"The Sun and the Moon" breaks its ratings record again

MBC drama "The Sun and the Moon" is headed right for a 40% share of viewers.

According to AGB Nielsen Media Research on February 3rd, the latest episode of "The Sun and the Moon" rated 37.1%.

This is 2.6% higher than the previous episode on February 1st and is currently its best numbers yet.

The drama put up numbers as high as 18% from the first episode, broke through 20% by the second and then 30% by the fifth. If this rate continues then it will be soon enough that the drama breaks through 40%.

The last drama that recorded a national viewing percentage of over 40% was the 2010 KBS 2TV drama "Bread, Love and Dreams". Prior to that was MBC's "Queen Sundeok" in 2009.

SBS drama "Take Care of Us, Captain" rated 7.5% and KBS 2TV's "Wild Romance" rated 4.5%.

On "The Sun and the Moon" Lee Hwon (Kim Soo-hyeon-I) realized that Wol's (Han Ga-in) handwriting was the same as Yeon-woo's.

Source : news.nate.com/view/20... ( Korean )

Credit to hancinema.net

CN Blue becomes first K-pop band to perform on MTV Japan's 'Unplugged'

CN Blue has become the first Korean band to appear on MTV Japan's acoustic live-performance program "Unplugged". The band's agency, FNC Music, announced on Wednesday that CN Blue recorded the episode in front of a live audience in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The band sang a total of 12 songs including "Where You Are", which was released in Japan on Tuesday, as well as previous hits "Let's Go Crazy", "Try Again, Smile Again" and "Kimio".

The MTV program is taped in front of a small crowd and prohibits the use of synthesizers in favor of acoustic instruments. CN Blue's performance was attended by just 150 audience members despite some 15,000 fans having applied for tickets.

"We were surprised at how many people wanted to attend the event. We gave it our best to make it the best performance for the fans", the band said after the taping. The program will air in Japan on Feb. 25.

CN Blue made its debut in Japan last year with an album release.

Source : koreajoongangdaily.jo... ( English Korean )

Kim Hyun-joong Sweeps Japanese Charts

Singer Kim Hyun-joong is enjoying huge popularity in Japan since his solo debut there. He had already gained a steady fan base there with boy band SS501 and his part in the hit drama "Boys over Flowers".

Having released his Japanese debut single titled "KISS KISS/Lucky Guy" on Jan. 25, Kim held on to the second place on the Oricon weekly charts by selling over 100,000 copies in the first week. He is being bombarded with requests for appearances on major music programs on NHK, TV Asahi and Fuji TV.

Kim will meet over 20,000 fans to celebrate the release of the album in Yokohama Arena on Sunday.

Source : english.chosun.com/si... ( English Korean )

Soo Ae "Relationship with Jeong Tae-won? Will take legal measures"

Actress Soo Ae's management company revealed their course of action regarding the scandal with chairman Jeong Tae-won of Tae Won Entertainment.

Chairman Jeong Yeong-beom from Star J Entertainment, which Soo Ae is in, told Star News on February 2nd, "The report that said Soo Ae and Jeong Tae-won are in a relationship isn't true. We will take legal measures regarding this".

Chairman Jeong said, "The two have been close since she starred in his drama and they have dinners with other members of the cast or drink wine together very often. We are going to take legal measures given that their picture was taken and used maliciously".

Soo Ae met chairman Jeong Tae-won in 2010 through the drama "ATHENA".

Source : news.nate.com/view/20... ( Korean )

Credit to hancinema.net

Yoo Seung-ho gets his physical check up for national military service

Actor Yoo Seung-ho talked about his experience going through the physical examination for national military service.

At the press preview for the TV Chosun drama "The Proposal" on the 31st of January, Yoo Seung-ho said, "I thought something would change when I became twenty. But it's just the same. I thought I would be happy but there's nothing that much different".

He continued, "When it comes to acting, now that I am a grown-up I feel scared that I have to take responsibility and do things on my own".

About the physical examination he said, "It was something new. I have to go away for my national service but I will tell you the details later".

Meanwhile, "The Proposal" is based on a popular Japanese drama from 2007 and is a fantasy melodrama about time travel. It will be aired for the first time on February 8th at 8:50PM.

Source : news.nate.com/view/20... ( Korean )

Credit to hancinema.net

Shin Hyeon-joon is a bride's brother

Actor Shin Hyeon-joon is set to make an appearance on the KBS action drama "Doll Mask".

A representative from the program confirmed yesterday that Shin will guest star as the brother of protagonist Kangto, played by Joo Won, on the show.

"Shin will play Kangsan, who plays a significant role in influencing Kangto as he turns from his pro-Japanese ways into a patriotic superhero", the representative said.

Shin said he is excited about the guest spot. "As a fan of the original comic, I want to do the best job that I can", he said.

The actor also said that he was thrilled to be working with Joo, of whom Shin said he is a fan.

This will be Shin's first appearance in a drama in three years. His last was SBS's "Cain and Abel" in 2009.

"Doll Mask", set to air in May, is based on the comic by famed cartoonist Heo Yeong-man.

The drama is set against the backdrop of Japan's colonial rule of Korea and is based on a heroic figure who wears a kaksital, the mask of the bride character in traditional mask dance dramas, as he seeks justice.

Source : koreajoongangdaily.jo... ( English Korean )

Epani's boyfriend proposes in front of packed audience

Entertainer Epani was in for a surprise when the lights went out during a curtain call for the musical "Let's Go to the Rose Inn" on Jan. 31. The model-turned-singer was bowing to the crowd at Venus Hall in central Seoul when the lights went dark and the romantic song "What a Relief" started playing as the star's boyfriend appeared on stage.

"As a bee is drawn to honey, I am naturally drawn to you. I promise to love you and then love you some more", musical actor Seo Sung-min said as he got down on one knee.

Seo presented his lover with a three-carat diamond ring thought to be worth around 350 million won ($310,700). The crowd went wild as Epani accepted the public proposal and treated the fans to a passionate kiss.

"No date has been set for the big day, but I can tell you that she was ecstatic about the proposal", a representative from Epani's agency told My Daily on Feb. 1.

Entertainment news Web sites have since speculated that the wedding will take place in March. The couple seems to be wasting little time on romantic niceties, as the engagement comes just one month after they publically confirmed their relationship.

On Dec. 23, Epani's agency said the star had been seeing Seo for the past five months. The couple met in August when they took part in the celebrity drag-racing event "R Stars". One month after becoming acquainted, the two officially started dating.

Epani rose to fame in 2006 after winning a model search contest run by Playboy Korea. The starlet was previously married and has a six-year-old son.

By Carla Sunwoo [carlasunwoo@joongang.co.kr]

Source : koreajoongangdaily.jo... ( English Korean )