Minimix 27

• Jung Hyung Don and girlfriend Han Yu Ra have set a wedding date! After formally introducing their families on June 9, they have set September 12 as their wedding date although the venue has yet to be decided. The two met last year while working together on the SBS show Mystery Commando – he as a host and she as a scriptwriter. (She currently writes for MBC’s 오늘 밤만 재워줘 – loosely translated as Let Me Stay Over Tonight.) Although they began dating around October of 2008, the relationship was not publicized until this past April. Two of Jung’s Infinity Challenge co-hosts – Jung Joon Ha and Noh Hong Chul – also revealed their relationships this year.
  

  Jung Hyung Don and Han Yu Ra

• After a year and two months, Tablo is stepping down from being the DJ of Tablo’s Dream Station on MBC FM4U. There were various reasons cited – including increasing activities abroad and preparation for their sixth album as well as a remix album. June 13 will be his last broadcast.
  

  Tablo (from his blog on http://www.mapthesoul.com)

• Hit weekend drama, Brilliant Legacy, has been extended by two episodes (to a total of 28) due to high ratings. Discussion continues over extending it further to 30 episodes, but has yet to be approved.
  In related news, the show’s male lead, Lee Seung Gi (Sunwoo Hwan), distributed gifts to the entire staff of approximately 70 people. He gave each crew member a sweater, t-shirt, and handwritten letter to express his gratitude for their hard work. It reportedly took him about a week to write all of the personalized letters in between filming for Brilliant Legacy and Two Days and One Night.
  

  Brilliant Legacy - poster

• JYP Entertainment opened up an official English-language website for the Wonder Girls as their fame rises in America. In a hugely successful move for the group, the girls – Yenny “the go-getter”, Mimi “the daydreamer”, Sun “the perfectionist”, Sohee “the chic”, and Yubin “the swagger” – are touring with the Jonas Brothers for the entire summer. (KP’s note: Many Korean articles are referring to the Jonas Brothers as “America’s Big Bang” – in your opinion – true or false?)
  

  Wonder Girls

  In related news, the Wonder Girls are in China for a couple of days along with the cast of Two Days and One Night (1N2D / 1박 2일) to film a segment for the show before heading to the U.S.

• Hyun Young will begin studying at Korea University’s Graduate School of Journalism & Mass Communication this coming September. At age 32, Hyun Young stated that she is eager to study seriously since she is starting later than most. She will become schoolmates with actresses Lee In Hea (Iron Empress) and Kim A Joong (The Accidental Couple).
  

  Hyun Young

• Hallyu star Lee Young Ae (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance) was accepted into Hanyang University’s doctorate program for Theater & Cinema after submitting documents and passing an interview. Although she did not do a written test, a representative from Hanyang stated that Lee received no special consideration and was accepted on the same standard as all other doctorate students. After registering in July, she will begin her studies on September 1. Lee previously studied German at Hanyang for her undergraduate degree and attended Chung-Ang for her Master’s in theatre.
  

  Lee Young Ae

• Lee Kyung Kyu and Eun Ji Won join Kim Gu Ra and Moon Hee Jun as hosts on SBS variety program, Intimate Note (절친노트). The program will undergo some changes and be called Intimate Note 2 beginning June 19. Rather than inviting guests who are uncomfortable with each other to resolve their problems on the show (previous guests include Sohee-Yoobin, Seung Ri-Dae Sung, and Kangin-Sungmin), the second season will invite celebrity best friends to show viewers what true friendship is like. Close friends Kim Je Dong, Yoon Do Hyun, Kim Jang Hoon, and Bae Chil Soo will be Intimate Note 2‘s first featured guests.
  

  Intimate Note 2 hosts

Minimix 12

• Actor Ji Sung (New Heart) has been spending nine hours a day for the preparation of his leading role as Kim Jung Woo in the SBS drama, Swallow the Sun. For the past four months, he has been training in scuba diving, weight training, taekwondo, boxing, and security patrol. He also bought a motorcycle in order to practice riding for the role.
  Ji Sung left for Johannesburg, South Africa with the cast and crew on March 26 to film in temperatures over 34 degrees Celsius. They will then relocate to Las Vegas, U.S.A. for further overseas filming. Swallow the Sun, commonly referred to as All In 2, will be broadcast starting July of this year.
  

  Swallow the Sun - Ji Sung on set

• Solbi, Seung Ri, and Dae Sung have stepped down from their hosting duties on MBC Show! Music Core. The March 28 broadcast was their last since debuting on the program in May of 2008. Tiffany and Yuri of Girls’ Generation (SNSD) will take over as Music Core hosts on April 4.
  

  Music Core - ex-hosts

  

  Music Core - new hosts

• YG Entertainment has announced that Big Bang will not take on any activities this coming May. For the first time since their debut in 2006, the group’s members will have an entire month off for refreshment (as opposed to rest). Although the group as a whole will be on break, each member will still likely be busy. Dae Sung will continue his participation in Family Outing and T.O.P will be filming for IRIS. G-Dragon plans to spend a month travelling in Europe to explore fashion trends. Tae Yang and Seung Ri are scheduled to receive training from famous dancers and choreographers in America. Big Bang will then reunite to spend June and July in Japan, focusing on work again.

• SNSD’s Yuri shed tears in K.Will’s music video for the title song (“눈물이 뚝뚝”) of his new mini-album. Although this was her first time in a crying scene, Yuri said that tears flowed automatically as she heard the song. K.Will’s album, which was released on March 31, also includes the duet he recorded with Tiffany – “Girl, Meets Love”.
  

  "눈물이 뚝뚝" MV - Yuri

• Actor Ju Ji Hun and director Min Kyu Dong attended the Tokyo premiere of their movie, Antique, on March 30. Ju apologized to the crowd that the three other leads (Kim Jae Wook, Yoo Ah In, Choi Ji Ho) could not make it. The movie is based on Fumi Yoshinaga’s Japanese manga, Antique Bakery, which depicts the lives of four male employees at a bakery.
  

  Antique - Tokyo premiere

• On March 28, the Wonder Girls held their first full concert in Korea. ‘The 1st Wonder’ was a success with 8000 people (including their close friend, Park Tae Hwan) in attendance at the Olympic Fencing Arena. In addition to singing many of their hits, each member also performed a solo portion – Ye Eun, the famous “Killing Me Softly”; Sunye, “Ilwoljiga / Sun and Moon” (“일월지가”); Sohee, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”; Sun Mi, “Invitation”; and Yubin, Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack”. Special guests 2AM performed their second single, “A Friend’s Confession”.
  

  'The 1st Wonder' - Wonder Girls

  KP’s note: Oh my goodness. The Wonder Girls use(d) Twitter. Click here for their MySpace site, which provides links.

• Tablo’s response to a journalist asking, “Which person symbolizes people in their twenties?”:

Umm, Big Bang? […] It’s a sincere answer. Big Bang is like the twentysomething generation. Out of them, Dae Sung is most like [it]. He’s not completely grown up yet, but he tries this and that without fear, and it’s good to see him enjoying himself whether he wants to something or not. Those in their twenties by nature don’t really know what their doing.

Wonder Girls to Appear on MTV

Wonder Girls

On March 10, the Wonder Girls will perform live on American broadcasting station MTV. Fellow JYP group, 2PM, will also appear on the program.

MTV is inviting 50 Wonder Girls fans to come watch the show live. The show will be filmed in the TRL studio and broadcast live on the big screen in Times Square. Since the studio has floor-to-celing windows, fans might be able to get a glimpse of the Wonder Girls from outdoors.

A representative at JYP Entertainment in Korea stated that they have yet to decide which song to sing. Promotional details are being handled by JYP USA.

The Wonder Girls are currently with 2PM and Park Jin Young (JYP) in the States in preparation for the 2009 JYP Tour. The tour will kick off on March 5 in Los Angeles, go to Orange County on the 6, and finish in New York on the 8.

Source: edaily

Wonder Girls’ Agenda

Wonder Girls in America

Wonder Girls quietly left the country (Korea) on January 31, without revealing their destination or intentions to the public. However, it’s been revealed that they are in America for business.

The business relates to Park Jin Young (JYP)’s plans to collaborate with others to produce a television show in the U.S. Last year, he stated in an interview that he had plans to work with famous production companies for a show that would feature some JYP trainees and stars.

Wonder Girls prepared in Korea for the auditions, and are now in America to audition for the American TV show. JYP and the girls’ goal is that all five of them will be be cast in the program.

This program is not to be confused with the Dream High project, which is independent from this matter. It is already likely that Wonder Girls will make an appearance in the Asian drama (Dream High), while this program requires that they succeed in auditions.

In the U.S., they have been seen promoting themselves (with their English names – Yenny, Sun, Mimi, Sohee, and Yubin) at Worlds on Fire.

Following their American trip, Wonder Girls will hold their own concert in Bangkok, Thailand on February 28. Then, they will head back over the States for the JYP Tour 2009 Concert[s] in Los Angeles (March 5), Orange County (6), and New York (8). They will hold their first full-length concert in Korea (since their debut) on March 21 (Busan) and March 28 (Seoul). The first round of tickets have already been sold out.

Source: http://cynews.cyworld.com/Service/news/ShellView.asp?ArticleID=2009020713405276105&LinkID=2

Auditions for Bae Yong Joon & JYP’s Dream High

Bae Yong Joon and Park Jin Young are searching Asia and North America for a dream cast for Dream High, a drama that the two megastars will be co-producing.

co-producers

On February 5, a representative for Dream High stated that their goal is to hold open auditions in at least 15 cities in four countries – Korea (eight cities), Japan (Tokyo and Osaka), China (Beijing and Shanghai), the United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York), and possibly others. They are considering holding auditions in L.A., Orange County, and New York in March, to coincide with JYP Entertainment’s concert dates.

The auditions will be held by Hollim, a company that Key West Entertainment (Bae) and JYP Entertainment (Park) have set up together for this drama. Since JYP Entertainment already has expertise and experience in finding and developing stars, the company will have a larger role in casting. Dream High‘s representative stated that they are even considering making the audition process into a televised program like American Idol.

There is high potential that Wonder Girls will appear in the film; however, it will be confirmed after the script is ready. It is also possible that co-producers Bae and Park may also make appearances in the movie. Potential characters for them are being discussed; however, since the movie’s premise is a school of performing arts, they may just play themselves.

Their goal is to finish casting and hire a screenwriter in the first half of the year, start filming in the summer, and have the drama premiere in early 2010.

Source: http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LS2D&mid=sec&sid1=106&sid2=221&oid=020&aid=0002024347