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Lee Hyori celebrates husband‘s birthday

Aug 26, 2014

K-pop diva Lee Hyori released a few photos for her husband and singer song-writer Lee Sang-soon’s birthday on her blog on Monday. 　“Today is Sang-soon’s birthday. My mom and sisters came to our home in Jejudo Island to prepare a birthday dinner for him. They wanted to do it themselves as it is Sang-soon’s first birthday since our marriage. Sang-soon seems very happy. Thanks, Mom,” Lee wrote alongside the photos. 　The six photos, titled “Happy birthday, Sang-soon,” feature Lee and their family ce
Kim Tae-hee faces Ice Bucket Challenge, donates money

Aug 26, 2014

South Korean actress Kim Tae-hee has become the latest top-tier actress to join the Ice Bucket Challenge, the worldwide charity movement that started in the U.S. Kim, however, chose to make a financial contribution and leave a message of support rather than get herself drenched with icy water. “I was a bit late to participate (in the Ice Bucket Challenge) because I’m busy travelling between China and Korea these days,” Kim wrote on her Instagram Monday. “In the hope that our interest and effort
What is the truth behind Kim Hyun-joong’s alleged assault?

Aug 25, 2014

(OSEN) On Aug. 22, Kim Hyun-joong, one of the most popular South Korean stars in Asia, made headlines at home and abroad. But this time, behind the spotlight was disgraceful news. 　 The idol-turned-actor had charges filed against him by his girlfriend on Aug. 20 for beating her on multiple occasions. 　 The news came as a shock to many of his fans who have long idolized Kim as pure, kind and good boyfriend
G-Dragon nominates showbiz moguls for Ice Bucket Challenge

Aug 25, 2014

K-pop boy group Big Bang’s G-Dragon posted a photo on Monday that calls on entertainment moguls to take part in the ongoing Ice Bucket Challenge. 　“Brothers, you should do it quickly,” G-Dragon wrote on Instagram. 　In the photoshopped image, G-Dragon and fellow member T.O.P hold a bucket filled with water to dump over YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk’s head. Yang is sitting in an inflatable swimming pool. 　G-Dragon nominated the heads of South Korea’s three biggest entertainment agencies to ta
Kim Hyun-joong may be hit hard by assault controversy

Aug 25, 2014

Actor and singer Kim Hyun-joong, one of the most popular South Korean stars in Asia, may take a battering over the alleged assault recently claimed by his girlfriend. 　Kim, 28, had charges filed against him on Aug. 22 by his girlfriend who claimed he beat her on multiple occasions.　 (OSEN)The woman claimed that she had been assaulted several times between late May and mid-July while arguing with Kim over women issues at his home in Jamsil, eastern Seoul. 　According to the woman, Kim’s attacks le
Kim Hyun-joong to hold concert despite assault controversy

Aug 22, 2014

South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong, who has been sued for assaulting his girlfriend, will hold a concert in Thailand as scheduled despite the controversy over the alleged charges. 　Kim is flying out to Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 23 to participate in the concert slated for the following day as part of his world tour. 　 (OSEN)“Regarding the concert, it is difficult for us to (cancel) concert schedules due to terms and conditions with local agencies. We will hold the concert as scheduled,
N. Korea to send downsized delegation to Asian Games

North KoreaAug 22, 2014

North Korea has scaled down the size of its delegation to the Asian Games to be held in South Korea next month, a ministry official said Friday, as it called for the resumption of talks meant to work out the details of its participation.The North notified the South that it will send a 273-member delegation to the Asian Games to be held in Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, Ministry of Unification spokesman Kim Eyi-do said.The figure represents a drop from the 352-member delegation the North had
Hyundai, Kia's strike to cost 65 bln won: sources

IndustryAug 22, 2014

Workers at South Korea's two top carmakers went on a partial strike Friday for the first time this year, with industry watchers saying it may cause up to 65 billion won (US$63.8 million) in combined losses.Unionists at Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company Kia Motors Corp. were to participate in the walkout across the country, a day after their leaders failed to work out differences with management on whether to include regular bonuses as part of ordinary wages. The workers also plan to boyco
Winner’s debut EP tops Billboard chart

Aug 22, 2014

K-pop boy band Winner has topped the Billboard World Albums chart with its debut album on Friday, becoming the fastest Korean rookie group to take No.1 on the chart.The quintet’s debut EP “2014 S/S” rose to the top of the chart, and ranked No. 6 on its Heatseekers Albums chart the same day, proving the new group has been receiving global attention.　 (YG Entertainment)Winner is creating a frenzy at home as well. Shortly after the group dropped its debut EP on Aug. 12, the title track “Empty” swep
Yoochun spotted at airport

Aug 22, 2014

K-pop idol band JYJ’s Yoochun was sighted at Incheon International Airport before flying out to Beijing, China for an upcoming concert to be held on Aug. 23. JYJ is now on its Asia concert tour “The Return of The King” that kicked off in Seoul on Aug. 9 shortly after the release of its second studio album “Just Us” on July 29.　The trio will head to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand after China.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
Christian sect to hold funeral of late ferry owner next week

Social affairsAug 22, 2014

A Christian cult co-founded by Yoo Byung-eun, the late shipping tycoon blamed for April's ferry disaster, said Friday it is planning to hold his funeral next week following the anti-climactic discovery of his body two months ago.In June, the body of Yoo, a 73-year-old billionaire who practically owned the operator of the sunken ferry Sewol, was found in a plum field just outside Suncheon, about 450 kilometers south of Seoul, amid a nationwide manhunt that went on for months since the April 16 tr
KT ordered to pay 100,000 won each to data-leak victims

TechnologyAug 22, 2014

South Korea's No. 2 mobile carrier KT Corp. was ordered by a local district court Friday to pay 100,000 won (US$97) in compensation to each customer who had personal data leaked in 2012.The Seoul Central District Court's ruling came after some 28,000 KT users filed a lawsuit against the mobile carrier for the leak of sensitive personal information, demanding compensation of 500,000 won per person.Police earlier discovered that the personal information of 8.7 million users, including social secur
Koreas to resume talks on Pyongyang's joining of Incheon Asian Games

North KoreaAug 22, 2014

The two Koreas have agreed to resume their talks on issues about North Korea's participation in the Asian Games to be held in the South Korean city of Incheon next month, the unification ministry said Friday.Inter-Korean dialogue on the sports event has been stalled since their last working-level talks on July 17 in the truce village of Panmunjom. The talks fell apart after the North Korean delegation walked out of the negotiations on how Seoul would assist North Korea's participation in the reg
Comedy-action movie 'The Pirates' tops 5 million viewers

Aug 22, 2014

The comedy-action film "The Pirates" has topped 5 million in attendance, helping lead Korean movie sales along with the mega hit history film "Roaring Currents," according to its distributor Friday.The action film with the subtitle "Bandits Going to the Sea" reached the mark early Friday morning, Lotte Entertainment said.Friday was the 17th day since the movie's release.With the latest feat, the film exceeded the break-even point with profits fully covering all investments.It also became the thi
Extra parliamentary session opens amid deadlock over ferry disaster bill

Social affairsAug 22, 2014

An extraordinary parliamentary session kicked off Friday, with rival parties deadlocked over a special bill aimed at uncovering the truth behind April's ferry sinking that left more than 300 people dead or missing.The session, which is to run for 10 days until the start of the regular parliamentary session in September, was requested by the No. 1 opposition party, the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), on Tuesday, just as the rival parties failed to pass the special bill through the pre