[News] ‘Paradise Ranch’ Confirmed to Air Early Next Year on SBS

‘Paradise Meadows/Ranch’ starring Choikang Changmin, Lee Yeon Hee, Ju Sang Wook, and Yu Ha Na is confirmed to air after long negotiations have been finalized.

In a phone call, SBS Drama Center official revealed to Sports Chosun on the third that “ ’Paradise Meadows/Ranch’ is expected to air on SBS in January at 9 p.m. on Monday/Tuesday following ‘It’s Okay, My/Father’s Daughter’ “ and “the drama was directed by Kim Chul Kyu of ‘Hwang Jin Yi’ and written by screenwriters Jang Hyun Joo of ‘1st Shop of Coffee Prince’ and Seo Hee Jung of ‘Into the Sun’.”

With Je Ju Island’s natural beauty as the background, ‘Paradise Meadows/Ranch’ is a romantic melodrama of young people’s love and work in a lively mix of stories and beautiful music.

Co-produced by Samhwa Networks and SM Entertainment, ‘Paradise Meadows/Ranch’ was in program airing hiatus and postponed to next year even though the first filming took place last January in Je Ju Island.

An official for Samhwa Networks said that all the final process of editing was completed this June and explained that “Meanwhile, our drama was filmed in Australia and Je Ju Island in the winter so early next year was deemed to be the appropriate time to air it.”

Reporter: Lee Hae Wan
Translation and Sharing: lovelyunho @ soompi

"Haru : An Unforgettable Day in Korea" brings Lee Da-hae and U-Know to act as a couple

Korean Tourism Productions are releasing a short drama "Haru : An Unforgettable Day in Korea" online (www.haru2010.com).

This omnibus style "Haru : An Unforgettable Day in Korea" cast is U-Know, Big Bang (Choi Seung-hyeon, G-Dragon, Daesung, Seung Ri, Taeyang), Han Chae-young, Kim Beom, Park Si-hoo, Lee Da-hae, and many other stars.

U-Know come sout as an action star and Lee Da-hae is the scenario writer.

Check out the story in this short drama that has all these stars take interesting and exciting characters!

Source : news.nate.com/view/20... ( Korean )

Brian, Choi Si-won and Vanness Wu to release album in Oct

Korean singer Brian, Super Junior Member Choi Si-won and Chinese singer Vanness Wu

Korean artists Brian, Super Junior member Choi Si-won and Chinese artist Vanness Wu have come together to record an album aimed at helping African children, according to a press release from entertainment firm Lion Media on Tuesday.

Lion Media announced through the statement that the three singers have formed a project group called 3rd Wave through which they will release an album titled "I Will Be There" on October 10.

Recorded in English, all proceeds from the album will be donated for use as emergency aid for children in Africa.

"I have received a lot of support from my fans during my ten years as a singer so I am happy that I can give back to those in need with my musical ability", singer Brian was quoted as saying.

The upcoming album, written and composed by leader Johnny Lee, will feature 11 tracks including "Sweetest Name" sung by Choi Si-won and "Everything to Me", a duet by Vanness Wu and Brian.

"I Will be There" will be available online at www.3rdwavemusic.org and released simultaneously in both Korea and the United States through Apple's iTune store in early October.

Reporter : Lucia Hong
Editor : Jessica Kim

Rain: 'I Will Join the Army Next Year'

Rain will play a flirty private investigator in the KBS drama, "The Fugitive Plan B".

Singer and actor Rain (real name Jung Ji Hoon), who will make a comeback to the small screen after a five-year break by appearing in the KBS 2TV Wednesday and Thursday drama "The Fugitive Plan B", spoke up about the rumors of his upcoming military duty.

At the production presentation of the drama "The Fugitive Plan B" held at the Lotte Hotel in Sogongdong on September 27, Rain said, "The time to join the army might be around next year".

Taeyang to joins artists for Seoul Seoul Festival in Oct

Concert poster for Seoul Soul Festival 2010 featuring Korean singer Taeyang [S2 Entertainment]

Korean singer Taeyang has joined a line-up of international and local artists for the Seoul Soul Festival 2010 to be held next month.

On Monday, the concert's promoter S2 Entertainment announced that Big Bang member Taeyang will perform at the two-day soul music festival to be held at the Peace Plaza located in the War Memorial of Korea starting October 9.

He will sing his hit songs as well as give a special performance with fellow YG labelmate Se7en.

Other recording artists on the line-up include U.S. soul singer Musiq Soulchild, rapper Sean Kingston, Koreans Jay Park, DJ DOC and Supreme Team.

Taeyang, whose real name is Dong Young-bae, is the first Big Bang member to debut as a solo artist.

He released his first full-length album "Solar" on July 1, topping numerous online and offline music sites as well holding his first solo concert over the weekend.

Reporter : Lucia Hong
Editor : Jessica Kim

130,000 suicides in last decade

A total of 130,802 Koreans, including former President Roh Moo-hyun, took their own lives between 2000 and 2009, according to figures of a police survey released by a ruling party lawmaker Tuesday.

"Given that the whole population of Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province stood at 72,049 as of the end of 2009, it is like seeing the entire people in a town of a similar size get wiped out every half a decade because of suicide", Rep. Yoo Jae-jung of the governing Grand National Party said.

Korea is ranked as the country with the highest suicide rate among the 33 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with roughly 30 out of every 100,000 people killing themselves in 2009.

FT Island to hold concert in November

Poster for FT Island's live concert [Interpark]

Korean rock band FT Island will hold a live concert in November, according to their agency FNC Music on Friday.

A PR official from FNC told 10Asia over the phone that the boys will be performing for two nights at the AX Hall located in Gwangjang district on November 6 and 7.

The concert will feature their various hit songs as well as the latest tracks from their second mini-album "beautiful journey".

FT Island (Five Treasure Island), composed of members Lee Hong-gi, Lee Jae-jin-I, Song Seung-hyun, Choi Min-hwan and Choi Jong-hoon, made their debut into the mainstream K-pop scene in June 2007 with their first album "Cheerful Sensibility".

The group has also managed a successful music career in Japan, releasing two major single albums "Flower Rock" and "Brand-new days", both of which ranked within the top 5 spots on the prestigious Oricon albums chart.

They also performed at the international rock festival "Summer Sonic 2010" in August whose stage was graced by various top stars such as Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, A Tribe Called Quest and Sum 41.

Tickets for their concert are available at online reservation site Interpark (www.interpark.co.kr).

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@