South Korean actress Ha Ji-won and five-member boy band WINNER will help promote the spread of hallyu, or the Korean Wave, in China as ambassadors of Korean products and contents this year, the trade ministry said Thursday.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Ha and the K-pop idol group have been named ambassadors of the Shenyang-Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo 2016 (KBEE 2016) to be held in Shenyang from May 12-14.Some 100 Kor

South Korean actor Park Hae-jin was made a cover model for a Chinese fashion magazine, his talent agency said on Tuesday. Park, 33, appeared on the cover of the May edition of "Yizhou," followed by a photo spread and interview, Mountain Movement said. The heartthrob played the lead character Shen An in "Far Away Love," a Chinese television series that recently aired. Thanks to his prolific acting career at home and in China, Park was nominated for best actor at the upcoming 2016 LETV Movie and D

A Taiwanese member of South Korean girl group TWICE may enroll in a South Korean high school in May, the K-pop band's agency said on Tuesday. Tsuyu, 17, took the entrance exam and had an interview on Monday for the late admissions of an arts high school located in Seoul, JYP Entertainment said. The teen singer is eligible for the May admissions, as she obtained a completion certificate of junior high curriculum from home last month.Under the current South Korean regulations, high schools are ope

Choi Soo-young, a member of the popular K-pop girl group "Girls' Generation," has been cast in a KBS TV soap opera aimed at improving the perception of physical disabilities, the network said on Monday.The terrestrial network said the 26-year-old singer will appear in "Perfect Sense," a one-off special show produced to enhance the general public's understanding of the challenges and social prejudice faced by handicapped people."Perfect Sense" is the 8th in an annual series of co-produced TV dram

Go Ara, the leading actress in the sensational nostalgic drama "Reply 1994," will represent South Korea's Air Force as its latest honorary ambassador, the Air Force said Monday.The 26-year-old actress will serve as the face of the Air Force over the next year, appearing on promotional Air Force publications and attending key public events.Go is the daughter of a career service member, who served for nearly 30 years with the Air Force, and her appointment reflected this background, the Air Force

Visitors continued to drop by the Korean booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Sunday, many of them younger people attracted to Korean culture amid "hallyu," or the worldwide popularity of Korean pop music and TV dramas.The annual book fair, which is in its 21st year, opened Saturday for a two-day run on the University of Southern California campus. About 300 publishing firms are participating in the event, with some 150,000 people expected to visit.On display at the Korean booth s

South Korean pop star Psy has been invited to China's major music awards show that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, an entertainment source said Friday. Psy, 39, is on the 2016 China Music Awards roster, along with K-pop idol bands that include VIXX, iKON and KNK, and Chinese pop stars Wang Lihong and Lin Junjie, the source said on the condition of anonymity.Launched in 1994, the awards program recognizes talented singers throughout Asia.2015 was a fruitful year for Psy, who actively e

Fans of Choi Si-won from K-pop boy band Super Junior have made donations to build wells in Myanmar and Cambodia, a nonprofit organization said Friday.The Seoul-based Worldshare said, with the donations, a well will be dug in Myanmar and another one in Cambodia to commemorate the singer's 31st birthday.The fan clubs from 11 countries, including China, Japan, Mexico and Egypt, donated the money in the name of "A Well of Love."The association of the fan clubs said they wanted to do something meanin

South Korean bands AOA, TWICE and 2PM will headline KCON Japan, that country's edition of the world's largest convention on all things "hallyu," or the worldwide popularity of Korean culture, organizers said Friday.This year's KCON Japan will consist of a convention displaying merchandise related to Korean culture, a meet-and-greet with select stars, a red carpet event and a concert that night, CJ E&M said.The lineup for Saturday's "KCON 2016 Japan X M Countdown" concert includes AOA, INFINITE's

Korean cultural centers overseas will soon offer K-pop courses for foreigners, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said. 　These courses will take place under the “K-pop Academy,” which aims to promote hallyu. The academies are scheduled to open at 20 Korean cultural centers in 18 countries, including China and the U.S. 　The first academy opened at the Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai on Tuesday.　Professors from Sejong University and Howon University will give vocal and dance lessons a