Wonder Girls Break into Billboard Top 100

The Wonder Girls have entered the top 100 of the main U.S. Billboard chart with their song "Nobody," a first for a Korean artist. "Nobody" is currently ranked 76th on the Billboard Hot 100, four months after the girl group moved to the U.S.

The Billboard chart ranks songs according to airplay, album sales and digital downloads.

The English-language "Nobody" single sold over 30,000 copies within 10 days of its U.S. release. Korean pop star BoA's U.S. debut album hit 127th on the Top 200 chart in March.

Hard work and clever marketing helped propel the Wonder Girls to success in the U.S. The five-member group toured the U.S. from June to August as the opening act for the Jonas Brothers band, performing for over 1.5 million potential fans. "Nobody recognized us in the early stages of the tour, but after about a month there were around 300 to 400 people coming to see us after the shows," said Wonder Girls member Ahn So-hee.

"Nobody" was played at least 65 times on U.S. radio stations between Oct. 12 to 18, becoming the 107th most frequently played song on radio.

Jung Wook, president of group's agency JYP Entertainment, said they targeted open-minded American teens, using marketing tactics like promotions with youth clothing brands and selling albums in clothing shops as well as music stores. "I think our diversified marketing strategy really paid off," Jung added.

Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun

Tablo and Kang Hye Jung's wedding photos

TVXQ U-Know in W Korea Magazine

Tags: TVXQ/Yunho/U-Know/DBSK

SS501 Kim Hyun-joong TVC shoot photos revealed

SS501 member Kim Hyun-joong [Tony Moly]

Photographs of a fully-recovered and chic-looking SS501 leader Kim Hyun-joong on set for a television commercial shoot were revealed on Thursday.

"We released the photos for fans who had been curious about Kim," said global cosmetics brand Tony Moly of the 23-year-old singer who turned up for a shoot last week.

The singer had halted all activities since early September after falling ill with the influenza flu while in Japan to promote his KBS hit TV series "Boys Over Flowers". He was discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health but had not made a public appearance.

"We were in shoot from early morning to late at night but Kim did not seem tired and was having fun," a Tony Moly official at the scene of the shoot was quoted as saying.

The commercial is set for release in November.

Meanwhile, all five members of SS501 will perform at the Taipei Arena on Saturday. They have been on their "SS501 Asia Tour Persona 2009" since early August where they are set to perform at a total of 10 countries throughout Asia till early next year.

They are also set to make a comeback to the local music scene on October 20 with a new mini-album.

Credit: Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Tags:Kim Hyun-jung/Korean singer/Boys over Flowers/SS501

TVXQ Fails to Reach Agreement with Agency

The three members of the boy band TVXQ who asked the court to suspend their contracts with their agency, SM Entertainment, have failed to reach an agreement with the agency.

The Seoul Central District Court tried to settle the matter on September 30 between Xiah (real name Kim Jun-soo), Hero (real name Kim Jae-joong) and Mickey (real name Park Yoo-chun) and SM Entertainment, but to no avail.

The three members reportedly refused to negotiate. The court will not summon the three members again and will reach the final decision soon.

The three TVXQ members applied for a provisional disposition on July 31, citing unfair terms and conditions in their 13-year contracts with SM Entertainment.

source: KBS Global

Tags:TVXQ/Dong Bang Shin Ki/Xiah/Hero/Mickey

Kang Hye-jung, Tablo to Wed on Oct. 26

Actress Kang Hye-jung will tie the knot with singer Tablo, the leader of Korean hip hop group Epik High, at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26, Tablo's management agency Map the Soul announced on Saturday. Another member of Epik High, DJ Tukutz, gets married on Tuesday.

Early this month, Kang admitted she was five weeks' pregnant and said she and Tablo will get married in October. Their relationship became public in February. "Because Tablo is busy with his new album and I'm also busy with the shooting of the film, we don't even have time to talk about our future," Kang said at the time.

Kang and Tablo met last year. Tablo delivered the news of Kang's pregnancy last month, promising they would get married "soon." The wedding will be a strictly private event, and the venue is not known.

Epik High on Saturday gave their last promotional performance for their sixth album on MBC's Show Music Core as DJ Tukutz starts his mandatory military service right after his wedding this week.
Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun

Tags: Tablo/Kang Hye jung/Epik High

Daniel Henney Snags Lead in U.S. TV Drama

Korean-American actor Daniel Henney, who rose to stardom in Korea with the hit drama "My Name is Kim Sam-soon," has landed a leading role in the U.S. drama "Three Rivers," which will be broadcast on CBS TV from Oct. 4.

Promotional posters featuring Henney and co-stars Alex O'Loughlin and Justina Machado have been put up on billboards, buses and metro stations in major cities like Los Angeles and New York.

The medical drama is set in the transplant ward of a Pittsburgh hospital and will air during prime-time at 9 p.m.

Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun

Tags:Daniel Henney/Three Rivers/korean actor

Bae Yong-joon’s Travel Essay Becomes a Bestseller

A travel book written by Actor Bae Yong-joon of the “Winter Sonata” fame has gone into its tenth printing in just seven days since it was first marketed. Titled “A Journey to Find the Beauty of Korea,” the travel essay topped the travel book bestseller category in major bookstores. Also the first batch of its Japanese version has all been sold out in Japan and another shipment has been ordered.

The popularity of the book is attributed to not only the banking power of Bae, but also the detailed descriptions and sincerity of his writing. He reportedly traveled all over the country himself to find beautiful traditions and sights of Korea. Bae said that he was motivated to write this travel book when he was asked in a Japanese press conference to introduce a beautiful place in Korea and couldn’t name even one location.

The book’s publisher says that the book features very high quality printing, so it takes twice as long to print. The printing company will be working throughout the Chuseok holiday to meet the deadline. The publishing company also says that the book may be printed in English as well to meet the soaring demands.

source: KBS World

Tags: winter sonata/korean actor/Bae Yong-jun/A Journey to Find the Beauty of Korea

So Ji-sub in Tokyo for 1st Japan Drama

A preview for a Japanese drama starring hallyu (Korean wave) star So Ji-sub will take place in Tokyo next week.

The show, "I am GHOST,'' will be featured on BEE TV, a mobile phone broadcaster, starting Oct. 20. The preview will be held at the Tokyo International Forum Hall in Yurakucho, Oct. 13.

So, 32, who plays heroine Mitsuki Tanimura, director Toshiro Sonoda and other staff members will give a full account of the filming process during the preview, according to Yonhap News.

"I am GHOST,'' BEE TV's first action drama, consists of 24 five-minute episodes.

The drama tells the sad love story of a young girl (Mitsuki Tanimura) who contemplates suicide, and a wounded ghost (So Ji-sub).

So Ji-sub debuted as a model for a clothing company in 1995. Two years later, he made his television acting debut in the SBS drama "Model.'' He gained fame in 2004 when the KBS drama "Sorry, I Love You,'' co-starring actress Lim Su-jeong, became a smash hit.

source: Koreatimes.co.kr

Tags: So Ji sub/I am GHOST/korean actor/Japanese drama

Kim Jun Unveils His New Side

Kim Jun, member of idol group T-Max and one of the F4 in the drama “Boys over Flowers,” is showing off his manly side in a photo exhibition. Kim’s agent said that the dashing actor/singer took part in a photo exhibition titled “The Man” celebrating the publication of the 200th edition of Marie Claire Korea. The event was arranged as a part of the global aid program Join Together Society (JTS) to set up a fund to eradicate poverty for Asian Children. Also posing for the photo show were 46 top Korean stars, including Park Yong-ha, So Ji-seop, Lee Min-ho, and Cha Seung-won.

Kim has been working overtime lately, appearing in various TV variety shows and music programs, and even starring in a musical. His hectic schedule landed him in hospital for throat pain, but he was more than willing to take part in the event and promote the good cause. Kim also plans to participate in an online auction and other events for JTS.

source: KBS Global

Tags:Boys over Flowers/F4/Kim Jun/korean drama/Lee Min-ho

Actress Jeong to Make Hollywood Debut

Former K-pop singer and actress Jeong Ryeo-won is poised to advance to Hollywood.

According to press reports, Jeong, 27, visited the United States last month and met with officials from an unidentified Hollywood studio. She was also courted by Hollywood last year but this is the first time that she has had a meeting in connection with her entry into Hollywood.

A local movie expert praised Jeong, saying, "She is highly qualified to enter the United States for acting.''

An official from Jeong's agency confirmed her Hollywood plan and said, "She will also be active in South Korea.''

Some South Korean actors such as Kim Yun-jin, Lee Byung-hun, Daniel Henney and Jang Dong-gun are now active in Hollywood.

Jeong, a former member of the girl group Chakra, immigrated into Australia during her childhood and returned to South Korea in 1999. She drew attention in 2005 when she made a successful debut as a TV actress in MBC TV's "My Lovely Samsoon.'' She, along with actress Kim Sun-ah, made the soap one of the greatest hit dramas that year.

source: koreatimes.co.kr

Tags: Jeong Ryeo-won/My Lovely Samsoon/Daniel Henney/Lee Byung-hun