Kpopfwd

source: reallycuteasians

source: reallycuteasians

March 30th, he revealed through his Twitter that he wanted to work with a few Korean artists.

A fan had asked him, “What [sic] are some Asian artists you would like to collaborate with?”

Ne-yo replied, tweeting, “JYP, 2PM, 2AM, RAIN, Jay Park…”

The singer had already met up with Jay Park, since the latter was a special guest for his March 30th concert in Seoul. They also got to hang out together as role models for children who dreamed of becoming musicians.

Who’s ready for a collaboration?


source: allkpop

Jay Park recently opened for Ne-Yo’s stage at the “2011 Hyundai Mall 40th Anniversary Concert“.

Jay expressed that the experience was quite formidable for him, especially because he was the only opener for the American singer.

He commented, “It’s an honor to open for Ne-Yo, who I’ve been a fan of and respected as a musician. I’ll work hard to show a more awesome side of myself on the concert’s opening stage.”

You can check out videos of Jay Park’s performance below:








source: allkpop

KARA has recorded over 1 million copies in album sales, after only eight months in the Japanese music industry!

According to information revealed by Universal Music Japan on March 31st, KARA’s five albums – “Mister“, “Jumping“, “Girl’s Talk“, “Best Clips“, “KARA Best 2007-2010” – have sold a total of 1,080,000 copies in all.


“Girl’s Talk,” which was released last November, sold 430k copies so far and even ranked at the top of Oricon’s music chart for nine consecutive weeks after its release. “KARA Best Clip” DVD (released last February) and “KARA Best 2007-2010″ (released last September) sold 200k copies respectively. Meanwhile, “KARA Best Clip” managed to rank at the top of the weekly charts for two months in a row as well. As for the girls’ singles – “Mister,” and “Jumping” – they each sold 130k and 110k.

Im Jin Mo, a pop culture critic, commented, “After BoA and TVXQ, KARA is the first to surpass 1 million copies. As rookies who debuted only eight months in Japan, this is an astounding feat. I think the fact that they’ve created a position for themselves as Korean idols in Japan’s idol culture is a bigger achievement.”


source: allkpop

SHINee’s Key recently appeared on the March 29th broadcast of Love Chaser, where he dropped some surprising news – SHINee is in the midst of producing a new album!

He created a short video message for his grandmother, speaking in his native Daegu dialect. The devoted grandson cheered, “Grandmother, SHINee is preparing our new album now, so you have to critique it again. I love you!”


Check out the subbed clip below!




source: allkpop

2NE1’s ‘4D Twitter personality’ and sel-ca queen, Sandara Park, has just released a CF as part of the YG Family’s endorsement of Nikon. They made a fantastic choice with regards to their spokesperson, as Sandara Park’s sel-ca skills are quite formidable!


Her CF differs from traditional CFs in that holds a one-on-one encounter with a celebrity. Through her conversation (or rather, monologue) with the camera, she drives a celebrity-to-consumer appeal. Thanks to Sandara’s bubbly charms, the CF doesn’t feel stilted, awkward, or overly-edited.

In her monologue, Sandara begins, “Everyone, the digital camera I’ve been waiting for has come out!” She then goes on to talk about its features: “Because I took a picture with the bright lens, the colors came out so prettily!” Posing for a couple of sel-cas, she continues, “I really love the pretty pictures – they came out just the way I wanted! And one more thing! If you look at the design, you’ll see it’s got a hot design that’s really popular these days. It has the retro analogue style.” She flashes a thumbs up and says, “Chego! (The best!)”

She finishes off by taking a sel-ca while saying, “From now on, I’ll probably be taking pictures all the time.”




source: allkpop

MBC’s upcoming drama (working title: “Festival“) is pioneering an interesting new strategy to generate buzz – they’re allowing fans to pick the title of the drama!

The drama is already gaining some interest because the lead roles were revealed to be CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa and actress Park Shin Hye. The two were a much-loved couple on “You’re Beautiful“, and fans were excited to see them reunite.


The best submissions will win prizes, and up for grabs are Park Shin Hye’s sunglasses, Jung Yonghwa’s backpack, and signed copies of CNBLUE’s new album, “First Step“.

Unfortunately for international fans, the page is entirely in Korean, and you’ll have to be a registered member of iMBC in order to vote.


source: allkpop

Recently, Sony Music Japan experienced a slip-up by prematurely posting the cover art for 2PM’s Japanese single, “Take Off“!

Though the album art has since been removed from the site, some quick-thinking Hottests saved the pictures. They will be retailing three separate versions of “Take Off”, all of which will feature a grand total of four tracks:

01. Take off
02. Heartbeat (Japanese ver.)
03. Take off (without main vocal)
04. Heartbeat (Japanese ver. without main vocal)

Check out the covers for all three versions below!


< Cover: Limited A >



< Cover: Limited B >



< Cover: Limited Regular >



source: allkpop

These besties can’t seem to put the camera down!

miss A’s Suzy and Jia snapped more photos of themselves, this time from the practice room. Jia wrote, “We practiced way too much~ We haven’t forgotten how to act pretty in photos! Hoo… We have no energy! Break! Break!”


The two are lounging on a couch, but you can tell that they’re pretty worn out. Could it be that they were preparing something for their eventual comeback?

Fans wrote, “They look so close and friendly,” “Suzy unnie, you look so pretty right now,” and “I have a fond smile on my face right now.”

source: allkpop

Singer Kim Jung Min expressed his sadness about the Yongseo couple’s final filming.

On March 30th, he tweeted,

“Finished filming for ‘We Got Married 2‘. Nichkhun and Victoria’s sweet episode. Also, today I cried in my heart twice. Once was during Yongseo’s separation scene,

2nd was when Seohyun personally came to the studio to thank the panel. Multi-vitamins and a heartfelt letter! Ah I’m so moved!“


CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa and SNSD’s Seohyun worked together as the ’sweet potato couple’ for one year. They began in March 2010, and recorded their final episode on March 30th, 2011.

Netizens commented, “So sad regarding Yongseo couple’s ending” and “Seohyun’s heart is so pretty”

Meanwhile, it’s been announced that the couple to replace them will be T-ara’s Ham Eunjung and actor Lee Jang Woo.

source: allkpop

Ever since we announced that T-ara’s Ham Eunjung was picked up to be the new ‘wife’ for MBC’s “We Got Married“, the site has been buzzing over who her lucky husband would be. Unfortunately for all you “Dream High” fans, it’s not her former co-star, Kim Soo Hyun.

In fact, Eunjung’s husband will be none other than actor Lee Jang Woo (25)!

Lee Jang Woo debuted as an actor back in 2006, and is currently starring in the KBS2TV daily drama, “Smile Donghae“. He was also a member of a 2009 SM project group called 24/7, whose members included Hyun Woo (a current ‘Music Bank‘ MC) and actor Noh Min Woo.

Interestingly enough, Lee Jang Woo is a cousin to singer/actor Hwanhee, who had participated in previous seasons for ”We Got Married”.

The new couple began filming on the afternoon of March 30th, and their first episode will be aired sometime in April.

source: allkpop

Recently, allkpop reported that T-ara’s Eunjung was confirmed as the new ‘wife’ on MBC’s “We Got Married“.

Since the identity of her ‘husband’ has yet to be revealed, Eunjung posted a cheeky tweet about her preferences for her spouse. She wrote, “I need a person who can give me strength. If I give him strength, then I need a person who can give me more strength.*”


With her first broadcast scheduled for the 30th, it is only a matter of hours until she will find out if her ‘other half’ fulfills her needs! Stay tuned on updates about this new couple!

source: dailymail

Rhythm gymnist Son Yeon Jae and Big Bang’s T.O.P paired up for a cute sneakers pictorial.

The pair had a photoshoot for sports brand ‘FILA’, which sponsors both athletes and models. Son Yeon Jae exhibited her sweetness with her pink sneakers, while T.O.P looked chic in green.

A representative from FILA expressed, “After revealing the Son Yeon Jae and Big Bang cuts, there has been an increase in consumer inquiry and interest. Son Yeon Jae and Big Bang’s popularities were realized once again.”


source: allkpop

On March 30th, 4minute unveiled their album jacket photos from their new EP “Heart to Heart” through the Naver Music website.

Judging by the two sets of photos, the girls seem to represent a ‘day-and-night’ concept. In the first set, 4minute used metallic dresses and shining mirror items to perfect a chic, trendy look. In the second set, the girls were snapped preparing for a night out in their luxurious black outfits.

Fans have been drawn to the impressive individual shots of HyunA, Jiyoon, Sohyun, Gayoon and Nam Ji Hyun. Many felt that to date, it’s the most expressive set of pictures the girls have taken so far.

Check out the shots below!







source: allkpop

Yesterday, U-KISS dropped a teaser for their “0330” music video, and now the full version has arrived!

“0330″ stands for 3:30AM – a time of restlessness for those who have yet to fall asleep. It tells the story of a man who is unable to sleep after breaking up with his girlfriend. His grieving heart is expressed soulfully through the song’s soft lyrics and melody.


As for the music video, it delivers bright shots that reflect the fragile Spring season, which meld perfectly with the nature of the song.

The video ushers in a new era for U-KISS, and we can’t wait to see their performances later on. In the meantime, check out the MV below:



source: allkpop

Korea’s representative badminton player Lee Yong Dae and f(x)’s Sulli will be making a surprise appearance on MBC’s “We Got Married“.

On March 29th, judo athlete Wang Ki Chun tweeted,

“Came to the “We Got Married” filming. They say Victoria and Nichkhun are coming… They say Sulli is coming too ㅜㅜ I’m jealous of Yong Dae”

Eyewitness accounts of the ‘Khuntoria‘ couple have spurred interest in the upcoming episode.

According to one netizen, 2PM’s Nichkhun, f(x)’s Victoria, Lee Yong Dae, and Sulli filmed at Dongdaemun. They rode a amusement ride called ‘Disco Pang Pang’ and had a joyous time together.

The episode is expected to air at the end of April.


source: allkpop

Rookie boyband TOUCH have distinguished themselves as ‘fashion idols’, thanks to their appointment as Korea’s representatives for Singapore’s “Men’s Fashion Week“.

On March 29th, YYJ Entertainment revealed, “TOUCH was invited to perform at the gala party for the first ‘Men’s Fashion Week’ in Singapore.”


Held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center from March 30th through April 3rd, TOUCH will be making an appearance at the A. Testoni and Emmanuel’s fashion show. They’ll also be holding interviews with the local press. On April 2nd, the group will be holding a 30-minute long concert, which will also feature Han Jun’s self-composed track off of the group’s upcoming mini-album.

This isn’t their first brush with the fashion industry; three months into their debut, the boys won the “BBF Rookie Awards” at the “2011 Asia Model Awards Ceremony“. With many more love calls from the fashion world underway, the group has since earned the nickname ‘fashion idols’ amongst their fans.

The group has recently completed filming for their 3D music video and is preparing for the release of their second mini-album next month.


source: allkpop

Singer BoA showed off a chic pose through a recent Twitter post.

She tweeted, “With the Big monster and small person…. Good night ;)” and attached a photo of her standing in front of a statue more than five times her size. .


Fans commented, “It’s a famous person. How can she give off this kind of aura in front of a giant statue?” “How tall was BoA… her proportions are amazing,” and “Her face is going to disappear, she’s so pretty.”


source: allkpop

SBS’s “Heroes” had its last recording on March 28th and 29th. The one-night-two-days filming saw the cast burst into tears during a particularly touching moment.

On the night of the 28th, the members had a candlelit chat, sharing their inner feelings of working together, from the good times to the bad times. Unable to forget that they would soon part ways after spending so much time together, the members could not stop shedding tears.


Officials who were with the cast stated, “With all the cast members crying, it became a sea of tears. Everyone felt an emptiness about parting. I think everyone was emotional especially because we filmed the end at the location where we first began.”

It was also revealed that KARA’s Nicole, who is an original member of the program, was unable to attend the final recording because of stress related to her group’s lawsuit with DSP Media.

Members of ‘Heroes’ will finish their recording on the 29th and then have dinner together in the evening to share a beautiful ending together.


source: allkpop

The K-pop industry experienced a wave of girl groups with doll-like faces and princess-like appearances, but 5dolls stepped away from that traditional routine with a secret weapon: Power.

Members Soo Mi (22), Chan Mi (19), Hye Won (16), Hyo Young (18), and maknae Eun Gyo (16) made their debut in February with the digital single “Lip Stain”. Soon after, they released their first mini-album “Charming Five Girls” and kicked off their activities with “It’s You”. Instead of wearing 10cm high heels like other girl groups, 5dolls showed off their cute and powerful image while wearing comfortable sneakers and training pants.


Leader Soo Mi stated, “I was sort of shocked when I saw the outfits. It was a bit more casual when compared to the other outfits that the other groups usually wear. Back then, I was concerned if we will be able to perform wearing this. Also, instead of worrying about dancing in high heels, I think its a plus that we are wearing sneakers because we able to focus more on our singing and dancing.” ”

To these five girls, there is role model that they look up to; that girl group is 2NE1. Hyo Young stated, “I want to learn how to be like them. They enjoy the time they have on stage singing. They know how to control the stage. They also fill up the stage with just four members. Compared to them, we are very lacking. If we rate ourselves, I would give ourselves 65 points?”


5dolls is part of the 11-member group, Co-Ed School. Before Co-Ed School wrapped up their promotions, they were pulled into a controversy involving member Hot Blood Kangho, as pictures of him at bars surfaced on the web. While that may not be unusual, Hot Blood Kangho was an underage student at the time, and so the pictures shocked fans and netizens alike.

Reflecting over this time, Soo Mi stated, “Since there were pictures of proof, we could not back out on that. He realized his mistakes and is still reflecting on them. Since our job is based on our images, it is important to be careful of what we do. We will work harder so that this mistakes will never happen again.”

The members also stated, “Sometimes there are harsh comments that have groundless rumors. However, we believe that these are because they have interest in us. Whether the comments are in favor or against us, we are happy that there are comments about us. Truthfully, it’s scarier to have no comments at all. It’s better to have harsh comments about us. We look through the comments and take into account what will help us in our next performances.”

Despite being cool about the harsh comments, the members stated that they are a little disappointed when the netizens do no call them by their correct names. Some netizens call the members by the interests that they gained before their debut. For example, they called the members ‘Soo Mi who filled up See Ya’s Nam Gyu Ri’s empty spot,’ ‘Chan Mi who was a trainee at SM Entertainment before her debut as Co-Ed School,’ ‘Hye Won who looks like Kara’s Goo Hara,’ and ‘Eun Gyo who looks good in a red hairstyle.’

They revealed their disappointed feelings, “People around us do not call us ‘See Ya’s ex-member,’ ‘little Goo Hara,’ ‘SM trainee,’ ‘red hair’, and so on. We all have names…Perhaps they do not think we are a new group because we all have different backgrounds.”

Despite their disappointments, 5dolls hold high expectations for 2011. Because they could not receive the rookie awards for Co-Ed School, the girls are determined to win the rookie awards this year.

source: allkpop

On March 27th, fans of the Nichkhun and Victoria couple (a.k.a. “Khuntoria” couple) gave a special gift to commemorate the couple’s 300th day anniversary.

According to UNICEF’s official Korean website, fans made a donation totalling 6,000,000 won (~$5,400 USD) to the organization. They stated, “The ‘Khuntoria’ fan club of MBC’s ‘We Got Married‘ couple, Nichkhun and Victoria, gave a generous donation of 6,000,000 won on March 27th. The support from ‘Khuntoria’ will be used for the survival, protection, and development of children all over the world. Below is the official mail sent by ‘Khuntoria’. Again, we thank ‘Khuntoria’ for their heartfelt gift.”

With this message of thanks, UNICEF posted the original letter of the ‘Khuntoria’ fan club. It stated:

“Hello!

We, as the Nichkhun♥Victoria couple’s official Naver fan cafe [Khuntoria], would like to make a donation to UNICEF to commemorate the 300th day anniversary of the Nichkhun and Victoria couple from MBC’s “We Got Married.”

Both the guy and the girl, who are from foreign countries, have met in Korea in the name of ‘destiny’. In addition, it has been 300 days since their entwined destiny began.

Cherishing the destiny, here, the couple has become a happy virus – spreading happiness, joy, and smiles to many people. To cheer them on, many people have come together under the name of ‘Khuntoria’, and even today, many have come together to create a memorable fate. We think that the further the love from one heart to another is spread, the more it can show its true value and brightness.

With the heart of blessing, to celebrate the couple’s first 300th day together, we, too send our love. More than today, tomorrow, and more than tomorrow, the day after… We hope that more and more happiness is gathered as the days pass by.”

It is definitely exciting to see people come together to share and spread love to another. Whoever said, “Love is contagious,” knew what was up!


source: allkpop

On March 29th, INFINITE released a rehearsal video featuring the full choreography for “Nothing’s Over.”

Though they were wearing casual streetwear, the boys managed to deliver a romantic transformation because of their three point dances: the ‘fussy dance,’ ’seal dance,’ and the ‘back-side set.’

Despite encountering some setbacks with leaks of their digital songs and first practice video, the boys knew that they could garner a wide fanbase with their strong performances and charisma. Indeed, their rehearsal video alone managed to crash their homepage due to explosive netizen interest.

Without further ado, check out take #2 of “Nothing’s Over”!





source: allkpop

The boys of U-KISS are inching ever closer towards their comeback!

They just released a beautiful music video teaser for their title track, “0330“. Lush shots of a piano being played in the rain, of emotional conflicts over a phone call, and of the group posing dramatically against the sunrise have definitely bumped everyone’s expectations for U-KISS’s return.


Check out the teaser below!



source: allkpop

Park Kyung Lim and IU recently posed for a picture together, revealing their unlikely relationship.

On March 28th, the popular MC tweeted, “I just saw the 120th episode of musical ‘Aida‘~ I give a bi~g applause to the passionate actors and staff. A shot with IU who I just watched the performance with. Now that I think about it, I saw the first performance with Ivy and the last with IU. What kind of an unusual thing is this?“.


In the picture, IU and Park Kyung Lim are seen posing in casual outfits with minimal makeup. Park Kyung Lim, who is taking classes in one of Korea’s best universities, KAIST, is wearing an official KAIST hoodie while IU is pointing to it cutely. Park Kyung Lim is popular with idol stars, as she’s currently MCing for MBC Radio’s “Park Kyung Lim’s Starry Starry Night“.

Fans commented, “You actually wore the KAIST hoodie that you promised your fans, you’re so cool!” and “You kept your promise by taking a picture with IU.”


source: allkpop