Rain Kicks Off World Tour in Hong Kong

Pop music sensation Rain, better known as Bi in Korea, has started the Asian leg of his world tour in Hong Kong.
Some 12-thousand fans showed up to see the chest-baring heartthrob sing and dance on stage with his trademark high-energy moves.
The 24-year-old singer has sold millions of albums since his debut in 2002.
Time magazine has even voted him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In Asia, he will perform in 17 cities in eleven countries including Singapore, China and Japan.
His promoters say several of his concerts sold out months in advance.

JAN 14, 2007

Source: Arirang News
Credit: Kpopkingdom.com

Bada Named Most Stylish Star Of 2006

Singer Bada has been recognized as "Best Dresser" by the "Korean Model Festival Award". The festival conducts a poll targeting 3000 domestic models and Bada who shows her cool and feminine fashion was chosen as the most stylish star of 2006.

The award slated to hold on January 19, aims to strengthen the concept of models and give an opportunity for 3 nations - Korea, Japan & China to share their diverse views on the industry. From the venue, a total of 45 candidates from the 3 countries will compete for best models.

Credits: ArirangTV.com + Kpopper.com + noV@Kpop Kingdom

Netizens choose, "Who is 2007's most awaited group?"

5-member group BIG BANG was chosen as 2007's most awaited new group.

Online music site "Jukeon" executed a poll from January 4 to 10 that asked Netizens which new group they are most looking forward to in 2007. Out of 3,214 members who participated, 1,286 (40%) voted for BIG BANG. The group rose to 1st place.

Before making their official debut, BIG BANG already gathered a lot of interest because of their documentary. The group has released 3 singles and 1 album.

In 2nd place was Super Junior with 978 (30.4%) votes and 3rd place was SS501. Next was Battle with 217 votes. In 4th place was the 4-member group Xing with 115 votes.


Source: starnews
Credits: kpopper.com

TVXQ to Release Single Album in Korea after Japan

The eighth single album released in Japan by the five-man band TVXQ will go on sale in Korea from Friday.

“Miss You/O-Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis” ranked second on the Oricon’s daily single chart on its first day of release on Nov. 8 of last year. On Nov. 14, it ranked third on the Oricon’s weekly single chart.

Packaged in two versions--a CD and a CD bundled with a DVD--the album contains the dance song “Miss You,” which describes the feelings of pining after a former lover, and the Japanese version of “O-Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis,” which was the title song of its third hit album. The DVD contains the music video for “Miss You.”

The band will release its ninth single “Step by Step” in Japan on Jan. 24.

credits: KBS Global

BIG BANG, "Se7en & Song Baek Kyung's Acting Was Funny"

Group BIG BANG confessed to be fans of "Palace S".

BIG BANG conveyed this on the morning of January 11 in an interview with Newsen. They were asked on what was their reaction with Se7en's acting in the MBC drama "Palace S". They revealed that the members of YG Family watched the show at the office.

"He was funny. Seeing him on TV as an actor was strange but I enjoyed how the script was written", said BIG BANG, showing their satisfaction for the drama.

Aside from Se7en, Song Baekkyung also appeared in the first episode of "Palace S".

BIG BANG also shared that Baekkyung sent a text message saying that he was also in the 2nd episode and that they be sure to see him there because it is going to be funny. The group also enjoyed watching "Palace" and said that with "Palace S", they will watch it together by all means.


Meanwhile, BIG BANG still has not made their comeback stage for their album's title track "Dirty Cash" because of G-Dragon's bronchitis and influenza. However, the group has been practicing hard for their comeback stage.


BIG BANG will have their first comeback performance at MBC "Show! Music Core" on January 13.

Credits: Newsen.com + Kpopper.com + noV@Kpop Kingdom

Shinhwa "Winter Story 07" to be release!

Shinhwa awaited "Winter Story".

In year 2006, followed by M(LeeMinWoo) & Hyesung, Junjin also had started his solo activities. Each shinhwa member's charm gotten much attraction.
In year 2007 January 6th concert, Shinhwa had estimation of 1million 2thousand of audience and they sang "Suns in our heart" and other 5 songs, the crowed was at a top fever position (Feb11th 10pm - Sky Perfect Tv! Mnet(ch.792)OA will be broadcasting!)

Toward of their winter story 2005. They had stop releasing the continuation series but now they are releasing back a new winter story!
In year 2007 January, under an urgent notice they will be releasing a new Winter Story 2007.
This is their first production in year 2007, and they are releasing under the name of SHINHWA, Stay Tune for it!
More detail information had not been settle/decided, and will be announce soon.
What songs they will be releasing? Hope everybody will stay tune on it!

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JunJin Repackage single had decided to release!

Being attracted after his solo debut, Junjin's repackage single album had finally decided to release.
In this repackage version of Love wont come - Repackage, had decided to include his duet song with taiwan artist Linda "Forever". Because his activities in Taiwan will be starting soon, his activities of this releasing album too will be tying up with it.
The information on the repackage album will be announce soon.

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LeeMinWoo's single, releasing on February.
Ending of year 2006 there were news that LeeMinWoo will be releasing his new single in year 2007. Supposingly had decided to release it on January 20th but it had delayed to February.
LeeMinWoo had compose and written the lyrics for his 2 new song, with the addition there will be 2 new remix version of his old album songs, and also including his live "Girlfriend Concert' music source of year 2006 January. But the official song title and graphic package concept has not been decided yet. But all these information will be release soon, hope everybody do stay tune with the lastest news in a period of time.

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Including SHINHWA, Hyesung & Lyn's new song compilation CD

This is a CD album which caught all the shinhwa fan's attention. With the relation combination of music and drama, directed out a 'Music Drama' which is a new style for the Special Compilation CD: Music Drama Winter Story, Winter.
HyeSung & Lyn's duet 'Love...After(Track01)' is the hit song, MR.2 sang "White Winter (Track02)" in a new version which is suitable as a winter song, and this album also included Shinhwa, KimJungGook and other artist's hit song.


Credits to:
Source：HMV
CN Trans：堡堡@shinhwachina
Eng Trans: amane@mySHINHWA
- kpopkingdom

Rain's Flying With Korean Air

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Hallyu star Rain has gained new wings _ those of Korean Air.

The top Korean pop star and the top Korean carrier have set up a joint promotion.

Korean Air and Star M Entertainment, the production company for Rain's world tour "Rain's Coming", signed a contract for the joint promotion Monday at the Hyatt Regency Incheon Hotel. Kim Young-ho, president of Korean Air's passenger division; Heather Cho, managing vice president of in-flight service and catering; Lee In-gwang, CEO of Star M; and Rain participated in the signing ceremony.

The world tour, which began with a concert in Las Vegas last month, will run through the end of May and include a total of 35 concerts in 17 cities in 12 countries. It is the largest overseas performance tour for a Korean singer, with 800,000 spectators expected.

The carrier will provide complimentary tickets to Rain and some 80 of his performance staff and transport his stage equipment for free to concert venues.

"Through the cooperation, we'll play the role of messenger of hallyu by supporting Korea's high-quality performance goods", Kim said.

"Rain topped the Korean entertainment market, and he is now advancing into the world. His performance will give a long-awaited rain to overseas fans. We'll present a new type of star marketing by combining Rain's star power and Korean Air's global network", he said.

During the signing ceremony, a model of a Korean Air plane wrapped with Rain's image and the tour slogan, "Rain's Coming", was displayed. The 295-seat A330-300 aircraft took its first flight on Wednesday to Hong Kong for Rain's concert there.

The carrier's overseas branches will take part in the promotion by distributing performance leaflets and selling concert tickets. Rain's concerts will also be included in Korean Air's in-flight entertainment programs. Korean Air's affiliate Hanjin Travel Service sells Rain's world tour package to Korean fans.

Kim of Korean Air said the marketing expenses cost around 1.8 billion won, including 300 million won for the wrapping of the plane.

Of the 12 countries where Rain's concerts are to be held, Korean Air services China the most. He will perform in four cities in China, the largest number in a single country.

Korean Air has tried to make China its second home market as part of its vision to become a leading global airline. It opened seven routes to China last year and singed a contract with China's Sinotrans Air Transportation Development to set up a joint cargo venture in China. It plans to open five more routes this year.

"Through Rain, we expect Korean Air to have a young and dynamic image and to expand our position as a leading carrier in China", Kim said.

"It will give momentum to Korean pop culture to advance into the world. I'll give a distinguished performance that will be understood and accepted all around the world, and I'll put all my effort and talent into it", Rain said.

Source : koreatimes
Credit: hancinema.net + kpopkingdom.com

Paran to Sing Lyrics in Thai

The five-man group Paran will become the first Korean singing group to record a song in Thai, to begin activities in Thailand. The group’s debut song “First Love” will be released in the Thai language late this month. The music video of the song has already been produced in the Thai language and aired throughout southeast Asia through music channels.

Earlier, the group attended the 2006 Virgin Hitz Asia Awards in Thailand last October to promote itself, and in November, released its first album in Korean, which soon grabbed the top spot of the country’s album charts.

“We have succeeded in gaining some recognition in Thailand, but it is not enough,” a member of Paran said. “We thought that it is important to sing in a local language to appeal to local people, so we decided to record a song in Thai.”

credits: KBS Global

"Once in a Summer" to be Released in Japan

The Korean film “Once in a Summer” will be released in Japan on Jan. 27. The movie, which stars two top stars, Lee Byung-heon and Soo Ae--but fared badly at the Korean box office when it was released on Nov. 30--is expected to do well in Japan.

The two stars will also do their utmost for the movie’s success in the island country, as they did in Korea, touring local cities to promote the movie despite its poor performance at box office. They will fly to Japan on Jan. 16 and give interviews with various media outlets to promote the film. Lee visited the neighboring country last year for promotional purposes.

The movie is expected to do well in Japan, unlike in Korea, due to Lee’s tremendous popularity there. It was sold to Japan for US$4 million before its release in Korea.

Another reason for lofty expectations is the success of “Now and Forever, which performed poorly in Korea but was the only Korean movie to make the top five at the Japanese box office last year, as it starred Choi Ji-woo, who is enjoying great popularity in Japan for her role in the hit drama “Winter Sonata.”

The film’s producer, KM Culture, said that it will also be shown at more theaters than anticipated.

credits: KBS Global

Thai Instability Likely to Delay Rain's Tour

Singer Rain's world tour in Thailand will likely be delayed due to unstable local conditions.

Rain's performance was set for February third and fourth at Bangkok's Impact Arena.

The world tour organizer StarM said Wednesday that safety is the first concern following a chain of organized bomb explosions earlier this month in Bangkok. It said it is discussing a postponement with the Thai organizing agency, possibly to June, but that it is yet undecided.

The New Years bombings in downtown Bangkok are thought to be either a military coup by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra to regain power or a move by incumbent coup forces who are disappointed at the transitional government's rule.

Thai Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas has even warned of more terrorism.

StarM says that though the tickets are mostly sold, the safety of the singer, staff and audience must be considered, adding that ticket holders will be offered the chance to watch the delayed performance or get a refund.

On board a Korean Air plane that has a huge picture of himself printed on its fuselage, Rain left Seoul Wednesday for his Hong Kong tour this weekend.

credits: KBS Global