Jeon Do-hyeon, Lee Hyori, Daniel Henney On CNN

Top stars Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Hyori, and Daniel Henney will be featured on a CNN show called "CNNGo", that features some of the best cities to visit in Asia, introducing Seoul to the world. According to CNN, the Seoul special is set to air from November 11-15.

Jeon Do-hyeon has been the lone Korean actress to have won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes International Film Festival, Lee Hyori is Korea's most representative pop icon, and Daniel Henney has set his foot in the Hollywood door through "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". In addition to the trio who will be each introducing different parts of Seoul, architect Baek Ji-won, photographer Kim Joong-man,"Planet B-Boy" film director Benson Lee will also be featured.

CNN revealed that there will also be a program called "iList" set to air November 6-12, highlighting Korea. One of CNN's main anchors, Anna Coren, will be touching upon various Seoul hot spots while CNN reporters will be showing different ways that Korea is spreading its influence on the world through its technology, environmental, and entertainment industries. Different aspects that are unique to Korea will also be introduced, such as Jeju Island, shipping industry, Korean beef hanwoo, and the Seoul traditional orchestra.

On another CNN program, "Talk Asia", Korean architect Cho Min-seok will be featured.?

CNN added that this is already the third time the broadcasting giant has visited Korea for a special feature. These various programs will be reaching 260 million viewers, informing them of Korea's culture and people.

source: KBS Global

Kim Hyun-joong to Sing at Opening of Asian Games

Kim Hyun-joong, a member of Korean boy band SS501, will perform at the opening ceremony of the Guangzhou Asian Games on Nov. 12.

The organizing committee for the games invited Kim to sing the anthem "Sunshine Again" along with three singers from Chinese-speaking countries, Kim's management agency said.

The opening ceremony is expected to draw some 100,000 spectators and will be broadcast across Asia.

The Games are scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China from Nov. 12 to 27.

source: Chosun Ilbo

Hyun Bin to enter military by March 2011

Hyun Bin in a scene from upcoming SBS weekend TV series "Secret Garden" [hwa&dam pictures]

Korean actor Hyun Bin will enter the military by March of next year as part of serving his duties for the country which is compulsory of all Korean men.

The news came through a press release on Monday by hwa&dam pictures, the producer of upcoming Hyun Bin starrer weekend series "Secret Garden," quoting a remark made by an official from the actor's agency AM Entertainment.

"He plans on entering the military by next March but we are still discussing on when the exact date will be and how he will go about it," the official said.

Since "Secret Garden" will be the last acting role he takes on for two years that follow thereafter, the 28-year-old is "absorbing himself even more into the drama by showing more enthusiasm," hwa&dam explained.

"Secret Garden," also starring Ha Ji-won and Yoon Sang-hyun, is a romantic comedy fantasy drama which will tell about a man and woman's souls that become switched.

Producer Shin Woo-cheol and scenarist Kim Eun-sook, the mastermind duo behind hit shows "Lovers in Paris" and "On Air" will take the reigns of the 20-part show set to air starting November 13.

Hyun Bin, whose real name is Kim Tae-pyung, rose to fame after starring in smash hit series "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" alongside actress Kim Suna in 2005.

He has been dating top Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, his co-star of KBS series "Worlds Within," since mid-2009.

Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Kara's new album jacket partially revealed

Images from girl band Kara's jacket for mini-album "JUMPING" [DSP Media]

Several photographs from the album jacket of girl group Kara’s upcoming mini-album were revealed today.

Kara’s agency Daesung Entertainment (DSP) said that black-and-white photos of three of five Kara members -- namely Park Gyu-lee, Nicole and Ji-young -- were unveiled to the public on Thursday.

DSP added that photos of the remaining two members Gu Hara and Han Seung-yeon will soon be disclosed as well.

The new album titled “JUMPING,” expected to hit stores of Korea and Japan simultaneously on November 10, will be Kara's first release in Korea in nine months after third mini-album "Lupin" and their second single in Japan after "Mister."

KARA, who debuted in 2007, has produced several hit songs such as "Pretty Girl," “Mister” and “Lupin.”

The group advanced to Japan this August with "Mister," becoming the first Asian girl group to place in the top 10 of the prestigious Oricon's weekly chart by placing at No. 5.

Their DVD “KARA VACATION” topped Oricon’s weekly DVD rankings this September.

Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Lee Min-ho poses for W Korea Magazine

[Photo Source: W Korea]

Big Bang's DVD reaches No. 1 on Oricon chart

Korean boy band Big Bang [YG Entertainment]

A DVD by Korean boy band Big Bang has reached the No. 1 spot on Japan's prestigious Oricon chart.

According to Oricon's weekly music DVD chart, Big Bang's latest DVD "BIGSHOW BIGBANG LIVE CONCERT 2010" ranked in first, selling about 15,000 copies since going on sale in the country on October 27 and came in second in terms of DVD sales for all categories.

This will be the second time for the boys to celebrate placing on the chart; they topped the chart with their DVD "2009 BIGBANG LIVE CONCERT 'BIG SHOW'" in August of last year.

Meanwhile, the weekly music DVD chart also revealed that the "2009-2010 BIGSHOW MAKING DVD & BOOK SPECIAL REPACKAGE" positioned itself at No. 3.

The five-member group recently held a hand-shaking session at Fukuya Bookstore in Japan for the release of their book "Electric Love Tour."

Known as one of the most popular boy bands in the country for their music and fashion, Big Bang made their debut in 2006 and successfully crossed over to the Japanese pop market last June.

They will take the stage with fellow YG Entertainment labelmates such as 2NE1, Se7en and PSY for the two-day "2010 YG Family Concert" early next month.

Reporter : Cho Bum-ja anju1015@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>