ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > New Group 'Battle' to Release Single Album in Thailand

The new six-man group "Battle" will release its first single album entitled “Crash” in Thailand on Friday under license.Good EMG, its agency, said Wednesday that the release has been arranged at the request of GMM Grammy, the country’s largest record company.The group’s songs will be aired throughout the Asian country on the radio station “Seed FM” and cable TV “Channel V Thailand” from Friday.Earlier on Feb. 24, staff from GMM Grammy, Channel V Thailand and MTV Thailand came to Korea to interview the Korean group and cover its activities.According to Good EMG, staff from GMM Grammy told them that Battle had gained so much popularity in Thailand that a fan club had already been formed. It also said that the group will visit Thailand to hold a mini concert on April 30 and give interviews with major music channels.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > “Jumong” to Air in Japan

The MBC TV drama “Jumong,” which has recently finished airing in Korea amidst high popularity, will debut in Japan April 25 via the Japanese satellite broadcaster BS Fuji.The Sankei Sports reported March 19 that Fuji TV will air a special program in early April to draw viewers’ attention. The program will feature greetings from the drama’s cast as well as sketches showing filming.The daily also introduced the drama as a “ghost show.” The pilot episode of the 81-episode drama about a Goguryeo hero recorded viewer ratings of 17.4 percent in Korea in May last year, and since January this year had maintained ratings of 50 percent, with the final episode recording 51.9 percent.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > “The King and the Clown” Enters Deauville Asian Film Fesitval

The smash hit Korean film “The King and the Clown” will be shown at the Deauville Asian Film Festival. International movie magazine Screen said on the 22nd that the Lee Joon-ik directed “The King and the Clown” and the Lee Yoon-ki directed “A Very Special Guest” will be screened at the 9th Deauville Asian Film Fesitval in France.The festival runs from March 28th-April 1st.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > Most Envied Star Couple

According to netizens, actor Hyun-bin and actress Hwang Ji-hyun are the most envied star couple.Music portal site Bugs surveyed 3,352 netizens from the 9th-16th and 37% responded that the news of Hyun-bin and Hwang Ji-hyun’s relationship was the biggest heart-breaking celebrity news.The celebrity couple publicly announced their relationship through their fan sites on February 25th.Hyun-bin shot to stardom as the lead male in the hit TV series, “My Name is Kim Samsoon” (also known as “My Lovely Samsoon”) and Hwang Ji-hyun’s supporting role in the drama “Come Back, Soon-ae” gained her recognition. The news of the attractive pair’s relationship made fans feel most envious.In 2nd place was the star coupling of KBS host Park Ji-yoon and fellow-KBS Choi Dong-suk, which earned 20% of the votes. Park Ji-yoon has been gaining popularity through her appearance on several shows, including “Star Golden Bell.”And in third place of most envious couple with 15% of the votes was singer Park Ji-yoon and Yongi, followed by Jadu and Eum Seung-baek with 14% and Baek Boram and Kim Jae-woo with 483 votes.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > Lee Ki-chan Receives Honor On Local TV Music Show

Singer Lee Ki-chan’s comeback song has topped a local television channel’s music show chart for more than 5 weeks and has received the “Mutizen (Music Citizen) Song” award. Lee hadn’t released an album in more than 5 years and his success is even sweeter because he was up against other popular artists, such as Park Hyo-shin, Super Junior, T, Lee Hyo-ri, Ivy, Tei and Jang Nara.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > Rain Leaves For Hong Kong International Film Festival

Singer and actor Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) left the country on the 18th for the Hong Kong International Film Festival.The film festival, running from March 20-April 11, will show Rain’s debut film, “I’m A Cyborg, But That’s Ok.” Rain is nominated for the prestigious Best Actor award.Rain has been receiving international popularity for his music, marked by 2005’s Asian Tour “Rainy Day” and this year’s world tour, “Rain’s Coming.” As for his cinematic endeavors, his debut film has received honors and rave reviews at the Berlin Film Festival (including the top award for Best Film—The Alfred Bauer Award) and was chosen as the opening film for the Hong Kong Film Festival. There is a buzz surrounding whether or not Rain will receive the best actor award. Rain’s leading lady, Lim Soo-jeong, is nominated for Best Actress.Other nominations at the Hong Kong International Film Festival include: the Bong Jun-ho-directed movie, “The Host,” for Best Film and its lead Song Kang-ho nominated for Best Actor; Hong Sang-soo for Best Director and Best Screen play for his film “Beach Beauty”; and Kim Hye-soo for Best Actress in “Tajja.”

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS > Paran and Super Junior-K.R.Y. Create Frenzy in Thailand

Boy bands Paran and Super Junior – K.R.Y. took more than 10,000 Thai fans by storm at the 6th Pattaya International Music Festival on the 16th and 17th.Wildly popular in Thailand, Paran thrilled fans with their March 16th performance of their hit songs, such as “Like a Habit,” “First Love” and “Beat It.” The following day on the 17th, Super Junior – K.R.Y. (Kyu-hyun, Ryeo-wook, Ye-sung) took the stage. Beginning with the swing/jazz song “The Night Chicago Died” the group sang other favorites like “It’s Just That” and “Only One Person.” The group has been gaining a following in Thailand since its first concert last year and their participation on the OST of the drama “Hyena.”