KPop & KDrama

…and another celebrity completes his army duty and returns to the eagerly waiting arms of his adoring fans. 

My heart ... (faints)

How can every new episode be the best episode ever? It seems statistically improbable, but here we are, beating the odds. And though I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, I broke like a dam of tissue paper against Niagara. Damn you, Drama!

KDramas!
:( Now, I cannot download my KDramas. Oh Lord! What a self-inflicted suffering!

After teasing fans with a full music video for “Please” earlier this month, SS501’s Kim Hyun Joong has finally made his long-awaited solo debut by dropping the music video for his title track, “Break Down“!

The song was composed by Steven Lee and is classified as a ’south urban dance track’.

Right from its beginning phases, the song was composed with a dynamic choreography in mind to ensure a strong performance.

“Break Down” combines powerful electric brass and synth sounds to create an energetic track. The album also passed through the hands of prestigious sound engineer, Ken Louis (Eminem, Kanye West, and Usher), who personally engineered it himself in New Jersey for a perfect sound quality.

The older Park sibling, Sandara, arrived 10 minutes late, but she immediately waved “Hi~” to her younger brother Thunder upon entering the room. Thunder, who was fixing his hanbok in front of a mirror, greets her with, “Oh, you came.”

And then a brief moment of awkward silence hit.

Since it’s their first-ever ’sibling interview’, the two immediately began repeating, “How awkward,” while quickly explaining, “We grew up in the Philippines so we never had the opportunity to give New Year’s bows. This year, we’ll be bowing to our parents and CEOs.”

Sandara and Thunder are members of Korea’s two top idols, 2NE1 and MBLAQ. They’re also the most well-known sibling idols in the industry as well. What’s interesting to note is that despite the fame surrounding their relationship, this is the first time the two are taking part in an interview as just siblings.

“I’m seeing his face for the first time in a month,” Sandara calmly states.  Thunder adds, “It’s kind of awkward seeing her at work, since I’m used to seeing her at home.” His older sister agreed: “At home, I’m used to us wearing pajamas and not being so dolled up, so meeting like this is quite awkward.”

Because they both have busy schedules and are living away in dorms, they’re lucky to be able to meet once a month. Their promotion cycles have also never overlapped, so they rarely get to meet outside at work.  The first time they met on stage was at the SBS “Gayo Daejun” last year.

Despite the distance, they claim to be closer than anyone else. Sandara revealed that she constantly monitors for him, and sends him advice and support through text messages. She also listens to MBLAQ’s CDs during car rides, and would always visit MBLAQ’s waiting room with flowers on special days, like for their comeback.

Speaking of thoughtful, Sandara handed a new bag to her brother during the interview. “I bought it for you while I went shopping a few days ago,” she explained.

In comparison to her outgoing and four-dimensional personality, Thunder is a lot quieter and calmer.   Sandara revealed, “Whenever I send him text messages after I monitor his broadcast performances, he always replies back with one letter: ‘k.’”

Thunder retorted, “But still, I reply a bit longer to Jihoon-hyung (Rain).”

Sandara continued, “He’s not the type to joke around, but since he’s the maknae, he has a tendency to behave like a baby. Still, he’s become a lot more mature lately. Our other sibling, Park Durami (24), often says that ‘our maknae has matured.’”

When asked to rate 2NE1 as singers, Thunder lived up to Sandara’s criticisms of him being too quiet by answering, “For a singer, music is the most basic foundation. I love 2NE1’s music.”

In comparison, Sandara rattled off a bunch of compliments for her baby brother’s group. “MBLAQ has a really ‘zzang’ visual.  I think they’re the most handsome out of all of the teams promoting right now.  The members are all so good at dancing, piano, and even singing.”

The photoshoot had the two wearing hanboks, and Sandara revealed that it was the first time for the two to wear hanboks in a long, long while. “We lived in the Philippines when we were younger so we never had the chance to wear one. I do remember wearing it in the first or second year of elementary school.“  Thunder added, “We probably wore it when we were babies.”

His sister continued, “In the Philippines, Christmas is a big holiday and fireworks are used for the New Year. For the Lunar New Year, our family would just eat rice cake soup, and we don’t have relatives in the Philippines, so we don’t have memories of performing the New Year’s bow.  Even when we came to Korea, all we did was eat rice cake soup and watch the Lunar New Year programs on TV. We came to Korea in 2007, but this year, I’m planning to bow to not only my family, but to my CEO as well.”

Fortunately, the two will be meeting more often this year, as both of their respective groups are preparing for their Japanese advancements.

2NE1 is currently re-recording their Korean hits into Japanese, and will soon be working on their album jacket and music video recordings. Once the holiday ends, they’ll be focusing on their Japanese activities until March.

Sandara shed some light on 2NE1’s plans by stating, “We were determined to ‘fight as rookies.’  Since we’re not pretty or cute, we have to cater to a specific fanbase. We’re hoping to win with a style of music like ‘Fire‘.”

Meanwhile, MBLAQ will be knocking on the doors of the Japanese market this April, and although detailed schedules haven’t been revealed, they’re planning to lend their support to the new Hallyu wave that is gathering force overseas.

The siblings concluded their interview with a heartwarming message for one another.

Thunder stated, “Like you’ve always done, I trust nuna to do her best.  I believe that you’ll meet great results in your Japanese advancement if you work as hard as you are doing now. Nuna, you’re always asking for me to introduce you to a man, but I don’t know any man worthy of you.  I hope that our family can live healthily and happily.”

“I know that I’m not at the point in my career where I can act with freedom, but I’ll be working harder than ever, so don’t worry about me.  When I succeed and become a big singer, I’ll take care of you then.”

Sandara said, “Thunder, I know that you’re quiet and don’t express yourself, but I’m touched all the same whenever I feel that you’re thinking about a lot of things and taking care of our mother.  I’m so proud of you for having grown into an innocent and upright man, without going down the wrong path and without causing trouble.”

“You must be really tired now that you’ve started your promotions, so make sure you take the vitamins mother asked you to take and eat all of your meals.  One advice I want to give you as your senior is a repeat of what I told you when you first debuted: ‘Bow/greet everyone well.’”

The SBS “Secret Garden” fever seems to never die down! Even despite the end of “Secret Garden,” the popularity of the drama is never ending.

On a music portal site, Dosirak, Hyun Bin’s “That Man,” from the “Secret Garden” OST,  has ranked 1st as the most popular song of January.

Following right behind ‘That Man’ were IU’s songs from KBS “Dream High,” ‘Someday,’ ranking as 2nd and “Good Day” ranking as 3rd.

4th place went to Sung Shi Kyung’s ‘You Are My Spring‘ from the “Secret Garden” OST and 5th place went to Secret’s “Shy Boy.”

Closely behind them were Joo’s “Bad Guy” and Dong Bang Shin Ki’s “Keep Your Head Down” ranking 6th and 7th place respectively.

G-Dragon and TOP’s song “Oh Yeah” and “High High” ranked 8th and 9th place whereas Brown Eyed Girl’s Jea and MBLAQ’s G.O.’s song “Because You Sting” took 10th place for the most popular song of January.

Congrats to Hyun Bin for ranking 1st!

Despite his seven-year career in the music industry, SS501’s Park Jung Min has been dealing with a lot of ‘firsts’ ever since he returned with his solo album, “Not Alone.”

Out of all five of his fellow group members, he’s the first to officially kick off a solo career. Although he originally intended to return last November, he delayed it for two months out of respect for the Yeonpyeong Island skirmish.

He began, “I attempted for the first time to write all of the songs in the album. I wanted to deliver my honest thoughts through my own voice. I’ve always liked drawing and writing, but it was an aspect of myself that I wasn’t able to express with SS501. I’m planning to write the lyrics for every new song that will be out under my name. The thought of someone reading my lyrics made me feel shy and pressured at first, but writing little by little brought out a sort of excitement.”

When asked about the differences between performing as a soloist and with a group, he replied, “There’s no time to rest as a soloist, since I have to do everything on my own. With SS501, I was able to sleep when the other members went into filming (laughter). As a soloist, all of the focus is on me.”

Park Jung Min then revealed that he underwent a 12 kg weight loss. “It’s difficult to lose weight the first time, but now, no matter how much I eat, I just don’t gain weight. My basic stamina has improved. Even though my schedule is busy, I try to fit in exercise. Kim Jong Kook-hyung, Super Junior, and SHINee all come to my gym. Since all of their bodies are shaping up, I can’t lose to them, now can I?”

The star also discussed SS501’s new group album, which is scheduled for release later this year. “Once SS501’s schedule is confirmed, I’m planning to postpone my personal activities. As opposed to going out of everyone’s way to make it happen, I’d rather that we just naturally came together.”

His goal for the new year is to tour at least five countries. Park Jung Min explained, “Park Jung Min is part of SS501, but through my solo album, I want to let the public know who I am. My 2011 goal is to become a man that people want to hug (laughter). Since I am of age now (25), I want to express a more masculine aspect of myself.”

Source: Newsen via Nate

He looks HOT! :D

Dream High, which is the current leader in the Monday-Tuesday ratings race, is considering extending its run by one episode, according to a rep with the drama’s production team on January 26.

This is no surprise, since the drama was pre-empted this week to make room for the Korea-Japan soccer game in the 2011 Asia Cup. That puts the broadcasting schedule off by one episode, pushing back its scheduled finale episode (the 16th) one more week to a Monday. To even out the airing schedule and to keep the following drama from starting off askew, KBS is in talks to bring the total to 17 episodes, which would put the finale on Tuesday, March 1.

In fact, KBS has put in a request with producers for a larger extension as well. With Dream High bringing KBS back to #1 in the Monday-Tuesday timeslot after being last-place for a while (Mary Stayed Out All Night, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Gumiho: Tale of the Fox’s Child), the broadcaster seems happy to give the drama a longer run.

However, an additional extension is looking unlikely at the moment, because casting a large number of idol stars means that the shooting schedule is under especially tight constraints. Often, idol actors are juggling crammed schedules as they balance drama shoots with pop-star duties, and therefore their post-drama schedules are already filled.

That’s too bad, because for once I think an extension could actually work, narratively if not logistically. With 7 episodes aired, there’s still time to rework the pacing, and the structure of Dream High’s episodic stories is conducive to additions. We already have mini-arcs that play out over two or three episodes (the assembling of the Misfit Mafia, the Rebel Showcase), so it wouldn’t be so difficult to add one more mini-arc. Alas, I think 17 is probably going to be our final count.

The drama slated to follow Dream High is the police drama Crime Squad, starring Kim Seung-woo and Song Il-kook.

Jung Yonghwa introduced wife SNSD’s Seohyun to his childhood friends on “We Got Married.”

The couple visited his friends from Busan that he has known for over ten years.  His comfort showed as he felt at home and acted like a little kid with his friends.

There was also a girl friend, who he took the time to specially introduce Seohyun to.

But why did he do this?

The episode will air on January 22nd.

Source: Newsen via Nate

With the “Hyun Bin fever” spreading like an epidemic in Korea as “Secret Garden” nears its end, numerous stars have been caught sporting the “Italian hand-sewn” jacket of Hyun Bin’s.

Idols have not been exempt from the blue-sequined fever, as many are imitating the infamous jacket from the drama. Most recently, INFINITE’s WooHyun has joined the league of hipster-disco chic, as he too was seen wearing the track jacket.

But it seems like it’s a big hit with his fans – during the “Before the Dawn” showcase, fans complimented WooHyun for sharing similar looks to Hyun Bin. WooHyun responded to his fans’ attention by wearing the precious ‘hand sewn’ training gear.

Hyun Bin Fever!!