Sandara Park has been appointed as the new face of Korea-Philippines Friendship ambassador, according to her agency on Wednesday. For the 119th Philippine Independence Day and 22nd Migrant Workers Day, Park attended the event named “Bayanihan sa Korea 2017” (meaning Filipino community spirit in Korea) in Seoul on Sunday.  (YG Entertainment)Hosted by The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, some 1,500 Filipinos got together to celebrate and encourage one another. “Thank you so much for inv

G-Dragon of K-pop group Big Bang has stormed onto the Billboard 200 album chart, marking the artist's third time to do so, his management company said Tuesday.YG Entertainment said his fourth solo album "Kwon Ji Yong," released on June 8, ranked 192nd on the chart as of June 12, local time.  (YG Entertainment)The Billboard 200 ranks the 200 most popular albums of the week, based on online and offline album sales and the number of streamings. He previously grabbed a spot on the chart in 2012 with

Hwang Chi-yeul had been an obscure singer for about 10 years since he debuted in 2007 with his first full-length album "Five Senses." He appeared on various TV and radio shows for about one year after his debut, but had to disappear from the stage when his previous management company closed due to financial difficulties.He spent his 20s working part-time jobs, and taught at music schools as a vocal coach for a living until late 2014.But he experienced a reversal of fortune early last year when C

Artists managed by YG Entertainment, one of the largest K-pop agencies in South Korea, are pouring out new albums back to back in the first half of this year.Starting with Akdong Musician in January, five other YG artists have presented new albums in a row -- Winner and Sechskies in April, Psy and iKON in May and G-Dragon in June. Girl group Black Pink will be the next to drop an album on June 22, according to the agency. (Yonhap)Recently, there has been some bad news. Big Bang member T.O.P was

South Korean actress Park Shin-hye has kicked off her fan-meeting tour of Asian cities in Hong Kong, her agency said Monday. "Park had a happy time with her local fans at Hong Kong's KITEC on Saturday," S.A.L.T. Entertainment said in a release.The actress performed six songs, including a song from the medical series "Doctors" where she played Yoo Hye-jung, a neurosurgeon, during the event.  (Yonhap)In the "Dr. Yoo's consultation section," she put on a doctor's gown and listened seriously to the

Season two of "Produce 101," Mnet's all-male idol audition show, topped a TV popularity index for the eighth straight week, data showed Tuesday. "Produce 101" scored 264.3 points on the Content Power Index (CPI), becoming the most popular TV program from May 22-28. (Yonhap)CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of TV shows based on the number of views of related news stories, online search tallies and buzz on social media.In the show, a group of

Sistar's new and final song "Lonely" on Thursday rose to No. 1 on major South Korean music streaming charts."Lonely," an acoustic R&B song released Wednesday afternoon, topped seven music streaming charts, including Melon, Olleh Music, Naver Music and Bugs Music, as of 8:30 a.m. The track was produced by Sistar's longtime collaborator Black Eyed Philseung. (Yonhap)The seven-year-old K-pop team announced earlier that it will disband after releasing its final single album. Hyolyn and Soyou are exp

G-Dragon of boy band BIGBANG will release his first individual album in four years on June 8, his agency said Wednesday. (Yonhap)The YG Entertainment, however, did not give any details of the upcoming album.Debuting as a BIGBANG member in 2006, the singer whose name is Gwon Ji-yong made a solo debut in 2009 with "Heartbreaker." He has since released two more albums: "One of a kind" in 2012 and "Coup d'etat" in 2013.Following the release of the new album, the singer is to begin a concert tour of

Seowon Valley, a golf club on the northern outskirts of Seoul, will hold its annual K-pop charity concert this week, bringing together leading artists from a wide range of genres, according to the company Thursday.This year's Seowon Valley Charity Green Concert will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at the country club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, with the largest-ever lineup in its 17-year history. (Jellyfish Entertainment)Idol stars, including VIXX, Gugudan, Momoland and Lee Teuk of Super Junior, alon

엑소의 미국 공연이 보기드문 흥행 기록을 세웠다. 지난달 개최된 캘리포니아 잉글우드 무대였다.빌보드가 발표한 박스스코어에서 엑소는 8위에 이름을 올렸다. 공연장 ‘더포럼’은 수용인원 9739석 중 8668석을 채웠다. 입장료 수입만 143만불(16억760만원)에 달했다. (사진=SM 엔터테인먼트)단독공연으로만 따졌을 때, 엑소는 4위에 랭크된 싱어송라이터 빌리 조엘 다음이다.엑소는 순위에서 미국 가수 그린데이, 크리스 브라운, 레드 핫 칠리 페퍼 등을 앞질렀다. 이 국내그룹은 지난 25일 미국 뉴워크를 시작으로 멕시코 멕시코시티, 로스앤젤레스 등 3개 도시를 순회했다. (사진=빌보드 캡쳐)투어명은 <엑소 플래닛 #3–디 엑소디움–인 노스 아메리카>였다.엑소는 히트곡 ‘으르렁’ ‘중독’ ‘LOVE ME RIGHT’ ‘Monster’ ‘Lucky One’ 등을 소화하며 관객을 열광케 했다.코리아헤럴드 지예은 인턴기자 (yeeunjie@heraldcorp.com)

A popular variety show featuring grandfathers traveling overseas has been sold to Italy and Turkey, a local cable channel said Wednesday.The network tvN said it has sealed a deal to export the format of "Grandpas over Flowers" to Italy and Turkey. In 2014, the same program was sold to the U.S. as the first Korean variety show to be exported to the country. (Yonhap)The show, which aired on tvN from 2013-15, features four veteran actors in their 70s and 80s going on a backpacking tour.It is in tal

Season two of "Produce 101," Mnet's all-male idol audition show, topped a benchmark TV popularity index for the sixth straight week, while new period drama "Ruler: Master of the Mask" made a splashing entry at No. 2, according to data Wednesday."Produce 101" scored 264.3 points on the Content Power Index (CPI), becoming the most popular TV program from May 8-14. (Mnet)CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of TV shows based on the number of view

A Seoul-based cultural foundation has opened a photo and video contest about Korea, aimed at piquing interests among foreigners in the country and offering a chance for a dialogue on how to better promote the country abroad.The Corea Image Communications Institute (CICI), which is holding the contest until July 17, said on Tuesday foreigners living in Korea and Koreans who want to publicize what they think is the country's image can submit photos or videos with the themes of "true Korean identit

Korean actors Kim Nam-gil and Kim A-joong will return to the small screen with the upcoming tvN’s drama tentatively titled “Myueongbulheojeon.” “Two actors have confirmed their roles. Nam-gil will play Heo Im, a doctor from the Joseon Dynasty, and A-joong will play Choi Yeon-kyeong, a doctor from the 21st Century,” said Bon Factory, which produces the upcoming drama. Kim Nam-gil (left) and Kim A-joong (O& Entertainment/King Entertainment)Nam-gil, 37, is expected to show his acting prowess by pla

국정원 고스트 요원에서 훈훈한 대학선배 역할까지, 배우 박해진의 캐릭터 변신은 끝이 없다. 박해진은 요즘 JTBC 금토드라마 ‘맨투맨’에서 국정원 최고의 고스트 요원 김설우와 영화 ‘치즈인더트랩’(치인트)에서 유정으로써의 연기에 한참 몰입 중이다. 　 (사진=마운틴무브먼트)18일 코리아헤럴드는 소속사 마운틴무브먼트 황지선 대표와의 단독 인터뷰를 진행했다. 황 대표는 박해진의 근황과 함께 영화 ‘치인트’에 대한 소식도 전했다. 　황 대표는 박해진이 ‘김설우가 왜 그런 행동을 할까?’라고 고민하며 여러 방향으로 캐릭터를 분석하고 있다고 밝혔다. 또한 김설우와 유정이 다른 캐릭터이지만 내적 ‘고독함’을 이해해 ‘치인트’에서도 역할에 더 충실해졌다고 귀띔했다.  (사진=마운틴무브먼트)황 대표는 두 캐릭터 모두 박해진의 연기력를 보여주고 있다고 말했다. 　　 (사진=마운틴무브먼트스토리)영화 ‘치인트’는 17회차 촬영이 끝난 상황으로, 6월 말 경 크랭크 업 할 예정이다. 황 대표는 ‘치인트’

The crime action film "The Merciless" took the top place at the South Korean box office on its opening day, data showed Thursday.The movie starring Seol Kyung-goo and Im Si-wan sold 95,261 tickets Wednesday, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. (Yonhap)"The Merciless" is about the friendship and betrayal between Jae-ho, played by Seol, plotting to become the leader of an organized crime ring after being released from prison, and the organization's fearless and ebulli

배우 송중기가 서울 이태원동 소재의 한 주택을 100억원에 매입한 것으로 17일 확인됐다.　코리아헤럴드가 단독입수한 자료에 따르면 송중기는 지난 1월 본인 명의로 지상 2층, 지하 1층짜리 단독주택을 사들였다. 대지면적 602 제곱미터(182평)에 건물 연면적은 371 제곱미터(110평)에 달하는 고가주택이다. 　 (사진=KBS 2TV)이태원동은 초고가의 주택이 많은 곳으로 재벌가와 연예인이 많이 거주하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이에 대해 송중기 소속사 관계자는 “모르는 일”이라고 밝혔다.　　　 (사진=코리아헤럴드) 송중기는 지난해 tvN이 공개한 ‘명단공개 2016’에서 ‘연예계 부동산 재테크의 제왕’에 포함된 바 있다.　그는 현재 서울 반포동에 위치한 빌라도 소유하고 있다. 호가 25억원인 이곳에 부모님과 함께 살고 있다.　송중기는 지난해 KBS2TV 드라마 ‘태양의 후예’에서 카리스마 넘치는 유시진 대위 역을 맡았다.　 (사진=블러썸 엔터테인먼트)‘태후’ 출연으로 그는 편당 6천

Popular Korean authors will get to meet readers and translators in overseas literature events, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea said Tuesday. The photos provided by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea shows Kang Young-sook (left) and Jeong Ho-seung. (Yonhap)Novelists Hwang Sok-yong will attend the Turin International Book Fair in Italy from May 18-22. His book, including "Mr. Han's Chronicle" and "Princess Bari," have been translated into Italian.At the book fair, Hwang wi

Idol band iKON will release a new single album next week, its management agency said Wednesday. (Yonhap)YG Entertainment said the band will put out the as-of-yet unnamed album on Monday, its first brand-new release since "What You Doing" from May of last year. The company uploaded a teaser image on its official blog."The new song is iKON's best song to date," YG founder Yang Hyun-suk was quoted as saying by the company.iKON has gained a solid fandom and is widely expected to be the successor of

Singer-turned-actress Sung Yuri and her pro-golfer boyfriend Ahn Sung-hyun got married in a private ceremony at an undisclosed place, her agency said Tuesday."Sung Yuri and Ahn Sung-hyun, who have been in a close relationship for four years, married in the form of family worship with their immediate family on Monday," SLent said in a release. (Yonhap)The agency said it was unable to announce the marriage in advance "according to the will of the two people who wanted to focus on each other in a c