LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Alfonso Cuaron was awarded the top film honor from the Directors Guild of America for “Gravity” on Saturday night, giving the lost-in-space saga an edge on the journey to the Academy Awards. In the recent bustle of Hollywood honors, “Gravity,” David O. Russell’s con caper “American Hustle” and Steve McQueen’s historical epic “12 Years a Slave” had been competing in the tightest three-way Oscar race in years. But Cuaron’s film now has the upper hand for the best-picture and dir

Shinhwa, the country’s longest-running K-pop boy band, will hold its 16th anniversary concert in March. However, because of the illegal gambling scandal that continues to plague member Andy, it was announced that he will not be joining the other five members for their yearly anniversary show. Last year, Andy ― along with a handful of local television celebrities including Tony An of H.O.T, Lee Soo-geun and Tak Jae-hoon ― was placed under investigation for participating in illegal online sports g

Brown Eyed Girls member Ga-in has made her solo act return with the prerelease single “Fxxk U,” featuring rapper Bumkey, from her soon-to-be-released third EP album “Truth or Dare.” Ga-in first piqued fans’ attention after releasing an erotic teaser of the “Fxxk U” music video, showing the singer’s silhouette behind a steamy shower curtain with a man who was later revealed to be actor Joo Ji-hoon. The sexy 19+ R&B track was released at midnight Tuesday and marks the singer’s solo return, followi

After returning from its six-city, 16-concert Japan Dome Tour where the five hallyu stars of Big Bang performed in front of 770,000 Japanese fans, leader G-Dragon announced the group’s plans to release a new album. The group recently held three performances at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium from Friday to Sunday, drawing in around 36,000 local fans. On the final night of the “2014 BIGBANG +α IN SEOUL” concert series, G-Dragon announced to the audience that the group is working on its ne

Rumors resurfaced Sunday that Lee Min-ho and Park Shin-hye, who costarred in SBS’ hit drama “The Heirs,” are a couple. A slew of Chinese media outlets said that the two stars had been secretly dating for two months, but did not provide solid evidence or details. The agencies of the two stars flatly denied the reports as “nonsense.”　 “The news circulating in China is absolutely groundless. The media outlets have not offered any grounds or comments of the sources to underpin their rep

Belgium’s interdisciplinary performance ‘Kiss & Cry’ gets Korean premiere

HONG KONG (AFP) ― Best known as a celebrity restaurateur whose 1960s mission to change Western attitudes to Chinese food has lasted nearly 50 years, Michael Chow is also a trained painter who, until recently, had not picked up his brushes for decades.Mr. Chow restaurants became glamorous centers for Swinging London, New York’s disco days and today’s Hollywood and art world elite. The man behind them has unveiled his first solo exhibition in Asia, a show he says reflects his complicated relations

Established artists, producers give up-and-coming hip-hop artists chance to experience performing

Bong Joon-ho’s dystopian sci-fi thriller “Snowpiercer” has been officially invited to this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, according to the film’s producer CJ Entertainment.The film, which is also Bong’s English language debut, will get special gala screenings at the festival’s “Forum” sidebar from Feb. 7 to 8. The International Forum of New Cinema of Berlinale, “Forum” in short, is dedicated to featuring experimental works as well as historically significant films. Kim Tae-yong’s “La

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Music’s top stars gather Sunday for the Grammys, with artists ranging from the Beatles and veteran rapper Jay-Z to French electro duo Daft Punk and newcomers like New Zealand’s Lorde up for honors.Rapper Kendrick Lamar, pop diva Taylor Swift, chart-topper Justin Timberlake and Seattle hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are also among those vying for prizes at music’s version of the Oscars in Los Angeles.The show will also feature some eye-popping collaborations, including ro