Jang Geun Seok is going on a tour… in Asia!

To the lucky fans in Asia, Mother Superior has finally answered your prayers! Actor / singer Jang Geun Seok will be touring throughout Asia from March until May to promote You’re Beautiful. Since his latest drama, Jang Geun Seok has escalated to fame at an alarming rate. He was even awarded the “Netizens Highest Popularity Award” at the 2009 SBS Drama Awards, attesting to his growing popularity in Korea.

However, You’re Beautiful has been enjoyed not only in Korea, but online and overseas as well, being broadcasted in 17 different countries.Despite the stiff competition it faced from KBS drama IRIS, You’re Beautiful managed to consistently receive high ratings and maintain a large fanbase.

With such an impressive popularity outside of Korea, it is only fitting that Jang Geun Seok travels to the appropriate countries and promotes the drama even further. As a result, he is scheduled to hold fan meetings in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

One of his representatives stated, “At the end of this month, Jang Geun Seok will be holding a fan meeting in Korea. Due to overwhelming requests from international fans, he will also be holding fan meetings in Thailand and the Philippines sometime this year as well. After completing the Asian tour, he plans find his next acting project and get back to work as soon as possible. Thank you for your constant love and support for Jang Geun Seok.”

His fan meeting in Korea is slated for the 31st at Seoul’s Olympic Hall.

Will Jang Geun Seok be coming to a country near you? Let us know!

credit: allkpop

Celebrities that took 2009 by surprise

2009 yielded many surprises for the entertainment industry - some good, some bad. While there was an unfortunate series of events that plagued Korea throughout the year, a few chosen ones experienced an explosive popularity that prompted the big question, 'Where have you been hiding?'

The IS Entertainment team created a shortlist of Korean celebrities who could be classified as an unexpected sensation this year. Here are their biggest surprise celebs of 2009.



Characterized as "beastly idols," 2PM was unveiled to the public for the first time in 2008 through the Mnet reality program Hot Blood, which documented the rigorous training that JYP trainees undergo. After undergoing a process of elimination, the 7-member idol group was finally formed; they debuted with their first single 10 Points Out of 10 Points. Despite their acrobatic choreography, catchy beats and ridiculously adorable butt dance (which, in my opinion, should have exceeded the popularity of Kara's), they did not manage to receive large-scale recognition. However, 2PM rose to stardom when they returned to the music scene with chart-topping tracks like Again and Again and I Hate You during mid-2009. Although Jaebeom's MySpace controversy and eventual departure from 2PM created huge bumps in the road for the group, it became an opportunity for both Korean and international fans to unite and demonstrate their support for 2PM with seven members through flash mobs, petitions and charity donations. Recently, 2PM made a comeback as 6 members, sporting a manlier and more mature concept with Heartbeat, which has been snagging awards left and right.



One of the biggest surprises of this year was Kim Yoo Jin, otherwise known as UEE of After School. She joined the girl group in late 2009, but was not well-received by Korea at first. Because of her long and toned legs, UEE was the center of the 'honey thighs' syndrome that took the nation by storm. Only four weeks after her debut, UEE was chosen as the advertisement model for a cellphone company, clothing line, and soju brand. Within five weeks, she landed roles in MBC's Queen Seon Duk and SBS's You're Beautiful as an actress. Who would have thought this Sohee/Moon Geun Young look-a-like that first appeared on television as Wonder Girls rapper Yoobin's friend would have risen to fame this easily and this fast? Although some of you may still not be very fond of this long-legged beauty, there's no denying the fact that UEE has made notable achievements during this year alone - as a beginner in the music/show biz, no less - that grants her bragging rights for the rest of her life. Whether you believe it or not, UEE has contributed to After School's rise in popularity - so much so, that the group's comeback song should have been named after her: Because of U-EE.



Kara's Goo Hara was selected by the IS Entertainment team as the celebrity that took them by surprise the most. Although the ISE team predicted the success of Kara in 2009, they originally predicted that Han Seungyeon would become the group's mascot. Although Han Seungyeon's popularity hasn't been too shabby, Goo Hara's doll-like appearance and clumsiness appealed to the male population more. As a current regular of KBS 2TV 'Invincible Youth,' Goo Hara continues to reveal her adorable antics to the public.

Aside from K-pop idols, Yoon Sang Hyun made his breakthrough into a new scene as an actor this year. Although he made his acting debut in 2005, he rose to fame only recently playing the role of Tae Bong in popular MBC drama My Wife is Superwoman, wherein he also revealed his singing abilities. Furthermore, Yoon Sang Hyun won the hearts of many drama lovers with his playful and outgoing role in KBS 2TV's Take Care of Lady as the male lead character.

Additionally, Kim Bum and Kim Joon of KBS 2TV's Boys Over Flowers and Jokwon of 2AM received honorable mentions on the shortlist as the celebs who exceeded the public's expectations and surprised us all.

[ news ] Jang Geun Suk nominated for three awards -- oh boy!

Jang Geun-seok has been in the hit drama, "You're Beautiful" and has been receiving a wave of interests from fans!

He has been more popular in China and Japan than Korea.

Thus, he is nominated for 3 awards for the SBS Acting Awards! The categories for which he has been nominated are the acting, popularity, and couple awards!

The entertainment company he is in say that this is a very memorable event and a very meaningful thing that happened. They are glad that he is being praised for his hard work.

Source: hancinema

Favorite Albums of 2009: Writers’ Picks

2009 is coming to a close, and some of us writers of the allkpop team have put together a list of our favorite albums of the year. It's clear that 2009 has been a great year for Korean music and we wanted to share our top picks with you. Take a step back to reflect on these albums with us, even if you've never really given some of these artists a listen before. It never hurts to try something new, unless we're talking about drugs... Well anyway, without further ado, I present you with our favorite albums of 2009:

lilchoiboy18: "For Muzik" by 4minute

Although it was only a mini album, For Muzik totally blew me away. I had jumped on the 4minute-is-going-to-tank bandwagon after Hot Issue (and HyunA's incredibly squirrelly voice), but Muzik, What a Girl Wants and all of the other tracks on the album blew me away. After considering these tracks along with their stellar performances (including a VERY cute Gayoon for the What a Girl Wants promotions), I've decided that this is by far my album of the year. (purchase?)


maestro-J: "Feel gHood Muzik: the 8th Wonder Album" by Drunken Tiger

I wasn't a hardcore fan, but the best album of 2009 has got to be Drunken Tiger's "Feel gHood Muzik: the 8th Wonder Album." He released like a million songs in a two-disc package. My top favorites are True Romance and Monster. I loved the Korean version of Monster but damn, the English version is fantastic as well - that song just hypes me up. (purchase?)


jeshicaa: "1:59PM" by 2PM

May I speak as a representative of the fangirls out there? 2009 would be incomplete without 2PM. Seriously. From their hit comeback song Again & Again to the Jaebeom controversy, 2PM was making the headlines whether it was for the good or for the bad. Nevertheless, JYP definitely did not disappoint me with this amazing album full of new and innovative beats, and the funky groovy feel only found in JYPE's music. My favorites from this album are I Was Crazy for You and Tired of Waiting. Oh, and need I mention Heartbeat? Let's just say these boys were the highlight of 2009. (purchase?)


rameninmybowl: "Heartbreaker" by G-Dragon

What can I say more to this masterpiece? The blonde boy definitely lived up to his expectations of being the best, as indicated by his MAMA 2009 Best Album of the Year Award. Although I was initially unimpressed with this album, G-Dragon's super-infectious tracks definitely turned me into his biggest fan - and yes, I'm a guy. Despite the countless issues he went through due to plagiarism scandals and censorship issues, the album was still filled with G-Dragon's unique style, something that the k-pop industry hasn't had for years. My personal favorite has got to be The Leaders. The ingenious lyrics and catchy tune made me suffer the song-stuck-in-my-head syndrome for at least a month! (purchase?)


shockimpulse: "2NE1 Mini Album" by 2NE1

Although I never really got into Fire, the rest of the songs on 2NE1's mini-album sound very mature. Stay Together and In The Club especially are amazing songs that are under-appreciated. They give off a sad, mellow and mature vibe with a hint of American influence. And 2NE1's songs are unique from most other girl groups because they don't fit the stereotypical "one rapper + bridge/chorus singers" concept. All of the girls share the bridge and chorus, and the rapper actually gets more face time. A lot of the girl/boy idol groups are good but that conventional system a bit too repetitive; 2NE1 definitely mixed things up. (purchase?)


lawlietta: "[e]" by Epik High

I don't know how they did it, but Epik High created a monstrosity of thirty excellent tracks for [e]. To be honest, I usually go through an album once or twice, then select a few favorites to obsess over - yet I fell in love with every song on this tracklist. Although [e] retains the sick beats and powerful messages that Epik High is known for, the album is quite refreshing, especially in comparison to the upbeat dance tracks common on the music scene these days. I really don't want to pick a list-topper, but I'd have to pick Wannabe as my favorite because it gets a +10 for its epic music video. Brownie points for the awesome mini book as well! (purchase?)


Parkmeister: "Feel gHood Muzik: the 8th Wonder Album" by Drunken Tiger

I can't seem to choose between Drunken Tiger's Feel gHood Muzik and Leessang's Hexagonalpurchase?)


heartfacee: "Muzik" by 4minute

I did not see much coming from this group, but their album definitely exceeded my expectations. When I first heard What A Girl Wants, I could not stop playing it on repeat. Muzik has the highest play counts on my iPod. Later on, I got introduced to I Won't Give and it instantly became another favorite. Though Funny sounds a lot like Britney Spears' tracks and there's an excessive amount of auto-tune in general, I still loved this album. (purchase?)


mashimello: "Heartbreaker" by G-Dragon

G-Dragon's solo album is totally innovative and he's not scared to break the boundaries of K-pop to come out with some sick tracks! I can also tell that his heart and soul went into this album as he wrote most of the songs. I honestly think that GD's album would easily break into the American music industry with the similar yet creative beats. (purchase?)


kimchisteve: "Jang Gi Ha and the Faces - Vol. 1" by Jang Gi Ha & Faces

Jang Gi Ha & Faces got more attention when Infinity Challenge did parodies of their songs - after watching that episode, I searched up this band up right away, and got their 1st album which is the best. Jang Gi Ha might not be the best singer nor have the best looks, but he can sure make great songs. Cheap Coffee, The Moon is Rising, Let's Go and Why That Guy were the most unique songs that I've ever heard. This album also sold more than 20,000 albums, which is an accomplishment for any musician. I love this band, and you should definitely check them out too! (purchase?)


Hogwood: "Absolute First Album" by T-ara

After a year of releasing a string of great singles, T-ara really outdid themselves with their first full length album. It not only compiled all their previous hits, but also brought equally excellent new songs into one complete and cohesive package. One of the most important albums of all time. (purchase?)


alikstae: "Cross & Change / "Double Date" Repackaged" by F.T. Island

It's good to know that, aside from the surge of electronic dance pop in the kpop scene, Korea has its fair share of quality acoustic pop music. Unlike their previous lead singles, the F.T. Island guys kicked off promotions using the addictive high energy track I Hope. Surprisingly, the album's fast paced numbers aren't too far off from the pop/rock being released here in the States. The album is well-rounded with all sorts of stuff to cry and jump around about. You all should definitely buy the "Double Date" re-release of this album if you haven't already. (purchase?)


misstinax3: "Vol. 1: Be Mate" by Mate

Oh, mainstream scene... you treat me well--and I love you--but once in a while, I just need to get away. In an industry dominated by idol stars, it's easy to overlook (or just be plain unaware of) indie rock artists. How does one describe the magic that is Mate? This band presents a perfect balance of instrumentals and strong vocals. Tracks like Fly To The Sky (하 늘을 날아)It's Alright offer a captivating rock-ballad vibe that will leave you wondering why you never paid more attention to this astounding trio. My favorite track, Fly To The Sky (하늘을 날아), is a comforting listen that never fails to wow me. Be Mate is honest, convincing, genuine and stellar through and through. A winner, plain and simple. (purchase?)


delacroix: "3rd Demo" by Broccoli, You Too

This is the latest by Broccoli, You Too, the most promising band out of Korean indie scene. Although the album carries only two new songs (the rest are re-recordings), it is still a great gift for the fans who have been awaiting updates from this impressive band. I would describe their music style as a pink flower drawn on beige background - quiet and calming without feeling sorrowful or dragged-out. It is hard to find music like this these days - fun without the use of synthesizer, autotune or computer-generated drum beats, something that's quite rare. Falling in love with this band will be somewhat painful, as it is impossible to buy this band's albums since they always sell out so quickly. (unavailable on YesAsia)


TheProdigy: "Supreme Team Guide To Excellent Adventure" by Supreme Team

Much to my delight, hip-hop duo Supreme Team stole the Best Male Rookie Award from the idol groups BEAST and MBLAQ at this year's MAMA Awards. Not to bash on idol groups, but it is no surprise that other genres in k-pop are overshadowed by the idols which really holds many youths, and even you readers, back from exploring other venues of music. I would like to see Korea break out of its current tendency of watching idol groups debut every month and instead develop a trend of the celebration of musical diversity. (purchase?)


Aaand that's our favorite albums list of 2009! Although this was a huge year for k-pop in Korea, the Hallyu wave has really taken off and stepped onto the global stage as well, especially in the United States. The music video for Se7en's Girls was playing on the TV screens at your nearest Footlocker store, BoA released a great album with big-name producer/singer Sean GarrettWonder Girls took the US by storm and showed what K-pop was all about with their English version of "Nobody" which brought them a tour with the Jonas Brothers and a spot on the Billboard charts.

Here's to the Hallyu movement, a great 2009 and hopefully, an even better 2010! efffff. I'll just go with Drunken Tiger: Feel gHood Muzik. This album totally exceeded my expectations of Tiger JK; his collaborations with the other artists were amazing! All the tracks gave off a fresh, hip hop vibe. I have been and will always be DIGGIN IT! ( and supported. The

credit: allkpop

2009 K-pop bloopers!

It's that time of the year again, where we get to laugh at all of the hilarious bloopers made by our favorite K-pop idols!

Compiling videos this year was rather easy for us because KpopFun has already made a great compilation of k-pop bloopers throughout the year. There seems to be more parts on the way as well, so we will update when they are released.

With that said, we love the Goo Hara blooper, but I believe that clip is from 2008, as well a few others. Aside from that, Taecyeon's blooper was hilarious, as we all know he was trying to be soooo smooth - enjoy!

credit: allkpop

2008 K-Pop Bloopers!

2008 was an interesting year for K-Pop. New groups (who just kind of disappeared), US debuts, comebacks, rivalries and the unfortunate suicides. But New Years Eve is a time for everyone to laugh, get drunk, get stupid and enjoy themselves. And what better way than by laughing at your favorite stars? Here's our little wrap up on some of the best 2008 K-Pop bloopers to keep you laughing till the new year. Oh, and feel free to add onto the list, we need all the laughs we can get!

5. Wonder Girls are not so hot
The problem isn't lip syncing, it's the dumbass sound engineers who thought it would be funny to play the instrumental version of the song and leave the poor girls hanging. Another classic K-Pop moment of FAIL.


4. 2PM likes it in the ass (@3:00)
The 2PM guys are cool. Unfortunately the ass flop at the end isn't, they don't receive the 10 out of 10 they were hoping for.


3. Meet SHINee's leader Jong Hyun
Jong Hyun has a complete brain fart as he starts to introduce himself as the leader of the group. Funny thing is, I would've completely believed it, as he carries the vocals in this rookie boy band. Onew who?


2. KARA's Koo Hara let's one rip (@3:14)
Not only does Koo Hara screw up her dance steps, she let's out a cute little moan with her mouth hanging wide open. The best part though, is that she goes straight into a march even after all of that - Classic! And although reports stated that someone stepped on Koo Hara's shoes and that Nicole let out the moan, I object. Let Koo Hara have her moment!


1. TVXQ and SHINee do a little Déjà vu
This is hilarious on so many different levels. Both groups make the same exact mistake. Was it faked? Forced by SM? Or was it purely an innocent mistake? Regardless, these two videos had the allkpop staff hitting repeat for many hours, and I'm sure you will too.





HONORABLE MENTION: SHINee's Jong Hyun busts his ass (@0:24)
To add insult to injury, he sang that part perfectly. Meaning, he's lip syncing.



Well folks, 2008 has come to an end and it seems like 2009 will be even better, especially with the return of Girls' Generation. And with that, I leave you all with a special 2008 K-Pop mash up, created just for you lovable allkpopers, by the extremely talented: Masa - make sure to visit Masa's site if you want the mp3 version. Have a Happy New Years all!

credit: allkpop

Jang Geun Suk: The Original Goo Joon Pyo?

On the latest episode of KBS Shin Dong-yup and Shin Bong-sun's Champagne, it was revealed that Jang Geun Suk turned down an offer to play the rich meanie Goo Joon Pyo in the hit drama series Boys Over Flowers!

Jang Geun Suk explained that, as he was looking at potential projects, the two dramas that really caught his eye were Beethoven Virus and Boys Over Flowers. He wanted to do both but felt that Beethoven Virus had more to offer as a learning experience since many senior actors would be appearing on the show. With that in mind, he got a role in Beethoven Virus, and the role of Goo Joon Pyo eventually went to Lee Minho.

Jang Geun Suk seems to have no regrets, and said that Lee Minho portrayed the character well and that, if Jang Geun Suk had taken on the role, it might not have been as good. Perhaps Jang saw the success of Boys Over Flowers and decided to make it up by starring in You're Beautiful, another show with a large teen fan base.

Do you think Jang Geun Suk would have made a better Goo Joon Pyo? Or was Lee Minho the best choice? Conversation starts at 8:20.

credit: allkpop