[ 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

Mir’s Heartfelt Story About His Father

On December 20th, Mir (MBLAQ) shared a very heartfelt and powerful story about his father on his minihompy.

"When I was a sophomore in middle school, my father suddenly quit both smoking and drinking.
Our family was shocked that my father
who began smoking and drinking in middle school quit so suddenly.
I was curious, so I asked him why he quit.
He replied, "I'm old now, so I have to think about my body.."
I did not think much of it and just left it at that.
Then, it was the morning of my field trip in the Autumn semester.
Since morning, I begged my dad for some allowance,
but my dad strangely said that I didn't need any money for a field trip
and packed my fruits and food at home.
At that young, immature age, I was so embarrassed of my father.
That day, my friend came to pick me up,
and he kept bragging that his father gave him a lot of allowance,
so I persistently begged my father for allowance.
However my father never gave me the allowance and kept
packing food in my bag.
I was so embarrassed in front of my friends that I angrily said I didn't need it
and left. Right when I was about to leave, my father took out 5000 won (app. $5) from his pocket and said,
"I couldn't go to Nonghyup (name of a bank) so I couldn't withdraw any money...Have this, at least.."
I thought the allowance was too small, so
I got angry again and didn't take the money and just left the house.
I was so furious that I called my mother and complained.
My mother who was silently listening carefully told me, "Your father's guarantee failed,
so our household is very in a difficult situation..He couldn't even withdraw 100won from Nonghyup,
so he had to borrow money to send you to school."
Only then, I realized the real reason why my dad quit drinking and smoking, why he was not working these days.
Even though I was on a field trip, I ended up crying the entire day.
That was my first as well as my last rebellious childhood.

-----------------------------------------------------------

My father is a very stubborn father.
He always bluntly called me "Ya" "Chul Yong Ah" and "Bang Chul Yong". I probably heard "What do you want to do when you grow up?" the most.
I heard those words throughout school, but they were very stressful to me. On the day I truly became a singer, October 15th, 2009, after the debut stage, I called my father.
"Dad, did you see the debut stage?" I asked, and my father said,
"Yes..We're so proud of our son."
It was the first time he had called me "son", and the first time he told me he was proud of me.
Whenever I am struggling, those words still gives me so much strength
I didn't know it when I was with my father while attending school, but now I miss my father so much."

Wow. What a powerful story.
I think it is time for all of us, sons and daughters of fathers everywhere, to take a few minutes off the internet, and thank our fathers.
I hope Mir will continue to make his father proud!

Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa are the MC’s for SBS Gayo Daejun

You're Beautiful couple Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa have been announced as the main MC's for the 2009 SBS Gayo Daejun.

Jang Geun Suk led the Melon Music Awards with Park Shin Hye so I guess it's Jung Yong Hwa's turn this time. The award ceremony is being held on the 29th, which is coming up soon so get ready! Jung Yong Hwa is definitely getting a taste of his fame.

An amazing line up, and the hottest MC's, what could go wrong? I'm sure no one is boycotting this one.

A.N.JELL to reunite for live performance

A.N.JELL will be reuniting once more for a live performance at the SBS 'Drama Awards.'

Although they are not a real band, they have garnered in a huge fanbase through the hit drama, 'You're Beautiful,' and they will be representing this drama with the performance.

Their performance will be 100% live, and it will be in celebration for the whole awards ceremony.

As well as the A.N.JELL performance by Jang Geun Suk, Park Shin Hye, Jung Yong Hwa, and Lee Hong Ki, representatives from the dramas 'Dream' and 'Style' will also get together for a special performance. More specifically, singer-turned-actress Son Dambi from 'Dream' and actor/dancer Lee Yong Woo from 'Style' will perform a hip-hop/jazz/sexy dance number as a couple.

Also, actress Lee Min Jung from 'Smile, You' will be getting together with singer Lee Seung Hwan to perform his song 'Sarang-Ha-Na-Yo' (사랑하나요). Lee Seung Gi will also be representing SBS' hit drama 'Shining Inheritance,' and he will perform the drama's OST 'The Person Living Inside My Heart.'

This award ceremony will go live on December 31st!

credit: allkpop

Jang Geun Suk’s mom wants Park Shin Hye

Jang Geun Suk got to play Ideal Type World Cup on Champagne and even though we don't know the final winner, we have some ideal types out!

Jang Geun Suk said, "When I was filming for Hwang Jin Yi, I had just broken up with my girlfriend and I was coping through a hard time. As I filmed, I got so into my character that I kind of fell for Ha Ji Won. Not only that, when I had kiss scenes with Sung Yuri in Hong Gil Dong, I blushed and got nervous."

Ironically the two actresses showed up in the game and made it harder for Jang Geun Suk.

Not only that, he talked about his co-star from You're Beautiful, Park Shin Hye. He said, "We live in the same neighborhood. My mother really likes her. She even went to a psychic for a couple match between Park Shin Hye and me. They said we go together really well. Because of that, she asked me to invite Park Shin Hye over to our house."

To see the results from his Ideal Type World Cup, stay tuned because I'll be watching out for it also.

credit: allkpop

Jang Geun Suk doesn’t have women lining up for his heart

Star of You're Beautiful Jang Geuk Suk was interviewed by Entertainment Relay and was asked about his love life.

The news portal asked him, "Have you ever had someone confess their love for you?" When I first heard this, I thought it was kind of ridiculous. How could anyone not have a crush on a popular and good-looking actor?

Instead, Jang Geun Suk gave a shocking confession, responding, "No female stars have." He quickly changed his answer and said, "There has been one! There has!" Wow! One person, seriously?

He seemed quite excited to admit that. It almost looked like he was surprised by the fact that he had been hit on before.

He continued, "It happened when I was drinking tea. She said, 'I think I'd be a good match for you.' But then she never called me after that."

Jang Geun Suk also made it clear that he was a lot like his character on You're Beautiful, stating, "I am a bad boy. I feel like I'd have no charm if I were nice to my girlfriend all the time. If I get a girlfriend though, I think I'd do a good job."

To get back to his other confession, what has this world come to? So few people hit on Jang Geun Suk that he can't even remember?

Poor guy... at least half of the women in Korea probably want to date him now after You're Beautiful anyway, right?

credit: allkpop

You’re Beautiful gets 20 episode Director’s Cut DVD set

With Jang Geun Suk and Park Shin Hye penciled in as hosts for the upcoming Melon Music awards, there was more good news for fans of the drama, You're Beautiful as it was announced today that the Director's Cut DVD set will be released early next year!

Despite ending not too long ago, many fans are still talking about the drama as if it's still airing now, as they are unable to extract themselves from it.

It was announced by the Hong Sisters (Hong Mi Ran, Hong Jung Eun) that a Director's Cut DVD set will be launched soon with unreleased scenes to better address some parts of the storyline that had been edited away for broadcast on SBS.

So instead of 16 episodes, the DVD set (with english subtitles, not including BTS) will contain 20 episodes after adding in the unreleased scenes.

The Hong Sisters expressed, "There were too many scenes in the broadcast version revolving around Jang Geun Suk and Park Shin Hye's characters. Many of Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Hong Ki's scenes were edited out, including the background story of Jeremy's bus, plus many other touching stories. We felt that it would be a pity to let those scenes go to waste so we decided to add them to the DVD set."

The drama might have ended in Korea but it is still continuing to be a topic of interest with broadcast rights for it already acquired in Japan, Taiwan, etc. In addition, the production company has also been receiving lots of calls from others for a musical and movie adaptation. So get ready to save and splurge on that DVD set in January 2010.

For international fans, please visit this blog to order your copy.

Park Shin Hye & Jang Geun Suk to reunite as MCs for Melon Music Awards

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I bet You're Beautiful fans have been saddened by the recent conclusion of the popular drama, but it looks like we're going to see some of the stars together on stage again very soon! Lead couple Park Shin Hye and Jang Geun Suk are reuniting on December 16 to host the Melon Music Awards as MCs. Talk about exciting!

Melon is doing a really great job making the Melon Music Awards something exciting to look forward to. First there was the announcement about a joint stage between SNSD and Super Junior, and now this... what's next?

And for those of you who are still missing the cast from You're Beautiful, fear not. For one, Park Shin Hye will be in the spotlight quite a lot in the next month, as she is participating in SBS's Entertainment Daesang and Acting Daesang events on December 29th and 31st as well as filming for Love's Request on the 17th.

Who's excited for these two stars to be hosting Melon Music Awards? Stay tuned to allkpop when we bring the show straight to you on the 16th!

credit: allkpop

Introducing Ok-nyeo-shi-dae

What happened to 2PM beast Taecyeon?!

Pictures of him morphed into each member of SNSD surfaced the web recently and have netizens laughing non-stop.

The crazy thing about those pictures is that when I first took a glance, I thought it was a picture of the actual members! Maybe it's the power of Photoshop, but his face fits perfectly into each member... it's kind of freaky.

I guess a girl group could've been Taecyeon's second choice to joining 2PM because it sure suits him. Though many people have pointed out that Yuri one looks the most alike, I think he looks like Taeyeon or Seohyun the most.

Netizens have titled this "Ok nyeo shi dae," switching the 'so' of So Nyeo Shi Dae (Girls' Generation) to Ok, Taecyeon's last name.

This is especially funny because Taecyeon is widely known for his charismatic image on stage. I'm sure he'd crack up at this photo too.

credit: allkpop

UEE has lots of regrets

What's UEE charisma you might ask?

Many of her male fans would tell you that, "Although she has a pure innocent looking face, she has a sexy figure."

So despite having a round face, with a cute sister image, UEE has a slim sexy body figure.

With an enviable height of 1.70m and weighing 51kg, you would have thought that UEE would be proud of her figure. But she isn't really satisfied at all.

"I swam a lot when I was little, so I have pretty broad shoulders because of that. If I put on weight a little, I would look really enormous. So I would feel a little stressed since all my fellow members are all slim and beautiful."

Her nose is her strong and weak point while she is also displeased with her round face. "I have heard a lot of rumors that I did my nose. But I can assure you that it's 100% natural. But still, I am not a natural beauty because I did double eyelid surgery."



Even though she appears to be a carefree and outgoing woman in her soju CFs, she is nothing like that off the screen. For example, she might have downed soju in her CF but she didn't have a sip of soju at all during filming.

"And what's amazing is that from our CEO to our members, none of us can really drink. A bottle of soju is frankly enough to last us for 3 - 4 hours at a gathering. So compared to gatherings, I prefer going to amusement centers."

UEE also said that she has gone clubbing on just four occasions. "The first time I went was on January 1st when I just reached 20 years old. Adding that to the birthday parties of my university classmates, I have gone clubbing only four times."



And perhaps not surprising, UEE doesn't have a boyfriend now. Although she had one when she was a trainee at 19 years old, they later broke up as UEE was 100% focused on her training instead of him. "I had four boyfriends. The first was in junior high which lasted for a year. Thereafter, I dated 3 others but they all lasted less than a month. I am a very obstinate girl and don't really know how to act cute so I think they were all very disappointed after dating me. I still don't know what true love is now."



Even though UEE is the model for Samsung AnyCall cellphones, it was only recently that she had applied for a line. "After joining After School, my cellphone was taken from me. When I needed to converse with my parents, I had to borrow my manager's cellphone to do it. I then said to them, isn't it weird that a cellphone model can't use her own cellphone? My agency then later got me a Samsung AnyCall phone that I had endorsed after I had made that remark."

And so, UEE has only 26 numbers now, comprising of her family members, manager, coordinator, stylist, etc and her fellow After School members. She said, "I don't have any male artistes numbers stored in my cellphone. As for my make-believe husband, Park Jae Jung, his number is stored in my manager's cellphone. I don't really meet up with him or call him in private."

Wishing UEE all the best in finding a more fulfiling life.

credit: allkpop

How was 2009 for you? drama

How was 2009 for you?

2009 DRAMA VOTING!! [click]

credit: javabeans

You’re Beautiful sheet music

I had no idea this stuff was available, but someone asked me for help finding piano sheet music for songs from the soundtrack of You’re Beautiful. Lo and behold, there are several available so I thought I’d share:
[ Download sheet music | Mirror ]

The file contains music for the following songs:

• “Goodbye” by Jang Geun-seok
• “말도 없이” (Without Words), Park Shin-hye version
• “여전히” (Still), Lee Hong-ki version
• “Lovely Day” by Park Shin-hye
• “어떡하죠” (What Should I Do) by Park Da-yeh
• “바보를위한노래” (Song for a Fool) by Park Sang-woo

credit: javabeans

K-pop curse continues to plague Korea in November

The now-famous "kpop curse" started off very simply - in September, various male idols seemed to be getting the short end of the stick due to a series of unfortunate events - police entanglements, swine flu attacks, lawsuits and everything in between. But what started off as a dryly humorous sequence of downfalls turned into an eyebrow-raisingly (and yes, I just adverbified "eyebrow-raising") destitute chain of happenings in October, something more than a short slew of coincidences. Many readers were relieved when November 1 arrived, eager to start off the month with a clean slate. However, optimism quickly turned into despair as the kpop curse struck again. I've never been the overly-superstitious type, but seriously, when will this ever end?

[NOV 3] SHIN DONG YUP
The series of November downfalls kicked off with Shin Dong Yup, a well-known comedian now infamous for committing contractual fraud with De Chocolate E&TF, his management agency. Although the original exclusive contract gave Shin $1 million, he forged the amount to $2 million. Personally, I'm not exactly sure why Shin expected no one to pick up such a large number discrepancy...


[NOV 7] LEE SUK KYU
Although recent cases of illness (swine flu, enteritis) in Korea have been followed by reports of speedy recovery and relief, this was not the case for the son of actor Lee Kwang Ki. After battling numerous illnesses including swine flu, the seven-year-old lost a long battle to sepsis, a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by invasive bacteria. Two days later, Korea mourned with Lee Kwang Ki and his family during a heartwrenching broadcast of the funeral processions.


[NOV 15] LEE HYUK JAE
You'd think that everyone understood the don't-mess-with-the-fans rule after the Jaebeom incident broke out in September, but not everyone seems to have gotten the memo. Fangirls burned with rage this month when Lee Hyuk Jae inadvertently insulted idol group BattleBEAST. Although Lee apologized a few days later, his harsh/misconstrued remarks may have tarnished his reputation amongst some fans.


[NOV 19] DAUL KIM
Earlier this month, the suicide of international model Daul Kim shook the entire fashion world. Further investigations revealed that the reportedly depressed young woman decided to take her life due to the pressures of the highly-demanding fashion industry; others speculate that the suicide was the result of repeated abuses from her boyfriend. Various icons, including Big Bang's G-Dragon, have come out and given condolences for this untimely tragedy and unfortunate loss to the fashion world.


[NOV 21] MNET ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS
Mnet was placed in a sticky situation the moment MAMA 2009 was revealed to the world. Fans, reluctant to say goodbye to their beloved MKMF, were further disappointed when trot singers, SM Entertainment artists, Pledis Entertainment and even Mnet's very own Lee Hyori bowed out of the event, essentially leaving JYPE and YGE artists to take over the show. However, rumors of Jaebeom's return to 2PM & Korea on MAMA sparked a renewed interest in the upcoming event.

When the actual show finally took place last weekend, many fans were outraged by the arguably rigged results and possible favoritism toward YGE artists. Others shrugged off the outraged reaction, arguing that MAMA was the "MTV Awards" equivalent of Asia, and should therefore be taken lightly. Furthermore, the uncomfortable appearance of TVXQ's JaeChunSu trio to accept the Asia Representative Award coupled with SME's incensed reaction created even more buzz. With a large accumulation of headline-topping controversies, many accused Mnet of deliberately stirring up drama instead of being a credible and ethical award show.

On the bright side, many fans were delighted with the event itself, which was full of eye candy goodness, from 2NE1's (controversial) ten-minute musical stage to a (controversial) performance with Ivy and 2PM's Nichkhun. Unfortunately, the rumors of Jaebeom's return proved to be false, as the beloved leader (?) was nowhere to be found.


[NOV 22] PARK GEUN TAE'S BROTHER
Fresh after Daul Kim's suicide, the older brother of widely acclaimed composer Park Geun Tae was found dead on the 22nd. The young man had hanged himself, leading to speculations of an intentional suicide. Like Ms Kim, Mr Park was known to have suffered a long history of depression.


[NOV 22] DAVE KIM
Like brother, like brother - Epik High member Tablo isn't the only outspoken individual of his family unafraid of speaking his mind. The performer's older sibling Dave Kim publicly reprimanded Infinity Challenge for the cast's unacceptable and embarrassing behavior during a recent trip to New York. Although there is much truth in his opinion, many felt that his incendiary word choice was unnecessary. After the hot reaction from netizens in Korea, Dave elaborated on his perspective to explain where his frustrations lied. As the situation progressed, both Dave Kim and the Infinity Challenge cast apologized publicly, somewhat resolving the issue.


[NOV 22] DONGHO of U-KISS
Shying away from the ever-popular swine flu trend, Dongho of U-Kiss was rushed to the ER for enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) during filming for KBS 2TV Invincible Baseball. After receiving an IV injection and resting for a week, the singer's health condition had greatly improved by the end of the week. I'm sure fans were given quite a scare regardless though; we're glad to know he has recovered.


[NOV 29] TAECYEON of 2PM
Not really a scandal, but this deserves its own little space. Self-explanatory.


[NOV 30] TAEYEON of SNSD
Nothing has been confirmed, but rumors have been flying around that the beloved kid leader of SNSD revoked her title of leader during the filming of an upcoming episode of Strong Heart. However, the context of this statement and the meaning behind her words are unclear, so many fans have decided to reserve judgement/reaction until further information is revealed.


[NOV 30] YG ENTERTAINMENT
Just as we thought YG Entertainment was getting out of the spotlight with plagiarism and MAMA accusations, several ex-managers of YGE were caught stealing $2 million out of performers' pockets and concert profits. The police have confirmed this fraud and the investigation is currently underway. Because this story is still so fresh, the court has not taken any moves yet.


SWINE FLU
Forget TVXQ – SME's other idol groups, SHINee and f(x) gave a whole new meaning to 5-3=0. Jonghyun and Onew were separately diagnosed with swine flu earlier this month, and, although the special stages with Super Junior's Yesung and Leeteuk as replacements were entertaining at first, many fans grew restless when third member Taemin was taken out as well. Soon after, it was announced that f(x) trio Amber, Krystal and Sulli had also been diagnosed, temporarily stopping promotions for Chu~♡.

Aside from the SME fam bam, various idols and celebrities also joined the swine flu hit list, including Kim Joon, 2AM's Jinwoon (possibly contracted from fellow group member Jo Kwon), Lee Seung Gi, Kim Nam Gil, Alexander of U-Kiss, Lee Seung Hyo, Wheesung, Lee Joon and Thunder of MBLAQ.

A quick search on allkpop yields over seventy-five results for "swine flu"... a bit ridiculous, don't you think?


JAEBEOM of 2PM
Despite the incredible actions that aptly named "JayPM" Hottests have taken in support of their beloved 2PM, JYPE returned the leaderless 2PM to the kpop scene with comeback album 1:59PM. Although many fans were overjoyed to see the six remaining members healthy and back on stage, the hole left by Jaebeom's absence has been glaringly obvious and acknowledgedvarious occasions. It seems like the remaining members have completely dismissed the idea of replacing or permanently moving on from Jaebeom; however, now that 2PM is back on track with its own set of promotions and schedule, when and how will Jaebeom make a return?


TVXQ & SM ENTERTAINMENT (...and Mnet, CreBeau etc)
Cassiopeians had it extremely rough this month - after the lawsuit controversy erupted this July, things took a turn for the worse as summer progressed into fall. Initially, the public face of the case was quite simplified - TVXQ pressed charges against SM Entertainment for their outrageous slave contracts. However, many were shocked when Yunho and Changmin, the two other members of TVXQ independent of the lawsuit, openly reprimanded Junsu, Jaejoong and Yoochun for their arguably reckless actions. Furthermore, Mnet became entangled witht he controversy as speculations arose that Mnet had been supporting JaeChunSu under the table due to a bitter relationship with SME.

SME is not the only side under attack - the JaeChunSu trio has also been accused by various parties as well. SME claimed that the three members had breached their contract by belatedly cancelling their Shenzhen concert after agreeing to it in 2008; however, a legal representative responded by revealing documents and claiming that the contracts with TVXQ's signatures were forged. The trio was also accused of fraud by the distributor of CreBeau products in China.

With countless sides involved in this situation now (JaeChunSu, SME, Mnet, HoMin, CreBeau, the distributors, the China concert contractors, the media etc), it's impossible to fully understand the controversy in its entirety anymore. Although many observers had staunchly declared loyalty to either JaeChunSu or SME at the beginning, opinions have begun to falter due to the sketchiness of all parties involved. Hopefully when the dust clears, we will have a resolution fair to all sides.


As I publish this article, November is shifting into December, and again, kpop fans are ready to turn over a new leaf. At the end of September and October, we were left in the same position, only to be disappointed as things continued taking a turn for the worse. However, they say third time's the charm... what do you think December will bring?

credit: allkpop

What do K-pop stars think of 2009?

A lot of things happened this year in the world of K-pop. Some of them good, some of them bad, some of them ugly with 100% purity. Korea's Star News decided to interview some of our favorite K-pop stars to find out what they think about the year 2009. They sadly did not interview any celebrities that fall in the category of the bad and the ugly, but hey, good is the best, right?

Narsha of Brown Eyed Girls, who have again proved that they know how to shake it with Abracadabra and Sign, said:

"This is the year that BEG got upgraded. We got busier as we gained popularity but it was really fun. We also got the Female Group of the Year award for the first time since our debut. It was the most meaningful year for BEG"

SNSD, who enjoyed fame that came with their massive hits, said:

"2009 was the year that our wishes were granted. Not only did Gee and Say Your Wish(Genie) receive positive reactions, we also managed our first solo concert and Asian tour."

Miss Park Gyuri of happy-go-lucky Kara said:

"It was the first year that we actually got an award, our efforts paid off this year. We gained a lot of fame overseas as well and I'm happy about that. We also started on individual projects. It was nice to get an opportunity to spread our names."

Now onto the guys.

Hyun Joon, not Hyun Joong who has similar name but very different level of fame, of SS501
said:

"We learned about the preciousness of our team members as we did a lot of solo projects during the first half of the year. We also developed musically. It was all good except for the fact that we did not get to perform as 5 for a lot."

Adorable SHINee made quite a bold statement:

"2009 was the year of us. With Juliette and Ring Ding Dong, we matured internally and externally. We also got to become closer to our fans and communicate through music."

Last but not least, newcomers BEAST said:

"It was the year of new opportunity and amazing luck. We finally became artists. We began a new journey."

And finally, you, allkpop readers. How did YOU find 2009? Personally, I had another painfully lonely year. If you are a female in the Greater Toronto Area who would like a Korean boyfriend, then please contact me. Do it. I know you want to.