'Female Big Bang' About to Be Revealed

A new girl group groomed by YG Entertainment, one of Korea's biggest entertainment agencies, will reveal themselves in a commercial where they appear alongside the idol boy band Big Bang.

Referred to as the "female version of Big Bang", the group consists of four members -- Sandara Park, a Korean who became a star in the Philippines show business; Park Bom, who appeared in a commercial with singer Lee Hyo-lee; Kong Min-ji, a granddaughter of legendary traditional Korean dancer Kong Ok-jin; and rapper CL, who is fluent in four languages.

The commercial featuring the group is scheduled to go on air on Saturday, and before that on Friday, the new group's digital single "Lollipop" will be released. The commercial is also part of an ad series for LG Cyon's Lollipop mobile phone, created in music video format. The whole series will be completed by early April.

YG said, "G-Dragon, a member of Big Bang who also writes, composes and produces songs for his group, is producing the girl Big Bang's album. Although they will appear in a commercial first, they will officially debut in May. Since they have prepared for their debut for as many as four years, they will be able to show all the best they have".

Source: english.kbs.co.kr

Rain Faces Provisional Seizure of Property

A building in Southern Seoul, in Cheongdam-dong; (as seen above) owned by K-pop star Rain may be provisionally banned from being disposed of following his loss in a compensation lawsuit in the United States over a concert cancellation.

But Rain's agency, JTune Entertainment, said that any provisional seizure of the building would be impossible according to domestic law.

Last Thursday, a federal court in Hawaii ordered the 26-year-old star and his then-agency, JYP Entertainment, to pay more than $8 million (11 billion won) in compensation to Honolulu-based promoter Click Entertainment. They also have to pay lawyers' fees for Click, with the total compensation reaching $9 million (12 billion won).

The concert, part of his world tour "Rain's Coming", was canceled several days before its scheduled date in June 2007. Click President Lee Seung-su testified that he lost about $1.5 million and suffered damage to his reputation and business due to the cancellation.

After the verdict, Lee said Monday that he will take a step to provisionally seize Rain's and JYP's property, including Rain's building in Cheongdam-dong, which he purchased last year. The price of the building is estimated at over 15 billion won. Lee said he would also seek authorization to attach all earnings that Rain has made with the William Morris Agency, an entertainment company with which Rain signed a contract last year for his U.S. activities.

JTune and Click, however, have different opinions about whether the latter can seize the building.

JTune said Tuesday that even if Click starts a provisional seizure process, the seizure is impossible.

"The seizure of JYT's real estate in the U.S. and here may be possible, but the request to attach Rain's Korean property is impossible according to Korean law. Click may be able to seize Rain's earnings through William Morris", an official of the company said.

Meanwhile, Click said a "provisional" seizure was possible while actual seizure was impossible, saying a Korean court would likely allow the former if the company submits the U.S. court's ruling as evidence.

In the ruling, the federal court ordered Rain and JYP to pay $2.4 million each in punitive damages, $1 million for damages related to fraud and $2.2 million for breach of contract.

Rain's lawyer said they cancelled the concert because a proper stage was not ready and Rain could not use his name in the U.S. due to a copyright challenge from a Beatles tribute band named Rain. The star also testified that he had every intention to perform and he had no hand in the cancellation.

JTune said it is preparing an appeal. It is said that Rain and JYP spent more than 500 million won in fees for five lawyers.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

U.S. Court Orders 'Rain' to Pay $8 Million

A court in the United States has ordered Korean entertainer Rain to pay more than US$8 million for cancelling a scheduled concert in Honolulu in 2007.

A federal jury in Hawaii said the 26-year-old and his agency should pay Click Entertainment, the Hawaiian promoter, compensation including punitive damages of nearly $5 million.

However, Rain and JYP Entertainment say they fulfilled their obligations for the concert and Click's contract was with another promotion company called Revolution Entertainment, which then owned the North American rights to Rain's concerts.

Source: arirang.co.kr

So Ji-sub more popular than the pretty boys?

Although Lee Min-ho, Kim Beom and Kim Hyeong-jeong's popularity is higher than ever, the popularity of So Ji-sub beats it!

So Ji-sub had narrated the film, "Gift" and in the survey that went along with this film, the fans have chosen So as a man to be in their dreams where they would give a gift to over the actors from "Boys Ovr Flowers".

The film, "Gift" will be released on the 26th of March and is anticipated greatly.

Source: www.cyworld.com

U.S. Acts Quickly to Grab the Rights of Another Korean Comedy

Kang Hyeong-cheol's "Scandal Makers" ("Speedy Scandal") barely three months after its Korean release is set to be remade in the U.S. The William Morris Talent Agency, one of the biggest above the line talent agencies in the U.S snapped the film up after seeing a screener. The Agency represents and has represented some of the biggest in Hollywood including actors Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Richard Gere and directors Quentin Tarantino Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood. Barry Sonenfeld director of Men in Black, TV drama Pushing up Daisies and producer of many other U.S TV dramas is set to direct and produce.

The Korean release stars Cha Tae-hyeon, who also appeared in "My Sassy Girl" (2001), another major comedy to be bought up by the U.S. Cha plays a popular radio host in his thirties who used to be a star in his teens. One of his young female listeners turns up on the scene claiming to be his daughter and her son - his grandson.

In Korea, "Scandal Makers" ("Speedy Scandal") overturned "200 Pounds of Beauty" as the biggest selling comedy in Korean history with 8.2 admissions. Despite its box office pull in Korea, it remains to be seen how Hollywood can rework it into U.S cinema gold as was not the case with the remake of "My Sassy Girl".

Source: www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Rain looks stunning even for court!

Korean star, Rain also known as Jeong Ji-hoon has been in Hawaii for court! He has been sued for his cancellation of a concert. However, even to court, Rain looks stunning in the black suit and sunglasses!

Source: www.cyworld.com

Rain Questioned Over Cancelled Hawaii Concert

South Korean pop star Rain appeared at a federal court in Hawaii Monday to testify on his abruptly cancelled concert there in 2007, which cost a Honolulu-based concert agency $1.5 million.

His appearance in the courtroom was made on the last day of the hearing, which began March 10, according to AP and other international media.

Rain ㅡ whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon ㅡ testified he had every intention of performing in Hawaii and other U.S. states but a series of abrupt concert cancellations were out of his control.

"I was not the person that canceled the concerts", Rain was quoted as saying. "I would love to perform in North America. The cancellation was regrettable".

He was poised, polite and seemed at ease as he answered questions for about 90 minutes in Korean through a court interpreter, it reported.

The 27-year-old singer and his producers are being sued over the abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hawaii-based Click Entertainment Inc. alleges in the suit that Rain and his producers defrauded it of more than $500,000 paid in licensing fees. It's also seeking additional damages for the cost of staging the event, including the rental of Aloha Stadium, stage production, travel, hotel accommodations, merchandising and advertising.

The company also claims it has sustained losses of valuable business opportunities, earnings and income in amounts to be proven during the trial. In addition, the company has suffered serious and lasting harm to its business goodwill and professional reputation, the lawsuit said.

But the allegation was refuted by an official at JYP, a South Korean entertainment agency backing the singer and producers, during a separate session.

Byun Sang-bong, JYP's vice president and chief financial officer, blamed the cancellation and other problems on promotion company Star M. Byun said a legal copyright challenge in Nevada over the name "Rain" was another issue the company faced at the time.

Even though Rain's trip to Hawaii this time was motivated by an undesirable situation, it allowed Korean fans and his staff to be confident that the Korean entertainer has a substantial fan base, needed to succeed in the United States, the world's largest entertainment market.

Local media reported Rain was greeted by hundreds of cheering fans upon arrival at Honolulu International Airport and bombarded with flowers, gift baskets, and fans who just wanted to touch him.
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South Korean pop star and actor Rain, 26, flashes a Hawaiian "shaka" sign as he arrives at federal court on Monday, Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, and his producers are being sued over the performer's abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr / Park Si-soo, Staff Reporter