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Shin Hye-sung's Japanese Fan Club goes Online

lookout — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 11:20:43 -0700

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Japanese fans will be happy to hear that Shinhwa member and soloist Shin Hye-sung's website entitled "Always HYESUNG" went online at 3pm on July 1st.

"Shin Hye-sung carved out a spot for himself in the Japanese pop industry after successfully concluding his first solo concert in Japan," said a representative from his agency, Good EMG. "There was an explosive response from his Japanese fans when his website opened online and fans even participated in a survey for the name of his fan club."

Shin Hye-sung will be releasing his third solo album in Korea this August. "'Always HYESUNG' was made possible by the fans from Japan who never hesitated to fly to Korea for my concerts or to show their support," said the grateful singer. Shin added, "I will repay them with a great concert which I am planning for the fall."

Shin Hye-sung's Japanese Fan Club goes Online

Japanese fans will be happy to hear that Shinhwa member and soloist Shin Hye-sung's website entitled "Always HYESUNG" went online at 3pm on July 1st.

Park Min-young Transforms for KBS "Hometown Legends"

lookout — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 11:19:01 -0700

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Actress Park Min-young returns to the small screen in the 9-year comeback of KBS 2TV's "Hometown Legends." Park will play a Gumiho.

The 2008 "Gumiho" is based on the story of the Gumiho-bloodline throughout the generations, and no one knows who will transform into the next Gumiho.

Park Min-young plays the part of "Myeong-ok," the youngest daughter at the Lee household. She's a bright character who brings a light to the otherwise dark atmosphere of the family.

Director Kwak Jung-hwan, who had also done the TV drama, "Hansung," will be in charge of "Gumiho," the first of the "Hometown Legends" series. The first serial begins on August 6th and it will be broadcast on Wednesdays and Thursdays through the whole month.

Park Min-young recently was part of the cast for the MBC sitcom "Highkick!" and the KBS 2TV drama, "I am Teacher."

Song Hye-kyo Teams Up with Michelle Yeoh

lookout — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 13:30:46 -0700

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Hallyu star Song Hye-kyo teams up with Michelle Yeoh from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memories of a Geisha" fame to target the Asian public.

According to the film magazine "Variety," Song recently signed a contract with Stella Entertainment, located near Taiwan, for her work overseas.

Stella Entertainment was established by Yeoh, Terrance Chang (who produced "Mission: Impossible 2" and "Face-Off") and entertainment agent David Tang.

Variety magazine wrote that "Song Hye-gyo became extremely popular [with the Asian public] after co-starring with Rain in the TV drama, 'Full House.' She also starred in 'My Girl and I,' as well as 'Hwangjinyi.' She was also cast in the director Sohn Su-beom's independent film which was also his U.S.A. debut, 'Fetish.'"

Song also signed a new contract with Eden Nine, the Korean agency representing Won Bin. Won Bin and Song both plan on more active participation in the Asian entertainment industry.

BoA's 'Valenti' to be Featured in Japanese Musical

lookout — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:55:57 -0700

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BoA's hit song "Valenti" will be featured in a Japanese musical.

Japan's leading entertainment company Avex said it will begin producing a musical entitled "Pieces of the Heart" to celebrate its 20th founding anniversary.

The musical, which will be staged at the Aoyama Theater in Tokyo from September 15 to 29, revolves around a heartbroken heroine who isolates herself from the meaningless relationships of today's modern society and takes off on a futuristic journey that centers around a mysterious object called "Pieces of the Heart."

The musical will feature 21 songs that have been carefully selected by Avex. They include hit songs performed by Avex artists over the past 20 years. It is the first Japanese musical to feature only the hit songs of artists from a single entertainment company.

The songs include past hits by Namie Amuro, Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda, Exile, Ami Otsuda and Ami Suzuki.

Avex also selected "Valenti" from BoA's second studio album, which sold 1.5 million copies in 2003.

Throughout the performance period, Avex plans to exhibit costumes, accessories and trophies of Avex artists.

Actor Lee Jun-ki Donates Cosmetics Modeling Fee to Cancer Patients

lookout — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:54:43 -0700

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Lee Jun-ki, who currently stars in the SBS drama series "Iljimae," has decided to donate the entire bulk of his modeling fee paid by cosmetics brand VOV to children with cancer.

Lee's management agency said Lee was recently chosen as the male model for the Korean cosmetics brand VOV's Fall catalog.

It added it was the actor's heartfelt wish to donate the money he earned from modeling to children suffering from cancer.

Meanwhile, VOV says it signed a one-year contract with Lee, saying he has a fresh and enigmatic look that goes well with the company's trendy image.

Drama 'Iljimae' on SBS Parodies Na Hoona's Press Conference

lookout — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:53:19 -0700

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The popular drama series 'Iljimae' recently parodied the controversial press conference of singer Na Hoona.

In the June 26th episode, a high-ranking official named Byeon Shik summons his men to the meeting room and storms at them for humiliating him. When his men feign ignorance, the enraged Byeon Shik jumps onto the table, takes off his official robe, pretends to take off his pants and yells, "Do I have to take off my clothes to prove to you just how serious I am?"

Earlier this year in January, Na jumped onto the table during a press conference and tried to remove his pants to prove his innocence surrounding ungrounded rumors.

Producers of the show said they decided to parody the scene as Byeon Shik is a comic character.

Actor Kang Ji-hwan's Japanese Online Fan Club Opens

lookout — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:36:29 -0700

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The official Japanese fan club website for actor Kang Ji-hwan was recently launched (http://www.kangjihwan.jp, http://www.so-net.ne.jp/kangjihwan).

Kang Ji-hwan's management agency Jambo entertainment said that, with the actor's rising popularity in Japan, it decided to open a Japanese fan club so that the actors can meet his Japanese fans more easily. The agency said the fan club features the latest news on Kang as well as introduces the dramas he has been cast in.

Kang recently starred in "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero" on KBS 2TV as the young and chivalrous Hong Gil-dong. Japanese fans can catch the actor in "90 Days of Romance" and "Gyeongseong Scandal," currently being aired on the Japanese cable channel BS Japan.

Big Bang's Dae Sung Cast as Rum Tum Tugger in Musical 'Cats'

lookout — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:34:48 -0700

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Big Bang member Dae Sung has been cast in the musical "Cats."

Big Bang's management agency YG Entertainment recently announced that Dae Sung was recently cast in Cats as the sexy rebel cat "Rum Tum Tugger."

Since its debut in 1981, Cats has been staged in 30 countries around the world and has been loved by musical fans the world over with its fun and interesting characters as well as its dazzling choreography and catchy tunes. In the musical, Rum Tum Tugger is a naughty male feline who is nevertheless adored by all the cats.

Rehearsals are slated to begin in July and the actual show will be staged at the Charlotte Theater in Jamsil-dong, Seoul from September 19.

Dae Sung recently released a trot-style single entitled "Look At Me, Gwisun" and currently makes a regular guest appearance on "Here Comes the Family" on SBS TV.

Melee between Monday-Tuesday Dramas

lookout — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:02:15 -0700

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The TV drama "Every Night," starring Kim Sun-a and Lee Dong-gun, took over the time slot of the MBC hit production "Lee San" with safe 10% ratings.

According to the ratings research company TNS Media Korea, "Every Night" recorded national ratings of 11.6% for its first episode, which aired on the 23rd.

The ratings were lower than the 14% reached by "Lee San" for its first broadcast last September. However, "Every Night" is up against tough competition.

The same primetime slot is occupied by the SBS TV drama "Le Grand Chef," (16.4%) starring Kim Rae-won, and the KBS 2TV production starring Eric, "Chil-woo, the Mighty" (10.5%). "Every Night" was also at a disadvantage due to a one-week delay of the first episode.

Another ratings research company, AGB Nielson Media Research, found that the TV ratings for "Every Night" were only 10.9% nationwide, while "Le Grand Chef" came in at 15.2% and "Chil-woo, the Mighty" reached 11.1%.

"Every Night" is about Korea's Cultural Heritage, with Kim Sun-a on the task force of Cultural Heritage crime-fighters and Lee Dong-gun playing a flirty art historian.

Tickets for Seo Taiji Comeback Concert on Sale

lookout — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:02:06 -0700

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The first round of tickets for the Seo Tajji comeback show, entitled "Eerie Taiji People Festival 2008," went up for sale at 8 p.m. on June 24th at the CJ Tickets website (http://ticket.cjmall.com).

The festivities on the eve of "ETP FEST 2008" will be held on August 14th at the plaza in front of the Jamsil Baseball Field in Seoul, while the actual concert will be held inside stadium on the 15th. Seo Taiji will be performing live from his eighth album, an album he has been working on for the past four years.

The Seo Taiji Company has expanded this concert into an international event, inviting the rock musician Marilyn Manson, Japanese rock band Dragon Ash, and Japanese underground rock group Monkey Magic.

"Every Seo Taiji concert has been sold-out," said a representative from Seo Taiji Company. "His 15-year anniversary limited album was a boxed set which sold for 97,900 won and the 15,000 sets were sold in less than a day." He went on to say, "I believe the ETP Festival will continue his record."