South Korean actor and singer Kim Hyun-joong reportedly delayed his mandatory military service until next year due to his schedule, a local news outlet reported Thursday.　Kim was notified that he should enlist in the army on Oct. 7, but postponed due to his concert tour schedule, according to the reports. 　Kim is currently touring five countries -- Thailand, China, Peru, Mexico and Japan. Kim, who just wrapped up a show on Aug. 24 in Thailand, is to travel to China on Aug. 30 for another concert

Heechul of K-pop boy band Super Junior and Kim Jae-kyung of girl group Rainbow transformed into the main characters of the hit film “Frozen.” 　In a photo released on Wednesday on Kim’s Instagram, the two wear costumes for the sisters Anna and Elsa from the animation film. 　Heechul looks like a woman with his make-up, showing off flawless skin. 　Heechul and Kim are to costar in the MBC entertainment show “Tell me your wish” to be aired from September. 　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

1. 아이스버켓챌린지 열풍 　 루게릭병 환우를 돕기 위한 캠패인인 아이스버킷챌린지가 SNS를 통해 급속도로 퍼져나가면서 다른 자선단체들도 젊은 잠재적 기부자들의 참여를 유도하고 그들과 소통할 수 있는 효과적인 방법에 대해 고민하고 있다. ALS 연합회는 7월 29일부터 캠패인 참가자 수를 계산하기 시작하여 백만 명이 넘는 신규 기부자를 모집했다고 밝혔다. 　 팟캐스트: https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵: http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638 　 Ice Bucket Challenge changes nonprofit world 　 [1] The Ice Bucket Challenge‘s phenomenal success is making other charitable organizations rethink how they

미국 버지니아의 한 고속도로 라인이 지그재그 형태로 무너지면서 출퇴근길 불편을 초래하고 있다고 외신들이 보도했다.　지난 25일, 미국 버지니아 센터빌의 I-66 고속도로 라인이 제멋대로 움직이면서 운전자들을 당혹시켰다. 고속도로를 재정비 중이던 인부들이 공사 중 임시로 라인을 구분하기 위해 테이프를 붙여 놓았는데 출퇴근 차량이 많아지면서 테이프가 떨어져 나가 제멋대로 움직였기 때문이다.　(Twitter)테이프가 좌우로 움직이는 바람에 고속도로 라인이 사라져 교통 정체와 충돌사고를 일으켰다고 외신들은 밝혔다. 출퇴근 길 운전자들은 그 날 교통상황이 “끔찍”하다고 표현할 정도였다. 　한 운전자는 미국 NBC뉴스에 “제 시간에 출근하기 위해 I-66 도로는 피해 뒷길을 이용해야 했다”고 말했다.　(Twitter)문제가 커지자 그 날 오후 7시경부터 인부들은 고속도로 위 테이프를 다시 고정시켰다. 다음날 아침에야 도로가 정상화됐다. 　버지니아 교통국은 일시적으로 고속도로 라인이 바뀌면서 테

American singer song-writer Meghan Trainor came under suspicion of plagiarizing the Korean song “Happy Mode.” 　The accusation of plagiarism surfaced in Korea earlier this month after a netizen posted a video on YouTube that shows similarities between K-pop group Koyote’s “Happy Mode” and Billboard-ranked track “All About That Bass” sung by Trainor.　 (YouTube)Some netizens pointed out that the beat of American song, released in July, is a bit faster than the Korean one, revealed in 2006. But the

(YG Entertainment)Rookie K-pop band Winner has stayed at the top of the local music charts for two weeks straight with its debut track as of Tuesday, outshining established idol stars such as Sistar, HyunA, Block B and Girls Day. 　The quintet’s title track “Empty” from its debut EP “2014 S/S” held the No.1 spot for the second consecutive week on three major music charts -- Melon, Genie and Bugs Music -- as of Aug. 26, two weeks after its release on Aug. 12. Their album also topped the Billboard

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

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

(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

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

South Korean hip-hop artist Jay Park, also known as Park Jae-beom, will release his second studio album “Evolution” on Sep. 1, his label SidusHQ announced Monday. The upcoming album consists of 17 tracks, including the title song “So Good.” Park helped write and compose all the tracks on the album, an official from the label said. Park worked on the title track in partnership with Cha Cha Malon, inspired by legendary Michael Jackson’s music. On July 25, the artist released his most recent self-c

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

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,

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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