The Billboard K-pop Chart

Source: KPOP Masters

KARA are the most powerful Hallyu stars in Japan

Kara’s ranking in the most power celebrities in Japan is the highest among Hallyu stars.

According to the report from DSP Media, KARA’s agency, on July 11, KARA ranked sixth in the 2012 Talent Power Ranking for the First Half Year, a survey conducted by the popular entertainment magazine Nikkei Entertainment targeting teenage girls.

The popular male group Arashi ranked from first to fifth, and KARA ranked sixth. KARA were the only Hallyu stars and foreign artists who ranked in the top ten.

Nikkei Entertainment, a magazine that provides information and news about the Japanese entertainment world, is one of the most trusted and recognized magazines in Japan. It carries out a survey about the most popular Japanese celebrities every year.

KARA’s ranking is attracting a lot of attention from interested people in the Japanese entertainment industry because it is higher than the Japanese popular girl group AKB48′s. Their popularity has already been proved by selling over a million copies of their single in the shortest period for Korean singers.

KARA successfully finished a promotional event for their signature perfume, which was held in Singapore on July 10.
Source: Xportsnews

[Press Relase] Ticketing Details for the upcoming BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour 2012 in Malaysia

Ever since the news of Big Bang’s Alive tour in Malaysia was released, many fans have been anxiously waiting for every bits of information updates. Korea.com is happy to share the good news with all VIPs out there that tickets for the very concert you all have been waiting for will be available from 28th July onwards!

Tickets will be available from 28 July 2012, 1030hrs at both ticketing booths and online bookings via Ticketcharge and Red Tix. VVIP tickets (Cat 1, RM688) and premiere rock pit tickets (Cat 2, RM588) are expected to sell the quickest, with only 600 VVIP tickets that will offer the best views and closest proximity to the stage, while 1,400 premiere rock pit tickets will give fans the chance to jump and party along right in the middle of the pulsating action.

This will be the first outdoor concert across Southeast Asia for the BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour 2012. It will also be a sky-high experience perfect for a night of high-energy partying, with Big Bang’s unique hip-hop and freestyle dance moves and famous party tunes such as “Fantastic Baby” and “Tonight”. Fans may expect a perfectly choreographed laser light show, fire flames, a huge stage with two rock pits in the thick of the action, as well as sprawling LED screens across the stadium for a 360-degree view of the action on stage.
Concert organizer Running Into The Sun today announces a wide variety of six ticket categories at RM 688, RM 588, RM 488, RM 388, RM 288, RM 198, RM 188 and RM 98 with only 12,000 tickets available, a limited number due to the massive production of the show, promising an ultimate concert experience in the group’s first visit to the country.

BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour 2012 Malaysia could very well be epitomic of Malaysia’s growing music and concert scene, and Running Into The Sun had deliberately priced the lowest tier tickets at a friendly RM 98 to ensure as many Malaysians will be part of this incredible show.

“This is a concert we believe everyone needs to watch at least once in their lifetime – it has a perfect combination of pure talent; spectacular special effects; and amazingly contagious energy, all choreographed beautifully to give you a masterpiece of music celebration. It is our aim to share this experience with as many people as possible thus we deliberately introduced a RM98 tier to keep tickets friendly”, says Creative Director of Running Into The Sun Beatrice Chia-Richmond.

(seating plan, photo provided by Running Into The Sun)

Here is detailed price categories that will be available for Big Bang’s Alive Tour 2012 in Malaysia.
Category 1: RM 688 (VIP)
Category 2: RM 588 (Premiere Rock Pit)
Category 3: RM 488 (Rock Pit)
Category 4: RM 388 (Numbered and Sheltered seats)
Category 5: RM 288 (Free Seating)
Category 6: RM 198 (Free Seating)
Category 7: RM 188 (Free Standing)
Category 8: RM 98 (Free Seating)

Kpop lovers out there, don’t miss out this chance to have an unforgettable experience at the one and only Big Bang’s Concert in Malaysia! Do mark down 28th July on your calendar and secure your tickets before it’s all sold out!

Fans can tune in to concert organiser Running Into The Sun for more up-to-date details at :

www.runningintothesun.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/runningintothesun
Twitter: @RITSmy

BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour 2012 Malaysia is presented by Samsung Galaxy in collaboration with YG Entertainment and Live Nation Entertainment, and organised by Running Into The Sun.

Source : Running Into The Sun, Korea.com

4MINUTE INVITES TALENTS TO JOIN SINGAPORE’S LEG OF tvN K-POP STAR HUNT S2

Organisers of tvN K-Pop Star Hunt S2, tvN, CUBE Entertainment and CJ Entertainment & Media (CJ E & M), have lined up a real treat for aspiring K-Pop superstars as part of the second edition of the talent competition, tvN K-Pop Star Hunt. 4Minute, the popular girl band, will be meeting their supporters at an exclusive Fan Meet held on Tuesday, 17 July 2012 at Plaza Singapura’s main atrium. The quintet who is managed by CUBE Entertainment has achieved worldwide fame since their debut in 2009. They will be here to inspire fans and K-Pop star hopefuls alike to fulfill their dreams of becoming the next K-Pop idol!

Trained and managed by CUBE Entertainment, 4Minute is on a mission to call for potential K-Pop starlets to take part in tvN K-Pop Star Hunt S2. The winner of the talent competition will have the chance of a lifetime to be trained by CUBE Entertainment and become a K-Pop star just like 4Minute!

Volume Up

Mirror Mirror

I My Me Mine

Die-hard supporters can stand a chance to meet 4Minute up close and personal by participating in a contest running through tvN Asia (www.facebook.com/tvN.Asia) and StarHub Entertainment’s (www.facebook.com/StarHubEntertainment) Facebook pages as well as our radio partner, Radio 100.3. Winners will have a rare opportunity to meet 4Minute face-to-face, receive a premium goodie bag comprising a 4Minute album and a tvN K-Pop Star Hunt S2 poster, both autographed by the girl band, as well as taking a photograph with them.

To enter tvN K-Pop Star Hunt S2, simply record the best rendition of any K-Pop sing-and-dance song before uploading to the official website www.tvnstarhunt2.com Alternatively, K-Pop hopefuls can also attend the Pre-Audition Roadshow at Plaza Singapura’s main atrium on Saturday 28 July 2012, between 12noon to 6pm with professional-quality audio and video equipment provided by the organisers to help budding talents in Singapore record and submit their video on the spot!

K-Pop fans of any age will have more than 6 weeks to upload their video submissions as registrations close on Sunday, 26 August 2012 at 23:59:59hrs.
tvN K-Pop Star Hunt S2 will premiere on tvN (StarHub TV Ch. 824/ 874 HD) end of 2012.

Credits: FOX International Channels and tvN

B.A.P releases short animated clip featuring MATOKI for ‘Goodbye’

Though rookie boy group B.A.P just wrapped up promotions for their second single Power, the six members will be returning soon with their 1st mini-album and have pre-released the song Goodbye ahead of the mini-album release, whose release date is unknown.

In addition to releasing this song, a short MV was also released, featuring the boys’ iconic MATOKIs. The short animated clip features Youngjae’s MATOKI, Jokomato, and Daehyun’s MATOKI, Kekemato, who are forced to come up with a way to get onto the aircraft with the other MATOKIs. Their plan fails, though, and the aircraft is seen hurtling through Earth’s atmosphere.

Source: TSENT2008 YouTube

EXO takes pictures backstage at Happy Camp

It’s been one month since EXO-K and EXO-M gathered together on the same stage to perform as one (WE ARE ONE!, as they like to say), and the two groups finally got that chance to stand on the same stage once more as they met up in Changsha, China, for the filming of the 15th anniversary episode for Chinese variety show Happy Camp.

Not only did they perform MAMA and History in front of adoring fans, but they participated in different games set up for the 15th anniversary. The episode will air at a later date this month, but the 12 members made certain they snapped pictures together backstage.

Their official Weibos read, “All the EXO members finally got together to record Happy Camp’s 15th Anniversary special program, and through EXO-M’s official Weibo, you can see pictures of all 12 members.”

Source: EXO-M Weibo

JYJ’s Park Yoo Chun is filmed on CCTV camera by an obsessive fan

Pictures of JYJ’s Park Yoo Chun were recently released and drew a lot of attention.

On July 10, an online community posted pictures with the caption, “Obsessive fans installed CCTV camera in the parking lot of his apartment.”

In the pictures, which were captured from the CCTV camera, Park is hiding behind the wall to look around and walking carefully.

Many people were surprised to hear that the CCTV camera was installed at a parking lot of Park’s apartment by obsessive fans. Moreover, the obsessive fans even posted the captured images online and shocked the public.

People responded: “This is too much.” “Is it that hard to get into his own house?” “Please stop obsessive fans.” “That’s scary.”

In June, Park gave an interview to TV Report and said, “Honestly, I don’t think they are my fans. I’ve tried to understand them but it’s been almost 8 years now. I can’t stand it anymore.”

Source: TV Report

Congratulations on Teen Top’s second anniversary

Idol group Teen Top recently had their second anniversary.

On July 10, many people posted congratulation notes on the group’s official fan club and me2day account with the caption, “Congratulations on Teen Top’s second anniversary.”

Teen Top debuted in 2010 by releasing their single album Come into the World. They has become very popular with their hit songs “No More Perfume on You” and “Crazy.”

Their average age was 16.3 when they just got debuted but after 2 years from then, group members have transformed from boys into men.

Even though they were young, they showed off their manly charms and their strict group dance captured the female fans’ hearts.

People responded: “Congratulations on your second anniversary.” “I always support you.” “It has been already 2 years.” “Congratulations!”

Teen Top released their third mini album To You and the title song “To You.”

Source: Xportsnews

Super Junior top the Soribada chart with “Sexy, Free & Single”

Super Junior, who recently came back to the music scene with the sixth album, topped the weekly chart of Soribada.

Soribada, an online music store, reported, “Super Junior’s ‘Sexy, Free & Single’ ranked first on the weekly chart.” “Sexy, Free & Single” is a soul house genre, which is characterized by a trendy arrangement and an addictive chorus.

“From U,” a song made for Super Junior’s fan club, E.L.F, ranked ninth, and “Now,” another Super Junior’s song characterized by a cheerful rhythm and a guitar sound, ranked 19th.

Girl groups’s songs are also very competitive. The currently most popular song is Sistar’s “Loving U.” It ranked second, which climbed from the ninth last week. T-ara’s “Day By Day” and 2NE1′s “I Love You” ranked third and fourth, respectively.

T-ara’s “Holiday” and Sistar’s “Holiday” ranked 14th and 18th, respectively.

Kim Jin Pyo’s “I’m Sorry Because I’m Sorry” ranked fifth, and Ailee’s “The Ties,” a soundtrack of the drama series The Fire Bird that she sang on KBS 2TV’s Immortal Songs – Yoo Il Sang, ranked 12th.

Sagging Snail (Yoo Jae Suk and Lee Juk)’s “Punk in the Corner” ranked 20th. “Punk in the Corner” is a humorous song about a man who stays at home on Friday night because no one calls him.

Source: Xportsnews

B2ST will release a new album at the end of July

B2ST will release a new album at the end of July.

On July 11, B2ST will give detailed information about their comeback through their official Google Plus page, holding a hang-out live on-air show.

B2ST, coming back to the domestic music scene after a year and two months, prepared the live show to communicate with their fans in real time and let them know about their comeback.

Through the new way of communication, which is different from such usual promotions as opening a teaser site or making an announcement, B2ST will talk about their plan and give their thoughts on their new album.

B2ST’s agency says, “Please pay close attention to how B2ST’s powerful performance and emotional, dramatic dance have changed.”

Source: Starnews

Super Junior’s Heechul closes his Twitter account because of his obsessive fans

Super Junior’s Heechul recently complained about his obsessive fans.

On July 9, Heechul tweeted, “Please don’t come to where I live and work. I thought I became nicer as I turned thirty, but I guess not. I’m still suffering from the car accident I got into, so I’m scared of running away from you when I’m driving a car. Even if you get disappointed at me or I have to realize that I have to be thankful to your love, I cannot take this anymore because my life is important. It’s all my fault because I’m not that considerate.”

It seems Heechul wrote the comment to his obsessive fans who follow him all the time by taxi. The obsessive fans are called Sasaeng fans, who stalk the celebrities they like. Heechul also left a message to the taxi drivers who drive the Sasaeng fans.

Heechul commented, “Don’t cheat on the foreigners with smiling faces because they don’t know anything. What you’re doing is so dirty. I wish there can be no more victims. I’m going to close my Twitter account for a year. See you after a year. Thank you so much for celebrating my birthday.”

Heechul has been doing alternative service in Seoul as a public service worker since september.

Source: Starnews

Jang Keun Suk publishes his personal magazine CRI-J in Japan

Actor Jang Keun Suk is publishing the season 2/02 of his personal magazine CRI-J in Japan on July 10.

CRI-J is a specialized magazine for Jang, which is published four times a year in Japan. It was published in April, July, and October last year and January this year. The season one of the magazine was really popular in Japan that its sales volume was incomparable to that of any Hallyu actors’ personal magazines, which was over 24,000 copies.

As many people requested for the second season, Jang decided to publish the season two of CRI-J.

Unlike the season one, which shows the 25-year-old man Jang, the season 2/01 published in April shows all about Jang’s daily life in detail, reinterpreting his powerful, passionate looks in ten different colors.

From Jang’s honest interview done by himself to his favorite colors, his various charms can be seen in the second issue of CRI-J.

By perfectly performing 19 songs live for 150 minutes, Jang successfully held a concert, titled the 2012 Jang Keun Suk Asian Tour – The Cri Show 2 in Seoul, on July 7. He will continue his concert tour at Yokohama Arena in Japan on July 21 and 22.

Source: Starnews

Kim Hyun Joong tops the Oricon’s weekly chart

Kim Hyun Joong topped the Oricon’s weekly chart.

Topping the Oricon’s daily chart with his second Japanese single, “Heat,” selling over 140,000 copies on the first day of its release, which was July 4, he also ranked first on the Oricon’s weekly chart, selling over 183,000 copies in the first week.

It means a lot because it broke the sales record of his Japanese debut album, KISS KISS/Lucky Guy, which ranked second on the Oricon’s weekly chart, selling over 122,000 copies in the first week of its release, which was January 25. “Heat” is the fifth foreign artist’s solo single that ranked first on the Oricon’s weekly chart in the first week of its release, and its sales volume in the first week is the third largest.

Interested people in the music industry in Japan are paying a lot of attention to Kim’s music with such a comment as, “Kim Hyun Joong and his music have improved a lot in only a few months.”

Kim is planning to meet nearly 60,000 fans at a free live concert, which will be held in celebration of the release of his second Japanese single, and a concert that will be held in collaboration with the Japanese musician Naoto Inti Raymi at Saitama Super Arena in Japan on July 14 and 15.

Source: Sports Korea