince in 21st century Korea, which is in fiction a monarchical country.
Originally based on a best-selling comic series, “Goong” was adapted for the small screen in 2006 which also became a huge hit and turned its two lead actors, Yoon Eun-hye and Joo Ji-hoon, into household names.
Ticket for the musical will go on sale on Thursday and premiere on September 8 at the National Museum of Korea.
cre: asiae.co.kr
[4MINUTE] FULL VERSION RELEASE OF MUSIC VIDEO “I MY ME MINE”
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Korean girl group 4minute have released the full-length music video for their latest song “I MY ME MINE (IMMM)” today, according to their agency Cube Entertainment on Monday.
Cube announced in a press release that the music video for their follow-up song “IMMM,” showing each girls’ personality and powerful dance performances, has been unveiled on the group’s official webpage and various portal sites.
The five-member girl band composed of members Jihyun, Gayoon, Jiyoon, HyunA and Sohyun, made their debut in 2009 with their single “Hot Issue.”
They have enjoyed success with their mini-album “For Muzik” which topped various charts in Asia including Taiwan and the Philippines.
The girl group returned to the music stage last week with their new track “IMMM” from their second album “HUH.”
cre: asiae.co.kr
TOP ASIAN PROMOTERS TO PRODUCE JAY PARK’S FAN MEET
Fan Meets in 8 Cities Confirmed for Late August and September with Kickoff in Seoul
July 6, 2010, International – Jay Park better known to his fans in Asia as Park Jaebeom will be working with Asia’s top music promoters to launch his solo fan meets tour in September. The fan meets kick off in Seoul on August 28th and go on to Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore throughout the month of September.
“We are very pleased to make this announcement,” said Tinzar Sherman, official management representative for Jay Park. “The fans have been so patient and supportive of Jay. He wants to take the opportunity during the fan meets to thank all the fans for their unwavering support, and is looking forward to making it a lot of fun.”
The idea of the fan meets has been in development since May when several top promoters approached Jay’s management about the possibility of doing fan meets for Jay in their own countries. There are discussions about expanding the tour to additional cities in Asia and North America.
Jay will be bringing his dance crew AOM to the various fan meet locations, where he will perform songs, choreograph special dance sequences and play games with the fans. Jay and AOM will also battle top local bboy crews in a friendly exchange to promote youth culture in each country.
“I am blessed to have such incredible fans. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go on the road and meet with you in so many great cities. I hope to make you proud,” said Jay Park.
Fan meet schedule will be posted on Jay Park’s official website www.jaypark.com/fanmeet.html and full details of each stop will be announced on the site by around the middle of July.
Media Inquiries:
Tinzar Sherman
info@jaypark.com
310-855-0033 ext. 702
Business Inquiries:
fanmeets@jaypark.com
source: jaypark.com
shared/cre: fangirlizm@twitter.com
SM TOWN LIVE 2010 PERFORMANCE LIST UNVEILED
< SMTOWN LIVE ‘10 >
▷ 공동제작 : S.M. ENTERTAINMENT
DREAMMAKER ENTERCOM
▷ 후 원 : ㈜ G마켓
▷ 일 시 : 2010년 8월 21일 (일) PM 05:00
▷ 장 소 : 잠실 올림픽 주 경기장
▷출 연 진 : BoA,강타,유노윤호,최강창민,Super Junior, 소녀시대, SHINee, F(x),TRAX, 장리인Special Guests
▷ 티 켓 : A FIELD / B FIELD / C FIELD
※ 전 좌석은 지정좌석입니다.
▷사이트 :1) FANMEETING PM 04:00
KangTa, Super Junior, SHINee , Girls’ GenerationSMTOWN LIVE ‘10 프로그램리스트
1)‘POWER SPECIAL 2010’ Special Guests
2) Over The Rainbow – Victoria, Luna
3) 못된 사랑 – TRAX
4) 토요일？- Jang Ri In
5) 내가 사랑했던 이름 – Onew, JongHyun
6) Ring Ding Dong – SHINee
7) 그 해 여름 – KangTa
8) 어느날 가슴이 말했다 – KangTa
9) 우리… – KangTa
10) 미인아 – Super Junior
11) Super Girl – Super Junior
12) No other – Super Junior*** 영상 *** TIME-OUT
13) ‘볼륨배틀’ – KangTa, Luna, YeSung, JongHyun, TaeYeon, Jang Ri In
14） ‘댄스배틀’ – BoA, YunHo, Yuri, EunHyuk, HyoYeon, TaeMin
15) BATTLE SPECIAL -KangTa, Luna, YeSung, JongHyun, TaeYeon, Jang Ri In, BoA, YunHo, Yuri, EunHyuk, HyoYeon, TaeMin
16) Eat you up – BoA
17) Energetic – BoA
18) No Dance No Life + BOOM! LOL- BoA
19) MUSIC FOR U *** 온라인 투표 ***
BoA, KangTa, UKnow Yunho,Choi Kang ChangMin, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x), TRAX, Jang Ri In
*** 이미지 방송 ***
20) 가슴이 차가운 남자 – TRAX
21) Moving On – Jang Ri In
22) JoJo –SHINee
23) Sorry – f(x)
24) In My Dream – Super Junior
25) 별별별 Star Star Star– 소녀시대*** 소개 이미지（소녀시대） ***
26) Oh! – Girls’ Generation
27) 소원을 말해봐 Tell me Your Wish (Genie) – Girls’ Generation
28) Gee – Girls’ Generation
29) 다시 만난 세계 Into the New World – Girls’ Generation
30) Run Devil Run – Girls’ Generation*** 소개 이미지（YunHo, ChangMin） ***
31) Crazy Life – YunHo
32) Wild Soul – ChangMin
33) 단순한 – YunHo, ChangMin
34) 댄스SHOW*** 모던 댄스/재즈 댄스 – YunHo, ChangMin
35) 믿어요 – YunHo, ChangMin*** 소개 이미지 （슈퍼주니어, 샤이니, 에프엑스）***
36) U – Super Junior
37) It’s You – Super Junior
38) 원더보이 – Super Junior
39) Marry Me – Super Junior
40) Y.O.U – SHINee
41) 니가 맘에 들어 – SHINee
42) 산소같은 너 – SHINee
43) 줄리엣 – SHINee
44) 1 년 后 – Jessica , Onew
45) TOXIC – Girls’ Generation
46) Nu ABO – F(x)
47) LaChaTa – F(x)
48) Mr. Boogie – F(x)
49) Chocolate Love – F(x)
50) Love Me – Jang Ri In
51) 연인이여 – Jang Ri In
52) Cold Rain – TRAX
53) One Night – TRAX
54) 나 속인거 아니지? –Typhoon
55) Guitar – JungMo*** 소개 이미지(SMTOWN) ***
멘트
56) Yesterday – KangTa, BoA
57) Summer vacation
58) Dreams Come ture
59) 여름이 좋아 I Love The Summer
60) ENDING SHOWSource: SM Ent.
Credit: Baidu.
Shared by: Jae Ex Dee.
cre: fuckyeahsmfx@tumblr
[AKB48] ANOTHER UNIT FOR NATTO PROMOTIONS AGAIN
Moeno Nito (cre: photobucket)AKB48 has once again created a temporary unit to promote “Natto Day” on July 10. The new group, named Natto Angel Z, consists of four AKB48 members who all like natto.
The new group is a follow-up to last year’s three-member unit Natto Angel. Miho Miyazaki (16) is returning for the new group, but Tomomi Itano (18) and Tomomi Kasai (18) are being replaced by Moeno Nito (17), Sumire Sato (16), and Haruka Ishida (16). Like the original group, all of the members are managed by the agency Horipro.
Natto Angel Z publicly performed their song “Natto Man” for the first time on Monday. The song will be released as a chaku-uta on July 7 and as a chaku-uta full on July 14.
Source: Nikkan Sports + tokyograph.com
[SUPER JUNIOR] KANGIN ENTERING THE ARMY
credit: SuJuTV2
Just felt sad that he have to do these now. But come to think of it, everyone should do that and Korean Idols are not an exception to that rule/law of their country. Kangin oppa, be strong. ELFs are here for you. See you after 2 years.
Again, at these pictures, my heart was moved by how supportive his fellow Super Junior were to Kangin. I feel for them. Heechul was kinda like crying or was crying. And Yesung, covered his eyes with his cap and I know that he’s sad that Kangin’s going away. Awwwww~~ what a scene!
picture credit as tagged + Blue★Princez@sj-world.net
[HALLYU] PARK YONG-HA LAID TO REST
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Singer and actor Park Yong-ha has been laid to rest at a private funeral attended by close family and friends.
The remains of the late star, who was cremated around noon on Friday, arrived at Bundang Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province located south of Korea’s capital of Seoul.
Actor So Ji-sub, carrying Park’s portrait in his hands, led a procession of family and friends toward the burial site where song “STARS,” from Park’s last album, was being played in the background for the Buddhist ceremony.
Park’s parents were not present for the service however — Park’s father, diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and his mother, who had previously lost consciousness over the shock of losing her son, had attended Park’s coffin rites yesterday in wheelchairs.
Among the mourners were many of Park’s celebrity friends including Park Hyo-shin, Kim Won-joon, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Min-jung and Kim Moo-yeol.
Actress Park Si-yeon, who had starred in Park Hyo-shin’s music video with the late Park, sobbed out loud crouched down, unable to contain the grief of losing her close friend.
Ryu Si-won, who arrived at the cemetery just as the service was wrapping up, also shed tears as he bid farewell to Park whom he had described as being “like a younger brother.”
Ryu had been set to stay in Japan till next week to take part in concerts and racing competitions but he pushed back the events and flew into Korea today morning.
“We trust that Park Yong-ha will always shine by our side… We will no longer be able to see him but we promise we will always stand by you and love you for a long time,” an official at Park’s agency said.
Numerous Korean celebrities had paid a visit to Park’s wake service for the past two days including Lee Byung-hun, Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Ha-neul, Kim Bum, Yoon Eun-hye, CNBLUE, Eugene, Gummy, Kangta, Kim Jin-pyo, Lyn, Psy, Song Seung-heon and U-Know Yunho.
So Ji-sub was present throughout the three-day wake service and up until the burial ceremony, often seen sobbing over the sudden and unexpected loss of his best friend.
Best known for his role in Asia as Sang-hyuk in the smash hit TV series “Winter Sonata” (KBS2, 2002), Park had led an active acting career in Korea since his debut in 2004, last starring in drama “The Slingshot” and film “The Scam” last year.
He had also branched out to singing, which was particularly successful in Japan. He won an award at Japan’s Golden Disk Award for four years straight starting in 2005, making him the first Korean to win and award at the event and the first to win four times in a row.
His music career in Japan continued to flourish even after he set up his own agency YONA Entertainment in 2008 — his fifth full-length album “STARS” released in June this year reached No. 16 on the prestigious Oricon weekly chart.
He had kicked off a three-month long 16-city tour on June 19 to promote “STARS” when during a brief visit to Korea to check up on his ailing father, Park committed suicide by hanging himself from the cord of his camcorder charger early on Wednesday. His mother found him dead in his apartment around 5:30 a.m.
Sources close to Park said he recently had been having a very hard time juggling his career, his company and family problems.
Although many suspected that Park had been suffering from depression and severe stress, local police ruled his death as “a suicide taken on impulse” after drinking the previous night and claimed there were no emotional or financial issues involved.
credit: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] JANG NARA TO BE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT A UNIVERSITY
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Hallyu star Jang Nara has been appointed an associate professor at a university in Beijing, according to her agency on Friday.
Her agency announced in a press release that Jang received a letter of appointment from the president of Beijing Huajia University at a press conference in front of 100 media reporters, held at the Beijing International Convention Center on June 30.
“Acting is a form of study which is aimed at developing one’s attributes rather than teaching something. Each generation has different forms of expressions so wouldn’t there be a need for young professors too?” Jang was quoted as saying at the event.
Jang made her debut in the entertainment industry as a singer, releasing her first album “The First Story” in 2001. The album spawned several hit songs including “Burying My Face In Tears” and “April Story,” selling over 250,000 copies.
She then became a household name with the success of her second album “Sweet Dream” (2002) which sold over 400,000 copies.
Jang also made an impressive crossover into acting, starring in several hit dramas and films including the popular sitcom “Non Stop 2″ (MBC, 2001) and “Successful Story of a Bright Girl” (SBS, 2002).
She will be filming a Chinese drama about medicine and the follow-up to “My Bratty Princess” in the fall.
credit: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] LEE MIN-HO SETS UP OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT
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Korean actor Lee Min-ho has set up an official Twitter account after falling victim to a Twitter impersonator last March.
The actor announced on his Cyworld mini-hompy board Thursday afternoon that he had created his own account (http://twitter.com/actorleeminho) on Twitter, a popular social networking and micro-blogging service.
Lee made his first Twitter entry, saying “I want to ride a bike” along with a photo of himself riding a bicycle in a commercial.
He then ‘followed’ actor Jung Sung-hwa, his co-star in the recent MBC TV series “Personal Taste,” and ‘tweeted’ to Jung, “I made a Twitter account too. Teach me.”
The actor also visited the Twitter page for filmmaker Park Kwang-choon, who directed Lee in films “She’s On Duty” (2005) and “Our School E.T.” (2007), and wrote “Director Park, it’s me Lee Min-ho. The one you went to before was fake.”
Last March, Lee’s agency Starhaus Entertainment warned fans that a fake Twitter account had been opened up under the actor’s name and had over 70,000 followers at the time. The agency was even seeking to take action to protect the actor’s fans.
As of July 2, the number of followers on the fake account currently stands at 88,573 compared to 8,282 on Lee’s official page.
The 23-year-old actor became a household name in Korea and throughout Asia last year with the success of KBS drama “Boys Over Flowers,” co-starring actress Ku Hye-sun and singer Kim Hyun-joong of SS501.
In “Taste”, he played a man pretending to be gay in order to move in with a female roommate, played by Korean actress Son Ye-jin.
credit: asiae.co.kr
LEE HYORI’S AGENCY SUES BAHNUS VACCUUM
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Top Korean singer Lee Hyori’s agency Mnet Media has taken legal action for the recent plagiarism controversy surrounding Lee’s latest album “H-Logic,” filing criminal charges against record producer group Bahnus Vaccuum to Seoul West District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday.
“Bahnus provided [Lee and Mnet Media] songs that were plagiarized,” an official at Mnet Media told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Thursday. “Today [July 1], we filed a criminal lawsuit against Bahnus Vaccuum for fraud and obstruction of work.”
The official explained that Bahnus had committed fraud by providing plagiarized songs and obstructed the activities relating to Lee’s record production and sales. He said that Mnet is currently trying to find the original foreign songwriter.
Lee had received a total of seven songs from a producer group named Bahnus Vacuum, known as a project group consisting of seven members, who initially denied the allegations by claiming the demos had been leaked by illegal means.
On June 20, however, the singer posted a message on her official fan cafe, admitting that several songs on the record were plagiarized and announced a break from all musical activities until the plagiarism controversy gets solved.
According to the Wikipedia entry for Lee, the songs that are reportedly accused of being plagiarized are; “I’m Back” (plagiarized from Canadian indie-singer Lil Precious’ track “So Insane”); “Memory” (from British Trip-Hop group Second Person’s track “The Alphabet Song”); “Feel the Same” (from Canadian indie-singer Melanie Durrant’s “Feel the Same”); “Swing” (of which the melody resembles Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis’ “To treno fegi stis ohto”); “Bring it Back” (from aspiring Canadian girl-group Cookie Couture’s “Boy Bring it Back”); and “How Did We Get” (from Jason Derulo’s “How Did We”, which also sampled Annie Lennox’s “No More I Love You’s”, which on its turn is a cover from the song with the same name by The Lover Speaks).
This is not the first time that Lee’s music has been accused of plagiarism. In 2006, the song “Get Ya,” the title track from her second solo album “Dark Angel,” drew immediate controversy over having plagiarized U.S. pop star Britney Spears’ hit tune “Do Something.’”
Lee, 30, debuted in 1998 as a member of popular girl band Fin.K.L. and went solo after the group disbanded in 2002. She has released four studio albums as a solo artist, producing several hits including “10 Minutes”, “Hey Girl” and “U-Go-Girl”.
She has also branched out to acting, hosting and appearing on variety shows, most notably on the first season of SBS’ “Family Outing”.
The singer was enjoying a comeback to the music scene with “H-Logic,” which was released on April 15. The title single “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” swept various K-pop music charts over the past few months.
credit: asiae.co.kr
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