2NE1 for May 2010 issue of Ceci Korea.

Ex-2PM Member Jaebum Set To Star in "Hype Nation"

After months of being one of the hottest topics in k-pop, it has been confirmed by the officials of the movie project "Hype Nation" that Jaebum (aka Jay Park) will be returning to Korea in June. He has been casted in a main role in the film which will be set 70% in Korea.

After returning to the US last September, Jaebum has been anything but quiet. He has been uploading videos on YouTube and even performed at a university event. There's been a lot of speculation over the private reason why JYP Entertainment found it unsuitable to have Jaebum rejoin the group.

Regardless of all the media mess, this movie seems to be a potentially big, career-altering break for the young entertainer. Aside from Jaebum, American group B2K is also set to play a role in the movie which will be about b-boys from the east and the west. A Hype Nation official also revealed that different k-pop girl group members are being considered to fill the spot of Jaebum's character's sister.
source: KBS Global

TVXQ to Start Japan Tour

The hottest hallyu group, TVXQ, begins its fourth tour in Japan on May 4th. The group will kick off the live tour with a two-day stay in Kobe, which will be followed by a total of 19 concerts in eight major Japanese cities. The concerts are scheduled to mark their fourth album, “The Secret Code,” released in March.

A variety of fun events are planned for the concerts. Secret codes will be hidden throughout the venue and a quiz session will ask audience members to guess the most intimate secrets of TVXQ members. Also TVXQ members will try their hand at speaking different dialects in Japanese.

With the number of official fan club members nearing 100 thousand in Japan alone, tickets to the concerts are selling like hotcakes in various auction sites. Tickets for the Kobe concert are being sold at 160 thousand yen per person and those for the Tokyo Dome concert at 90 thousand yen.

source: KBS World

Tags:TVXQ/Dong Bang Shin Ki/The Secret Code/DBSK

The MNET Super 100 Idols

1 - Big bang, Kwon Jiyong
2 - Wonder Girls, Sohee
3 - DBSK, Xiah junsu
4 - Big Bang, TOP
5 - DBSK, U-Know Yunho
ang, Kwon Jiyong
6 - SS501, Kim Hyunjoong
7 - Fin.K.L, Lee Hyori
8 - SNSD, Taeyeon
9 - H.O.T, Jang Woohyuk
10 - DBSK, Micky Yoochun
11 - Big Bang, Daesung
12 - SES, Yoojin
13 - Shinhwa, Eric
14 - Wonder Girls, Sunye
15 - Big Bang, Taeyang
16 - DBSK, Hero Jaejoong
17 - 2PM, Nickhun
18 - Fin.K.L, Sung Yuri
19 - Shinee, Taemin
20 - Super Junior, Eunhyuk
21 - 2AM, Jokwon
22 - SNSD, Yoona
23 - G.O.D, Yoon Gyesang
24 - FT Island, Lee Hongki
25 - Sechs Kies, Eun Jiwon
26 - Dbsk, Changmin
27 - H.O.T., KangTa
28 - Wonder Girls, Sunmi
29 - SHINee Minho
30 - KARA, Han Seungyeon
31 - Bigbang, Seungri
32 - Super Junior, Heechul
33 - H.O.T., Tony An
34 - Shinhwa, Andy
35 - Se7en
36 - 2PM, Chansung
37 - Super Junior, Shindong
38 - SS501, Kim Kyujong
39 - Wonder Girls, Yoobin
40 - SNSD, Tiffany
41 - SHINee, Onew
42 - Super Junior KangIn
43 - Wonder Girls, Yeeun
44 - F.T.Island, Choi Jong Hun
45 - Sugar, Ayumi
46 - Shinhwa, Kim Dongwan
47 - Buzz, Min Kyunghoon
48 - CSJH, Stephanie
49 - Super Junior Siwon
50 - Sechs Kies, Go Ji-Yong
51 - Jung Jihoon (Rain)
52 - S.E.S, Bada
53 - 2PM, TaecYeon
54 - KARA, Goo HaRa
55 - Super Junior Sungmin
56 - SS501, Kim Hyung Joon
57 - 1TYM, Danny
58 - Super Junior Eeteuk
59 - SHINee, Jonghyun
60 - G.O.D, Son HoYoung
61 - SNSD, Seohyun
62 - Shinhwa, Junjin
63 - H.O.T., Moon Heejun
64 - Shinhwa, Shin Hyesung
65 - Click B, Oh, JongHyeok
66 - SNSD, Yuri
67 - Super Junior, Hangyeong
68 - Sechs Kies, Jang Suwon
69 - CSJH, Dana
70 - Super Junior, Kibeom
71 - FIN.K.L, Leejin
72 - Taesaja, Park Junsook
73 - NRG, Moon Seonghun
74 - Baby Vox, Kan Miyeon
75 - Click B, Kim Sanghyuk
76 - SS501, Heo Young Saeng
77 - FIN.K.L, Ok Juhyeon
78 - G.O.D, Denian
79 - Ttma, Soy
80 - 2PM Jaebeom
81 - SHINee, KEY
82 - Sugar, Park Sujin
83 - NRG, No Yumin
84 - 1TYM, Oh Jinhwan
85 - SNSD, Jessica
86 - Shinhwa, Lee Min Woo
87 - F.T.Island, Choi Minhwan
88 - Click B, Yoo Hosook
89 - Super Junior, Donghae
90 - Baby Vox, Shim EunJin
91 - Buzz, Son SungHee
92 - Supernova ,Geonil
93 - Taesaja, Kim hyungjun
94 - SNSD, Sooyoung
95 - Choi Changmin
96 - Milk, Seo Hyunjin
97 - Battle, Hwichan
98 - The TRAX, Jay Kim
99 -Sechs Kies, Kang Aunghoon
100 - Baby Vox Yoon Eunhye

source: Allkpop

Tags: Xiah/Big bang/Sohee/DBSK/Lee Hyori/Yunho/Kwon Jiyon

Top Korea, Japan Idol Groups Share Talk Show

The top pop groups of Korea and Japan--DBSK (or TVXQ) and SMAP--have met on a Japanese program.

DBSK on Jan. 29 joined the recording of the popular show "SMAP×SMAP" on Fuji TV, hosted by SMAP. In a friendly atmosphere, the two groups talked and sang together. The program airs next month.

Previously, top Korean stars such as Jang Dong-geon, Song Seung-heon, Lee Young-ae, Choi Ji-woo, Ryu Si-won, Gwon Sang-woo and Sin Hye-seong appeared in the program's "Bistro SMAP" segment. Sin notably sang a live duet with SMAP member Kusanagi Tsuyoshi.

The two top groups had already met Dec. 31 during an NHK year-end pop festival, the most prestigious of its kind in Japan. The two groups briefly met during rehearsals and DBSK later went to SMAP's room for a formal greeting.

SMAP member Takuya Kimura talked about that first encounter on a radio show last month. He laughingly said, "The room was small for ten healthy men. It was suffocating. Kusanagi Tsuyoshi's supposed Korean skills didn't really come out."

The Korean group's appearance on "SMAP×SMAP" is as significant as their first meeting last month.

Japan's Johnny's Entertainment manages not only SMAP but many other top notch idol groups including KinKi Kids. It maintains their popularity by having group members host shows on all private broadcasts.

DBSK is also scheduled to appear soon on a Fuji TV show hosted by the KinKi Kids (Domoto Koichi, Domoto Tsuyoshi). The "honeymoon affair" between DBSK and Johnny's is expected to continue for quite some time.

source: KBS Global

Tags: TVXQ/SMAP/Kusanagi Tsuyoshi/DBSK/Takuya Kimura

Wonder Girl Sohee’s Debut Film

Fans of So-hee, the youngest member of K-pop group Wonder Girls, have found her debut film taken five years ago when she was just an elementary school student. So-hee played a minor role in a short film directed by Yu Dae-eol, twin brother of singer Na-eol, the vocal for Brown Eyed Soul.

So-hee’s fans dug up film archives to unearth her first film role, when director Yu posted a photo taken with So-hee on his personal homepage with his comments about being delighted that So-hee remembered him after all those years. People have believed that her first film debut was the 2008 release “I Like It Hot.”

In the footage disclosed on yoUeFO, an online site for short films, So-hee looked just like she is now, only smaller, with long straight hair and babyish face. Her part lasted only three minutes in the 21-minute film, but her portion has been circulated in a number of blogs and fan cafes. Meanwhile, Wonder Girls are currently getting ready for their concert slated for mid-March.

source: KBS World

Tags: Wonder Girls/korean singer/So hee

Workaholic Rain Branches Out into Fashion

K-pop superstar Rain pulls off the triple roles of designer, model and singer for newly launched fashion brand Six to Five, in which he owns a stake.

Rain took photos for the fashion catalogue from Dec. 11 to 14 in Cebu, the Philippines, in which he shows off his famous sculpted body.

Rain also held a launch show at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Dec. 23. At a press conference before the show, Rain said, "Although I never had professional training in fashion design, I had my own vision and idea about what people including me are comfortable wearing." Ever ambitious, the star plans top take the brand global next year, and expects annual sales of W10 billion (US$1=W1,340).

After taking to the catwalk with fellow models in his self-designed clothes, Rain sang six songs, including "It's raining," "I do" and "Rainism," bringing everyone in the audience to their feet. The show attracted plenty of fans from as far afield as Japan and China.

Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

Source: Chosun
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200901/200901010002.html

Tags: Rain/Singer Rain/Jung Ji Hoon/Rainism

BoA to Perform in U.S. Along With Rain and Se7en

BoA is postponing her debut as an actress because of her U.S. debut.

Singer BoA (23, real name Kwon Bo-a) says she is looking forward to performing in the U.S. along with Rain and Se7en, because--despite their different music styles--the three of them can cause a bigger stir in the U.S. pop market together rather than individually.

This year, several K-pop artists including BoA, Rain (27, real name Chung Ji-hoon) and Se7en (25, real name Choi Dong-wook) will establish their presence in the U.S.

BoA released her U.S. debut single album "Eat You Up" in October last year and is to release her first studio album targeting the U.S. market early this year. Rain, for his part, will debut in Hollywood in July-August in the movie "Ninja Assassin" and will release his "worldwide album" in August.

Se7en, who last year announced the song "Girls" by famous American producer Dark Child, will launch promotional activities in the U.S. in February along with Lil' Kim, who is featured in the song, and will release his studio album early this year.

In a recent interview, BoA said she looks forward to this "goodwill competition" with other K-pop artists in a foreign market. "I hope we'll all meet up in the U.S., because we're going to feel very lonely. I know Se7en personally and we've been keeping in touch while he's been staying in Los Angeles. He tells me about his life in the U.S. and how he's learning English," said BoA.

She also added that she prefers to maintain close relations with a small group of people rather than with many people and that she will need good friends in the U.S. more than ever.

In the interview, BoA also mentioned her long-scheduled debut as an actress. "I've postponed my acting plans for a while because my U.S. debut is a priority at this point. In fact, I've received an offer from Hollywood as well as from Korea and Japan. If I'm made an offer to appear in a really good production, I'll try my hand at acting," said the singer.

BoA says she is happy to see her junior colleagues like TVXQ, Girls' Generation and SHINee growing up as artists. They are all managed by the same agency, SM Entertainment.

"Singers don't have much opportunity to meet other apprentice singers after their debut. I learned about TVXQ only after the band's debut. I like it a lot. I'm the same age as a lot of the TVXQ and Super Junior members. One of the Super Junior members is even older than me. That's why I jokingly call him 'Super Adult.' The Girls' Generation members are very pretty, while the SHINee members are like my little brothers. The youngest one, Tae-min, is seven years my junior," said BoA.

BoA said for the past six years she has spent December 31 in the waiting room of the Japanese broadcaster NHK, because she has appeared in NHK's Kouhaku Singing Festival every year. The singer added that she was happy to see TVXQ participate in the festival last year.

source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1563320_28572.html

Tags: BoA/korean singer/Se7en/Girls' Generation/Rain/TVXQ/SHINee/Super Junior

TVXQ in Singles magazine

TVXQ's January 2009 "Singles Magazine" photo shoot have been released.

Photo credit to Popseoul

Tags: TVXQ/Dong Bang Shin Ki/k-pop/DBSK

Rain Pays Tribute to Outgoing Manager

The K-pop superstar Rain has paid tribute to the role of his manager Park Jin-young in his stellar rise. Park “taught me to fish instead of how to eat fish. He taught me many things, including how to sing, but he always stressed the importance of standing on my own feet,” Rain told reporters.

Dressed in pink dress shirt and black suit, Rain was discussing the end of his contract with Park’s management agency JYP at a press conference before a concert at Japan's Tokyo Dome. Park “has taken care of me with great sincerity over the last few years. I thought I’d better give him some space,” Rain said. The singer will decide where to turn next once his world tour ends in June. He may either move to another management firm or set up his own independent company.

Rain is the first Korean pop singer to perform at the Tokyo Dome, which seats some 43,000. The concert has been thoroughly prepared, he said. “Stage equipment weighing more than 100 tons is used in the show. When the Japanese production suggested a concert at the Tokyo Dome, I actually doubted whether I could do it. I’ve heard many top Japanese artists played with less than half the seats filled at the Dome. I confess I was relieved that tickets have sold well.” Rain’s world tour started last October and is nearing the end. “The world tour was a great opportunity for me to test my shortcomings and transcend my limitations before entering the U.S. market,” he added. Asked about the recent parody of his music video on the popular U.S. satirical show “The Colbert Report,” Rain said it was an honor. “I’ve watched the program. I was surprised when I saw the show host imitating my music video. He chooses only world-class celebrities as his topic.” Rain was in good company: Madonna, Michael Jackson and Lindsay Lohan were also parodied on the show.

Recently, Rain got a foot in the door in Hollywood by being cast in a supporting role in "Speed Racer." “I met the Wachowski brothers, who created ‘The Matrix’, and I decided to play the role. To become a top star in Hollywood, I think it’s important to build a career by taking each step cautiously. This role is like a miracle for someone who doesn’t speak English very well.”

But Rain still shows great passion for music. “I’ve been writing down my ideas about music since I was a trainee. When I have more confidence in my music, I’d like to become a producer.”

He gives credit to Park for getting him where he is today. “If Park hadn’t made songs for me, I wouldn’t be here. I was lucky to work with Park. I am happy with every step I’ve been through.” So what drives him? “I want to win the war against myself, because if I fall, hundreds of staff working with me would stumble.”

source: Chosun Ilbo

Related Tags: Rain/Korean pop singer/Korean singer/Korean actor/Speed Racer